Is my 560 ti Hawk running hotter than it should?

[Lotharian]

I just put together a build, with a 560ti Hawk Video card. It's a pretty awesome card, but there is something troubling me. It's gpu temp. I've been monitoring it with Afterburner, and well, it gets pretty high up there.

This link shows the gpu full load during heavy gaming at 65.
http://www.guru3d.com/article/msi-geforce-gtx-560-ti-hawk-review/8

This one claims 50.
http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/04/25/msi_n560gtxti_hawk_video_card_review/9

Tweaktown got 63.
http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/4049/msi_geforce_gtx_560_ti_hawk_video_card_review/index16.html

Me? Gaming on Bad Company 2, I get about 79-81. Crysis Warhead gets around 81. Same with Metro.

While on one hand, I feel like this is nothing to worry about, and 79-81 is a pretty reasonable load temp (I'm very inexperienced so I really don't know), but I'm nowhere near what these reviewers are getting. Could something be wrong? What steps could I take to make sure everything is fine?

I read a thread somewhere where a person was getting high temps on their Hawk as well, and someone suggested checking to make sure the heatsink was seated properly or something. How do I do that?

The computer is not acting weird. Everything runs like a man on fire (in the best way possible), but I want to know how I can make sure it is running in tip-top condition. I would also like to learn how to properly take care of my gpu to ensure efficient cooling and use. Help me learn things!

Thanks for the help. I referenced this website MULTIPLE times when researching my computer before I ordered everything, so I'm sure you guys can help me now.

I don't think it matters, but my specs are:

Intel i7 2600k
16 gb Ripjaw X ram (I edit things)
Thermaltake a60 Armor case
Asrock z68 pro 3 ATX mobo
Thermaltake Toughpower 675 watt psu

 

[jjb8675309]

what kind of custom fan curve have you applied?

 

[Lotharian]

I'm assuming you mean the adjustable fan speed. I haven't touched that. It is still on auto. But would that make any sort of a difference? I guess it would if the temp gets so high because the fan likes to takes it sweet time, but otherwise I'm at a bit of a loss.

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

Twin Frozr II doesn't go higher than 72C in my case; adjust the fan curve so that you go on 100% after the card hits 60C. Might help... play around with it, see what's good for you. Just make sure the fan is on full after 60 or so C.

 

[jjb8675309]

yeah make an aggressive fan curve or else your temps will be high, you need a decently high fan to keep temps down imo
\

 

[Lotharian]

While I'm figuring out how to apply a custom fan curve, I'm going to assume you guys are implying the problem is user end, but I don't think it is. Reviews didn't specify setting a custom curve, which means they must have been getting these temps right out of the box, without any tampering. In fact, the first link I posted, they said leaving it on Auto, they weren't able to even hear the fan in all their tests.

I'm beginning to think something with the card is up, because while I know the box is normally full of crap, the reviews aren't, and I'm not getting what they are getting.

 

[jjb8675309]

any gpu ive owned in the past ten years I have used a fan curve so basically I'd say auto is a noob move, no offense... you might have a point with the reviews but real world experience trumps any review imo, also consider your case and overall airflow, the case/airflow in reviews may be far superior to what you have which would create better internal case temps which would then consequently effect your gpu temps...

im not saying that is the case but these are my initial thoughts

 

[Lotharian]

I won't argue with leaving the fan on auto being a noob move. This is my first build. If I were more experienced in this type of thing I highly doubt I would need to ask you guys for help. Having said that, if reviewers get a particular temp on auto, so should I. If not the same, certainly not 20-25 degrees higher.

That being said as well, I highly appreciate the help so far, and whatever help is to come.

The case has very good airflow from what I can tell. Its a Thermaltake A60 Armor.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133181

It comes stock with 3 fans. 2 120mm fans (front and back, respectively), and 1 200mm fan (top). It also apparently has room for up to 7 fans, for those who like to make tiny little hurricanes in your home.

Only the back fan can be connected to the mobo for speed control, while the other 2 live a blissfully unaware life at full speed.

 

[Lotharian]

Okay now I am more confused. In Afterburner, it lists the gpu as GeForce GTX 560 Ti, which I assumed is normal.

I found someone on another forum with a similar problem. He said he fixed it by underclocking the Core Voltage, and showed a screenshot of his afterburner, and his card is named as MSI N560 Ti Hawk [P].

More questions piled on to this:

Would underclocking the voltage help as much as this guy thinks it does? Are there any concerns I should know about before attempting this myself?

Is there a particular reason why Afterburner isn't displaying the accurate name of the card? The drivers are updated and such, so I have no clue what is going on.

 

[photonboy]

Don't mess around with underclocking.

The only advice I can give is to make sure your case cooling is good. This usually involves having two fans:
1) 120mm case fan at front, bottom
2) 120mm case fan at top-top or top-rear (in-line with CPU fan if possible)

The case fans should be:
1) 500-800RPM
2) non-variable
3) hooked to the Power Supply, not the motherboard

 

[17seconds]

Review temperatures are often done on an open test bench and are almost always lower than what the end user will see. Having said that, your temps seem just a tad high, but overall nothing to worry about. Looking at your case airflow is the best bet. In my opinion, there is no reason to mess with the Auto fan setting. Also keep in mind that things tend to run hotter on a hot summer day with no A/C.

 

[Lotharian]

That's disappointing if you're right, because that's kind of missing the point of gpu temp ratings if reviewers don't use the card in a realistic setting. Regardless, I suppose its about time I stop prodding at the computer about this before I worry too much and make something actually wrong with the card. I'll look into getting more fans for my case. It holds 7, so I'm sure at max fan capacity it will help lower temps. I also saw a pci slot gpu fan thing that is said to bring temps down.

If anyone is curious, this is the cooler thing.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835114024&Tpk=AzenX%20Blitztorm%20cooler

Any other solutions anyone can think of?

 

[Lowy]

Hey there,

I am actually facing the exact same problem and I am scraching my head everyday.. Anyway, my load temp (crysis 1 & 2) is around 83-85C and idle is around 29-33C.

I have read those review you put up before too which made me more concern about my tempreture. My system has a NZXT Phantom case which supposely should provide good airflow:

Case fan configurations:
1x 200mm (top of the case)
1x 120mm (front of the case)
2x 120mm (side of the case)
1x 120mm (back of the case)

CPU fan: Cooler Master Hyper 212+

I have no idea why is my GPU tempreture is so high as well, would be nice if this post can provide some idea to the problem.

Lotharian, did you managed to isolate the problem? cause same like you, my system is running absolutely fine, gaming and stuffs are all spendid. But still the tempreture is annoying.

 

[Mousemonkey]

My GTX560's have been hitting 81c - 86c for the last five months or so and if that is the temperature that they run at then that is the temperature they run at, no need to get your panties in a twist about it.

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

My GTX560's have been hitting 81c - 86c for the last five months or so and if that is the temperature that they run at then that is the temperature they run at, no need to get your panties in a twist about it.

Well, keeping temps low is the key to the cards living longer, don't you think?

EDIT: I remember you saying that you don't put fans on full because they're too loud, right? That might be the cause for you. Hehe, I imagine how loud TWO 560 Ti's must be on 100% fan...

 

[Mousemonkey]

Well, keeping temps low is the key to the cards living longer, don't you think?

Yes and no, so long as they stay within the design specs there is no reason why they shouldn't last as long as they need to.

EDIT: I remember you saying that you don't put fans on full because they're too loud, right? That might be the cause for you. Hehe, I imagine how loud TWO 560 Ti's must be on 100% fan...

The fans on mine can spin up to about 4000rpm but anything more than 3000rpm and the only thing that's increased is the noise not the cooling performance.

 

[Lotharian]

To Lowy, nope. I just decided to leave it alone before I actually break something. I'm ordering a couple of 120mm fans to see if those help. Gonna mount it under the case so it blows directly up into the gpu. I hope that helps. Otherwise, I've learned to live with it, although begrudgingly.

 

[Lowy]

To Lowy, nope. I just decided to leave it alone before I actually break something. I'm ordering a couple of 120mm fans to see if those help. Gonna mount it under the case so it blows directly up into the gpu. I hope that helps. Otherwise, I've learned to live with it, although begrudgingly.

I found a new thread at the Nvidia forum and somehow my tempreture got lowered! here's the link, let me know if it helps you too! http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=209909&st=0&gopid=1291516&#entry1291516

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

^ Huh. Interesting. I'll try leaving out 3D options with the next driver upgrade.

 

[Lotharian]

Thanks for the tip, Lowy! Very good information there.

Well, I tried it and compared it to my first statements, and it did help, but with every solution comes a new problem. First, the good:

My idle temp is at a pretty steady 33 right now.

Crysis 2 with dx11, Hi Res textures, and graphics set to Very High at a 1680 x 1050 resolution, the temps max out at about 72.

Crysis Warhead at Enthusiast settings with the same resolution peaks at 79.

Bad Company 2 single player, all maxed and same resolution, the highest it hit was 75.

All of these, the fan is on auto, and all of these, I'm pretty content.

But new problem. Fan. Between fan speeds of 55% and 80%, the fan makes this very noticeable "VRRR vrr VRRR vrr VRRRR" that it didn't make when I first got the card. Its not just the fan getting loud. Its a second set of noise coming from the fan. I literally hear a loud fan AND the VRRRR... I highly doubt that is normal.

I'm thinking I should probably RMA this card, and when I get the new one, just remember to not install any 3D drivers, and never touch the card ever again, until I switch to a new card.

 

[Lowy]

Thanks for the tip, Lowy! Very good information there.

Well, I tried it and compared it to my first statements, and it did help, but with every solution comes a new problem. First, the good:

My idle temp is at a pretty steady 33 right now.

Crysis 2 with dx11, Hi Res textures, and graphics set to Very High at a 1680 x 1050 resolution, the temps max out at about 72.

Crysis Warhead at Enthusiast settings with the same resolution peaks at 79.

Bad Company 2 single player, all maxed and same resolution, the highest it hit was 75.

All of these, the fan is on auto, and all of these, I'm pretty content.

But new problem. Fan. Between fan speeds of 55% and 80%, the fan makes this very noticeable "VRRR vrr VRRR vrr VRRRR" that it didn't make when I first got the card. Its not just the fan getting loud. Its a second set of noise coming from the fan. I literally hear a loud fan AND the VRRRR... I highly doubt that is normal.

I'm thinking I should probably RMA this card, and when I get the new one, just remember to not install any 3D drivers, and never touch the card ever again, until I switch to a new card.

I am sorry to hear that. Strange noise sounds awkward to me honestly, I think you should definately RMA it. However, since we are both having the same card, may I ask if you have done any benchmarking test with your Crysis 2 setting? What's your average FPS for Crysis 2? I would like to compare your card and my card. thanks!

 

[Lotharian]

Well, I don't have any sort of program that shows me an explicit number or anything, but I do know that I have a very smooth and pretty much lag free experience on Very High (that's the second lowest setting) with DX11 and Hi Res textures. After that there is some noticeable slowdown.

The game scales amazingly well, though, so it still looks fantastic. I switched between the four and I really couldn't tell much of a difference graphically. Awesome game.

 

[Lowy]

Well, I don't have any sort of program that shows me an explicit number or anything, but I do know that I have a very smooth and pretty much lag free experience on Very High (that's the second lowest setting) with DX11 and Hi Res textures. After that there is some noticeable slowdown.

The game scales amazingly well, though, so it still looks fantastic. I switched between the four and I really couldn't tell much of a difference graphically. Awesome game.

the benchmark tool for cyrsis 2 is actually very easy to acquire. So if you as interested as I am to know your own card FPS performance.

Here's what to do:
- Navigate to your Crysis 2 directory (Mine: D:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis 2\bin32)
- There is a benchmark(.bat file), click on it.
- It will open up a read me that gives a very detail guide as to how to install the benchmarking tool for Crysis 2.

If you decide to do it, let me know what your average FPS is. Because for some reason I can only have an average of ~50 with 1440x940 setting but 1680 kinda lowered by 8 frames per second.

 

[amk-aka-Phantom]

A GTX 560 Ti is capable of average 30+ fps on Ultra @1080p with hi-res textures and DX11. Just kill V-Sync.

 

[Lowy]

what resolution is this??