Problem with Radeon HD3450

[KBD]

OK, i'm having a problem with this new card in a PC i'm building for someone. My experience with ATI is rather limited so may be someone here can clear things up. I installed the 8.8 version of the driver and CCC because ver 8.9 didnt work on this card. Basically, the problem is that the memory & core are being read incorrectly by the CCC and Everest Ultimate 4.60. The core is supposed to run at 600 & memory at 500, yet both of those programs read the core at 110 & memory at 252. Here's a screen shot of CCC:

http://www.techpowerup.org/uploaded.php?file=080927/ccc.jpeg

Only one program reads the core & memory almost correctly, thats ATi Tool 0.27b4:

http://www.techpowerup.org/uploaded.php?file=080927/atitool.jpeg

So whats going on, is the card underclocked or Everest and CCC are wrong? Any way to fix this? I do want to overclock the card so i need a solution.

 

[mullered07]

i think maybe the clocks lower in 2d mode to save power

 

[alexp999]

Is that just at idle. Sound like the power saving features to me. What happens when the GPU goes under load?

 

[KBD]

you know what guys, thats a very plausible theory. i'm gonna stress the GPU by scanning for artifacts and get back to you all.

 

[KBD]

ok, looks like you were right, it does underclock itself when idle. However, i havent seen a setting in CCC that would allow me to switch modes (2D, 3D). I know Rivatuner has that option for my nvidia card but it doesnt work with this 3450. Suggestions?

Also, while we are at it i have another problem. This card got unacceptably hot after 16 min of artifacts scanning. It went from 43-52C idle to 88C load!!!! Thats insane, i never had a card run sooo hot. This card uses a passive cooling solution, i'm wondering if putting a fan on it (if its even possible) or getting aftermarket cooling will help. The person who will be using the card is not a heavy gamer, but he likes to play games like WoW, plus some older games so i dont think her'll be happy with such insane temps.

 

[erocker]

ATi calls the 2d/3d clock thing powerplay. It cannot be turned off without modifying the bios, plus it's better that the card downclocks when you don't need it so you save on power. You may want to try putting some new thermal paste on the gpu to see if it helps with temps. A small fan will help a bit too.

 

[KBD]

thnx, erocker. i dont even know how can i mount a fan on it, take a look at the card:

http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/products/products_overview.php?gpid=235&grp=3

Is there a way to do it?

 

[p_o_s_pc]

ok, looks like you were right, it does underclock itself when idle. However, i havent seen a setting in CCC that would allow me to switch modes (2D, 3D). I know Rivatuner has that option for my nvidia card but it doesnt work with this 3450. Suggestions?

Also, while we are at it i have another problem. This card got unacceptably hot after 16 min of artifacts scanning. It went from 43-52C idle to 88C load!!!! Thats insane, i never had a card run sooo hot. This card uses a passive cooling solution, i'm wondering if putting a fan on it (if its even possible) or getting aftermarket cooling will help. The person who will be using the card is not a heavy gamer, but he likes to play games like WoW, plus some older games so i dont think her'll be happy with such insane temps.

I saw my 7900GS when i ran it at 1.55v hit 86c load on the stock cooler with a 80mm fan glued onto it... good times.. Like eroker said replace the thermal paste and add a fan. could we get some pics or a link?

EDIT: you beat me to it

 

[p_o_s_pc]

thnx, erocker. i dont even know how can i mount a fan on it, take a look at the card:

http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/products/products_overview.php?gpid=235&grp=3

Is there a way to do it?

if you have a 40mm or 60mm fan you maybe able to just take some short screws and put them between the fins... If not maybe some strong glue

 

[KBD]

if you have a 40mm or 60mm fan you maybe able to just take some short screws and put them between the fins... If not maybe some strong glue

i'll see what i can, if it has to be glue, what do you recomend? crazy glue?

 

[p_o_s_pc]

i'll see what i can, if it has to be glue, what do you recomend? crazy glue?

I used Gorilla glue worked great on my 7900 just a little drop on the corners and 20-30mins to take hold then it was good to go back in my rig... Drying time is 24hrs for it to dry fully at room temp but it dried in about 15min after putting it back in

BTW don't wet the surface or clam it tight like it says to do on the bottle it will kill the card if you do that lol.

 

[KBD]

I used Gorilla glue worked great on my 7900 just a little drop on the corners and 20-30mins to take hold then it was good to go back in my rig... Drying time is 24hrs for it to dry fully at room temp but it dried in about 15min after putting it back in

BTW don't wet the surface or clam it tight like it says to do on the bottle it will kill the card if you do that lol.

thnx for the tips!

 

[p_o_s_pc]

thnx for the tips!

no problem.

 

[mullered07]

thnx, erocker. i dont even know how can i mount a fan on it, take a look at the card:

http://www.sapphiretech.com/us/products/products_overview.php?gpid=235&grp=3

Is there a way to do it?

id place the fan on the heatsink and just slap 2 cable ties over it and around the card, job done

 

[p_o_s_pc]

id place the fan on the heatsink and just slap 2 cable ties over it and around the card, job done

that is one way to do it but it doesn't look vary nice and sometimes the cable ties get in the way of the slot on small cards like that

 

[KBD]

id place the fan on the heatsink and just slap 2 cable ties over it and around the card, job done

not gonna work with this card, if you look at the heatsink there is nothing to tie the zip tie to. In fact, i couldnt even remove the heatsink since its not using conventional screws but some kind of plastic screws with springs on them.So i tried unscrewing them but they wouldnt come off and i didnt want to force it and break smth. But it seems that a 40mm fan can be screwed on the heatsink using very long screws provided that i can remove those plastic srews first.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

not gonna work with this card, if you look at the heatsink there is nothing to tie the zip tie to. In fact, i couldnt even remove the heatsink since its not using conventional screws but some kind of plastic screws with springs on them.So i tried unscrewing them but they wouldnt come off and i didnt want to force it and break smth. But it seems that a 40mm fan can be screwed on the heatsink using very long screws provided that i can remove those plastic srews first.

those are pushpins. DON'T use screws in place of them you can/will damage the card. to remove push pins you turn the card over and squeeze the little plastic peace on it and put it threw.

EDIT: " Remove stock ATI cooler by removing two push pin clips on the back of the card. Remove the fan connector as well. It is good to have some pliers as well to unclip those push pins."

 

[The_Real_DeaL31]

remove the heat sink apply new as5 silicon on the core, go buy a 80mm fan or smaller, look for small screws will fit the heatsink mount the fan, problem solved lol, i did this to my old nvidia 6200 agp card temps are solid

 

[KBD]

those are pushpins. DON'T use screws in place of them you can/will damage the card. to remove push pins you turn the card over and squeeze the little plastic peace on it and put it threw.

EDIT: " Remove stock ATI cooler by removing two push pin clips on the back of the card. Remove the fan connector as well. It is good to have some pliers as well to unclip those push pins."

well that clears things up a bit. In that case the only solution is gluing a fan on to the HSF and applying fresh TIM. I realize now that i shouldve told the guy i'm building for to get an HD 3450 w/ fan, there werent that many choices for that, most use passive cooling. At the time i figured how hot could this little LP card get? Very, very hot apparantly