Tech Help GTX 980 Fans at 100% permanent

[SigmaMX]

Greetings wizards of the Techland

Here is the deal: my GTX 980 is almost 3 years old. Some stuff is starting to act up.

The 3 big ass fans it has do not start automatically anymore. I've had my gear running at 70?C (I constantly check the temp on Open Hardware Monitor) and the fans still at 0%.

So what I'm doing is I'm setting a default mandatory spin at 50% regardless if I'm gaming or doing something else, and its been working just fine.

The question is: Is there a problem if I set them at 100% permanently? Because I have to be constantly moving the % of activity and its kinda troublesome.

Will it affect the GPU or its components? I'd love if the GPU survives at least another year before retirement.

Thanks as always!!

 

[motive]

Well, if your fans are loud good luck with your hearing but you will cause more wear and tear on the fans, but they wont fail anytime soon. You will hear the bearings go before they die. They are rated at 12v anyway.

 

[Simon]

Nothing wrong with leaving it at 100%. I would only do it if you?re constantly gaming though - might get pretty annoying after a bit. The GPU will die before the fans do most likely, honestly.

 

[Snipeye]

Stupid, but crazy suggestion. Get a box fan and open up the case. When you're gaming, turn the box fan on and have it pointed right into your case to cool it off. Turn the case off when not gaming.

The best alternative is to contact the manufacturer if it's still under warranty and get a replacement from them. I had dead-fan issue with my old 9800GX2 and EVGA replaced them with a GTX 285. Could get lucky and receive an upgrade compared to your 980.

 

[ENFORCER_GAMING]

Being that this card is 3-4 years old, i would honestly replace the stock thermal compound and pads ASAP.

 

[SigmaMX]

Being that this card is 3-4 years old, i would honestly replace the stock thermal compound and pads ASAP.

The what with the what? and how do I do that, sexy boi? Im interested and financially able atm!

Thanks everyone as usual for taking the time helping me. All the other comments were as useful!

 

[Nidhoegger]

The what with the what? and how do I do that, sexy boi? Im interested and financially able atm!

Thanks everyone as usual for taking the time helping me. All the other comments were as useful!

Step 1: Buy a Thermal Compund Paste. I always use the Arctic Silver MX5.
Step 2: Shut down Computer
Step 3: Open Up Case and remove Graphics card (caution, there is a Notch at the Slot that needs to be clipped out)
Step 4: Remove the Heatspreder. This is a bit of fuzzy work and different for each model
Step 5: You will see a white or silver paste (maybe completly dry) on the GPU and maybe the RAM. Clean it off, it should come off fine with kitchen tissues.
Step 6: Apply new Compound. Not too much, not too less, smear it around (I mostly use a flat screwdrivers head to move the paste around) so everything is covered in a thin layer
Step 7: Clean the paste also off off the heatspreader
Step 8: Reapply the heatspreder to the Graphics Card
Step 9: Insert Graphics card in PC, turn on and make sure that the fans rotate (if not, you forgot to attach the fan cable again!)
Step 10:
Step 11: Profit.

 

[ENFORCER_GAMING]

The what with the what? and how do I do that, sexy boi? Im interested and financially able atm!

Thanks everyone as usual for taking the time helping me. All the other comments were as useful!

I got you bb <3[emoji8][emoji8][emoji8][emoji8] ill send you some pics and videos on how to do it once i get home

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[ENFORCER_GAMING]

Step 1: Buy a Thermal Compund Paste. I always use the Arctic Silver MX5.
Step 2: Shut down Computer
Step 3: Open Up Case and remove Graphics card (caution, there is a Notch at the Slot that needs to be clipped out)
Step 4: Remove the Heatspreder. This is a bit of fuzzy work and different for each model
Step 5: You will see a white or silver paste (maybe completly dry) on the GPU and maybe the RAM. Clean it off, it should come off fine with kitchen tissues.
Step 6: Apply new Compound. Not too much, not too less, smear it around (I mostly use a flat screwdrivers head to move the paste around) so everything is covered in a thin layer
Step 7: Clean the paste also off off the heatspreader
Step 8: Reapply the heatspreder to the Graphics Card
Step 9: Insert Graphics card in PC, turn on and make sure that the fans rotate (if not, you forgot to attach the fan cable again!)
Step 10:
Step 11: Profit.

NOOO! DO NOT USE A SCREW DRIVER OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER TO SPREAD THE THERMAL COMPOUND!

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Snipeye]

NOOO! DO NOT USE A SCREW DRIVER OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER TO SPREAD THE THERMAL COMPOUND!

Agreed! That risks damaging the contact surface area. I'd suggest another step afterwards. Use a tissue or paper towel to remove the thermal paste compound. However, go back over it again with a tissue/towel/even q-tip that has a little bit of isopropyl alcohol (90% or better) on it to help remove any paste remaining that the first pass through didn't get. Just be careful to not have too much alcohol and have it run down into the electronics directly.

I also say only replace the thermal compound if you cannot get an RMA from the manufacturer as doing it yourself can void any warranty that's on it. You're right around the typical 3-year warranty that manufacturer's have now, but some have 4-, 5-year warranties, or like me, a lifetime warranty.

 

[Nidhoegger]

NOOO! DO NOT USE A SCREW DRIVER OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER TO SPREAD THE THERMAL COMPOUND!

Dont get me wrong here, if you will scratch around with it like a monkey of course you will damage stuff. Same thing applies when using paper towels and rubbing around like hell ripping off resistors and stuff. Apply no pressure and use it like a spatula (at a very low angle) and you are fine. You cannot scratch with that to any damage if you do not apply force.

 

[Snipeye]

Dont get me wrong here, if you will scratch around with it like a monkey of course you will damage stuff. Same thing applies when using paper towels and rubbing around like hell ripping off resistors and stuff. Apply no pressure and use it like a spatula (at a very low angle) and you are fine. You cannot scratch with that to any damage if you do not apply force.

Or you can go the poor man and easy clean route and use a plastic bag over glove, and spread it that way too.

 

[Sniperclysm]

Just set it up to 60% - 80%. Put the setting on what you like on the games then when your playing your games monitor the temps then sett it to what you would like. set it so you don't hear the noise and keep the room cool.

 

[Nidhoegger]

Or you can go the poor man and easy clean route and use a plastic bag over glove, and spread it that way too.

Of couse you can. I only gave a suggestions. I build PCs since years that way. A friend of mine uses a bit of thin cardboard to spread and another one just makes a dot in the middle and uses the heatsinks pressure to spread. There are dozens of ways, there is no "the right way".