3850 agp

[randmo]

I've had a couple of unwanted system shutdowns the last 2 days. I just started getting an intermittent fan hum and discovered it was the intake fan on the psu varying in speed. Since I was looking for a fan problem, I also noticed the 3850 agp fan starting up, running for a while, then stopping, then starting up again.
My question is:
Does the Sapphire 3850 card have a temp sensor feature so that the fan only runs at a certain temperature? I assume not and if not, would the most likely cause be the psu or a bad fan on the agp card? Thanks

Opteron 175
Abit AV8-3rd eye BIOS ver 28
G-Skill DDR400 SDRAM 2gb
WD2500JS SATA drive (system drive)
WD1600JB EIDE for back-up
Sapphire 3850 512mb AGP
LITE-ON DVD Burner SOHW-1693S
StarLogic 600W PSU
XP Pro SP3

[Lgbpop]

I've got that AV8 in the family room computer, and as much as I love the motherboard I found it runs better with the SmartFan feature disabled in the BIOS. Disable it on yours, and make sure the CPU fan being throttled back isn't making your 3850 throttle up in turn.

[Midknyte]

I haven't heard of 3850 fans COMPLETELY stopping. If anything, they would throttle back at idle. What happens when you run a game?

[randmo]

Lgbpop, Thanks for the response. By'smartfan' do you mean the 'cool n quiet'? Cool n quiet was set on auto - I disabled it. No change in the psu. It vibrates when it throttles back.
Midknyte, Thanks for your response also. Don't have any graphics stretching games on this one but I downloaded Red Alert 3 Demo. Before I did that, I laid the box on it's side so I could watch the fans. The 3850 fan was idle, I looked up to start the download and when I looked back down the fan was working and hasn't stopped since (all while the box is on it's side). I had not disabled cool n quiet before doing this. Atitool says it's running at 40C. Game had no effect on fan - ran full time.
This psu has a few years on it. Maybe I should just try a new one and see if it corrects both issues. At this point I'm more confident that the psu is bad than I am about the 3850 fan.
Just checked 3850 fan again - it had stopped - checked atitool - was 41C. Got up to 43C and fan started. Now fan still running it's 38C

[Lgbpop]

Yes, Cool'n'Quiet is what I was thinking of. (SmartFan must've been my KV7.)

Your PSU should have a negligible effect on cooling fan RPMs, whether on the CPU or on the graphics card. Either you get sufficient power, or you don't start at all. Your ATiTool, if that's the culprit, seems to have a good 2° deadband built into it.

[t34b4g5]

I also noticed the 3850 agp fan starting up, running for a while, then stopping, then starting up again.


That is usually a sign of a warn out or faulty fan. I would suggest removing the fan and replace it with a new one. :)

What are the temps like with the machine?

download and run Hardware Monitor (http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php) and post the results..

[Midknyte]

CoolnQuiet only affects the CPU.

The gpu fan speed can change from idle to load, but your eyes probably can't see the difference.

[t34b4g5]

CoolnQuiet only affects the CPU.

The gpu fan speed can change from idle to load, but your eyes probably can't see the difference.

Yes i know what cool 'n quiet does, but the OP has said that the fan will literally stop spinning, then it will just start spinning a little while latter.

the cool 'n quiet feature only control's the fans speed, it will only speed it up when the system is under load and thus heating up, or once the system is no longer under havy load and at idle temp', it will slow the speed of the fan down as needed.

If the fan is stop spinning, then starting spinning again on a regular basis wether the system is under load or not, then it is a sign that the fan is either warn out or Faulty. ;)

[Midknyte]

@ t34b4g5

My comment about CoolnQuiet was @ Lgbpop.

[Lgbpop]

CoolnQuiet only affects the CPU.

True enough, but when the HSF is throttled down by CnQ the ATiTool can also sense excess heat and throttle up the videocard fan in response - especially if the fan's temp sensor isn't particularly accurate. I've found our AV8 runs cooler without it anyhow and what little extra noise may result doesn't bother anyone.

[randmo]

Temps using CPUID Hardware Monitor:
CPU - 37C
SYS - 26C
PWM - 29C
GPU Core ranges form 37C to 43C

PSU still throttling back and humming/vibrating when it does - 3850 fan still shutting off and on - Just got a BSOD when I laid the box on it's side to watch the fans. Read as follows:

"A process or thread crucial to system operation has unexpectedly exited or been terminated."
Tecnical Info ***STOP: 0x000000F4 (0x00000003, 0x89A8EDA0, 0X89A8EF14, 0X805D297C)
Beginning dump of physical memory

I will order a new psu today and I guess I'll check out gpu fans also.

Any thoughts on the BSOD?

Thanks again for your time.

[Lgbpop]

Loose video card would be my first thought.

[Midknyte]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916199

Also try running chkdsk /r

[randmo]

RE: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916199
Have the fixes this article refers to already been supplied in Windows update If you're running XP Pro SP3 and are current on all priority updates?

Any suggestions for an aftermarket gpu fan that will fir the 3850 AGP?

I'll run chkdsk /r now

I reseated the 3850

Thanks

[randmo]

chdsk found and recovered 4 lost files all associated with the Red Alert 3 demo

[Midknyte]

Are you running Catalyst Control Center? You may want to uninstall that and use only the ATI drivers.

[randmo]

I wasn't running Catalyst but went ahead and got rid of some other apps like atitool and riva tuner. Also the red alert 3 demo. I ordered a psu and I'm checking to find out what after market gpu cooler will fit the 3850. Sapphire recommended Thermaltake or Arctic cooling but didn't specify model (card not under warranty). Thermaltake recommended the Duorb or the Sorb.
Should I apply the hotfix from Microsoft you mentioned earlier?

[Midknyte]

Should I apply the hotfix from Microsoft you mentioned earlier?
You can definitely give it a try.

I mentioned removing the CCC, since I saw somewhere else that it messed with the fan speed.

I'd usually go with Arctic Cooling over Thermaltake for GPU cooler, but you gotta compare pricing and reviews. I'm not sure if there are special restrictions because of the AGP bridge on your card.