Is my video card fecked?

[jrgp]

Today I bought Doom3. I'm running the latest Ubuntu and thanks to ID Software being as sexy as they are, all their games run natively under linux.

Now, my video card is an Aopen PCI-E x16 GeForce 6600 with 256 megs of ram. The card always has had a feckty fan, but I suppose after 2.5 years of constant use, it's starting to die.

So yeah, I'm playing Doom3 with the settings at maximum at a res of 1024 * 768 and on my second monitor which has a res of 1280 * 1024 I have gkrellm running.

I'm in the middle of playing, I glance over and see gkrellm saying that my video card is running at 82C (~179.6fF). When I'm not doing anything video card instensive, the card is usually ~50C.

Here is what gkrellm was displaying:


Should I get a new card as soon as possible? The GeForce 8800 is completely compatible with my system, should I ditch this card and upgrade to it?

[JupiterShadow]

Yes yes upgrading is always best.

[Toumaz]

Your card is probably not "fecked" (yet) if you're able to play Doom 3 without any problems, but I'd suggest you to invest in some additional cooling - a third party heatsink or making sure that your case has proper air flow. But before that, make sure the current heatsink and/or fan isn't clogged with dust already. (And for the record, my 6800 is operating at approximately the same temperatures, and I haven't had any problems with it so far. Not that getting some additional cooling would prolong the life of the card, but meh.) I hope I was of any help, and note that I'm not an expert whatsoever when it comes to video cards - so feel free to correct me. :)

[FliesLikeABrick]

Measure (or read off of it) the diameter of the fan on there.  Head to radio shack or some other electronics store and get the same fan.  Undo some screws, cross some wires, and next thing you know you've replaced the fan on your card for a whopping $2.99

[blackdevil0742]

My geforce 7600GS 256MB has a limit when it reaches 125C or that's what the Nvidia control panel said and then starts to slow down. But it has never reached that. The max I've had is 69C and that's after OCing it a little and it is a fanless version

So no, you shouldn't worry.

[Brock]

I would say upgrade.  Shockingly, the 6600 is starting to reach the lower end of the spectrum.  An 8800GT is always a nice choice.  If your card were slightly newer, I'd recommend buying additional cooling like Toumaz said.

But no.  Upgrade time my friend   

[chrisgbk]

For a video card, those are perfectly normal temperatures with a stock heatsink/fan.

If those kinds of temperatures concern you, invest in an aftermarket cooler.

[Clawbug]

For a video card, those are perfectly normal temperatures with a stock heatsink/fan.

If those kinds of temperatures concern you, invest in an aftermarket cooler.

... and void the warranty etc.

But just as chris said, they are normal temps, nothing to worry about. GPU's can easily take temps over 100C. Some 115C-125C starts to be somewhat limit which you shouldn't go beyond.

[FliesLikeABrick]

I would say upgrade.  Shockingly, the 6600 is starting to reach the lower end of the spectrum.  An 8800GT is always a nice choice.  If your card were slightly newer, I'd recommend buying additional cooling like Toumaz said.

But no.  Upgrade time my friend   

jrgp runs Linux on his desktop, so games like Doom3 and other ones he runs on there run much, much faster than if they were on Windows, even with a lower end card.  With the limited amount of gaming he does on his desktop, he really has on reason to upgrade unless he has performance concerns.  These temperatures are not bad enough that he should immediately go out and buy a new card.  Even if I had a card with the cooling hardware failing, I would personally use it until failure before going out and replacing the entire card (though really I'd replace the fan before that)

[jrgp]

Thanks for the advice so far everyone. When I get a chance I'll open my case up and take a peak at the card for the first time since I built this thin years ago and see if I can possibly replace the fan.

I have one important question though, lets say the the card dies while I'm using my computer, will it's death screw with the computer's other components?

[a-4-year-old]

Thanks for the advice so far everyone. When I get a chance I'll open my case up and take a peak at the card for the first time since I built this thin years ago and see if I can possibly replace the fan.

I have one important question though, lets say the the card dies while I'm using my computer, will it's death screw with the computer's other components?

Only if it combusts.

If your computer crashes or you get weird stuff on the screen you will know it is the card.

[Kszchroink]

when my old nvidia died i got stuck with 4bit graphics, it was pretty hilarious

[Clawbug]

If the card fails, there is a slim possibility for it to break something. It is pretty much none, but it still exists. I broke two motherboards with broken graphics card, before I started to suspect the card. 

(Spare mobos, but no spare graphics cards. ;/)

[blackdevil0742]

Luckily I have a on board graphics card(ATI RADEON X300). When my Geforce7600GS losed connection when I OC:ed it to much it used it