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Topic: VGA Cooling Help

I have Sapphire's HD3870 and I have begun to wonder if it is the source of all of my game crashes, computer restarts, and game lock-ups.  In fact, its idle temp is normally around 48C, but it went up as high as 60C, and this is without overclocking.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102719

So, I have a few questions:

1) Is it hard to replace the cooling fan on the VGA?
2) How would I know if the cooling fan can fit with my VGA?
3) Before I actually buy the part, do you feel like changing out the cooling on my VGA is a bad idea?

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  • Alch
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Re: VGA Cooling Help

Have you tried cleaning out the fan first Supf00?

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

48C is pretty damn hot!!!  you should have a full-size cooling fan in your case!

The core joke of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is that of course no civilization would develop personal computers with instant remote database recovery, and then waste this technology to find good drinks.
Steve Jobs has ruined this joke.

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

Try updating your drivers first. ATi has always had driver problems, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the cause. Unless you see artifacting before the crashes, I doubt it's overheating.

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

@Alch

I have the Antec P180 case and the two intake fans have filters for the dust.  I've checked, the parts in my comp look as if I had just bought them yesterday.


@Yell

Was that...sarcasm? :\

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

no, it wasn't
normally my friends keep their cases at 32C

The core joke of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is that of course no civilization would develop personal computers with instant remote database recovery, and then waste this technology to find good drinks.
Steve Jobs has ruined this joke.

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

@Yell
My case is kept pretty cool (below 30C), but the VGA is the hottest part of my computer.  Not even my CPU exceeds the VGA (it ranges between 30-40C).


@Bekko
I have the latest drivers.  I even just downloaded and reinstalled, just to make sure.


This is also a relatively new machine as I bought all the parts and put it together.  So it should not have any past-ware issues.  Here are the specs.  All of these have the latest driver updates and I do have the latest bios.

Mobo: K9A2 Platinum
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.4 GHz, OCed to 3.0 GHz
Mem: 4 GB DDR2 800 installed, 3328 MB
HDD: 250 GB SATA HDD, 3.0 Gb/s
GPU: ATI Radeon HD3870
Case: Antec P180 Silver
PSU: Antec Earthwatts 500W

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8 Reply by Wild Flower Soul (edited by Wild Flower Soul 20-May-2008 06:31:51)

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

48

God: Behold ye angels, I have created the ass.. Throughout the ages to come men and women shall grab hold of these and shout my name...

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

Shouldn't this be in questions?

moved -> Questions

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

the VGA should be the hottest part of everyone's computer, its designed to run at higher temperatures then other parts, including the cpu. 60C should not cause you any problems.

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

It might take awhile before it happens to me again.  I don't know when it exactly happens and as such, I can't reproduce the error.  Normally, it happens after playing COD4 for several hours.

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

maybe your computer is teling you COD4 is teh ghey?

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but i am Jesus"
"Nothing is worse than a fully prepared fool"

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

"It might take awhile before it happens to me again.  I don't know when it exactly happens and as such, I can't reproduce the error.  Normally, it happens after playing COD4 for several hours."

Good smile

Also, I must say I had a BSOD recently caused by windows and my GPU driver. It might perhaps be the XP SP3 upgrade..

God: Behold ye angels, I have created the ass.. Throughout the ages to come men and women shall grab hold of these and shout my name...

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14 Reply by The Yell (edited by TheYell 20-May-2008 23:32:18)

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

the USA may not have a national health plan, by God, but we don't run CPUs at room temperature!!!! X(

that's sarcasm. Sorta mad

I'm feisty mad

The core joke of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is that of course no civilization would develop personal computers with instant remote database recovery, and then waste this technology to find good drinks.
Steve Jobs has ruined this joke.

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

we can tell wink

till the end of time..

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16 Reply by [RPA]Sir SupAll (edited by [RPA]Sir SupAll 28-May-2008 03:46:08)

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

You're right, WFS.  It isn't my GPU.  Instead, it's something else:

Bugcode_USB_Driver

I'm using the XP SP2 and I have no clue how this error is caused.  A quick google search gives me a lot of outdated information (4-5 years old) and I have no clue how I got this glitch.  I never got it in my old computer and I have the same number of USB devices plugged into it.

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  • Skoe
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Re: VGA Cooling Help

'I never got it in my old computer and I have the same number of USB devices plugged into it.'

The error means one of the USB drivers has screwed up.
If it were me, i would try removing all usb devices -- and then add them one at a time until you get the error again.

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

Indeed. Disconnect all unnecessary devices, and plug your keyboard/mouse into the good old PS/2 ports and you'll be fine. Perhaps one of your USB ports has a broken connection (most likely with one where your more important devices are connected)

God: Behold ye angels, I have created the ass.. Throughout the ages to come men and women shall grab hold of these and shout my name...

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

@sKoE

Tried and nothing occurs.


@WFS

I have five USB devices:

Mouse
Printer
Webcam
Headset
External HDD


I have a feeling the issue is with the front USB ports where my HDD is plugged.  The HDD has stalled several times, making  this scratchy sound in the process as if it didn't have enough power or couldn't read itself.

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20 Reply by Alch (edited by Alch 28-May-2008 14:11:36)

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Re: VGA Cooling Help

if it's the USB that causes your computer to crash, and it only crashes whilst playing games. Then it would most likely have something to do with whats going on while the game is being played, so unless the game is running off the Ex-HDD I'd assume it would probably be the port that the mouse is plugged into or even the mouse itself.

edit: that is unless you are running and/or transferring stuff to and from the Ex-HDD

Yes,Yes,Yes, I'm the one that's been killing all those people, but i'm also the creative force behind Happy Noodle Boy,So forgive me and shut up - Johnny

[Friday:July:1:09:36:27] <@Ben> you broke the universe
<+Zarf_BeebleBrix> we have a schitzophrenic underaged queen attempting to assassinate a whoremonger king while getting around cowbell-wearing knights...

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