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Ok, so I have a Corsair 300D case with the side taken off.  My 7970 is OC to 1200/600 and I'm consistently at 90-92 with 60-65% fan speed.  So right now I'm going to lower back to stock speeds, but would like to OC it again. :)  The case is standing "normal" and not on its side (I have cats, and where it is now they can't get into, but if I laid it on its side, I fear the worst!)
 
I can't afford a water cooling system yet, and this computer is in a room (my man-cave!) that doesn't get a lot of air movement (but in the basement).  I have space for fans on top if needed (eventually will be where I put a radiator).
 
Any ideas?  I thought about putting a fan up close... so should I look at blowing away the exhaust, or blowing room air into the case?
 
any other ideas?
 
A couple weeks ago it was hovering around 85 temps (OC), and like 50% fan, so I don't know what happened (other than it's heating up here in Kansas and we have our AC set at 74 in the house).  Not sure what ambient is in this room, but I think somewhere around there since I have my computer in here.

btw I'm using TriXX for my information/settings.

Sounds like your thermal paste dried up.  I'd take off your HSF, clean it and your core off and reapply some Arctic Silver MX2 or MX4.

Where in Kansas are you?

More likely, the heatsink is just all full of mung.  Side is off the case, pets in the area, in a basement, hell, he probably blows cigar smoke directly into it also.   ;D

Before you pull the card apart to re-paste it, hit it with some compressed air.

If it still is under warranty, I would contact the maker to see what they suggest. Most of the time when I report temps like that they RMA the card for me.

O so true. I smoke around 2 packs a day in my DC and have a construction site across the road weekly compressed air cleaning of rigs is an absolute must.

Lawrence
 
 
and thanks for the tips, guys!  I'll bring some compressed air home with me tonight and try that.  I'll try weekly doses to see if it helps.

I don't think that compressed air really helps on the tar caused by smoking. I have seen some components that are just beyond cleaning. It's pretty hopeless if you only start trying to clean the components after smoking near them for years.

IN the dc? Dammit man, remind me never to colo any servers with you. I like my servers to be reliable.

Video cards like to move air for cooling, you could add a fan or 2 to create positive pressure inside the case, this way there is plenty of incoming air. Make sure internal wiring doesn't impede air movement. PSU's can add heat to the inside of the case. Have you thought of going naked, run it without a case?

Yeah, dump the case and just use a budget floor fan, like some $20 honeywell.  Unless you're in ambient temps over 35oC, shouldn't be much of a problem.  

I have a temporary set up right now, not the best air flow, but I can still keep all my cards under 70oC with ambient temp generally between 90-100oF during the day (*which is what I need to fix, since it shouldn't be getting to 100oF when it's 85o outside).  3/4 have dedicated floor fan, fourth is water cooled.

(ed: oh, i've always re-done thermal paste on any card I buy off eBay... sometimes from retail)

You're running a card with a stock clockspeed of 925Mhz at 1200. It's going to run hot or loud, one way or another.
Why only 60-65% fan speed? If you want to run those clocks, turn up your fans. Alternatively turn down your clocks/voltages  :P

buy an "air circulator box fan" i have these nice 20x20" beastly fans that cost $20 a peice, And they drop the temperature on my 6990 by a GOOD 20°C Allowing me to overclock more, And run the fans on the card Alot slower.

6990=core 920, Mem 450, Fan 76%, 80°C

I would have to agree with this. Water cooling is gonna run you over 100$ if you want a nice setup, I would say go with the box fan.

I have a 6990 water block I I will sell for $65... Koolance.  I'm running two of them right now, pretty decent blocks.

Your case has a Hotswap bay in front of where the air intake sits on a 7970. If you are not using that hotswap, remove the hotswap plugs and relocate that fan to the back of the bay and open the front door. This will drive fresh air through your card faster w/o increasing fan speeds. I also recommend Silverstone AP series fans, they are designed to channel air in one direction and work exceptionally well for graphics cards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m8fC809TK0&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m8fC809TK0&feature=player_embedded)

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=profile;u=56047;sa=showPosts

Buy a 6" inline fan.  (you could probably go with 4" but they are more noisy)
Build a wooden box with some kind of access (hinges with a latch works well enough). Put the miner in there to protect against cats and environment.  optionally ditch the case (just have some kind of mobo tray).

Have the fan pulling air through the box and exhaust wherever you want.  Add a filter onto the intake for cleaner air.