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4870x2 runs hotter until high-performance mode is used

dixons_57

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I own a 4870x2 and recently reapplied fresh thermal paste and pads and I know for a fact that these have been done correctly.

The issue isn't so much the temperature, but rather the fact that the temperature seems to be inconsistent.

I used to use the default ATI driver-based fan control and this would give me an idle temp of about 70C after leaving my freshly booted PC for several minutes for the temperature to stabilise. After running a game or something which switched the card into 750/900 high performance mode, and then leaving the temperature to restabilise, it would drop to about 55C.

It was suggested to me that maybe the default idle fan speed of 27% wasn't enough to actually engage the fan (EDIT: initially that is before first making it run at a higher %), so I've created a manual profile using MSI Afterburner which varies depending on temperature (and the lowest speed is now 35%). Now my freshly booted idle temp is about 50C after stabilising, however after running a game the idle temp goes as low as 40C after stabilising.

Load temps are fine and are not an issue. Any ideas as to why this is happening? Is it something I should be worried about. Idle temp of 50C is no big deal but I would like to know why it is somehow dropping an extra 10C once a game is played...

Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post :)

Daniel.
 

dixons_57

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Processor i7 920 @ 2.66Ghz
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Memory 6GB DDR3 PC10700
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Display(s) Yuraku 22" LCD (VGA)
Case Antec 900
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Kreij

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The only thing I can think of is that after heating it up by running a game you are getting better thermal conductivity through the thermal paste.

My 4870x2 did not do this after I reapplied thermal paste. I used Ceramique 2.
What did type did you use?
 

dixons_57

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Processor i7 920 @ 2.66Ghz
Motherboard MSI X58 Platinum
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Memory 6GB DDR3 PC10700
Video Card(s) Powercolor 4870X2
Storage 2x500GB WD in Raid-0, 1TB Samsung, 1.5TB Maxtor External,
Display(s) Yuraku 22" LCD (VGA)
Case Antec 900
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Thanks for your reply :)

I used the Antec Nanosilver Formula 6.

That is a good suggestion but if I leave my PC for like 12 hours then the temperature doesn't go back up. I can't see how it could consistently do this each time by the same temperature and only before/after a game is run (and the game only needs to be run briefly, like a minute or so).
 
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Check your clocks as you go in and out of a game. Sometimes when you first boot up, clocks will be stuck at 3d speeds, but once you open and close a game at least once, the clocks will switch between 2d and 3d speeds as intended.
 
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I reckon the temperature sensor is just fubared.
 

dixons_57

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Joined
Aug 20, 2009
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Processor i7 920 @ 2.66Ghz
Motherboard MSI X58 Platinum
Cooling Stock
Memory 6GB DDR3 PC10700
Video Card(s) Powercolor 4870X2
Storage 2x500GB WD in Raid-0, 1TB Samsung, 1.5TB Maxtor External,
Display(s) Yuraku 22" LCD (VGA)
Case Antec 900
Audio Device(s) Onboard
Check your clocks as you go in and out of a game. Sometimes when you first boot up, clocks will be stuck at 3d speeds, but once you open and close a game at least once, the clocks will switch between 2d and 3d speeds as intended.

You are right. When I boot up, the 2nd GPU *only* is stuck in 3d speeds. Not sure why and I can't seem to find any setting which fixes it, but after running a quick 3D app, this fixes it and the speeds go back to normal.

Thanks for the idea. Now I just need to find a way to fix this...but at least it's a start :)
 
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