Overheating GPU

[Flaks]

Hey, friend referred me to this site to get some help on seeking upgrades but specifically to address a concern.

So I have a 4 year old Dell Studio XPS 8000. Specs are as follows: Core i7 860, Nvidia GTS 240 1 MB, 1TB hard drive, 8 GB RAM and 350W power supply.

Here's pretty much everything that's been going on and what I've attemped to address it:

About a week ago my video card seemed to give out. My monitor would randomly shut off while playing Skyrim, Neverwinter beta or Starcraft II: HotS. Started doing a little research (I'm a complete newbie at this stuff) and found some temperature monitoring software. Tried speedfan which promptly blue screened me. Used CPUID and it was showing idle temps at 75-80c increasing by 1 degree celsius every half an hour or so. Under load it jumped up to about 105-110 before either the monitor would shut off or the computer would crash.

Realized I hadn't cleaned out my tower for a VERY long time so gave it a thorough cleaning. Booted back and the idle temps didn't decrease. Instead, under load temperatures spiked all the way up to 115+c and the application, monitor and computer refused to crash or shutdown. Of course I didn't try it again.

So I took it to a shop to see what might be wrong. They were getting the same temps. Tried out another video card, this time an ATI 5000 series which idled at about 65c and also continued to increase over time while no applications were running. Jumped up quickly to 85c after about a minute of playing SCII and I didn't let it run any more after that.

So that's the more troubling part, replacing the video card didn't change anything. The shop owner said it might have something to do with the mother board but consulting other stores/folks online said that if it was a motherboard issue the computer flat out wouldn't be running while others said it might still be a specific portion of the motherboard because its compartmentalized.

So to my questions: I'm considering upgrading to a radeon 7850 1GB for $180 (free Bioshock infinite and Tomb Raider sound REALLY compelling) but I'm willing to settle for a lower end card for a cheaper price too. For this I would need to upgrade to at least a 4-500W PSU one way or another. Any recommendations for both would be great with about a $200 budge. Second, what could possibly be wrong with my computer? Should I replace my motherboard and keep the remaining working units and build an entirely new desktop? If so, could someone help me find a good tower/motherboard/GPU/PSU bundle?

Thanks for any help and let me know if this is the wrong place to ask these questions and I'll go ahead and delete this and post it in another subforum.

 

[Fooshnik]

Could be a malfunctioning PSU, though if that's the case I'm surprised anything works at all. As for computer components, need budget/usage.

 

[Flaks]

I want to do kind of some gaming but am not willing to drop more than $150 on a video card. The 7850 seems to fit the bill but I'm still not sure if I shouldn't just go for a 7770 for under $100. PSU I'd prefer spending less than $50.

I think I might need to get a new motherboard (would end up moving the working components from my studio xps to a new tower with new motherboard/psu/gpu).

Another thing I was considering is my parents said they'd be willing to pitch in to purchase a lenovo desk top for $500 with a core i7 3750, Nvidia 620 (weak card), 12 GB RAM, 2TB hard drive, 430W PSU.

 

[USMCGrunt]

I'd definitely look into replacing the PSU, even just to test it out, if it doesn't fix the problem you could take it back. PSU is something you don't want to cheap out on either but to each his own. I would also recommend fixing the issue at hand before doing any kind of upgrades. You said the techs threw a 5000 series video card in the system and it still ran high temps. Either a new mobo or a new psu is in order with the PSU being the easiest/cheapest thing to start with. Ignore the issue and you could end up frying everything.

 

[Fix Me]

Hey, friend referred me to this site to get some help on seeking upgrades but specifically to address a concern.

So I have a 4 year old Dell Studio XPS 8000. Specs are as follows: Core i7 860, Nvidia GTS 240 1 MB, 1TB hard drive, 8 GB RAM and 350W power supply.

Here's pretty much everything that's been going on and what I've attemped to address it:

About a week ago my video card seemed to give out. My monitor would randomly shut off while playing Skyrim, Neverwinter beta or Starcraft II: HotS. Started doing a little research (I'm a complete newbie at this stuff) and found some temperature monitoring software. Tried speedfan which promptly blue screened me. Used CPUID and it was showing idle temps at 75-80c increasing by 1 degree celsius every half an hour or so. Under load it jumped up to about 105-110 before either the monitor would shut off or the computer would crash.

Realized I hadn't cleaned out my tower for a VERY long time so gave it a thorough cleaning. Booted back and the idle temps didn't decrease. Instead, under load temperatures spiked all the way up to 115+c and the application, monitor and computer refused to crash or shutdown. Of course I didn't try it again.

So I took it to a shop to see what might be wrong. They were getting the same temps. Tried out another video card, this time an ATI 5000 series which idled at about 65c and also continued to increase over time while no applications were running. Jumped up quickly to 85c after about a minute of playing SCII and I didn't let it run any more after that.

So that's the more troubling part, replacing the video card didn't change anything. The shop owner said it might have something to do with the mother board but consulting other stores/folks online said that if it was a motherboard issue the computer flat out wouldn't be running while others said it might still be a specific portion of the motherboard because its compartmentalized.

So to my questions: I'm considering upgrading to a radeon 7850 1GB for $180 (free Bioshock infinite and Tomb Raider sound REALLY compelling) but I'm willing to settle for a lower end card for a cheaper price too. For this I would need to upgrade to at least a 4-500W PSU one way or another. Any recommendations for both would be great with about a $200 budge. Second, what could possibly be wrong with my computer? Should I replace my motherboard and keep the remaining working units and build an entirely new desktop? If so, could someone help me find a good tower/motherboard/GPU/PSU bundle?

Thanks for any help and let me know if this is the wrong place to ask these questions and I'll go ahead and delete this and post it in another subforum.

Just out of curiosity, what are your CPU temps? Any readings on MB temps? I just wonder if your whole system isn't running hot or if it's just the GPU. Are you sure you cleaned out all the fans in the case and they are all functional? Have you tried running it with the side panel off to see if the temps are better? That could point to poor airflow in the case.

Does anyone know if it's possible for malware to cause something like this? Maybe a bitcoin mining bot or something is infecting the PC? You definitely need to get your overheating issue addressed before upgrading anything or you may just end up with the same issue on your new hardware.

I'm not sure how the PSU would cause the GPU or system to overheat, but your symptoms could point to a failing PSU or motherboard. However, they could also be due to general overheating. The CPU will shutdown when it gets too hot, so your monitor winking off could be the CPU shutting down to protect itself if the whole system shuts off (failing PSU's will shut off the system unexpectedly also). GPU's function similarly and you know that it is getting too hot under load.

 

[USMCGrunt]

Just out of curiosity, what are your CPU temps? Any readings on MB temps? I just wonder if your whole system isn't running hot or if it's just the GPU. Are you sure you cleaned out all the fans in the case and they are all functional? Have you tried running it with the side panel off to see if the temps are better? That could point to poor airflow in the case.

Does anyone know if it's possible for malware to cause something like this? Maybe a bitcoin mining bot or something is infecting the PC? You definitely need to get your overheating issue addressed before upgrading anything or you may just end up with the same issue on your new hardware.

I'm not sure how the PSU would cause the GPU or system to overheat, but your symptoms could point to a failing PSU or motherboard. However, they could also be due to general overheating. The CPU will shutdown when it gets too hot, so your monitor winking off could be the CPU shutting down to protect itself if the whole system shuts off (failing PSU's will shut off the system unexpectedly also). GPU's function similarly and you know that it is getting too hot under load.

I have heard of there being a bitcoin zombie net before...not sure if its still operational or not. There has been malware in the past who's objective was to fry the CPU, never heard of one attacking a GPU though.
A faulty PSU could be sending improper voltages down the lines creating higher resistances. Higher than expected resistance creates heat...there's a lot going on with a PSU that can effect a PC. After all, a computer is just a directed flow of electricity...if its flowing in an unintended way it could have unintended consequences.
Typically, a monitor going off is a failure between the GPU and monitor but, the monitor and cable have probably been ruled out by the tech that tried to diagnose his computer but its possible the CPU could have a say in the matter.

On the subject of the tech, it seems like he did a halfass diagnosis on your computer, hope you didn't pay for it. Seems like all he did was check for a faulty video card instead of checking the entire set of hardware to see where the failure is at in the link. It doesn't take much time or effort to throw parts on a test bench and see which one makes a system break.

 

[Flaks]

Ran a bunch of antivirus programs which popped up nothing. Connected new hard drive even. Still no change.

CPU temps vary between 40-55c. No clue what motherboard temps might be.

I found another PSU at 500w for $50 I might go for: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152028

Motherboard I'm looking at: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157304 I wouldn't mind a cheaper one though

I'm not running my computer at all. Tried turning it on again yesterday and I could distinctly make out a burning smell while the computer was giving me a keyboard error. Doing everything on my laptop.

And yea, it was a little shop that some family friends owned and they don't really seem to have the major diagnostic tools. It was all for free. But I don't want to go to some other shop and pay $70 for a diagnostics test =/

P.S. Any budget video card recommendations would be appreciated. Max $150.

 

[USMCGrunt]

I'm not running my computer at all. Tried turning it on again yesterday and I could distinctly make out a burning smell while the computer was giving me a keyboard error. Doing everything on my laptop.

lol, you definitely have something fried in there, I would recommend not turning it on again. I suggest you crack open the case, take a flashlight and start looking for any charring on the motherboard and all the expansion cards. Take any cards out and check the contacts for charring as well as the RAM and CPU and their sockets on the motherboard. No guarantee that you'll find any but if you do, youll at least know your point of failure. Also, the smell tends to linger so its possible you could "smell" which part is bad, especially if its the PSU, stick your nose up to that thing and see if you smell it coming from within the PSU.

 

[Fix Me]

No, don't get a Raidmax, that'll just make it worse! lol

I'd go for this Seasonic for $65
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094

or this Corsair CX430 for $45: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

Either one should be miles better than that Raidmax.

That MB isn't going to work with your i7 860, it's a different socket (1156). Here are your options on Newegg:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=

Amazon seems to have a better selection: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...+1156+motherboard&sprefix=socket+1156,aps,203

USMCGrunt makes a good point about the PSU, that could indeed be the problem. If you want to look at building a new PC, you should check out the General Hardware section. Just fill out the sticky so they can help you with your parts. That may be a better idea than throwing money at a 4 year old system. Your call though.

Edit: As USMCGrunt said, put your nose in there and see if you can determine what's burning.

 

[Flaks]

So while I'm still looking to see if and what I'm going to get for an upgrade and for how much.

In the mean time, I decided to do some learning and took apart my old GTS 240 and put new thermal paste on it. Let's just say the old thermal paste just flat out seized to exist (melted off or something). I used Antec formula 7 which was a bit tougher to spread around for whatever reason but I got all the corners covered without smearing it on other spaces.

The GPU was idling at about 50c and going up to about 68c while it was about 22c in the house. It is now around 26c and the card is idling at 57c and going up to 74c under load playing SCII on custom settings with shaders off and shadows at medium with all other things about high or medium; resolution is 1920x1200 (I can't stand playing at any lower resolution =/). Is that alright? I'm thinking its still on the hotter end but at least its not the ridiculous 75c idle 110c under load temps I was getting before.

I'm liking the new 7790. Found a 2GB one on newegg for $170 which sounds pretty good. GTX 650Ti sounds pretty good too. Otherwise I think I might just settle for a 7770 or even a 7750.