Wondering if anyone can suggest where to place another fan to help cool my video card.

[gvstn]

My video card (Radeon 4800 series) always runs a little hot according to Speedfan even though I don't game. It seems to sit at ~56C when idle (I know this isn't dangerous). I have three fans in the case (one top, one front and one rear) and the cpu fan and the video card fan. I'm thinking I may need another placed near the video card. It would be either a side fan (#5) or a bottom fan (#4). What this graphic describes as the HDD fan (#7) would also be close to the edge of my video card but I am not certain I would have clearance as the card is rather long.

[IMG][/IMG]

I know it is just a shot in the dark but I thought I would ask. Also if anyone could hazard a guess is it normal for one of my existing case fans to consistently run at 4500rpm when the other two run around 1300rpm? Thanks for any advice.

[Aerows]

1. If you have an extra PCI slot you can use one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200018&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Case+Fans-_-N82E16835200018&gclid=CMKPyKCfprgCFepZ7AodykEATw

You position it below the video card. Only works if you have room in your case, but if you do, they work great. I used one on a overheating 8800 GT before I got a new case and new cards.

P.S. - that's hot for a non gaming card. I have two GTX 460's in SLI and they sit at 36 degrees C all day long when not being used for gaming. Something is restricting your airflow. One of my case fans died unbeknownst to me, and I couldn't keep them cool when I played a game. Check all of your fans. If that turns out okay, I'd invest in one of the fans I suggested.

If it's a new problem, though, one of your case fans probably croaked.

[gvstn]

3. Thanks!

It has consistently run hot for a least a year. I think I have only opened the case once in that year. I'll double check the fans but I think they are running. I could adjust the fan settings in BIOS but I really don't want them running at top speed all the time which they tend to do on certain settings.

That PCI fan looks like a simple solution and I do have room for it. Do you think it is a better choice than adding a side or bottom fan?

I really appreciate the idea, I've been putting this off for quite a while and want to try something while it is on my agenda.

[bananas]

9. I'll second the slot fan recommendation.

I used to use those, they're very effective.
(Haven't had a desktop in a long time).

[bananas]

2. There's also a fan inside the power supply.

If that fan is failing, your psu could be overheating and heating up your gpu.

Fan direction can be important, usually it's best to have fans near the bottom and front blowing in, fans near the top and back blowing out.

[gvstn]

4. I'll double check this when I open things up.

The computer is only about 2 years old. It's a way larger than I need 700w Antec PSU so I would hope the fan is powerful enough to handle the simple internet browsing that I do. I'm fairly sure that Speedfan has always warned about the GPU running hot but since the numbers weren't critical, I just let it go. I'll be sure to check out the GPU fan as well.

I know I haven't properly dusted because the front fan mesh is dirty. I just never figured out how to get to it without major disassembly. I'll do the compressed air thing when I open it up and see if that helps with front air flow.

[Mnpaul]

7. Check your temps with the side cover off

You could direct a fan inside the case a see if it improves temps. It could be a reporting error as well. You may want to confirm those temps with a second utility. And don't forget to blow out the GPU cooler as well.

[Mnpaul]

5. The fans running at different speeds

may be caused by their power connection. The two that run at 1300rpm may be controlled by a motherboard utility(Cool and Quiet) while the other is not. My case allows twin 120mm fans or on 170mm fan in front. The 170mm is super quiet and I have a second one in the top. I have no problems with my HD6870 running hot and that is with 5 hard drives in the front.

[gvstn]

6. Thank you too.

This sounds correct. I don't think I run Cool and Quiet from Windows but I definitely set my fans towards a quieter setting in BIOS (I think I chose the middle of three available settings). It may only control certain fans probably front and back but not the top fan.

I'm going to have to open this up and take a look to refresh my memory. I built this computer quickly and on the cheap as my old computer started to fail at a time when I already had major unexpected expenses to deal with. I never really tweaked it as I just needed something that would turn on each and every time I wanted to use it.

Edit: I was wrong about the fans being the same in the original model I posted here. This is my model case: http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=2970 Below are the actual fan specs and it looks like all three Rear, Front and Top fans are rated at 1200rpm; so I am not sure about the fan controllers or why one fan runs faster.

Front: 140 x 25 mm Blue LED fan x 1 / 1200 RPM / 19 dBA

Rear: 120 mm fan x 1 / 1200 RPM / 17 dBA

Top: 140 x 25 mm fan x 1 / 1200 RPM / 19 dBA (supports 120 / 140 mm fan x 2)

Bottom: 120 mm fan x 2 (optional)

Right side: 80 x 15 mm x 1 (optional)

Left side: 120 / 140 mm fan x 2 (optional)

HDD cage: 120 mm fan x 1 (optional)

VGA holder: 80 x 15 mm fan x 1 (optional)

[bananas]

10. Which are intake and which are exhaust?

Ideally it's best to have the same number of intake and exhaust fans, with all the intakes on one side and all the exhaust fans on the opposite side.

[gvstn]

8. I just went into BIOS to refresh my memory.

I don't have Quiet Cool but Q-Fan.

It is the CPU fan that tends to speed up and get very noisy if I disable Q-Fan for it, so I leave Q-Fan enabled for the CPU fan at "optimal" setting and it runs around 4500rpm.

If I enable Q-fan for the the two chassis fans that it monitors it slows them down to around 900rpm so I leave it disabled so they run around 1200rpm and provide maximum cooling. I assume the third chassis fan also runs at 1200rpm but isn't monitored.

I still have to clean, check that all fans are indeed running and probably add something like Aerows suggested. But at least I know what is going on with the BIOS settings.

[hobbit709]

11. When was the last time you blew the dust out of the heat sinks and fan casings?

That can make an immediate temperature change.

[gvstn]

12. Guys

I'm sorry for my keep asking questions but I am finding things I need advice on.

I was playing around with Open Hardware Monitor (similar to Speedfan) http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/open_hardware_monitor.html and noticed that it had a line for GPU Fan Control. Mine was running default/auto setting and at 25% or 1200 rpm. I switched to manual and 50% speed and the temps dropped 8 degrees to 47.5C I am going to go ahead and get one of those PCI fans but my question is whether or not I should be manually messing with GPU fan speeds or leave them be. I don't want to kill a fan on my GPU card but I would think 50% speed should be acceptable but perhaps it is bad practice to have it run at the speed constantly?

Thanks again for any advice.

[JoeyT]

13. Do you have the option of increasing

the fan speed as the temperature increases? That's how I set mine up. At 40C it's quiet enough you can barely feel it if you stick your hand in front of it, at 60C it runs wide open and sounds like a jet spooling up.

Riva Tuner or ATI Tray Tools should allow you to control it by matching temps to % fan speeds.

I'll third or fourth or whatever the PCI slot fan suggestion, even if you can resolve it without it.

[gvstn]

14. Hi

I don't seem to have the ability to set the option to increase on temperature. I thought that is what default setting would be but it seems to sit at 25% fan speed. I know my card has a reputation for running hot so perhaps the controller thinks that 56C is within limits?

I tried Riva but it is beyond my comfort level and ATI Tray Tools wouldn't run because of a "library" error.

I was hoping to clean the case this afternoon but I may have to push it to this evening. I am definitely going to get a PCI fan just to take a little stress off the system. At $10 worth a try.

[gvstn]

15. Just refreshed on temps for my card and it does appear to run hot.

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=21937202
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=270396
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/259205-29-radeon-4870-high-idle-temprature

I'm still going to clean the case and am going to order the PCI fan. I think I'll go with this one unless anyone has a brand they prefer: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835888309

[BlueJazz]

16. I leave my case open and use this. >>

I'm not kidding...works great.
.
.
.

[gvstn]

17. I've done that for a day or two with other PCs

But I have a cat that manages to shed in every room in the house. He has his little rotating schedule of sleeping spots to make sure each room gets its share of dust bunnies. I don't think that is a viable option for me and since this case is still pretty clean inside I am going to go with an internal option. The expansion slot fan looks like a simple fix and since it can be placed directly below the GPU it should be the most effective. Thanks for the input--if I was desperate to immediately lower temps I would certainly give it a try.

[BlueJazz]

18. Have a friend with a kitty. He just uses sharper blades. NO..I'm kidding...I'm Kidding.

Actually he puts a hepa filter on his case.

Yes..I know..I'm weird and I have weird friends.

[gvstn]

19. That would work.

I think I've read where some people use dryer sheets as a filter between a fan grate and the fan. I've been considering giving that a try if I ever have a particular fan gets dirtier than others. Air freshener and filter in one!

But a HEPA filter would definitely be cleaner.

[Iterate]

20. Devices don't always report accurate temps.

It might be worth a few minutes to check if the card is really running that hot, either with a quick, light touch of the cooling fins or even a meat thermometer touching the heatsink right above chip (with a steady hand). It's not precision you're after, just a way to see if it's within 5C or so. It's possible that's the case, especially as you said it was high right out of the box and at idle.

I've seen speedfan/thermistor reports out by 20C or more half-a-dozen times, and the bad part is that you'll drive yourself mad trying to knock the temps down but never will. No use chasing your tail if you don't need to.

If it reports an accurate ambient from a coldboot and quickly climbs that high, it might also be cheap and worthwhile to reseat the heatsink with fresh compound.

[hobbit709]

21. I had core temp report that one cpu was running at 55°C while the heat sink was cool to the touch.

Last edited Sun Jul 14, 2013, 09:57 AM - Edit history (1)

BIOS reported temp was 35°C

[StanGr]

22. It's a really old solution, but just take the cover off of the computer.

You may need to get the vacuum out now and then, but without the cover it will run relatively cool.