System overheating

[RaFi]

My current system is :

AMD Phenom2 x4 945
Inno3D GTX560, 1GB
8GB DDR3 -1333 RAM

The problem is that since this weekend's heatwave in Limpopo, whenever I play Battlefield 3 my system's temperatures rises to alarming levels, well, the GFX card at least, CPU peaks at 55C, but GFX peak at 81C, by then I would exit the game and the levels will drop within a minute to CPU 51C and GFX 44C.

It only happens when I run Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3 push the GFX to 63C, but that is that.

I suspect that my frequent stuttering in BF3 is due to the heat.

Now I am using a standard desktop ATX case, with a 120mm fan sucking air from the front, a 120mm fan(2 mounted on each other actually), sucking air out in the back. A 80mm fan blowing air onto the CPU, and I installed another 80mm over the GFX card slot, blowing air in. (Once again both have 2 fans on top of each other, I found that it increase the strength of the air).
Today I have cleaned the PC thoroughly, removing all the dust and crap, but no success. The GFX card uses the default cooler.

With December (and lots of gaming time) approaching, I would like to solve this problem.

Any advice?

 

[The Joker]

Pump up the fan to 100% then run the game and see what the temps are then. Also make sure the case is not standing against a wall, make sure that the air flowing through the pc can exit at the back. If it still runs over 80 then I suspect the card is damaged and you might wanna get it swapped asap.

Also remember BF3 pushes you're gpu to 90-100% use, So imagine gaming for 5 hours in high ambient temps = recipe for disaster.

 

[wheunis]

Once again both have 2 fans on top of each other, I found that it increase the strength of the air

Big mistake.
Undo that asap.

Aerodynamics with 2+ simultaneous compressed sources interacting on each other, is NOT something you want to be playing with when it costs you your only PC.

And yes, I'm being very serious here. Aerodynamics doesn't just end at "how can I make it push air harder".

For simplistic aerodynamics, rather focus on getting clean air in, and that hot air out. The end. Speed is irrelevant.

 

[Kuga]

.. CPU peaks at 55C, but GFX peak at 81C, by then I would exit the game and the levels will drop within a minute to CPU 51C and GFX 44C.

It only happens when I run Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3 push the GFX to 63C, but that is that.

I suspect that my frequent stuttering in BF3 is due to the heat.

Firstly, 51C on a CPU is FINE.
Secondly, nVidia cards are notorious for heating. They actually work better at that temp. I'd only start worrying about temps when nVidia cards start hitting 100C
Thirdly, there is a known issue with BF3 and 560Ti. You need to update the bios of the card.

Hope this helps.

 

[RaFi]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I will remove the fans if you say its bad, I don't know much about this, so I thought it would be better.

The problem is I am getting several indications while playing BF3 to indicate that the GFX card is having problems, lines, some distortions.

I have downloaded MSI Afterburner and used it to push the GPU fan to 100%, otherwise it was only working on 40%, yet the temperature was already 60C. Once I had the fan running at 100%, the temperature stabilized and did not go above 60C. However, the outside temperature also dropped with some heavy winds blowing, so that might have been the contributing factor.

Will try again tomorrow during the day and see what happens.

What type of after market coolers can I look at that won't break the bank, yet delivers satisfying results?

 

[DON]

dont think after-market coolers is the answer your looking for.update bios of card first

 

[Noc]

...A 80mm fan blowing air onto the CPU, and I installed another 80mm over the GFX card slot, blowing air in. (Once again both have 2 fans on top of each other, I found that it increase the strength of the air).

...
Any advice?

This is a common mistake by people thinking the air needs to blow onto the heatsink to "cool it down", where the purpose of the fans are to suck OUT the heated air around the heatsinks to create a "wind shear" effect.

Fan cooling is only really effective if, as another user stated, it creates airflow by sucking air in the front and blowing it out the back; so the only fan which is supposed to "blow" air into the case is in the front of your case. Every other fan, in the back of the case, bottom of the PSU, and mounted on CPU & GPU needs to "suck".

Also stated by another user, move the case a bit away from walls and corners (only around 10cm or so) and if it's standing on a carpet, maybe raise the case with blocks or something a little off the carpet - you want to avoid any heat insulation.

All the above is useless if the GPU is overworking itself due to a firmware (BIOS) glitch, so I'd suggest updating your GFX BIOS first, as stated previously by Kuga.

 

[wheunis]

What type of after market coolers can I look at that won't break the bank, yet delivers satisfying results?

One that I can recommend, is a little hard to find. Funny enough - I have been trying for around 20 minutes and can't find the dang thing.

Anyway, be on the lookout for a fan thing. I say thing because it looks odd. Kinda like an old Mustang's supercharger slit on the hood.
Basically it fits onto the top of your tower (after you have made the appropriate size hole), and extracts hot air out.
By far the best and most logical method of aftermarket cooling for the system as a whole.
You know... hot air rising and all that.

As far as your CPU is concerned, don't sweat it. That temperature is very normal under load.
As much can also be said about your GPU. These puppies are built to sweat. They handle temperatures as high as 90 degrees quite well.
At that point it becomes more of an issue to avoid the rest of your case becoming an oven. Gotta move that air as efficiently as possible.

Also, don't leave the GPU fan jacked up - will only cause it to wear out faster. Trust me, GPU's (most notoriously nVidia) are known to run that hot once you're into the powerhouse market.


--Also, please ignore the comments regarding air sucking over your CPU. This comes from a different frame of mind which involves dedicated wind tunnels, and should not be applied to open-space aircooling such as found inside regular PC's.

PS: Wind-tunnels can very easily be created at home, for use inside of your PC. Lemme know if you're interested (And have a decent number of Long-Life Milk Boxes stashed at home).

 

[Satarial]

BF3 has been causing all kinds of Havoc to everything it runs on.

My CPU was hitting 100 degrees initially while playing, had 2 friends with the same issue.
I had to get an 3rd party cooler to help my pc get to acceptable ranges.

The GPU goes up and down while playing it from 55-75 but GPU's can handle that type of heat

 

[RaFi]

Once again, thanks for the replies. It seems that its only the GPU that is suspect, running at 80C under load. So my suspicion is that its either the normal operating temperature for the card under load, or it's fan is not working sufficiently.

I am busy getting the necessary software and updates and see if that will make a difference.

On inspection there is a vent on the side of the GPU's fan casing, blowing hot air out, hitting the side of the case. I was wondering if I should not maybe cut a hole in the panel and install a extractor fan there. But first I will see what the software will do.

According to the CPU booklet, the fan is suppose to blow into the heat sink, there are others that rather suck the air out, which actually makes sense, but the general opinion on a hardware forum was to follow the manufacturer's instructions. Since the CPU is not a real problem I will keep it as it is.

I can't find a BIOS update for my specific card, I can get one for one from a different manufacturer, will that help?

 

[wheunis]

I can't find a BIOS update for my specific card, I can get one for one from a different manufacturer, will that help?

Strictly speaking, no.
Practically speaking, sometimes.
Although the reference components are generic and *MOSTLY* the same, with different settings applied via the BIOS - it is exactly the BIOS that makes it work the way it should. My personal opinion is to not flash other manufacturer's firmware onto a different card.
If (or when) something does indeed go wrong, you're bumscrewed for warranty...

So rather play safe and contact your manufacturer directly.