GTX 560 Ti (SLI) Heat Problem

[Fecal Face]

Hi

I bought two Palit 2GB GTX 560 Ti's a few days ago, and have been running them in SLI. Nvidia surround is great, 6110x1080 =

Problem is, since they're so close together on my motherboard (ASUS P6T), the top card is getting no airflow at all, hitting 95°C+ playing games:

Not cool. (literally)

My first idea, obviously, was to move the card down a slot, creating a much larger gap in between the cards, like so:

Problem is, every time I've tried that, my computer hasn't booted, or has booted without video. Now I'm not sure if this is because my motherboard simply won't allow me to run cards in SLI in those specific slots, or if my PSU is somehow not powerful enough, or if the cards are somehow faulty.

Last time I tried moving the cards around it took me over an hour to try to boot properly, after switching the cards from slot to slot and rearranging the power connectors, unplugging / plugging in my computer, it finally started up properly.

Thing is, when it DID start up, my BIOS settings had been completely reset, my date was set to the year 2099, and my RAID 0 configuration had been lost. Reinstalling steam / couple hundred GB of games = double not cool.


So, I have a couple questions for y'all:
Is it possible for me to run the cards in SLI (perhaps get a longer SLI connector first) how I suggested, with one card moved a slot down, or is there some restriction with my motherboard that I'm not aware of?

Is it my power supply, my mobo, or the cards themselves that caused my BIOS settings to be completely reset / my computer not boot? Or is it some other problem?

Full list of my specs here, in case they're needed:
PC Power & Cooling 750W PSU
2x 2GB Palit GTX 560 Ti's [SLI]
3x WD 1TB Caviar Green [RAID0]
WD 1TB Caviar Black
Intel Corei7 920, not OC'd or anything
6GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 Triple Channel RAM
Lexa Blackline case, all fans replaced with 120mm 1900RPM Scythe "Slip Stream Kaze-Jyuni" fans.

 

[tecmo34]

Does Palit have a progam like the EVGA Precision, which allows you to control the fan speed. I have two SLI EVGA GTX 560 Ti SC in the similar situation. I just adjusted my fan speed to idle at 60% and all good. Typically, it runs at 30% and as it gets holder the fan speeds up. I haven't seen my fan go above 50% when on auto and had higher temps. The noise is a little louder but not much over my Antec 1200 fans, so no big deal. Also, I game with a headset, so noise isn't an issue!! 😀

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Some cases (i.e. DF-85 and tecmo's 1200) allow you to mount a fan behind the HD cage. That and your standard case window fan will do much to help your situation.

 

[jprahman]

^ +1 It would definitely a good idea to use a utility to increase the fan speeds.

The next PCI Express slot below the current one occupied by the second card that you were thinking about moving the second card to only runs @x4 bandwidth according to your motherboard's documentation. There may be a small chance of a performance reduction. Benchmarks have shown that generally that won't be a huge issue, but given that you are running at such high resolutions that is something to be aware of since it is at higher resolutions that PCIe bottlenecks are most likely.

I really don't know why your system would reset itself like that over you simply moving your second card.

Another idea would be to add an additional one or two fans to the case blowing air onto the first card.

 

[nforce4max]

Here is additional solution, add another fan near the two cards. You will be surprised how much that will drops temps even in an open case.

 

[Fecal Face]

Does Palit have a progam like the EVGA Precision, which allows you to control the fan speed. I have two SLI EVGA GTX 560 Ti SC in the similar situation. I just adjusted my fan speed to idle at 60% and all good. Typically, it runs at 30% and as it gets holder the fan speeds up. I haven't seen my fan go above 50% when on auto and had higher temps. The noise is a little louder but not much over my Antec 1200 fans, so no big deal. Also, I game with a headset, so noise isn't an issue!! 😀

No, they have a utility for changing clock speeds, but oddly enough you can't change fan speeds with it. I've also tried Rivatuner, which worked with my previous card (BFG Tech GTX 295) / drivers, but it doesn't seem to work with my current cards / drivers. Maybe it just hasn't been updated yet, the cards / drivers are fairly new

Some cases (i.e. DF-85 and tecmo's 1200) allow you to mount a fan behind the HD cage. That and your standard case window fan will do much to help your situation.

Here is additional solution, add another fan near the two cards. You will be surprised how much that will drops temps even in an open case.

Yeah, I bought a couple fans the other day, Scythe SlipStream Kaze-Jyuni or something. The box said 1900RPM / 110CFM, and they were $9.99 a pop, so I bought four. They're blowing a LOT more air than the fans that came in my case (Lexa Blackline). I've got a fan on the side blowing cool air straight on to the cards, and two fans on either side of the hard drives intaking air towards to cards, but they're hitting high temps even with the fans.

Use MSI afterburner to increase the top card's fan

I've heard of MSI afterburner, haven't tried it yet but I will now.

^ +1 It would definitely a good idea to use a utility to increase the fan speeds.

The next PCI Express slot below the current one occupied by the second card that you were thinking about moving the second card to only runs @x4 bandwidth according to your motherboard's documentation. There may be a small chance of a performance reduction. Benchmarks have shown that generally that won't be a huge issue, but given that you are running at such high resolutions that is something to be aware of since it is at higher resolutions that PCIe bottlenecks are most likely.

I really don't know why your system would reset itself like that over you simply moving your second card.

Another idea would be to add an additional one or two fans to the case blowing air onto the first card.

I do want to move the card a slot down, but for some reason, whenever I turn off / unplug my PSU, rearrange the cards, and turn it back on, it either doesn't boot, or my BIOS has been reset. Maybe my mobo's battery is dead / dying? I kind of doubt it though, I didn't get it too long ago.

Also, I just went through my mobo manual, you're right. The slots they're in now are the faster ones, and it says if I'm running 2-way SLI then they should be in the slots they're currently in. Not sure if that means it won't work at all if I move it, or if it's just recommended.

 

[Fecal Face]

I just downloaded MSI Afterburner, looks like my cards were only set to go 80% fan speed once it hits 80°C. Or maybe that's the default for MSI Afterburner. Either way, I set the curve to put the fan speeds to 100% once it hits 90°C, I'll see if it makes a difference tomorrow. Need to go to bed now

 

[nforce4max]

You could try one of those terrible 1u server fans like this

However the noise is terrible, I got one and it can get air between cards very nicely but sounds like a drill

 

[Fecal Face]

You could try one of those terrible 1u server fans like this http://www.pchub.com/uph/photos/item/6339545523925000001_BD126018HBz.JPG

However the noise is terrible, I got one and it can get air between cards very nicely but sounds like a drill

Hahah. I might try that, if I see a cheap one somewhere.


What about this?
http://www.orbitmicro.com/global/pe-flex16-p-759.html

It looks sort of like a PCI extension cable, and from the picture it looks as if I could connect it to one of the cards, and mount it somewhere else in my case, maybe I could find (or make?) some bracket to hold it.

 

[nforce4max]

I absolutely hate those and they are to risky for their use with even junk card much less a new gtx 560. I suggest that you look around more and perhaps do a mod with a shroud that can duct the air between the cards with a normal fan that you already that doesn't cost hardly any thing. Do you have any space behind those cards or do you have like what most people have a cramped case?

 

[nforce4max]

OP just buy a new case over those garbage coolers

Well there Mr Billionaire with your two GTX 580 not every one wants to buy a new case and second there was no coolers linked except for a pci-e extension cable.

 

[Fecal Face]

Took a picture of it (the whole case rather than just the cards) with the side on and the side off. Also labelled the fans.

I absolutely hate those and they are to risky for their use with even junk card much less a new gtx 560. I suggest that you look around more and perhaps do a mod with a shroud that can duct the air between the cards with a normal fan that you already that doesn't cost hardly any thing. Do you have any space behind those cards or do you have like what most people have a cramped case?

Seems cramped to me, at least compared to other cases / builds I've seen.

 

[nforce4max]

Ok lets try this, you will need to thick paper or light cardboard on hand. Make a duct that attaches to the fan mounted on the hard drive cage that blow the air towards the rear of the card but more importantly in between them. It costs nothing but your time and might work. If that isn't in mind then try the same mod on the fan on the side panel. The trick is getting more air between the cards. There is already a low pressure zone between them and you need to deform the bubble that is mostly just hot air that is forming between both cards and in the cooler of the top card. By the way don't spend the $52 bucks for the extender cable as it will only complicate things and waste money. If the first or second mod works perhaps look into getting one more but much higher performance fan but that will raise the noise level greatly but cheaper than the cost of a gtx 560.

 

[Fecal Face]

Ok lets try this, you will need to thick paper or light cardboard on hand. Make a duct that attaches to the fan mounted on the hard drive cage that blow the air towards the rear of the card but more importantly in between them. It costs nothing but your time and might work. If that isn't in mind then try the same mod on the fan on the side panel. The trick is getting more air between the cards. There is already a low pressure zone between them and you need to deform the bubble that is mostly just hot air that is forming between both cards and in the cooler of the top card. By the way don't spend the $52 bucks for the extender cable as it will only complicate things and waste money. If the first or second mod works perhaps look into getting one more but much higher performance fan but that will raise the noise level greatly but cheaper than the cost of a gtx 560.

I could try this right now, I've got 148g/m^2 card stock (like business card paper)

I'll update this post with a picture / results

 

[nforce4max]

Ok here is my rig, it is redneck so live with it

Take a pointer or two from this, yes I know I am using an older case but I have done a few builds with it and a lot of mods.
As for the oddly placed 80mm fan, I needed/wanted to air cool my ram but due to my thermaltake contact 30 almost all ram cooling kits do not fit as it overlaps two of four ram modules. So I took a bracket that I found in a 386 and chopped it up a bit then mounted and added the fan. 😴

Top card is a modded gtx 460 and the card below is a dedicated card ie a 8800gt.

 

[nforce4max]

I could try this right now, I've got 148g/m^2 card stock (like business card paper)

I'll update this post with a picture / results

That is good news 😉

 

[Fecal Face]

Hahahahah :lol:

As far as temperatures are concerned, my idle temp has dropped from 40 to 34.

Going to try running a game and see how hit it gets with MSI Afterburner + Paper combined :lol:


Edit:

I ran Crysis Warhead for a few minutes, GPU usage on both cards was almost always 95%-99%.

Despite the custom fan speed settings in MSI Afterburner, and the makeshift duct, it's still hitting 95°C.

 

[nforce4max]

Lol +1

Did make a bottom for that?

 

[Fecal Face]

There's a little bit of a bottom, because I couldn't fit it in with a completely covered bottom, due to the stupid SATA cables in the way.

 

[nforce4max]

Yea I hate those and hate ribbon cables as well. IDE and even worse SCSI cables :/
But sata and sas cables are even more annoying when they meet the board or controller.

 

[Fecal Face]

Well, until I solve the not-booting-with-video + BIOS settings being reset issue, I'm reluctant to move the lower card one slot down.

Based on this: http://www.overclock.net/nvidia/819348-16x-16x-vs-16x-4x-gtx.html
I don't anticipate much of a performace loss, and even 5-10FPS dropping would be worth the lower temperatures, IMO.

 

[nforce4max]

Well good luck and let us know when it all works out.

 

[Fecal Face]

Hmm, so should I pick a best answer, or just leave the thread open until I solve it? Might be a while before I get a longer SLI bridge, or a water cooler comes out...

 

[nforce4max]

Just pick one lol or leave it as is.

 

[Justinra]

I am getting the exact same issue with my GTX560 Ti's in SLI. I have had to take out the 2nd card due to overheating issues as i've monitored it all with Afterburner. I can move the 2nd card down but it wont fit in my case so im in need to getting a new case with 8 expansion slots. I know how it feels 🙁 SLI is problematic with overheating + PSU requirement issues. Hang in there and remember you aren't alone 😛


-Justin