6800 xt computer crashing on demanding games. psu problem?

[damric]

Wraith Stealth Cooler - This is the stock cooler that came with my Ryzen 5 2600. My 3900x was used and did not come with cooler.
Corsair TM30 Performance Thermal Paste


Folded for 20 minutes to get this snapshot. Despite 100% CPU and 90% GPU usage, it did not crash. The log can be found here, if there's any interest in it.

Some takeaways I noticed while folding:

• CPU averaged ~3.8 GHz during the folding, but increased to 4.5 GHz AFTER I stopped folding.
• CPU stuck on 95.6C during the folding process, with little fluctuation.
  • CPU fan was pumping at ~2600 RPM for the folding, significantly faster than the GPU fan (~1700). Normal?
• GPU hovered around 80C.
• 12/5/3.3V all stayed at their respective voltage.
• VRM stayed at 61-62C.

folding...you mean folding@home?

yeah that's gonna run hotter than hell and throttle clocks

 

[Thebadgamer98]

93c is very high for only 20 minutes and it appears your GPU core clock is throttling as well. You are 80 - 100 Mhz lower than where you should be compared to other examples I've see of the exact same card running Furmark on stock settings. Looking at TPU's reviews of different 6800 XT models, the average for this card is between 63 and 73c with 73c being overclocked while having the card set at max power limit. Given that your CPU temps were also high I'm wondering if your case doesn't have enough airflow. If your GPU and CPU are reaching danger area temperatures individually that would create an environment where games that utilize both could lead could result in a crash due to them both dumping hot air into the case. Is it possible for you to run the same test with the side panel off? If your case has improper airflow temps should noticably drop.

Jeez you weren't kidding. it maxed out at 79C.

My case's side panel has a clear plastic insert (see picture below) that I've been considering taking off and replacing with mesh. I assumed it wouldn't be worth the risk of me doing it poorly but seeing these temp differences changes my tune...

 

[evernessince]

Jeez you weren't kidding. it maxed out at 79C.

View attachment 326702

My case's side panel has a clear plastic insert (see picture below) that I've been considering taking off and replacing with mesh. I assumed it wouldn't be worth the risk of me doing it poorly but seeing these temp differences changes my tune...
View attachment 326703

Yep, looks like your parts were baking in your case, that's a very significant drop. Could you also run the prior CPU test real quick just to double confirm these findings? Modding the side panel would help if you can do it on the cheap. That said you preferably want additional active airflow in the form of an additional fan. Do you happen to know the model of your case and how many case fans you currently have installed? I'd double check to make sure all the fans are running and that dust isn't clogging up the front panel intake as well.

 

[Thebadgamer98]

Could you also run the prior CPU test real quick just to double confirm these findings?

Well, it improved things, this was after about 10 minutes of f@h. As you can see, the CPU stayed below 90C.

Do you happen to know the model of your case and how many case fans you currently have installed?

I don't know the case model, sadly. I've looked the thing up and down and it has no markings or serial numbers inside or out. While looking, I found that some of the case fans weren't running and got them back on, and did a little dusting. Below was about 5 minutes of f@h with the fans on, it still got to 95C but it took longer. In the earlier test it shot to 95C in about 2 minutes, this time it took about 5 minutes.

All this makes me rethink my plan; perhaps I should invest in a well-reviewed air flow case instead?

 

[Macro Device]

perhaps I should invest in a well-reviewed air flow case instead?

I got a Matrexx 55 and besides having to destroy the HDD case (it didn't let me install my new big 1000 W PSU) I see no issues with temperatures and whatnot. I saw a 55 model without an HDD case so you got options. And yeah, I strongly recommend picking the right case from the start as it's not a 90s coffin, it's made of very thin metal and I had to dirtyhack it because it was so bent my GPU lost connection to the motherboard lmao. But that applies, probably, to every single PC case that doesn't belong to ridiculously expensive category.

My temperatures are fine even without having intakes (but it's also worth noting my system consumes two times less power than yours). Yet, I decided why not and installed one 14 cm fan for this matter just to be completely stressless.

 

[evernessince]

All this makes me rethink my plan; perhaps I should invest in a well-reviewed air flow case instead?

That would be a good option. Something like the fractal meshify, NZXT H7 flow, or most other mesh front panel cases. You can always check out GamersNexus case reviews for a reference of cooling performance.

 

[Noci]

@ TheBadGamer98, glad you were able to pin point what seems to be the main problem.

You got some really good advises in this thread to at least fix this exposed issue regarding cooling, or better; the lack of it.
Just be aware the chain is as strong as it's weakest link, so it is possible once you have a decent cooler and sufficient airflow you might find the second weakest link and so on untill the chain strength meets your needs.

But that's also the charm of troubleshooting and problem solving, not to mention a very educational process.

keep us posted once you've done the upgrade with the new temps, I'm curious if this was all there is to it.

 

[Thebadgamer98]

But that's also the charm of troubleshooting and problem solving, not to mention a very educational process.

keep us posted once you've done the upgrade with the new temps, I'm curious if this was all there is to it.

I'm so grateful to everyone for their help! I feel like I've learned so much about my computer from this thread.
I'll be sure to update when I finally get a case!

 

[Thebadgamer98]

tl:dr CPU temps are significantly improved. From hitting 90C within a few minutes of full utilization to not surpassing 70C after half an hour of full utilization!

Update: installing everything to a new case seemed both daunting and costly (I want to save all that work for an AM5 upgrade in the future) so I went with a few easier options.

• I first installed this power plan which lowered idle temps to around 45 C
• Then I modded my case by replacing the plastic window with this mesh which seemed to lower the rate at which the CPU heated up, but it would still overheat to the point of crashing my system, sadly.
• Finally, I was able to get a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE for a measly $13 new, so I installed that tonight and, boy lemme tell you, it's a night and day difference. I ran folding@home for 30 minutes straight and the temps averaged in the high 60s, with 1 solitary peak at 70.9 C.

Thank you all again so much for the help, this has been such an enlightening process and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the knowledge (and kindness) that you have all shared with me!