Geforce gtx 260 - Cooldown

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Namenone

New Member
I've had this desktop for about a year or so now. The graphics card can still run games decently, it just gets hot. I ran a test with furmark and after about 3 minutes the load was around 94c! My idle temp is around 60c, i want to try and get the load temps lower, without having to get a brand new gpu obv.

Anyone know any good cheapish recommendations? will a pci fan help?

P.S some games like metro 2033 on high, do put the heat up to around 90 aswell, its not just the stress test.
 
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Sounds like you either have a major airflow problem, a broken fan, a lot of built-up dust in your fan, or bad contact between the heatsink and the GPU. You should probably take the heatsink off the card, clean all the dust off the heatsink, and replace the thermal paste on the GPU. To replace the paste, follow these steps:
1. Take some Cue-tips and cotton balls, dab them in approximately 91% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol (not 70%), and rub them on the surface of the GPU and the heatsink until all the paste (or dry crappy excuse for paste) is removed.
2. Apply a bb-sized drop of thermal paste on the surface of the GPU. You should use a ceramic-based non-conductive compound, since some GPU dies have exposed transistors that may cause the GPU to malfunction when covered in a conductive, metal-based paste. In the past, I have used this paste for uses that require a non-conductive compound:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100017
If there isn't anything close to the GPU die that could possibly be shorted, then I recommend this paste:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200059
It's much softer than a lot of pastes, it has a very high thermal conductivity, and it comes with a brush so you can apply it easily. It's way easier to use than most pastes.

As a note: remember that you don't want to put on too much paste. It's not meant to actually glue the heatsink on, it's just meant to fill the microscopic gaps in the GPU surface and CPU surface.

Good luck!
 
Thanks for the reply guys!

I do have a fan on the GPU, the stock one, its a dual one.

this is what i have http://www.dvhardware.net/news/gainward_gtx_260_gs_glh.jpg

Hmm, spynoodle, i would like to do that, but Ive never done it before :\ and knowing my luck it will probably break when i take it apart, Im thinking it may be airflow too. ive got 1 side case fan, one at the front and one at the back. The front fan is a kinda cheapy one though, can you recommend any good fan brands?

I have ordered some compressed air, so i will try clean that SOB out.
 
Namenone said:
Thanks for the reply guys!

I do have a fan on the GPU, the stock one, its a dual one.

this is what i have http://www.dvhardware.net/news/gainward_gtx_260_gs_glh.jpg

Hmm, spynoodle, i would like to do that, but Ive never done it before :\ and knowing my luck it will probably break when i take it apart, Im thinking it may be airflow too. ive got 1 side case fan, one at the front and one at the back. The front fan is a kinda cheapy one though, can you recommend any good fan brands?

I have ordered some compressed air, so i will try clean that SOB out.
Click to expand...

Yeah, dust really messed up my laptop until I cleaned it out. My temps went down a good 15 degrees C. Given that your GPU is getting up to 94C, though, you might have some heatsink contact problems. Cleaning out the dust can't hurt, though!
 
im assuming the gpu hasnt been messed with, so the only two problems that come to mind are fan issues or dust. dust is far more likely. clean it out and behold the cool temps :)
 
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