Intel Arc GPU Thermal Throttling - Faulty?

FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 12:37
Last edited 01/03/2023 - 14:15

I bought an Intel Arc A750 about a month ago. I put it in an NZXT H1 itx case and it thermal throttles (90 degrees) at stock power configuration (190W).
I've recently tried it in a small mATX case and a similar thing happens, even with a fan blowing over it and the side panel removed from the case.
Have found that one side of the GPU exhausts more heat then the other, not sure if this is normal. I'm guessing it might be since that fan is closer to the GPU die?
I've done one last quantitative test which is running it outside of a case, it doesn't throttle and reaches thermal equilibrium at 78-79 degrees with ambient temperature 28-29 degrees.
I've reached out to both the store and Intel but haven't heard back so I'm asking the good people of ozbargain for their expertise on whether this sounds like normal behaviour.
Especially for the others that bought Arc cards, are you experiencing thermal issues too?
Am I just stupid for trying to run it in smaller cases? Does it sound faulty or maybe just poorly designed? A bit of all of the above?

Update: After being in contact with Intel, they have confirmed the GPU is operating outside of usual temperatures. I sent it back to the retailer

Computing Computer Component Intel Video Card

Comments

  • Bid Sniper on 13/02/2023 - 12:52
    +1

    Have same setup, 5800X3D and A750 in NZXT H1 case, NZXT cam set to silent pump and fan.

    Ive noted that the case does hold heat more than I like it to. So I've disabled "turbo boost" (PBO) on CPU to keep heat down, core run at under 50C rather than hitting 70C. If you have PBO can undervolt and it actually run faster and cooler.

    All up seeing GPU 78*C under 100% GPU load now, which is acceptable.

    • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 12:58

      My CPU is an i5-11400. Heat from that doesn’t appear to be an issue. It’s just the GPU hitting 90 after just a few minutes of gaming.
      What is the ambient air temperature? Even just an estimate would be good.

      • Bid Sniper on 13/02/2023 - 13:15
        +1

        24C, GPU idle is 51C for reference.

        Just some basics;
        -what's the CPU temp?
        -Have you installed the case CAM software?
        -Latest ARC drivers? Running overclock in settings?
        -enabled REBAR in bios?
        -are all the fans spinning?

        Problem with itx builds always heat management. For me slowing down CPU heaps a lot reduce heat loads, which affects GPU.

        • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 13:22

          I think CPU temps were around 70, maybe 75 degrees. I’ll have to double check that.
          Definitely running at a higher ambient temperature though.
          I don’t have the CAM software, I’ll check that out.
          On latest Arc drivers, running at stock thermal limits (190W), rebar enabled.
          Fans are spinning

          • Bid Sniper on 13/02/2023 - 13:42
            +1

            @FireRunner: https://nzxt.com/en-AU/product/h1

            Support/cam software

            Ambient temp is less important than what the CPU is radiating into the case.

            Try to reduce CPU temps to be target under 60 ,better 50C underload. Reduce that and will reduce the internal ambient temp that your GPU bakes in. My 78C is with a CPU running at 50C

            • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 14:03
              +1

              @Bid Sniper: I got 78-79 degrees with the GPU sitting on a motherboard in an open air test.
              Maybe it is just the heat coming off the CPU though the reduced air flow alone sounds like a problem.
              I'll give it a shot tonight anyway. Thanks

            • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 23:32
              +1

              @Bid Sniper: Update:
              I’ve done some testing. The CPU actually runs in the low to mid 50s, much better than I thought it did.
              I’ve actually managed to get it to work. I think the location of the case was actually part of the problem. I’ve got it in a more open area and it’s sitting in the mid to high 80s. I’ve had to remove the back panel otherwise it would thermal throttle again.
              Definitely not ideal but it’s actually not as bad as I thought.
              Feel pretty stupid for not thinking about it earlier. Needs a lot more clearance around the case than I realised.
              I think the ambient temperature does play a part too. It’s cooler at night so that helps.
              In its current state the cooling is marginal. I think it just works if conditions are favourable and it still needs some workarounds like removing the back panel.
              Maybe adding a fan mod will fix it.

              • Bid Sniper on 14/02/2023 - 08:24
                +1

                @FireRunner: At least found the issue, seen quite a few people mod with nocuta fans.

                NZXT cam software allows you to control rear fan, might help to increase speed(?)

      • solacens on 13/02/2023 - 14:11
        +1

        Hmm the 140 AIO should be more than enough to cool this 65W CPU.

        Is the AIO fan intake or exhaust?

        • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 14:16

          Yeah, the CPU isn’t throttling and temps on that are fine. The AOI fan pulls air in so the heat might be building up in the case as Bid Sniper suggests.

          • solacens on 13/02/2023 - 14:24
            +1

            @FireRunner: Any blockage on the GPU chamber side to stop it taking fresh air?

            For me I can feel that both side is having adequate intake and the heated air builds on top and being exhausted on rear top fan.

            Maybe you need a more aggressive fan speed on the rear fan, controlled with CAM.

            Personally I connected the fans back to the motherboard so I can control with BIOS.

            • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 14:29

              @solacens: I have the NZXT H1 v1. Didn’t realise the v2 had a GPU exhaust fan. The v1 doesn’t have that.

              • solacens on 13/02/2023 - 14:30

                @FireRunner: You should ask if they can exchange you with a v2. That GPU riser cable is a bit risky.

                No sure if there is any recall in AU btw.

                v2 is a bit larger, with an extra rear exhaust fan and a safer Gen4 riser cable.

                • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 14:31

                  @solacens: Yeah, heard about the fire hazard.
                  Mine had the revised riser when I bought it.

                  • solacens on 13/02/2023 - 14:33
                    +1

                    @FireRunner: Then you may need to mod to mount a top/rear exhaust fan to improve air flow for v1. Something like this redneck mod

                    • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 14:37

                      @solacens: Even with glass front panel removed, the card is thermal throttling. Not sure if an exhaust fan will work.
                      But I'll see if I've got a spare PC fan and just do a temporary janky mod as proof of concept

                      • solacens on 13/02/2023 - 14:40
                        +1

                        @FireRunner: Try force intake from sides and zip tie the spare PC fan on the top of rear panel like v2. (With glass panel on)

                        Seems actually an airflow issue instead of hardware problem as the open-air test bench works without throttling.

                        • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 14:55

                          @solacens: Does the temperature sound about right for the open-air test? 78-79C with unrestricted airflow at stock 190W
                          With the Intel software you can push the power limits up to 230W.
                          Not sure what's the point if you can only get acceptable temps in ideal, completely unrestricted airflow situation
                          Maybe if you live in a colder place?

                          • solacens on 13/02/2023 - 14:58

                            @FireRunner: Sydney. 78 degrees is on full load right? Better test it with 3Dmark or heaven benchmark.

                            • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 15:00
                              +1

                              @solacens: Yeah, running DOOM Eternal, pretty much pegged at 190W as reported by MSI afterburner

                              • solacens on 13/02/2023 - 15:05
                                +1

                                @FireRunner: Hmm better check with your GPU manufacturer. RMA is painful tho so I usually avoid that. Some test from guru3d

                                • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 15:11

                                  @solacens: Yeah, it sounds a bit high to me but I have no reference to compare against. I'll have to wait until Intel gets back to me.
                                  It might be just higher room temperatures or the GPU cooling solution being a bit meh or a bit of both.
                                  The data I've collected makes it hard to pinpoint if it's a faulty GPU, poorly designed GPU or I'm just using it wrong.

                                • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 15:24

                                  @solacens: Hmmm, I assume the tests were done in an open test bench.
                                  69C under load at 20-21C ambient.
                                  Hard to say if 78-79C at 28-29C ambient is within acceptable tolerance

                                • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 23:33
                                  +1

                                  @solacens: Update:
                                  I’ve done some testing. The CPU actually runs in the low to mid 50s, much better than I thought it did.
                                  I’ve actually managed to get it to work. I think the location of the case was actually part of the problem. I’ve got it in a more open area and it’s sitting in the mid to high 80s. I’ve had to remove the back panel otherwise it would thermal throttle again.
                                  Definitely not ideal but it’s actually not as bad as I thought.
                                  Feel pretty stupid for not thinking about it earlier. Needs a lot more clearance around the case than I realised.

                                  • solacens on 13/02/2023 - 23:37
                                    +1

                                    @FireRunner: Its all about airflow bro. Congrat to fully utilize the GPU now.

                                    • FireRunner on 13/02/2023 - 23:39

                                      @solacens: Yeah, I think must of been in some sort of dead spot in the room because it thermal throttled crazy fast.
                                      I think the ambient temperature does play a part too. It’s cooler at night so that helps.
                                      In its current state the cooling is marginal. I think it just works if conditions are favourable and it still needs some workarounds like removing the back panel.
                                      Maybe adding a fan mod will fix it.
                                      Lol, this has been an adventure

  • solacens on 13/02/2023 - 12:53
    +1

    I got my 5800X + 6600XT swaped into my new H1 v2 ordered last week.

    Now its around 45 degrees idle and ~70 degrees while running heaven benchmark at 1080p after 10 minutes. And the 6600XT TDP is 160W and I undervolted that. Hope it helps as a reference.

    CPU is also undervolted with limited TDP so it max in 70 degree full loaded.

  • Vincewang on 20/03/2023 - 14:02
    +1

    HI，i was getting this card a few days ago, and i got 90 degress on gaming . but the a770 fans speed are under 900 pwm. here is how do i fixed it,
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOZl93SpqG4&t=16s
    this is the link showing you how to enable the fan control on arc control panel. coz any arcs dont have any fan controls. and the pwm will goes up to 2700 pwm max speed with quite low noise in my nzxt h1 v2 case. the temp will be around 70 degree. i am quite happy with it. hope you all guys see my reply and fix temp problem.

  • Vincewang on 20/03/2023 - 14:09
    +1

    oh by the way, if you use the nzxt h1, not V2, you can actually use lianli 140mm fan , or any of 140mm fan and intall it on the back panel. to suck the hot air out of the case, ,as the lianli also provide the pwm spliter in the box, you just plug into the nzxt hub or the motherboard , control the fans speed as you like, and the performance will be great.

    • FireRunner on 20/03/2023 - 15:07

      I've sent my Arc A750 back to the retailer. After chatting with Intel they said it was running too hot, outside of spec.
      It's still not resolved since the retailer wanted to test it themselves and get confirmation.
      I've been back and forthing messages and waiting around for ages while it got tested and now retested.
      Has left a really sour taste after wanting to give Intel a shot.

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