Hi, I've got a Radeon HD 6850 1GB DDR5 in my desktop running 4 Dell 19 inch screens. About 4 years in, I suspect the fan on the card has started to rev up and down, noticeably revving up when I'm watching videos or even when scrolling through news sites. Would updating the driver possibly help? The other possibility is that it's the CPU fan, but since it only seems to do it when engaging graphics more than usual, I'm guessing it's the radeon. Thanks, M1
It's normal for a cpu fan to speed up under high graphics demands. When the power is off open the case and blow the dust off everything with a can of compressed air. Never spray any of the fans with the power on because they are powerful enough to shoot the loosened dust directly into your eyes. You've probably gradually accumlated extra strain on the cpu over the years. If you start over with a fresh install of windows it will elminate a lot of that overhead that's present even though you think you're not using it.
Id start with cleaning it out first. Could be clogged up wth dust and fan working harder to try and cool it. Driver update also.
Fan clogged with dust and most likely heat sink for GPU clogged with dust. This happens when the heat sink fins get dust lodged between them. The GPU then can't be cooled effectively and triggers the fan controller on the board to speed up because it's running hotter overall. Take the card out, remove the fan, clean the heat sink, clean fan, then put it all back together. Problem will be fixed.
Thanks everyone. Has anyone ever cleaned out one of these Radeon 6850s before? Are they relatively easier to clean?
I tried to clean a fan once. Then I just took it to the nearest computer guy... hate fiddling with computers, cars, etc. Also, it might be safer to take it to a pro. I once tried to fix the screen on a cell phone to save a buck and killed a $600 phone w/out warranty. My opinion of course.
Not specifically that model but it's a bit like changing oil on a car, all cars take the same standard approach but minor details vary. Take the card out of the computer, find out how to get the fan shroud off the card itself (there will be some kind of clips, and potentially small screws holding it in but probably not). The fan and shroud should come out as one piece allowing you to clean out the heat sink fins (compressed air works well). Then clean off the fan blades with a towel (compressed air works less well there). Put it all back together and done. Alternatively it might require removal from the underside which means it releases the entire thing from the GPU itself. Even though it's not "recommended" you don't have to generally worry about replacing the thermal paste IMO, just reuse it. If you have some on hand you can clean it and apply new paste but I doubt you're maxing out your graphics card such that it's going to heavily matter temps wise.
Clean it out first please then do something like checking temperature again, which firm of Radeon do you have ? Will you have the ability to simply change the fan on it or no ? I do not get it at all. Thanks for that question. Driver will not help at all.