Safe Video Card Temps?

[~LoKe]

I've looked around to try and find out what the optimal temps on a video card would be. I'm getting mixed results, so I think it would be best to just ask you guys.

My card: eVGA GeForce 7900GS
Idle, the nvidia tool reported a temperature of 57-60* C. This was with the stock Heatsink/fan. I unplugged the noisy fan and tossed a little 80mm case fan in there, and now my temps are 61-62.

I don't do anything resource intensive enough for these temps to go up too much higher (usually below 70*), so that's pretty much the ceiling.

How are those temps? Should I be worried?

I plan on modding the panel of my case and tossing in two 120mm fans, so if these temps aren't too bad, this will certainly make things better.

What do you think?

 

[thrawn86]

those temps are fine.

general rule of thumb: if you start seeing artifacts...its too hot.

 

[~LoKe]

those temps are fine.

general rule of thumb: if you start seeing artifacts...its too hot.

That brings me to my next question. When you start to see artifacts, does that generally mean that you can still shut down and fix your temps, or does that means your card is already slightly fubar'd?

Only reason I ask is because my last card (7300GT) apparently had bad video memory, and I think it was my fault.

 

[thrawn86]

The card (just like a cpu) will lock up and freeze the system long before any actual damage occurs. If you see tearing, crank down your clocks a few mhz, no harm done

 

[~LoKe]

The card (just like a cpu) will lock up and freeze the system long before any actual damage occurs. If you see tearing, crank down your clocks a few mhz, no harm done

Thanks! I haven't tried overclocking this card yet (I'm a pussy) so it's simply cooling I have to worry about for now.