I have a Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 rev 4.0
Amd FX-9370 (very hot cpu)
Radeon R9 270 X
2x 8GB Crucial DDR3
For months i've been having crashing problems after installing some new ram, but it wasn't related to that. Thanks to help from another thread on this forum, the root source of the problem was overheating Voltage Regulators on my board. It was then an older gigabyte model, i updated to the 990FXA in hopes of solving it. It did not, this problem seems to be endemic to gigabyte boards in general
I've managed to mostly ameliorate the problem via some tweaking in the bios, underclocking my cpu, reducing voltage to ram and CPU, but it's not enough. It's like removing pieces of straw from a toppling building. Ive now done all i can with configuration
These tweaks have managed to make the problem not occur during regular use, or even light-to-moderate gaming. I now only get enough heat when my whole system is fully engaged. Typically high end modern games that stress the cpu and gpu simultaneously.
In that situation, the VRM temperatures steadily rise until they reach 114 celsius, and then the system freezes consistently.
I have no doubt at all that the overheating is causing my problems. So i'm making this thread to ask for advice on two farther questions:
1. Exactly why it is overheating
2. What i can do to resolve the problem
Starting with 1, i have some theories on that, based on some rudimentary research from around the internet.
This thread from overclockers http://www.overclock.net/forum/11-amd-motherboards/1440428-gigabyte-ga-990fxa-ud3-rev-3-0-vrm-northbridge-temps-solution.html
Indicates that there's a common overheating issue, although the board mentioned there isn't exactly the same, i have rev 4.0. Nevertheless, the implication there is that the heatsinks are unfit for purpose, and can be fixed by changing the thermal paste and remounting them with new fittings.
The board does come with some quite bulky heatsinks on the vrms, but they're not doing a good enough job of cooling.
Another thought that comes to mind from research elsewhere, is that the heatsinks (and the voltage regulators themselves) are arranged in an L Shape around the cpu, and are intended to be cooled by air from a downflow air-based cpu cooler. I do not have an air cooler there, instead i have a Corsair H100i, closed loop liquid cooler.
So basically, my theories are: Bad heatsinks, or poor airflow. But i'm not sure which it is (maybe both?) or how to test
2. As for resolving the issue, thats harder.
Aftermarket heatsinks? I've heard that this one would be good: http://thermalright.com/product/hr-09-type-2/
But i can't find it for sale anywhere.
More airflow? Should i try a spot cooling fan, or would it be possible to optimise my case fans somehow?
I have currently:
One side case fan, intake. It points directly at the pump.
One rear exhaust fan
Two topmounted exhaust fans over the H100i radiator, in a pull configuration
One intake fan in the lower front which mostly blows across hard drives, its a long distance from the vrms
Could i have an issue with too much exhaust and not enough air inside the case?
Replacing the motherboard is also a possibility, though an expensive one. And i did just buy this board, so i'd rather not.
Using an air cooler on the cpu is also an undesireable possibility, i particularly chose my case for the eventual goal of a roofmounted radiator for liquid cooling
Any thoughts on the issue are appreciated. I've done a lot of research, and got a lot of ideas. But i don't know which of these ideas are good, and what i should do next
Amd FX-9370 (very hot cpu)
Radeon R9 270 X
2x 8GB Crucial DDR3
For months i've been having crashing problems after installing some new ram, but it wasn't related to that. Thanks to help from another thread on this forum, the root source of the problem was overheating Voltage Regulators on my board. It was then an older gigabyte model, i updated to the 990FXA in hopes of solving it. It did not, this problem seems to be endemic to gigabyte boards in general
I've managed to mostly ameliorate the problem via some tweaking in the bios, underclocking my cpu, reducing voltage to ram and CPU, but it's not enough. It's like removing pieces of straw from a toppling building. Ive now done all i can with configuration
These tweaks have managed to make the problem not occur during regular use, or even light-to-moderate gaming. I now only get enough heat when my whole system is fully engaged. Typically high end modern games that stress the cpu and gpu simultaneously.
In that situation, the VRM temperatures steadily rise until they reach 114 celsius, and then the system freezes consistently.
I have no doubt at all that the overheating is causing my problems. So i'm making this thread to ask for advice on two farther questions:
1. Exactly why it is overheating
2. What i can do to resolve the problem
Starting with 1, i have some theories on that, based on some rudimentary research from around the internet.
This thread from overclockers http://www.overclock.net/forum/11-amd-motherboards/1440428-gigabyte-ga-990fxa-ud3-rev-3-0-vrm-northbridge-temps-solution.html
Indicates that there's a common overheating issue, although the board mentioned there isn't exactly the same, i have rev 4.0. Nevertheless, the implication there is that the heatsinks are unfit for purpose, and can be fixed by changing the thermal paste and remounting them with new fittings.
The board does come with some quite bulky heatsinks on the vrms, but they're not doing a good enough job of cooling.
Another thought that comes to mind from research elsewhere, is that the heatsinks (and the voltage regulators themselves) are arranged in an L Shape around the cpu, and are intended to be cooled by air from a downflow air-based cpu cooler. I do not have an air cooler there, instead i have a Corsair H100i, closed loop liquid cooler.
So basically, my theories are: Bad heatsinks, or poor airflow. But i'm not sure which it is (maybe both?) or how to test
2. As for resolving the issue, thats harder.
Aftermarket heatsinks? I've heard that this one would be good: http://thermalright.com/product/hr-09-type-2/
But i can't find it for sale anywhere.
More airflow? Should i try a spot cooling fan, or would it be possible to optimise my case fans somehow?
I have currently:
One side case fan, intake. It points directly at the pump.
One rear exhaust fan
Two topmounted exhaust fans over the H100i radiator, in a pull configuration
One intake fan in the lower front which mostly blows across hard drives, its a long distance from the vrms
Could i have an issue with too much exhaust and not enough air inside the case?
Replacing the motherboard is also a possibility, though an expensive one. And i did just buy this board, so i'd rather not.
Using an air cooler on the cpu is also an undesireable possibility, i particularly chose my case for the eventual goal of a roofmounted radiator for liquid cooling
Any thoughts on the issue are appreciated. I've done a lot of research, and got a lot of ideas. But i don't know which of these ideas are good, and what i should do next