Help! My GPU is running at max 104 degrees when gaming.

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Help! My GPU is running at max 104 degrees when gaming (TF2 mainly), I have replaced the fans (which were knackered) and replaced the thermal paste with Arctic Silver. And have just removed as much dust as I could.The fan on the GPU seems to be working fine and it never used to run this hot.

The graphics card is a ATI Radeon HD 5700 series, underclocked to 700 MHz.
The computer ( a Dell Studio xps) is 3 years old.

anyone any idea why it is running this hot?
 
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Is this really the matter as the first year I had it, I never had this problem?
Also After some googling a side fan seems to make some difference but nowhere near the amount i would need to get it back down to a reasonable temperature? correct me if I'm wrong.
 
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Considering it's an old card in a poor airflow case, I assume your thermal paste is probably dried up. Remove the card, and firmly tighten all screws holding on the heatsink for the interim, and buy something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100017 to replace the thermal paste on it.

The paste manufacturers normally put on is poor to begin with, and usually doesn't last very long. Considering the 5700 has been out for 5+ years, replacement of thermal paste is needed.

In the mean time, download MSI Afterburner, and set a Temperature Limit (don't forget to make sure it's prioritizing temperature limit) of around 85 or so. This will make sure you aren't putting any more stress on the GPU, as 104 is extremely hot. I'm surprised it isn't shutting down your computer honestly. Are you sure it's in C and not F?

Edit:: To add to the additional fan suggestion, that won't be nearly enough to cool something topping out at 104 degrees. A new better case would be a great improvement, but there is certainly more at play here than poor airflow. Your case just isn't helping the problem lol
 
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Bleedingedgetech;

As i said In my OP, i have recently replaced the thermal paste with Arctic paste.I already have afterburner installed, although I'm unsure on how to set a temp limit? And yes it is Celsius.
 
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I would also add the game which is causing these temperatures is TF2, which is about 5 years old anyway so shouldn't be the most graphically intensive game?
 
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Doesn't have to be graphically intensive. As long as the GPU is being fully utilized, it will get warm.

Sorry I missed that 🙁 lol I had a long weekend. Did you fully re-tighten the screws for the heatsink? And did you apply the paste correctly?

Also, do you have the latest drivers installed? Could be some weird problem with that.
 
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I think i fully tightened the screws and used the pea method to apply the paste (although it was my first time reapplying paste so could easily have done it wrong?) According to Afterburner the GPU is only working at 60-70% when it gets that hot?
I will try checking drivers.
 
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Yeah, it's probably worth it to completely uninstall the current drivers ((Use This)) then download and reinstall the latest AMD Catalyst drivers anyway.

I'm pretty sure the current AMD drivers won't let the GPU get that hot, and start throttling around 85-90c, but I could be wrong.
 
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This may sound like a dumb question, but have you always checked the temps of your GPU since the past year? And a side panel fan DOES DRAMATICALLY improve cooling of GPUs (especially crossfire). Without a side panel fan, you literally have a pocket of re-used air that does not flow out of the case. The heatsink fans use warm air for intake and exhaust hotter air and the cycle continues.

I had a problem with Crossfiring two r9-270x that would go up to 84 Celsius before throttling down. Got a new case with a 140mm side panel fan and they do not go over 77 in playing the same game! (BF3).

Just a suggestion, there are other good recommendations on this thread so I will cordially exit this forum. Hope you get it straightened out! :)
 
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Cross-firing two 270x's is a massive difference in temps compared to a single 57X0. The case he has has an exhaust fan in the rear, so (while not ideal in any way) the air after passing over the heatsinks would mostly be exhausted. Adding a side fan would improve temps, but my point was the card going all the way to 104 AND not shutting down implies that there is definitely something more than airflow at play here.

I had a side fan on my Rosewill Challenger I used to cool my overclocked 760 for a couple days before I got fed up with the noise, and removing it showed no noticeable improvement in GPU temps. Crossfire adds substantially more heat, and a completely different approach to cool than does a single GPU.
 
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Who would have thought!

Try this...take of the side panel, place a typical $5-$10 oscillating desk fan from Wal-mart directly in front of your GPU with the side panel off, start playing your game and then read the temps! Get back to us with the results please! :)
 
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I haven't done that but, I have managed to get it around 84~ by underclocking and making the fans actually work at 100% when it gets above 80 degrees C.
also I don't have a desk fan - i live in england it's never that hot!
 
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