GPU Operating Temperature?

[NeonFlash]

Hi All,

I use an ATI Radeon HD 5870 GPU for Bitcoin Mining tasks. I wanted to know, that what is an optimum operating temperature for this GPU? At present I haven't put extra fans for cooling. I am assessing the requirement of a new fan and based on that will go ahead with the purchase.

From what I understand about non reference card, this one has a fan at the middle of the GPU.

[P4man]

lower is always better. 75C is my upper treshold, but they can survive higher temps, it will just reduce their life expectancy.

Im generally more concerned about the temperatures of the VRM though. These voltage regulators get much hotter than the core itself. Most non reference designs dont allow monitoring those temps, but you could try, just grab GPU-Z and see if you can monitor them.

FWIW, with stock cooling, at default clocks for my 5850 (725 MHz)  I got 80+C on the GPU and 95+C  on the VRMs. Im now using an accelero twin turbo, which dropped my GPU temp to 50C and VRMs to 80C even overclocked to 850MHz. Waiting for VRM R5 cooler for the VRMs before I go any higher and start overvolting.

[NeonFlash]

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. The threshold values.

I will monitor the core temperature of my GPU with GPU-Z while the mining process is running. If it's below 75 degrees Celsius then I should be good

What about the placement of the Cooling fans? Any suggestions on that?

[Graet]

usually 85deg is max acceptable
i always have aimed for 75deg
latest cgminer allows you to monitor temps and adjust fan speeds and much much more, its auto fan and auto gpu features aim for 75deg
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=28402.0

[P4man]

If it's below 75 degrees Celsius then I should be good

You should be good provided your VRMs arent burning... generally its a lot easier to keep the gpu cool than the vrms.

What about the placement of the Cooling fans? Any suggestions on that?

Not really. Not without knowing anything else, even if this is open air rig, closed case, what kind of case, ambient temps, whats in it or anything there isnt much to say.  How about "cooling fans is good"