Overheat?

[NOE]

Hi,

I have an annoying problem... It must be a heat problem, because if I run my computer with one side of the case of, the problem does not occure!
So, whats the problem then? Well, when playing Q3 for 10-20 minutes everything just looks up (no spontaneuos reboot, the display just freez). Could that be the graphics card causeing it? I have a GeForce 256 DDR (Creative) and it is damn hot.
It cannot be the processor, it runs quite cool!

Well, it may seem as a stupid question, but I want to be dead sure. Cause running out buying a new gfx card these days aint cheap!
By the way, if it is the gfx card, would a newer GeForce card (i.e. GeForce2 or 3) run cooler? I have heard that the GeForce 256 ran very hot cause of the manufacturer technic?

Best regards
Ola Ekedahl

 

[MCS]

So what you are saying is when the cover is off everything is fine and stable, but with the cover you get lockups?

Almost definitely a heat issue then. Are you overclocking your graphics card or processor?

 

[NOE]

Yeap, thats right!
No, I dont overclock anything...have never done.

The processor temp is well in range..i.e. its quite cool.
To exclude the processor as the fault (running a PIII 1GHz now), I borrowed a PIII 500MHz, and I still had the same lookups!

Best regards
Ola Ekedahl

 

[MCS]

Have you checked to see that the fan is working on the Geforce?

 

[NOE]

Yes, it seems to be working...but it one of those Creative cards. You might have heard that there are som trouble with those fans? They start to make alot of noice after a while.
Just checked the fan, it seems to spinn rather slow... I havent been playing any 3D game the last few hours, but even so, the heatsink was really hot!

 

[MCS]

Well all I can suggest is you either ran without the cover on or you get some case cooling in action, or maybe get something like "The Card Cooler".

 

[A2KLAU]

Or maybe why not just take the old fan off and place a slightly newer and more powerful fan ontop! Get them at your local Comp store, comp super stores and many online shops, and expecially places which sell over clocking stuff like CPUs and mobos and cases. Have a browse throught them and see what you can find! Good luck cooling your card down! Or a thought just came to me you could get a new heat sink and fan combo for you card at those Overclocking places too I think... They come as a kit and you just take the old stuff off and install these new gear onto the card! I think it is straight forward... I don't really need that stuff cause I am happy at clock speeds for me for now!

Hope this helped you NOE!!!

Albert.

 

[MCS]

Yes but maybe he doesn't want to tamper with his card.

A slot cooler or a couple of simple case fans (one intake lower front, one exhaust rear top) would be an easier option to try first.

 

[NOE]

Thanks for the help guys!
I will have a look at a new fan/heatsink for my gfx card, or maybe save to a new gfx card all toghether!
The big issue stoping me from replacing my heatsink on the gfx card is that it is glued to the chip!

By the way, if it would have been the processor overheating, wouldnt the computer just have rebooted itself?

Well, thanks again...

Best regards
Ola Ekedahl

 

[A2KLAU]

If it WAS the CPU a number of things could have happened. The computer freezing or locking up liek that, or Maybe give you a BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death), or yeah as you said re-start. But since you said the CArd is very hot then I would imagine it would be that then.

Albert.