Warning: Overheating Video Cards

[Granyala]

I mean this is a lot of assuming;

2 regularly cleaned/maintained PCs run FFXIV fine at mid-low spec, install DT Update, video cards overheat at low-low spec.

Videocards don't overheat out of nothing, though what worries me is that you described a burnt smell.
That usually does not happen when a card dies to overheating (especially newer models that just clock themselves down).

You should assess the health power supply as well. It's possible that it was overtaxed, if it was a cheap one and doesn't have the proper protective circuitry.

Alternatively, limit the gpu's power level.

FPS cap is easier to implement for the average user and pretty much achieves the same result.
Provided you do not choose a resolution/FPS scenario that maxes out/overtaxes your card.

The thing people in these situations don't want to hear, is that there is simply no way for a properly cooled and well ventilated PC to overheat. Components are designed to run at 100% load for prolonged periods of time. The game is more taxing than it has ever been, yes but that is very much a user issue.

Technically: yes.
Practically: no.

I don't think monitoring the temperatures during full screen 3D applications is something the average user does. Also: repasting a card, while not difficult to do for the people so inclined is WELL beyond what is reasonable to expect of the average joe.

If a card turns non-functional because the manufacturer skimped on 2$ worth of heat transfer compound... that's not a user issue.

Yeah always cap it to monitors cap in the GPU's setting directly. Had certain cases (Crash 4 ) where the LOADING SCREEN of all things would tell the gpu to go full force netting me 400 fps 100% gpu usage and massive coil whine...

IIRC New Worlds from Amazon could actually REALLY fry GPUs due to no FPS limit in the menus. :'D

Did you monitor your GPU temperature before that including hot spot?
DT is demanding and sometimes can use 100% of 20 series GPU.

Not just 20 series. My 3080 is taxed 100% in 4K 60FPS and reaches Hot-Spot temperatures of 80°C on a custom loop setup.
Granted, it's summer and my room ambient is at 30°C as well but still.

FF-XIV now needs to be taken more seriously on the hardware front.

Except VRAM.... 4GB usage in Tuliyollal, lul.

[kaynide]

Videocards don't overheat out of nothing, though what worries me is that you described a burnt smell.
That usually does not happen when a card dies to overheating (especially newer models that just clock themselves down).

You should assess the health power supply as well. It's possible that it was overtaxed, if it was a cheap one and doesn't have the proper protective circuitry.

That's a good call;
We've had the two PCs since ARR launch and kept them in good condition, although obviously they're not tip top condition because wear and tear.

The actual power supply interior is a place I can't easily clean so it could very well have cat hair or whatever from 10+ years of use. I'll be looking into that. Thanks!

Not sure about the heat transfer compound as it was put together by a local PC shop...but with10 years good I'd like to think they did right, but I'm also leaning towards it doesn't matter how clean I think I'm being because there will always be random bits of hair/dust that I just couldn't see/notice.

[Granyala]

The actual power supply interior is a place I can't easily clean so it could very well have cat hair or whatever from 10+ years of use. I'll be looking into that. Thanks!

DO NOT OPEN YOUR POWER SUPPLY unless you are an engineer and know what you are doing!
Even plugged out it has rather large capacitors and there is still a possibility of electric shock.

Random dust/hair will always be present and should not be the culprit. Even my computer has some dust bunnies in there.
As long as the fins of the coolers / intake filters aren't clogged and the fans are spinning appropriately, you are good.

There is the possibility of HTC degradation, in order to find out, grab Hardware info and Furmark. Stress the system for a while and observe the temperatures. Both CPU and GPU should stay below 80°C at all times.

I know modern stuff can reach 100°C safely but I have never been comfortable with that for extended use.

Hihihi, that's the reason why i love the FF14 benchmark as an instability test. Because it can spoil issues, which other tests don't.

Wouldn't Furmark be a lot easier? It can even test stability of power delivery by maxing out CPU & GPU at the same time.

RTX20 is a 2018-2019 video card. Not THAT OLD.

Probably you were using DLSS + high level of shadow softening + perhaps NO lod. In short the AI part was working like crazy, and a entry level GPU card has not enough tensor core.

My advice is to let geforce experience decide the best for you, add a FPS limit (always a good idea) and if it is still overheating remove the other shadows.

Again: a GPU should not overheat even if it is pegged at 100% use. Just employing arbitrary limits is a band-aid fix. He needs to assess the root cause of the instability.

[Larirawiel]

Wouldn't Furmark be a lot easier? It can even test stability of power delivery by maxing out CPU & GPU at the same time.

No. Furmark is basically an overheating test. And it is throttled down in AMD- and Nvidia drivers to prevent overheating. The FF14 benchmark however is a good memory- or "did i undervolt/overclock too much"-test. I know one case, that a guy undervolted his GPU. All games but the FF14 benchmark ran stable. He undervolted the GPU a little bit less and it also worked with the FF14 benchmark. The FF14 spoiled a semi stable system.



Cheers