GPU Full Load Temperatures

[Accessless]

Just a quick question about graphics cards. Is 94 degrees centigrade a normal load temperature for a modern graphics card? In this case an ATI Radeon HD 3800 (closest you'll find will be a 3850).

[Calum]

HD3800?  Where did that come from?  Never seen or heard of one before, and I can't find any references about it.

Anyway ... 94C is supposedly safe, but I wouldn't like to see my card (any card) that high.
What kind of case/cooling do you have, and what's the fan speed on the card?
What program did you use to get the load temp?

[Accessless]

Well currently a case with no side panels installed and no top panel. So basically a base, a front panel and a back. That's about it as the case is being modified to better suite the power supply.

The program was Tomb Raider VIII Underworld at full graphics mode. (hence why I did not say peak load, probably is but I can't be sure).

Wasn't hard to find:
http://ati.amd.com/products/Radeonhd3800/specs.html

[slidewayz14]

i have a new 4870x2 it stays about  48c with full load,i'm like calum i would hate to see my temps that much.Try going to ATI  for some new drivers to adjust the fan speed

[Accessless]

I would say that my fan goes ballistic but I can't hear it over my CPU fan lol.

[Accessless]

Ok, I have now installed the latest 64-bit drivers on a 32-bit OS (*censored*? I thought Vista only did 64 to 32 not 32 to 64). Anyway my card is still idling at 46 degrees centigrade.

[Calum]

Wasn't hard to find:
http://ati.amd.com/products/Radeonhd3800/specs.html

That's a series of cards.  You said you had a "Radeon 3800" which implies an actual card.  If you had the 3800 series in your machine, that's a whole different kettle of fish, meaning you'd have three separate cards (3850, 3870, and 3870X2) in your machine at the same time.

You shouldn't be able to install 64 bit drivers on a 32 bit OS, that's odd.

Look in your Catalyst software to see if you can adjust your fan speed (not sure if ATI does that) or try a program such as Rivatuner or ATITool to take control of your fan speed.
Once you get the case together you'll see better temperatures, too.

[Accessless]

No, but I have just run ATI overdrive and the temperature is currently plummeting.

[Accessless]

still not good enough though. Only knocked off 10-12 degrees. I can't work out how to use Rivatunner.

[Calum]

Not sure if it will work with your card (don't have an ATI to test it on) but you should be able to open it up, then on the main tab hit the first arrow under the topmost dropdown box, and choose the icon that looks like a graphics card, on the left (low level system settings).  from there, you can adjust the fan.
The second arrow, and the same icon, will also let you control the fan.
However, if you've already adjusted the fan speed, I don't think it will help you to use a different program.  Airflow is the key.

[Accessless]

Here's an update that I'm sure that you will all find hysterical. I have finally completed my case modifications specifically aimed at preventing the PSU from generating excess heat. I drilled holes in the top of my computer case so that the power supply could be mounted upside down and suck in cool air from outside the case (rather than hot air from within the case). So now the power supply sucks in cool air and blows hot air into my system, over heating it, instead of sucking in hot air from within the case and overheating itself and everything else...

My PSU was designed by a retard I swear

As far as the graphics card is concerned I found a dust lining in between the fan and the heat sink preventing air from flowing correctly. Now idling at 40 degrees Centigrade (does anyone know where Microsoft hid the character map on vista?).

[Accessless]

Load tempurature is now 67 degreese centigrade.

[Accessless]

According to ATI Overdrive 40º C is cold. Could it be right?

[Calum]

That's much better.
40C idle is fairly good, for that card - my 8800GT idles in the 30s.
Your PSU sounds very odd - what is it?

[Accessless]

Crap... is what it is. I can't remember now, and I would have to dismantle the machine again to find out.