6600GT concerns

[mbco2001]

I am using a Geforce 6600gt Pci-e (x16) card in my computer. Recently I've been noticing FPS drops in Counter Strike condition Zero. I examined the card and have found that the stock heatsink is almost not even contacting the chip. The card, after running Left for Dead for about 30 minutes is at 110 degrees C. I believe that is way hot.

Now its possible the card may be dead/dying. I mean everything is working I just notice issues during gaming which leads me to believe I can maybe just add some other cooling. I think the only reason it has done decently is that I have, right below it, a PCI fan/cooler thingy. I have it about 80% to full blast, and it exhausts air from the GPU.

So my question is - with the price of cards being lower than when I bought this 6600GT, would it be better off for me just to get a newer card (with better airflow) or just to try and put something like the nv silencer 6 rev 2 or arctic cooling on it?

Any recommendations?

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by mbco2001 I am using a Geforce 6600gt Pci-e (x16) card in my computer. Recently I've been noticing FPS drops in Counter Strike condition Zero. I examined the card and have found that the stock heatsink is almost not even contacting the chip. The card, after running Left for Dead for about 30 minutes is at 110 degrees C. I believe that is way hot. Now its possible the card may be dead/dying. I mean everything is working I just notice issues during gaming which leads me to believe I can maybe just add some other cooling. I think the only reason it has done decently is that I have, right below it, a PCI fan/cooler thingy. I have it about 80% to full blast, and it exhausts air from the GPU. So my question is - with the price of cards being lower than when I bought this 6600GT, would it be better off for me just to get a newer card (with better airflow) or just to try and put something like the nv silencer 6 rev 2 or arctic cooling on it? Any recommendations?

You are better off getting a new inexpensive graphics card than getting a new heatsink/fan for your graphics card. The HD4650 sells for $55 with free shipping (at the time of writing anyway), has much better performance than the 6600GT and uses about as much power and is compatible with your motherboard (as long as it has PCI Express). Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161262

[mbco2001]

I'm not really up on the pci-e, pci-e x16 2.0stuff yet, so does it matter that the card is pci-e x16 2.0? Or are all computers that have x16 capable of running the 2.0? LOL, sorry if that is a dumb question.

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by mbco2001 so does it matter that the card is pci-e x16 2.0?

No you will be fine!

[mbco2001]

What do you think of this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130297

Unless my MOBO only supports a video card with DDR2, instead of 3. Not that I dont like your recommendation, I just got to looking at some while I was there.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by mbco2001 What do you think of this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130297 Unless my MOBO only supports a video card with DDR2, instead of 3. Not that I dont like your recommendation, I just got to looking at some while I was there.

The motherboard does not have any impact on what kind of ram the video card uses. The 8600GT is quite a bit slower than the HD4650, although it will still be a decent improvement over the 6600GT. For the extra $10, the HD4650 will provide a considerable improvement over the 8600GT, however if you just want a replacement for the 6600GT for the lowest cost possible and are not too concerned about improved performance, the 8600GT may be a better buy.

[mbco2001]

I'm moreso worried about the uninstall nvidia drivers/ intall ATI more than anything. Back when I had an old ATI Radeon 9600 Pro that thing gave me nothing but trouble. I'm not fully against it, just scared to move on I reckon.

[Khalil]

Here is what you do. While the Nvidia is installed you go in and remove the drivers. Turn the machine off. Plug in the ATI, turn the machine back on but don't install drivers from disk. Go to AMD.com and download the newest drivers, then install them.
If you do it as I described you will have no issues.
If you go with the 4670 get an Asus http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121274 can't beat the warranty!

[mbco2001]

If there is a gap in between the heatsink and video card GPU, will there be any point in trying to reseat it by removing, re-pasting thermal grease, and reseating the heatsink? or will there probably always be the gap?

[mbco2001]

It seems that by reapplying thermal paste to all 5 points (main GPU chip and 4 other small ones) that then it appeared the heatsink "set" a little more. Hopefully that will do the job.On to my other problem, the SATA drive disppearing.