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gtx 960 temps problem!

Jan 10, 2015
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so guys i bought a gigabyte gtx 960 card recently and at 100% load on dying light it reaches up to 63-64 degrees max is it bad for an nvidia card?
2nd question: can a gpu fail in the future if it doesnt overheat nor have any electrical problem? (PSU)? what is the most common reason for a gpu to fail?
 
Complete answer - You're perfectly fine, most GPU makers have about a mid-90's max temp, and most GPUs (at stock speeds and voltages) are designed for a low-80's max temp with their coolers and thermal designs. It usually makes sense for them to have a pretty robust system as the cooler the card runs, the harder they can push it from a frequency/voltage point of view and the faster it will be when compared with other GPUs.

Here's the official physical specs for the 960:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-960/specifications

Here's some tests run on a GTX 960, note the temps:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-960,4038-10.html

For reference, 'torture' means a power loading program like Furmark which really slams the GPU. The one you'd normally have to worry about are the gaming temps, and note that most of them match what you have - 50-60C, well below the 98C max. Even under the power loading they usually don't break mid-70s.

As for potential failure points down the road they are:

Random GPU failure. Sometimes they just break. Usually pretty unlikely as they're pretty robust.

Capacitor failure. This is less prevalent with the changes from electrolytic capacitors (which could dry out and fail over time) to the solid capacitors which last much longer. Usually you can tell electrolytic caps as they are wrapped plastic and have an aluminum cap on it with some scoring on the top. Signs of failure are those caps bulging, cracking and leaking (crusty residue on top). Solid polymer caps look more like solid aluminum cylinders.

Link here for solid vs electrolytic capacitors:
Solid caps: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer_capacitor
Electrolyics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolytic_capacitor

Cooling fan failure. As with any spinning fan, it has bearings, and with moving air you have potential dust getting into the parts which can and will cause eventual degradation of it's performance. If the cooling fan fails, the GPU can overheat at which point it will most likely throttle down in speed (to reduce temps) or shutdown completely (protection). Using filters in front of fans to remove dust and occasional cleaning of the case are important towards preventing that. Good news is that usually the fan is replaceable, unlike many of the other parts.

Another issue is heatsink blockage. Much like the fan, dust can and will accumulate in the heatsink, reducing airflow and cooling capability. This won't cause failure, but can reduce performance if the GPU starts getting too hot. Blowing it out when you clean your case once in a while will prevent that.

So - there you go, hope that all helps.