HD3850, REALLY HOT! Is it normal?

[Joshmcmillan]

Hi,

I just put my new HD3850 in, and it's really hot! The plastic on the fan and complete card is almost too hot to touch, I first noticed it when unplugging the DVI cable from the back, it was boiling. I know they run at low fan speeds and I intend to put it up to 60% but I just want to check that it is normal for it to run at that temperature, it's worrying me.

Just in case its relevant in terms of PC heat, it's the HIS HD3850 256mb and the rest of the PC is 3800+, 1gb DDR2 667, 2x dvd, 1x hd, fan controller, 4 80mm fans, 430w thermaltake.

Thanks,
From Josh

[Ben Clarke]

What temperatures is it at?

[Joshmcmillan]

I don't know, I thought I'd turn it off to put the case door back on and noticed the heat. I haven't installed drivers or anything.

[Joshmcmillan]

I will put it together and install drivers etc.. then measure heat and turn fan up to 60%. What is the best free program for changing fan speed, simple is usually good, .

[Ripper3]

I used Rivatuner, since I had it installed already at the time, it worked just fine, upped it to 50%, it was audible, but not intrusive, and helped, but then again, the card still died on me anyhow... probably was a bad card from the start for me, but that could indicate a bigger problem or you.
If it crashes in-game, with VPU Recovery, and shows up yellow lines, or yellow squares, be afraid, be very afraid. It's the same symptoms as mine.
Once I get my new one on Monday (hopefully Monday), I'll check to see if it heats up as much again. Hopefully it happens to all of them, and doesn't indicate a dead card...

[Widjaja]

Damn, I might buy one anyway. . . .

If you can't bring down the temps.
Just leave it going until you can see the plastic melting & take some photos for us then RMA it.

[wiak]

change thermal paste or/and buy a new cooler?
Arctic Cooling MX-1/MX-2 is good thermal paste for graphics cards

[trog100]

the entire card gets hot.. its normal..

trog

[OrbitzXT]

Mine is idling at about 82C, but thats because I'm forcing the core clock to its 3D setting rather than have ATI throttle it back and forth. It idles in the 30s and skyrockets to 70s and 80s when I play games, but even under heavy load has never gone above 87, which is normal for these cards. Its a blessing though, two weeks ago I had a 8600GT in my system which would never get above 45C ever and no matter how high I had the heat in my house it was always freezing in my room (Cold air coming through the AC). But ever since I got this card it alone is keeping me nice and toasty warm. I dread the summer though, I'm going to have to put it back to where it switched off between 2D and 3D clocks.

[GLD]

My 3850 runs hot. At stock fan settings you will see 90*C+ temps. Ouch! Use Riva Tuner to increase your fan speed. ATi tool wasn't working for me with the new card. Keep the stock cooler and stock tim on there. Just set the fan to 50% or more and you will be happy with it.

[AsRock]

Originally Posted by trog100

the entire card gets hot.. its normal..

trog

So if these temps are normal for them. Are we going hear about a lot of them overheating over summer time ?.. I'm glad i don't have one of those as i am pretty sure it would over heat as it gets like 96f in the house in summer.

[Rurouni Strife]

If you use Rivia Tuner to set the fan speed to 50 or 60%, the card's are fine temp wise. Mine runs at 60 C full load w/ those fan settings, do that and you'll be fine.

[OrbitzXT]

Originally Posted by AsRock

So if these temps are normal for them. Are we going hear about a lot of them overheating over summer time ?.. I'm glad i don't have one of those as i am pretty sure it would over heat as it gets like 96f in the house in summer.

These temps people are reporting are with the fan set on Auto which is fairly low, also if you allow the card to have separate 2d and 3d clocks as it normally is, it stays extremely cool while idling...for me in the 30's. Also if you crank the fan up it stays relatively cool, but to me this is "loud". I say "loud" because for an ATI product its actually fairly quiet, I've owned older ATI cards that sounded like lawn mowers. But compared to some other nVidia cards I've owned such as the 8800 GTX and GTS, those even at 100% are inaudible to me. The 3850's fan is about the same as the 8800GT in my opinion.

[AsRock]

Originally Posted by OrbitzXT

These temps people are reporting are with the fan set on Auto which is fairly low, also if you allow the card to have separate 2d and 3d clocks as it normally is, it stays extremely cool while idling...for me in the 30's. Also if you crank the fan up it stays relatively cool, but to me this is "loud". I say "loud" because for an ATI product its actually fairly quiet, I've owned older ATI cards that sounded like lawn mowers. But compared to some other nVidia cards I've owned such as the 8800 GTX and GTS, those even at 100% are inaudible to me. The 3850's fan is about the same as the 8800GT in my opinion.

Well thats good to hear ..7900GT's were louder to me i guess it depends on your ears as some people hear different tones more than others.

Speaking of bad temps it seems like the new 7.12 drivers are stoping ATI Tool from controlling the fan well on my system at least and the fan stays at 38% even if it hits 90c :|. Thats really bugging me at the moment.

[Thermopylae_480]

If you don't get a handle on the fan speeds it will get really hot. If you use ATITool to set the fan speed to try and keep it at 50~C, or so, it will throttle down real low when you aren't doing any 3D activity. It will then throttle the fan to varying speeds as demand increases. When the fan is running between 89-100% the card won't get above 60~C.

[trog100]

its not the temp u see its the temp u feel.. the fan running higher might cool the chip core more but it dosnt cool the card itself.. try feeling the metal thing on the back of the card or the memory when its working hard.. its all bloody hot.. he he

having said that i think its meant to be hot and wont cause any problems.. only those in our imagination..

my 1900xtx ran just as hot.. and with a lot more heat coming out the back vent as well.. and noisy.. but it didnt do it any harm..

trog

ps.. i am still waiting for someone to tinker with a bios and give it target temp of 70 C instead of the 90 C ati seem to be aiming at..

[Thermopylae_480]

Has anyone produced any after market coolers for these cards yet?

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

Originally Posted by Thermopylae_480

Has anyone produced any after market coolers for these cards yet?

x1950 coolers fit ...

[DEFEATEST]

When I bought my x1950xt and I had a lower wattage power supply, my card overheated like crazy! it might be worth a try.

[KainXS]

That is weird, I volt modded my card so I had to modify the cooling to get it cool, now I have idle at 35C and load at 55-62C running at 900/2200

for your card to be stock and running like that I would say check the thermal paste

X1950XTX coolers fit on the 38XX series

[ShadowFold]

My HIS IceQ HD 3850 runs at 38c idle and up to 50c load and its OC'd past 3870 speeds, also I only have one case fan and a micro atx case so its a pretty good cooler If you can, return that and get the IceQ from HIS.

[Thermopylae_480]

Originally Posted by [I.R.A]_FBi

x1950 coolers fit ...

Thanks. Good to know.

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

hows ur 3850? what clocks u running at and which cooler do u have now?

[ShadowFold]

Originally Posted by [I.R.A]_FBi

hows ur 3850? what clocks u running at and which cooler do u have now?

Me? I have my core at 780mhz and mem at 1005mhz x2. I could easily go higher im just too afraid

[[I.R.A]_FBi]

what cooler u running stock single or stock double?