Geforce 7950GTX Core Temps - What is too hot?

I recently needed to replace my video card for my clevo m570/sager np5760 so I bought a 7950gtx off ebay.

When I first installed it, I tried running 3dmark 06 and it didnt even make it through the first test (and during the test it ran terrible, then my system restarted).

I installed rivatuner and monitored my core temps during the test and up till the system restart, the temperature was around 80C idle and got to 106C on the monitor log before it crashed.

Next I took the card out and opened up the heatsink and found there was basically no thermal paste, and I added some. Now I get an idle temp of around 56-60C. During my next test with 3dmark 06, it ran great (better than with my old 7900gtx), but stutters every once in awhile (goes from around 30fps to 5 fps for 1 second). It did this time make it all the way through the benchmark without restarting. I checked my logs and it still gets to around 103C at its highest Temp.

Is 103C too hot, and if so how can I reduce the temp?

 

Um ... 103 C is scorching hot ... that could damage your hardware. I have no idea how you could reduce the heat in a laptop though except for adding arctic silver to it. If it was in a desktop, you could just add a nice heatsink fan to it but it's unfortunately not in a desktop. You could try a laptop cooler but I don't know how much that would help. But I am curious as to why you upgraded from a 7900 GTX to a 7950 GTX ... it really doesn't make much sense.

 

definetly too hot. Great way to fry your card though...heh

Does the card not have a hsf on it? If so, then what about air circulation? video cards really shoulsn't run that hot.

 

Mine idles at 35-36 and maxes out at 69C.
Your`s is WAY TOO HOT.
Are you sure it`s properly installed? heatsink and all?

 

Try a notebook cooler that blows air directly into your vents, that should take off at least 10C. Im sure you tried to clean vents and get all the dust out, but it wouldnt hurt to do it again.

 

I'm thinking that there must be something wrong with the heatsink ... that's the only way the temps could get that high.

 

any temp over 90-95C is too hot.

you need to make sure:
- the vents are clean
- the notebook is ONLY being used on clean, hard, flat surfaces .. preferably a good notebook cooler
(never on laps, beds, couches, etc.)
- the vents are not being blocked (from using it on soft surfaces)
- the heatsink/pipes is secured onto the GPU with thermal compound.

 

mine is 100° when i play
and 60° when surfing and stuff

:s already got a new gfx card from alienware because the last one also got fried

its now running with artic silver ...

 

are you blocking the bottom vents when using it?

are you sure the vents are cleared out? (a flashlight can tell you if it is or not)

 

No chance you're overclocking, is there? Did you ever overclock the GPU? Sometimes removing overclocking software leaves the registry entries that keep the GPU speeds up high.