SLI Temps?

[bodhammer]

Hi - I'm new to SLI and just added a second GTX 660 (GTX660-DC2O-2GD5) to my system.

Base System:
Asus P6X58D-E
Intel i7 - 930 at 3.36Ghz
1 x Scythe SCMG-2100 Sleeve CPU Cooler, AC5 paste
2 x CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit at 1600 for 12GB DDR

Case - Corsair Carbide Series 400R
PS: 1 x CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-750TX 750W
C-Drive - Kingston Hyper X 120GB SSD
3 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB - RAID 5
Monitor: Monoprice MPLE27QP

I have two fans in front, one for the CPU exit, one at the bottom in, and the Power supply.

Cards are next to each other in x16 slots. BIOS is confirmed the same in both cards.

One cards always seems to run 10-12°C hotter, even at the desktop. In full on gaming, the cards are running 80-90° with temps a little closer together.

Is this normal?
Should I be concerned and do something?

 

[n0x1ous]

yes, the top card will always run hotter in sli as it takes in some of the hot air rising from the card on the bottom. This is more pronounced on open air/after market cards (like the ones you have) and less pronounced on reference/blower cooled cards but still present.

on my 780 references the top card is usually 5-6 degrees warmer in game and 1-2 at the desktop. I have 1 slot open between them.

80-90 on an open air cooler seems high. My guess is your top card is getting a little suffocated. Might need to up fan speeds or get a fan directly behind the cards...

 

[Actaeon]

Not SLI, but in my crossfire configuration, my top card runs a little hotter than the bottom card. About a 5C difference and I didn't mess with the fan settings. I've also got my side panel fans feeding them fresh air.

 

[kasakka]

I have pretty much the same kind of temps with 2x ASUS GTX770 DCII. One runs hotter (doesn't matter if card order is changed so it's definitely the one that gets the most hot air blown on it) and 80-90 degrees at full load.

I found that adding a side fan (to go along with the fan in the back) to my Fractal Design Define R3 case helped keep the GPU temps under check when they are overclocked. Still, I think reference blowers would do better for SLI but I probably would not be happy with their noise when idle.

 

[n0x1ous]

Still, I think reference blowers would do better for SLI but I probably would not be happy with their noise when idle.

the nvidia reference blowers are inaudible at idle.....

 

[kasakka]

the nvidia reference blowers are inaudible at idle.....

That's good to hear. Might consider those if my next setup will also be SLI.

 

[row]

according to corsair you can add two 120mm fans on the side of the hard drive cage and right next to your gpu's which would help a bit (https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...FXrQxFmnE9tr2zB64zjtyr5g&ust=1416158825178725). having said that although the corsair carbide 400r is a great case it's layout is not conducive to good air cooling for multiple gpu's. you might consider selling it and picking up something similar to the corsair carbide 540 air.





edit - just noticed you're using 3 hd's (pretty sure the 540 is good for only two)

 

[bodhammer]

according to corsair you can add two 120mm fans on the side of the hard drive cage and right next to your gpu's which would help a bit (https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct...FXrQxFmnE9tr2zB64zjtyr5g&ust=1416158825178725). having said that although the corsair carbide 400r is a great case it's layout is not conducive to good air cooling for multiple gpu's. you might consider selling it and picking up something similar to the corsair carbide 540 air.


edit - just noticed you're using 3 hd's (pretty sure the 540 is good for only two)

The door on my case has space for two 140mm fans. I moved the one on the bottom to the side blowing directly on the GPUs'. It helped for about 5 degrees. I have a 140mm on order.

 

[Ferzerp]

FYI, it has less to do with "hot air rising" than it does with lack of airflow to a top card. It would reach temps closer to the SLI temps than to normal temps if you put in a blank sheet of metal that close to the cooler as well.

 

[gradoman]

Stick the 2nd card into the lowest slot, connect with a longer SLI ribbon. Might be a tight squeeze for the cables connected down there, but this way your cards will have some breathing room.

 

[bodhammer]

Stick the 2nd card into the lowest slot, connect with a longer SLI ribbon. Might be a tight squeeze for the cables connected down there, but this way your cards will have some breathing room.

No room next to the PS and also my bottom slot is only a x4. I'm stuck with the cards adjacent.

As soon as I get the 140mm I will move the 120mm to blow right on the card edges.

 

[Hauk]

No room next to the PS and also my bottom slot is only a x4. I'm stuck with the cards adjacent.

As soon as I get the 140mm I will move the 120mm to blow right on the card edges.

Good choice on moving fan to door, cards are tight so getting air between them is important. Fan proximity helps as you saw with the 5c temp drop. The 2nd fan should help a bit more.

So one 120mm fan exhausting out back with top fan bays open? If open they will passively exhaust, but installed fans there would help. You should be good though.

 

[gradoman]

No room next to the PS and also my bottom slot is only a x4. I'm stuck with the cards adjacent.

As soon as I get the 140mm I will move the 120mm to blow right on the card edges.

Ah, alright. Asus has some tricky wording with 16, 8, 8 and 16, 16, 1, listed, but there's no mention as to what happens if you only populate 2 slots with first and third. I did search a bit and found a clear confirmation on that silliness.


As for the card being near the PSU, I have stuck a 560Ti right next to the bottom of main chamber of my X1000 on a Sabertooth Z77 and it wasn't bad off. The issue was the cabling down there being squished. What I'm saying is having that if the board was good to go, I would try having the card next to the PSU, especially seeing as the card is a dual fan card. Doesn't really matter seeing as the board doesn't support it though. Lol...

 

[bodhammer]

Good choice on moving fan to door, cards are tight so getting air between them is important. Fan proximity helps as you saw with the 5c temp drop. The 2nd fan should help a bit more.

So one 120mm fan exhausting out back with top fan bays open? If open they will passively exhaust, but installed fans there would help. You should be good though.

So, I just moved the fan off the door to the drive cage and that gave even better performance. Heaven benchmarks temps dropped to the 60's. I will put the 140mm on the door aimed at the cards.

Yes, my upper 120mm is an exhaust and the top bays are open. I have been thinking about getting the h100 CPU cooler so I have not added the top fans. I just put a dust cover there.

Thanks everyone for the help and suggestions - I appreciate it!