Question GPU Temps Much Higher After MOBO Swap (6950 XT)

[Shabadoo]

Current Hardware:

CPU: Ryzen 7 7700X
GPU: RX 6950 XT
MOBO: Gigabyte B650 X AX Rev 1.3
RAM: Crucial Pro DDR5 (2x16Gb)

Previous Hardware:

CPU: Ryzen 7 3700X
GPU: RX 6950 XT
MOBO: Gigabyte X570 Auros Elite
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX DDR4 (2x16Gb)

PSU: Corsair Rm1000x

Looking for some troubleshooting advice. I recently upgraded my CPU to a 7700X which required a new MOBO and RAM. After booting up, I updated all drivers and the BIOS. I opened up 3DMark to run the Time Spy benchmark and compare to a previous benchmark and two things happened.

First, my computer consistently crashed and shut down prior to completing the benchmark. Second, when I was able to complete the benchmark, GPU temps at 98-99% load were 99-101C (not hotspot temps, those were at 110C). The test indicated GPU clock frequency averaging about 2400 MHz and Memory Clock Frequency about 2200 MHz. I compared these to a benchmark run with previous hardware and, with the same clock frequencies, GPU temps never went above 71C.

No other changes occurred to my setup besides MOBO/CPU/RAM. The new MOBO mounting locations are almost exactly matching to the previous board, so airflow within the case did not change significantly. I confirmed all readings within the AMD adrenaline software and ran the stress test within the software with similar temps. I also tried changing the fan curve for the GPU so that by about 70C, they would be running at full speed. Temps remained around 96-97C with fans full speed. I'm not sure where to go from here and what things I should be looking at. Am I missing something or screwing up? Any guidance is appreciated

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

After booting up, I updated all drivers and the BIOS.
Did you reinstall the OS after the motherboard swap? From that line alone, it seems to me that the answer is no, if so, please reinstall your OS after recreating your bootable USB installer.

BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time?

No other changes occurred to my setup besides MOBO/CPU/RAM. The new MOBO mounting locations are almost exactly matching to the previous board, so airflow within the case did not change significantly
Make and model of case?

 

[Phaaze88]

I'd ask how you handled the card when removing and installing it, but it sounds like the cooler has shifted enough to lose contact, and a new coat of paste needs to be applied.

 

[triplex1]

check the pads of card and new paste

 

[Shabadoo]

Thanks for the quick replies everyone!

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

After booting up, I updated all drivers and the BIOS.
Did you reinstall the OS after the motherboard swap? From that line alone, it seems to me that the answer is no, if so, please reinstall your OS after recreating your bootable USB installer.

BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time?

No other changes occurred to my setup besides MOBO/CPU/RAM. The new MOBO mounting locations are almost exactly matching to the previous board, so airflow within the case did not change significantly
Make and model of case?

You are correct, I did not reinstall the OS (Win 11 Pro). I will do so. BIOS version is FB2, previous was FB I believe (installed using Gigabyte Control Center). Case is a Fractal Design Define XL R2 with 4 Noctua NF-P14s Redux-1500 PWM fans. Setup is two at the front and bottom of the case as intakes and two at the top and back as exhausts.

I'd ask how you handled the card when removing and installing it, but it sounds like the cooler has shifted enough to lose contact, and a new coat of paste needs to be applied.

Having pulled the card a few times before, I'd like to think I handled it no differently than in the past. I did not drop it nor hit it and nothing I did stands out in my mind as having been aggressive. Regardless, I will crack it open and re-apply paste. It can't hurt since I've been running the card for about two years now.

check the pads of card and new paste

Since I am going to open it up and re-apply paste, should I also swap the pads while I'm in there? Or does it just depend on what I see when I'm there?

 

[triplex1]

Since I am going to open it up and re-apply paste, should I also swap the pads while I'm in there? Or does it just depend on what I see when I'm there?

which company's 6950 do you have?

 

[Shabadoo]

which company's 6950 do you have?

Apologies, I should have included that earlier, ASRock OC Formula 16GB GDDR6

 

[triplex1]

you have one of the best cards that have come out of the 6000 series, what you have to do very carefully and in the graphics cards, remember that we don't put a large amount of thermal paste

if they are worn, change them, if they are fine, don't bother

29 x 25 mm Compatibility

Nvidia GPUs:
RTX 4090
RTX 3080, RTX 3080 ti, RTX 3090, RTX 3090 ti
RTX 2070 Super, RTX 2080, RTX 2080 Super

• AMD GPUs:
  RX 7900 XT, RX 7900 XTX
  RX 6800, RX 6800 XT, RX 6900 XT, RX 6950 XT
• Intel GPUs:
  Arc A750, Arc A770

 

[triplex1]

and see this

 

[Shabadoo]

Fantastic! Thank you for the info, it's greatly appreciated

 

[triplex1]

Fantastic! Thank you for the info, it's greatly appreciated

here is from formula 6900xt ...are the same cards see this video

 

[triplex1]

if they are 0.2 thick, you can put 0.25, just make sure it closes nicely and carefully

 

[triplex1]

and if you don't have isopropyl alcohol, find and get a bottle to clean it well

 

[Shabadoo]

Re-did the thermal paste on the GPU and voila! Temps are back to normal. I was able to run through the Time Spy benchmark with temps no higher than 74C. The AMD adrenaline stress test yielded temps no higher than 86C.

Thanks to all for the help! Amazing that the cooler has enough play that it can lose contact with the chip. I never would have guessed!

 

[triplex1]

also try a furmark based on the resolution of the screen you have