GPU overheating very fast

[DMorrison]

I have recently just got my computer working again and, as usual, something has gone wrong with my graphics card. When playing games, new or old, my GPU will overheat in SECONDS. Honestly. It will go from 30-40 celsius average, to 100+ celsius in under 10 seconds, sometimes longer with older games, which results in a black screen and computer restart. There was nothing wrong with my GPU prior, save for the fact that I let my friend borrow it while I was getting my new RAM. There doesn't seem to be anything restricting airflow or anything clogging the heat sink, and I reapplied some new thermal paste. There doesn't seem to be any damage or burning on the card anywhere. I've even adjusted my fan settings so that the fans run on max when it reaches 80 celsius. This has never happened before and it crashes on Skyrim, which it used to run at 40-50 fps. Help me Tom's Hardware, you're my only hope.
Specs:
CPU: Intel i5 Ivy Bridge
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX660 Ti
Power Supply: Corsair HX 750 (750 watts)
Hard Drives: Seagate Barracuda (2000GB) and a Micron Crucial m4 SSD (128GB)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate
Case: NZXT Phantom

 

[frag06]

I have recently just got my computer working again and, as usual, something has gone wrong with my graphics card. When playing games, new or old, my GPU will overheat in SECONDS. Honestly. It will go from 30-40 celsius average, to 100+ celsius in under 10 seconds, sometimes longer with older games, which results in a black screen and computer restart. There was nothing wrong with my GPU prior, save for the fact that I let my friend borrow it while I was getting my new RAM. There doesn't seem to be anything restricting airflow or anything clogging the heat sink, and I reapplied some new thermal paste. There doesn't seem to be any damage or burning on the card anywhere. I've even adjusted my fan settings so that the fans run on max when it reaches 80 celsius. This has never happened before and it crashes on Skyrim, which it used to run at 40-50 fps. Help me Tom's Hardware, you're my only hope.
Specs:
CPU: Intel i5 Ivy Bridge
Motherboard: ASUS P8Z77-V
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX660 Ti
Power Supply: Corsair HX 750 (750 watts)
Hard Drives: Seagate Barracuda (2000GB) and a Micron Crucial m4 SSD (128GB)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate
Case: NZXT Phantom

It was overheating before you re-applied the TIM, right? Also, are you sure the fan is spinning?

 

[cowboydude99]

If the fan's and TIM are good I would question the PSU. It could be faulty.

Unless you're over clocking... In that case stop over clocking.

 

[Mouldread]

Hey,

you have to make sure that the heatsink of the GPU cooler is seated properly. When you have removed it to apply new thermal paste you might have placed it incorrectly so it doesn't do proper contact.

If the heatsink is seated properly and the fans are spinning then you should make sure your "friend" hasn't overclocked or otherwise played with the GPU while he was in possession of your PC. Probably the best thing to do (again after you make sure hardware-wise it's all ok) is to remove the GPU drivers and all associated programs (overclocking tools etc.) and install the latest drivers from nVidia's website. You can use the driver sweeper here http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html to remove the old drivers.

 

[DMorrison]

Hey,

you have to make sure that the heatsink of the GPU cooler is seated properly. When you have removed it to apply new thermal paste you might have placed it incorrectly so it doesn't do proper contact.

If the heatsink is seated properly and the fans are spinning then you should make sure your "friend" hasn't overclocked or otherwise played with the GPU while he was in possession of your PC. Probably the best thing to do (again after you make sure hardware-wise it's all ok) is to remove the GPU drivers and all associated programs (overclocking tools etc.) and install the latest drivers from nVidia's website. You can use the driver sweeper here http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html to remove the old drivers.

I made sure that my heatsink is seated properly, and it's still heating up pretty fast. I used the driver sweeper that you suggested and it did help a little bit. I can now run some of my previous games, but my gpu is still running at 90-100 celsius and will occasionally black screen if I play newer games for too long. I'm not currently overclocking, and my friend said that he wasn't but I was wondering if there is a way or a program to wipe overclock settings from my gpu, because I currently don't trust myself you fiddle around with anything lest I completely fry my gpu.

 

[Mouldread]

Hey,

There isn't an universal program that would remove all programs associated with overclocking, you just have to remember what they are and uninstall them yourself.

There is an idea if you have a spare hard drive though. You can unplug your hard drive/drives and plug only the spare one in. Then install your Windows and all drivers needed. Then try running 1 of the games that usually gives you problems to see how it goes. If you can do that then you can be 100% sure it's not a software problem as you are going to have a fresh copy of Windows and a freshly downloaded copy of the game and no overclocks etc.

If that's not an option then maybe you can try your GPU in another PC, again, if you have one available.