Hardware Analysis - video card monitoring

Re: video card monitoring

Death Adder — 2006-08-20T01:44:07-05:00

Ok, I realize it's been a while, like the last post said...HOWEVER!!!

There will be some people looking for the answer to this TEMPERATURE SENSOR issue for Nvidia cards.

I looked some 3 odd months ago and came across a windows (XP) registry hack to get the Nvidia temperature level to show up in the GeForce (Card name here) tab. You DO NOT have to download ANYTHING to get this to work. (Besides updating to Nvidia's latest drivers).

***
background info. go to next *** to skip this crap.
So, my card, a 6600GT, ran hot even at idle. I read up on how to re-apply thermal paste on my Dell Dimension 5100 CPU as I was taking off the CPU air cover to get to the big fan (it was making some noise) and the heat sink was physically attached, and came right off. I read that most retail graphic card heat sinks are pretty lame as you want as much contact between the GPU and the heat sink as possible. My "all copper" heat sink was as rough as a monkey's heel, so like the info said, I got some 400-800 grit sand paper and sanded down the area where the GPU would make contact, gently of course, it took about 10 mins by hand going in all different direction to get it as smooth as a babys butt. Cleaned it up with the alcohol and q-tips, got my Arctic 5, spread it on thinly, and remounted the heat sink. Ok here's where it gets interesting.
(I did all of the above for my CPU heatsink as well. Note: do NOT sand down your CPU or GPU. Just the heat sink!!! (for all you newbies).
Interesting part: Before all this, my GPU temp ran at 56 C at idle. When I gamed it ran consistantly at 67-70 C where I would begin to get artifacting. Sucks! Even messing with the overclocking would get my temp. into the high 70s and then it would start locking up. OK, so after I replaced the heat sink, my idle dropped to 48 C. Now, when I OC the card to 579MHZ (GPU) and 1.23GHZ (mem), my gaming runs at 65 C consistantly. This is F.E.A.R. and GTA SA, and Command and Conquer Zero Hour, all at max resolutions and all functions like AA are "on" and getting at least 40-50 fps (average). I don't have ANY extra fans or any special cooling. This is all stock. So far, its been about 3 weeks and it runs just like a dream. My CPU fan is on auto and almost never speeds up to cool things off. Speedfan reports it runs at 806-811 rpm constantly.

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you skipped the crap didn't you? bastard!

Ok, so this is what you are looking for. Name calling aside. There is a simple non-damaging windows registry addition (not a hack) that will give you the Temperature Level and the Clock frequency modifiying options. I'm sure all Nivida engineers know about this, so now do we.

Copied from: http://www.tweakxp.com/article37173.aspx

Start > run > regedit

while in the registry find

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA corporation\Global\NVTweak

click on the NVTweak folder you now see and create a new Dword value name it CoolBits (make sure you use a big C and B) once created open it and make the value 2 (hex or decimal)

This was the tweak. The Temperature Level and clock modifiers (if you used 3) will be under the GeForce Tab. Congrats!

NOTE: In the CoolBits DWord value, I made mine 3, not 2. If you make it 3 then you will get another option for Additional Direct3D Settings under the Performance & Quality Settings option. The extra option is for additional Max Frames to Render Ahead (set to 1 by default) I changed to 3. If you are getting less than 60 fps you can change this to 2 or 3 (extra video ram is used so you may have to lower some other settings like Anti Aliasing etc) but it does seem to improve my FPS on Command and Conquer...FYI.

Please reply to this post. Don't email me. Thanks.

"Move along...move along..." - Syndicate Wars intro.

Re: video card monitoring

tony mcc — 2006-08-18T09:00:48-05:00

there is a gd program called pc wizard that gives u every bit of info about ur pc that u need to know including temps, go to http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

Re: video card monitoring

DublinGunner — 2006-08-17T10:47:50-05:00

Holy Thread Resurrection Batman!!

A whole 1 1/2 years since the last post, I'm sure they have it sorted lol

Re: video card monitoring - Speedfan

Keith Butzbach — 2006-08-17T10:35:49-05:00

Try Speedfan I use it for my Gigabyte 6800 AGP.
Not just speed of fan also monitors temps, GPU, Motherbd & Hardrive.

Freeware from

http://www.almico.com/

Also try various manufacturers utilities, Gigabyte does one that also monitors my GPU but prefer Speedfan as its all there.
Can also adjust the speed of the fans etc.

Re: video card monitoring

keith nepsa — 2005-02-27T08:47:40-05:00

damn.. thats odd.. because all 6800's are suppose to have the temp sensor.. i have one last suggestion that could help. but its risky and involves editing your bios. now if you arent familiar with bios editing i wouldnt recommend try this.. but here is a webpage with what to do

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=2379

like i said. its risky.. so do it at your own risk!

Re: video card monitoring

alf fonz — 2005-02-27T08:32:50-05:00

yep, i had coolbits at the time when i first made the post here. There was nothing there even with coolbits enabled.

Re: video card monitoring

OCGW — 2005-02-27T08:27:40-05:00

Damn, I was just about to mention Coolbits too

OCGW

PEACE

Re: video card monitoring

keith nepsa — 2005-02-27T08:17:25-05:00

if you download coolbits 2 or coolbits3d it makes some registry changes that can enable the temperature page in the settings. right now im having same problem. i have a different card. but i cant get my temperature settings page up either. i will let you know if i find a simpler solution..

Nepluto

Strange

Hardtohit — 2005-02-21T09:29:59-05:00

thats werid possibly becuase you have the AGP version where mine and my friends are PCI-E... i'm glad you found some software though... but listen man i never once said anything about you being dumb or "insulting" your computer knowledge maybe you should just take a deep breathe and give your post some time... believe it or not we're not all here just for your personal use so chill out...

-Hardtohit

Re: video card monitoring

Mothow — 2005-02-20T22:26:55-05:00

I think i said that in my post to check asus for thier program.But im glad you figured out away to read your temp's.I know it would drive me crazy not being able to read my temps if i knew i should be able to but couldnt.

Re: video card monitoring

alf fonz — 2005-02-20T22:10:17-05:00

Nah, its cool, but thank you anyway.

I spent some time checking out ASUS.com and managed to fine Smart Doctor. It seems to work well enough.

Re: video card monitoring

Ecosse — 2005-02-20T12:17:58-05:00

Found this on a Google:

http://3dgpu.com/archives/2004/08/09/geforce-6800-tweak-guide/

These guys n glas on here are only ensuring that you are trying all possible processes before they leave it for dead and try something new - be patient Alf - the assistance that can be found through HWA is second to none - if these dudes n dudettes can't sort it then it's time for a new PC!

Give it time.

Re: video card monitoring

alf fonz — 2005-02-20T11:08:47-05:00

There u go again, trying to tell me im not looking right.

U go look here:

http://www.imagehosting.us/imagehosting/showimg.jpg/?id=252322

Dont tell me your blind either. I told u, more than 1 time, i looked, and there is nothing there. Instead of trying to help me with another possibility, u insulted my computer intelligance.

Re: video card monitoring

bossa ritchie — 2005-02-19T12:20:28-05:00

He started whining because I used the word obviously when he used it earlier on, I just dont get some people.

Re: video card monitoring

Curtis Flanagan — 2005-02-19T10:13:48-05:00

this guy doesnt really deserve help seeing asthough hes bein an a**hole to people trying to help
i have a temperature monitor just like every1else and snice your such a wizard i suggest you magic yours up