Calling all nerds (gaming) GET IN HERE!

[MJCRO]

I wouldn't trust Raidmax PSU's, especially not cheap models with split 12V rails. I'd look into getting either a Corsair or Seasonic with single rail setup's and 40A+. Don't be cheap on something like your PSU, you want something that can adequately power your machine under heavy loads without any strain on it.

[DatUtahGuy]

@jclar, are you saying I should "tear apart" the case of the video card and clean it?

[E30 Wagen]

@jclar, are you saying I should "tear apart" the case of the video card and clean it?

That's what I would do. I'd have some alcohol wipes, some thermal pads, and thermal paste handly. I've seen brand new high-end video cards that people have taken apart only to discover the GPU was not even half-covered with thermal paste. There's really no risk of damaging anything as long as you're careful, and of course you're not sacrificing the warranty or anything.

[jclar]

IMG

@jclar, are you saying I should "tear apart" the case of the video card and clean it?

CPU temps look great, almost definitely a problem exclusive to the video card and unrelated to the case temperature. Assuming you're on the Intel cooler you would be experiencing temps quite a bit higher than that if it weren't the case.

Yes, disassemble the cooling assembly. Remove dust.

That's what I would do. I'd have some alcohol wipes, some thermal pads, and thermal paste handly. I've seen brand new high-end video cards that people have taken apart only to discover the GPU was not even half-covered with thermal paste. There's really no risk of damaging anything as long as you're careful, and of course you're not sacrificing the warranty or anything.

Definitely. And although it will probably be covered adequately with thermal paste, almost any card out there is hindered by the fact that A) The thermal paste is of extremely low quality, as quality thermal paste is very expensive in comparison and B) The thermal paste is applied too thick with enough material for several applications. Thermal paste is a weak point in the cooling assembly and an extremely thin amount should be used.

With temperatures like yours I think it is extremely likely that either your GPU fan is toast or just completely clogged up. Reapplying thermal paste may not be necessary, but is required if the GPU is separated from the HS/F assembly.

Often times when a fan fails it will be very resistant to spinning. When flicked with your finger the fan should complete several revolutions if good. If the fan only slightly moves it is faulty. IIRC XFX has a double lifetime warranty on their cards now, I would think your 6870 would qualify for that. If the fan is bad simply RMA the card.

[DatUtahGuy]

Calling all nerds (gaming) GET IN HERE!

cool I will uninstall it and see how the fan is working

[decay]

I wouldn't trust Raidmax PSU's, especially not cheap models with split 12V rails. I'd look into getting either a Corsair or Seasonic with single rail setup's and 40A+. Don't be cheap on something like your PSU, you want something that can adequately power your machine under heavy loads without any strain on it.

replacing his PSU at both of your advice would have been a complete waste of money-

these statements about raidmax are based on what?

my (first-hand) experience with them is they do fine, and i'm asking a lot more of my hardware than you are.

[squidmaster]

My first hand experience is that they're trash. You're first hand experience is using a way over powered PSU to do a very low power job and that's working alright. That's not much of an experience.

[Wschnitz]

Raid max is super trash, get a corsair damnit.

[eduTechnic]

Raid max is super trash, get a corsair damnit.

This. Corsair is sweetness

Sent from my Note 2

[decay]

My first hand experience is that they're trash. You're first hand experience is using a way over powered PSU to do a very low power job and that's working alright. That's not much of an experience.

...bitcoin mining is not a "low power job", it is 24h 100% gpu utilization, but i guess you may not have been aware of that. as far as the rest, a more appropriate way to say it would be that i over-engineered, because i wanted reliability and quietness.

but whatever, keep recommending this guy spend money on what's clearly not the failure point, if that's fun for you

[jclar]

Also have first hand experience with Raidmax PSUs. Junk. Yours may work fine now, and it may continue to for the next 10 years, but I would never give somebody any amount of money in exchange for one. There's too many reputable companies manufacturing quality units to consider something like that.

I'm not trying to infer that getting a non-Raidmax PSU is going to solve OP's problems, rather that he gets a PSU of quality before it causes problems. There's more to a power supply then making a PC turn on and perform under load.

[Wschnitz]

I suggest corsair for many components, I have a case, PSU, ram, and cooling from them, build quality is excellent and everything is packaged with care.

[MJCRO]

Raidmax isn't total trash, but I highly doubt the reliably of they're cheaper models like that 530W model. Better to be safe than sorry and invest in a PSU with reputable reliability, great warranties, and awesome customer service, like Corsair for example.

I used to have 2600K @ 5Ghz, Z68X-UD7, EVGA GTX 580 Classified, and PC Power & Cooling 950W powering it all until I sold it for a Sager laptop which I run now as a desktop setup with an external monitor.

But like I said, don't be cheap and get a good brand PSU eventually.

[squidmaster]

...bitcoin mining is not a "low power job", it is 24h 100% gpu utilization, but i guess you may not have been aware of that. as far as the rest, a more appropriate way to say it would be that i over-engineered, because i wanted reliability and quietness.

but whatever, keep recommending this guy spend money on what's clearly not the failure point, if that's fun for you

try reading the my posts again then ;)

Like I already said, your setup doesn't come close to the drawing 850w.
what mining program are you using? windows or linux? how many Mhps?

[decay]

try reading the my posts again then ;)

Like I already said, your setup doesn't come close to the drawing 850w.
what mining program are you using? windows or linux? how many Mhps?

and like *i* said, i built it that way because i wanted a quiet rig, so maybe take your own advice. ;)

the two cards draw 250w, which is the relevant point here. yes, i'm aware the PSU has far more capacity than that- and that's why it doesn't sound like a jet turbine in the middle of my living room.

(somewhat amazed that i'm having to explain the concept of "overengineering" to someone on a classic BMW forum)