M17X R2 - GPU Temperatures are increasing

Hello

I got my m17x R2 last year and found my GPU temps running at 101oC on the primary and 130oC on the secondary cards when running FurMark,
I then went forward and performed the GPU cooling mod, pretty much open up the machine took out the graphics cards and disassembled them.
Took the thermal pads off and replaced everything with MX-4 cooling past (GPU and Ram chips).
Then ran FurMark (1920x1200 Extreme Burn In) and found the temps dropped to 81oC Primary and 82oC Secondary card. and they were running at this point for some.

Now about two weeks ago I upgraded the amd/ati drivers from 11.5 to 11.8, and after this upgrade I found that my graphics performance dropped quite a bit (X3 Terran Conflict demo at 1920x1200 4x AA 8xAF went from 95-93 average fps to 86 to 88 fps).

So I decided to run a FurMark test again, with the same set-up as before and now my GPU temps are 91oC primary and 101oC secondary.

I'm guessing that the cards are going through thermal throttling and that is why my bench mark scores have dropped.

What's bugging me is that I get the feeling that my third level for the GPU fans are not kicking in, and that this may be why the temps have gone up so much.

I've gone back to the 11.5 ATI drivers but the same thing is still happening.

I guess my question is, should I do a repast since it been almost a year now since I did one?

Or have the ATI drivers changed some thing?
(I followed the recognized proper uninstall method and mentioned on this forum)

Thanks for any comments.

 

Drivers could definitely be the issue. But right now try repasting. Be extra careful!

If the repasting does not affect much of the temperature, it could mean that drivers could really be the issue.

Let us know!

 

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I've uninstalled to 11.8 drivers using ccleaner and driver sweeper, but this has not changed any thing.

I don't see how suddenly the graphics card could heat up so much if it were the paste.

Has this happened to any one else?

 

honestly if u pasted right it should last for a very very long time...

so have u installed the old drivers u used for lower temps?

 

Hi Dellienware

Thanks for your replies.

I found the problem, Dust.

Layer of dust between the Graphics card's heat sinks and the fans..
Cleaned them off and my Furmark temps are back down to 82oC and 88oC, primary and seconday respectivly.

So yes your right the repaste should last very long, also the MX-4 claims a 5 year life..
Probably do a repaste on the seconadry card to try and reduce that 88oC temp.

Well my Laptops working fine again, not to do a dust check every 6 months.

Thanks

 

glad that its working. wow the dust gets in that quick...

like how much was it though in there?

 

Not a huge amount actually, A thin layer between the heat sink and fan, but enough to restrict the air flow..

I was quite shocked since I haven't even had this PC for a year yet.

Was just wondering what I would have done if I have not already known how to open her up, ot even do the cooling mod.

As I mentioned before my secondary card was hitting 130oC, when running furmark, I think it would have failled by now, and had to be replaced....

But glad I got her stable again, and much cooler.