[Grr8008]

Greetings friends! I have long been gone, but now I'm back! For now anyway.

Anyway, due to my long disappearance, I'm a bit out of the loop, so please tell me exactly what info I can give to help you solve my problem if you'd be so kind.

Ok, so my computer is a relatively powerful HP Elite from a few years ago. Haven't had cooling problems till around last December. Blasted the computer with some compressed air, and everything was cool. Now it's back to running about 10 degrees warmer than before, despite being less than four months since its last cleaning. And it varies like crazy. At times it's running fine, at around 59 degrees Celsius, and at other times, it goes up to about 80 degrees Celsius. Now this is odd, because it used to barely break 75 at peak load. This is almost all relegated to the Graphics card. I'm running dual monitors, but even though jumping back to one drops the temps, it's bothersome, and I had two monitors before the temps started rising.

Specs according to Speccy, at the time of this posting:

Graphics
Monitor
Name M221NV on NVIDIA GeForce GT 230
Current Resolution 1920x1080 pixels
Work Resolution 1920x1080 pixels
State enabled, output devices support
Monitor Width 1920
Monitor Height 1080
Monitor BPP 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Frequency 60 Hz
Device \\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0
Name DELL E172FP on NVIDIA GeForce GT 230
Current Resolution 1280x1024 pixels
Work Resolution 1280x984 pixels
State enabled, primary
Monitor Width 1280
Monitor Height 1024
Monitor BPP 32 bits per pixel
Monitor Frequency 60 Hz
Device \\.\DISPLAY2\Monitor0
GeForce GT 230
GPU G92
Device ID 10DE-0603
Revision A3
Subvendor Unknown (1B0A)
Current Performance Level Level 2
Current GPU Clock 500 MHz
Current Memory Clock 500 MHz
Current Shader Clock 1250 MHz
Voltage 0.950 V
Technology 66 nm
Die Size 330 nm˛
DirectX Support 10.0
OpenGL Support 4.0
Bus Interface PCI Express x16
Temperature 68 °C
ForceWare version 259.36
BIOS Version 62.92.84.00.0d
ROPs 16
Shaders 128 unified
Physical Memory 1536 MB
Virtual Memory 1280 MB
Count of performance levels : 2
Level 1 - "Default"
GPU Clock 300 MHz
Memory Clock 100 MHz
Shader Clock 600 MHz
Level 2 - "3D Applications"
GPU Clock 500 MHz
Memory Clock 500 MHz
Shader Clock 1250 MHz
OpenGL
Version 3.3.0
Vendor NVIDIA Corporation
Renderer GeForce GT 230/PCI/SSE2
GLU Version 1.2.2.0 Microsoft Corporation
Values
GL_MAX_LIGHTS 8
GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE 8192
GL_MAX_TEXTURE_STACK_DEPTH 10
GL Extensions
GL_ARB_blend_func_extended
GL_ARB_color_buffer_float
GL_ARB_compatibility
GL_ARB_copy_buffer
GL_ARB_depth_buffer_float
GL_ARB_depth_clamp
GL_ARB_depth_texture
GL_ARB_draw_buffers
GL_ARB_draw_elements_base_vertex
GL_ARB_draw_instanced
GL_ARB_explicit_attrib_location
GL_ARB_fragment_coord_conventions
GL_ARB_fragment_program
GL_ARB_fragment_program_shadow
GL_ARB_fragment_shader
GL_ARB_framebuffer_object
GL_ARB_framebuffer_sRGB
GL_ARB_geometry_shader4
GL_ARB_half_float_pixel
GL_ARB_half_float_vertex
GL_ARB_imaging
GL_ARB_instanced_arrays
GL_ARB_map_buffer_range
GL_ARB_multisample
GL_ARB_multitexture
GL_ARB_occlusion_query
GL_ARB_occlusion_query2
GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object
GL_ARB_point_parameters
GL_ARB_point_sprite
GL_ARB_provoking_vertex
GL_ARB_sampler_objects
GL_ARB_seamless_cube_map
GL_ARB_shader_bit_encoding
GL_ARB_shader_objects
GL_ARB_shading_language_100
GL_ARB_shadow
GL_ARB_sync
GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp
GL_ARB_texture_buffer_object
GL_ARB_texture_compression
GL_ARB_texture_compression_rgtc
GL_ARB_texture_cube_map
GL_ARB_texture_env_add
GL_ARB_texture_env_combine
GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar
GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3
GL_ARB_texture_float
GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat
GL_ARB_texture_multisample
GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two
GL_ARB_texture_rectangle
GL_ARB_texture_rg
GL_ARB_texture_rgb10_a2ui
GL_ARB_texture_swizzle
GL_ARB_timer_query
GL_ARB_transpose_matrix
GL_ARB_uniform_buffer_object
GL_ARB_vertex_array_bgra
GL_ARB_vertex_array_object
GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object
GL_ARB_vertex_program
GL_ARB_vertex_shader
GL_ARB_vertex_type_2_10_10_10_rev
GL_ARB_window_pos
GL_ATI_draw_buffers
GL_ATI_texture_float
GL_ATI_texture_mirror_once
GL_S3_s3tc
GL_EXT_texture_env_add
GL_EXT_abgr
GL_EXT_bgra
GL_EXT_bindable_uniform
GL_EXT_blend_color
GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate
GL_EXT_blend_func_separate
GL_EXT_blend_minmax
GL_EXT_blend_subtract
GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array
GL_EXT_Cg_shader
GL_EXT_depth_bounds_test
GL_EXT_direct_state_access
GL_EXT_draw_buffers2
GL_EXT_draw_instanced
GL_EXT_draw_range_elements
GL_EXT_fog_coord
GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit
GL_EXT_framebuffer_multisample
GL_EXTX_framebuffer_mixed_formats
GL_EXT_framebuffer_object
GL_EXT_framebuffer_sRGB
GL_EXT_geometry_shader4
GL_EXT_gpu_program_parameters
GL_EXT_gpu_shader4
GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays
GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil
GL_EXT_packed_float
GL_EXT_packed_pixels
GL_EXT_pixel_buffer_object
GL_EXT_point_parameters
GL_EXT_provoking_vertex
GL_EXT_rescale_normal
GL_EXT_secondary_color
GL_EXT_separate_shader_objects
GL_EXT_separate_specular_color
GL_EXT_shadow_funcs
GL_EXT_stencil_two_side
GL_EXT_stencil_wrap
GL_EXT_texture3D
GL_EXT_texture_array
GL_EXT_texture_buffer_object
GL_EXT_texture_compression_latc
GL_EXT_texture_compression_rgtc
GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc
GL_EXT_texture_cube_map
GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp
GL_EXT_texture_env_combine
GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3
GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic
GL_EXT_texture_integer
GL_EXT_texture_lod
GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias
GL_EXT_texture_mirror_clamp
GL_EXT_texture_object
GL_EXT_texture_shared_exponent
GL_EXT_texture_sRGB
GL_EXT_texture_swizzle
GL_EXT_timer_query
GL_EXT_vertex_array
GL_EXT_vertex_array_bgra
GL_IBM_rasterpos_clip
GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat
GL_KTX_buffer_region
GL_NV_blend_square
GL_NV_conditional_render
GL_NV_copy_depth_to_color
GL_NV_copy_image
GL_NV_depth_buffer_float
GL_NV_depth_clamp
GL_NV_explicit_multisample
GL_NV_fence
GL_NV_float_buffer
GL_NV_fog_distance
GL_NV_fragment_program
GL_NV_fragment_program_option
GL_NV_fragment_program2
GL_NV_framebuffer_multisample_coverage
GL_NV_geometry_shader4
GL_NV_gpu_program4
GL_NV_half_float
GL_NV_light_max_exponent
GL_NV_multisample_coverage
GL_NV_multisample_filter_hint
GL_NV_occlusion_query
GL_NV_packed_depth_stencil
GL_NV_parameter_buffer_object
GL_NV_parameter_buffer_object2
GL_NV_pixel_data_range
GL_NV_point_sprite
GL_NV_primitive_restart
GL_NV_register_combiners
GL_NV_register_combiners2
GL_NV_shader_buffer_load
GL_NV_texgen_reflection
GL_NV_texture_barrier
GL_NV_texture_compression_vtc
GL_NV_texture_env_combine4
GL_NV_texture_expand_normal
GL_NV_texture_multisample
GL_NV_texture_rectangle
GL_NV_texture_shader
GL_NV_texture_shader2
GL_NV_texture_shader3
GL_NV_transform_feedback
GL_NV_vertex_array_range
GL_NV_vertex_array_range2
GL_NV_vertex_buffer_unified_memory
GL_NV_vertex_program
GL_NV_vertex_program1_1
GL_NV_vertex_program2
GL_NV_vertex_program2_option
GL_NV_vertex_program3
GL_NVX_conditional_render
GL_NVX_gpu_memory_info
GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap
GL_SGIS_texture_lod
GL_SGIX_depth_texture
GL_SGIX_shadow
GL_SUN_slice_accum
GL_WIN_swap_hint
WGL_EXT_swap_control
GL_EXT_bgra


Operating System
MS Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 @ 2.50GHz 36 °C
Yorkfield 45nm Technology
RAM
8.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz (7-7-7-20)
Motherboard
PEGATRON CORPORATION Eureka3 (CPU 1) 40 °C
Graphics
M221NV (1920x1080@60Hz)
DELL E172FP (1280x1024@60Hz)
1536MB GeForce GT 230 (Unknown) 68 °C
Hard Drives
932GB Seagate ST1000DM003-9YN162 ATA Device (SATA) 31 °C
596GB Western Digital WDC WD6400AAKS-65A7B2 ATA Device (SATA) 34 °C
Optical Drives
ATAPI BD B DH6E2L ATA Device
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

Current programs: Spotify, Fences, Speccy, Two windows of Chrome, Notes.
Current # of Montitors: 2

Vendor Info according to LookInMyPC:
ManufacturerHewlett-PackardSerial NumberDM0001Chassis TypeDesktopSystem ModelAV129AV-ABA p6180tSystem Typex64-based PC

Thanks for your help in advance.

[coastie65]

Hi Grr8008 and welcome back. I am assuming you are talking about the GPU temps. At 80c, that isn't abnormally high under load. You did say you are running two monitors at full HD res. which will bring the temps up as well. If you feel comfortable in doing so, you ban remove the card and Clean the old TMC off of the GPU and reapply some fresh stuff, which may help. The other thing is with a prebuilt, air flow is always an issue, especially if it is a Mini Tower. You can go in and try to neaten stuff up as much as you can, but there is only so much you can do.

[Grr8008]

Ok, got it. there were times where it would jump to over 90C before I cleaned it out. Hopefully those times are behind me. I assume by TMC you mean thermal paste. How would I know if that needs replacing?

[coastie65]

Hey, If it looks to be a litle dry or something like that then it is probably breaking down and not as effective.

[evti]

If you're going to open it up, you might as well see if there's an excessive amount of dust in the fan output. I actually just did that to my laptop and ended up pulling out a massive chunk of dust and now it's about half the temp that it was reaching before

[Grr8008]

I know this is technically thread necromancy, but I just wanted to confirm that the issue was a failing graphics card. Thanks anyway!