One GPU of a 5 GPU rig gets too hot.

[Majidak]

Hi,

I have a mining rig with 5x Sapphire Dual-X R9 280X. They are all the same model and all of them have the same air flow, They are not in a case, but in an open air frame. One of them gets too hot. I changed the place of it, changed the motherboard slot, changed its riser, its power cables, the problem still exists. I think the GPU itself has a problem. All of them has the same voltage. Is something wrong with its cooling system? How can i fix that?

Here you can see an image of the rig. I'm talking about the second one from left :
http://s27.postimg.org/nreb6552r/fgdfg.jpg

PSU: 2x 850W Corsair
Motherboard: MSI Z77a-GD80
CPU: Celeron 1620
Ram: Kingston 4GB
OS: Ubuntu 14.04

 

[unknownofprob]

that point of the case is accumulating the most heat, and is clearly the hottest spot.

I am assuming this is the card second from the top? that is the hottest spot

You may have to go to liquid cooling, or get a huge fan right at the side of the case, which you may have to cut out yourself. If not, liquid cooling on just that card.

 

[i7Baby]

Case? How have you got them hooked up to that mobo? What risers?

Does gpu#4 have as good case air flow as the others?

can you post photos?

 

[gamerguy319]

what is this rig being used for? for starters

 

[unknownofprob]

what is this rig being used for? for starters

mining, he listed that already.

"I have a mining rig with 5x Sapphire Dual-X R9 280X"

 

[Majidak]

Guys, I updated the post. Can I open its fan?

 

[unknownofprob]

you can take the fan out, but it is probably due to it being in the hottest spot of the case.

 

[gamerguy319]

one of the easiest ways to do this is just to take like a wire shelf and, and flexible risers. use wire of some sort to mount the gpu's to the wire shelf and then use the riser cards to attach them to the mobo
http://openrigs.com/image/data/IMG_3078CFLATFS.jpg
functionally similar to this.

 

[Majidak]

one of the easiest ways to do this is just to take like a wire shelf and, and flexible risers. use wire of some sort to mount the gpu's to the wire shelf and then use the riser cards to attach them to the mobo
http://openrigs.com/image/data/IMG_3078CFLATFS.jpg
functionally similar to this.

My rig is just like the picture. Thanks anyway.

 

[Majidak]

you can take the fan out, but it is probably due to it being in the hottest spot of the case.

As I mentioned in the post "They are not in a case, but in an open air frame." It's just like the gamerguy319's photo. Thank you anyway.

 

[unknownofprob]

Oh, I see.

Could you link up a photo of yours, just to see the exact setup?

 

[Majidak]

Oh, I see.

Could you link up a photo of yours, just to see the exact setup?

I've updated the first post with an image.

 

[Kekoh]

A lot of the suggestions here are saying that the problem is likely caused from where the card is positioned. If you guys read the OP, he said it's hot no mater where he puts it.

I think this is a problem with the GPU. You could try taking the cooler off of it and replacing the thermal paste, which could avoid having to send it in.

 

[Uzair Siddiqi]

it is due to your surrounding air temp. Its may hot month

 

[cst1992]

it is due to your surrounding air temp. Its may hot month

Doesn't help. That'd affect all cards.

 

[Majidak]

1. Create your own ducting system over each video card fan so it blows it air upwards instead of onto the next video card. This way, each video card won't be using the hot air from the previous card. ... or if the fans pull in air, that's a tad more difficult. You may be able to put plastic separaters between each card to isolate the hot air from each ... then have some fans blowing on all of them.

2. If that doesn't work, add one or more fans to cover the other video cards; right now the fan focuses most of it's air on the first few cards.

3. Your power supply fans might be blowing hot air onto the last few video cards. Reposition the power supplies so they don't blow onto the video cards.

4. Also, I noticed that the entire system seems to be in a rather enclosed area. The ideal setup would be to have the fans drawing in air from outside the enclosure (cool air) and then blowing that air across the video cards out of the enclosed area. This could be done by positioning the fans on one side of the video cards, blowing across them... then opening up both sides so it can pull in air on one side and let air out the other. Optionally, if the video cards are high enough, maybe you can put all the fans below them and blow the air upwards ... but you will need to make sure there is cool air intake down low for the fans to pull air from.

Even though they won't solve the problem of that particular GPU, but they are all good points that I should consider. Thank you!

 

[Majidak]

A lot of the suggestions here are saying that the problem is likely caused from where the card is positioned. If you guys read the OP, he said it's hot no mater where he puts it.

I think this is a problem with the GPU. You could try taking the cooler off of it and replacing the thermal paste, which could avoid having to send it in.

That's right.

Maybe I'll try the thermal paste idea. Thanks.

 

[RobCrezz]

I would also suggest removing the cooler and reapplying the thermal paste.

 

[gamerguy319]

I agree With RobCrezz on that one. I've not actually done this but ive heard on bare chips like GPU's (and also laptop CPU's) you'll want to pre spread the thermal paste on the chip because you don't want to leave ANY of it untouched. and make shure the paste you use is NON CONDUCTIVE. if any spills out around the chip you risk destroying the card. also pay careful attention to only have a paper thin layer on the die. but other than good luck
here is a link detailing the process:
http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/10418-how-to-change-your-gpus-thermal-paste-with-pictures/

 

[cst1992]

So AS5 is no good for a GPU chip?

 

[gamerguy319]

i would believe so with the content of silver on it but i'm not exactly sure. I would go check the manufactures website

 

[i7Baby]

http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

AS5 should be OK

 

[RobCrezz]

Ive used Arctic MX-4 on gpus and it works fine if you can get that.

 

[gamerguy319]

alright i guess AS5 works. Have fun, and be areful

 

[Majidak]

I agree With RobCrezz on that one. I've not actually done this but ive heard on bare chips like GPU's (and also laptop CPU's) you'll want to pre spread the thermal paste on the chip because you don't want to leave ANY of it untouched. and make shure the paste you use is NON CONDUCTIVE. if any spills out around the chip you risk destroying the card. also pay careful attention to only have a paper thin layer on the die. but other than good luck
here is a link detailing the process:
http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/10418-how-to-change-your-gpus-thermal-paste-with-pictures/

Thank you guys for your responses, especially gamerguy319. I haven't done thermal paste replacement yet, but i'll do that soon.