Alienware Aurora case overheating multiple GPUs

[Dondomingo]

I have the non-alx Aurora case that I've had for a few years now.

However with this current Alienware Case and set up, I have purchased now 6 GPU's, not from upgrading, but from heat issues. The Case ambient temps have never gotten over 25-28c so in my ignorance I figured the Thermal controls were also keeping an eye on the GPU. I was of course mistaken.

As I kept replacing failing or completely non functional GPUs I began to wonder, this last one only lasted 6 months before starting to fail. So I purchased a new Video card specifically because it benchmark cooling at 40-50c playing Battlefront under load (from Toms Hardware I might add). I also used the program that monitors the GPU's temp and I was surprised what I saw. On my PC at idle I was sitting at 50c, under load with simple games (WoW, STWoR,) I would hit 80c-90c.

So trying something out, I used the Thermal controller to turn the fans up to max, I used the GPUs' controller to turn the fans on max on the video card and at most I got was a 2-3c drop in temp.

So in desperation I took the side cover off, which I've never had to do before and placed a house fan pointing directly at the GPU. I played the same games for the same amount of time and checked and I hit 60c top. That's almost 30c cooler then with the case on and fans running at 100%.

Any suggestions to remedy this problem would be welcome. I have two 5.25 bays open I could take off the cover and put in those HD cooler fans devices, but would that cool the GPU enough?

The GPU sits on the bottom half of the Case, I'm not sure the 5.25 bays would even push air in it's direction.

 

[Gam3r01]

Its a poorly designed case with little to no airflow, and that is the problem.
I would recommend simply replacing the case if you could, however if that is not possible some modding to the side panel may also benefit you.
On a side note, what GPUs are you using? (Model and manufacturer)

 

[Dondomingo]

The last one was a Nvidia GTX 760 (really nice card) , this one is a Asus GTX 960 Strix . Tom's hardware had a nice write up on it since I was trying to find the coolest running GPU out there. Now the overall build is a few years old, so it's only a 875w power supply and PCI express 2. I think the original I had with the build was a Nvidia GeForce GTX460 which lasted a year and a half before giving out.

Generally if the Video card doesn't out right fry (pixilation's, lines or worse) then it's just the slow build up of TDR and kernel errors, bsod until it finally stops. The GTX 760 was only 6 months old but after numerous attempts to see if it was software related, I reformatted and redid Win 7, clean out all the drivers etc but still had the bsods. Then once it got to multiple bsods in a row I just replaced the card (two days ago)

With the new card it's back to normal as if nothing has happened, that's when I really decided to keep an eye on the GPU temp and when I saw it hit 91c from just playing Stwor for 5 minutes. I knew if I keep this up, i'll be buying another card in 6 months or less.

I just had a hour long session of dog fighting in Swtor and I checked GPU tweak and I was sitting at 45c.. that's with the case open and fan on the GPU.

I thought about transferring the guts to a new case, I watched the video on stripping the aurora case. it' has a few proprietary parts from Alienware but I'm sure there is solutions out there. It's just I have no experience with case building.

Which I find rather sad since I've been buying and using PC's since the days of commodore VIC 20.

Here's a picture of the side chassis door, not very friendly looking..

Side chassis door

 

[Gam3r01]

Yeah alienware has their fun with proprietary components. For the time being if you cant find a solution for a new case, leave the side panel off or cracked, and that should at least get you below 80C. As for the modding, that looks like a tough panel to do anything worthwhile, other than just make a hole...

 

[Dondomingo]

I agree, I'll see what I can do modding wise or case replacement but for now I'll pull the side off during use and replace after. I'll have to clean a bit more often as well but worth it over buying yet another GPU.

I appreciate you getting back to me.