HD 4870 Fan-Control, Easy Workaround, Lowered My Temps 30C

[HonestJohn]

I'd love to take all the credit for this, but Bretware came up with the actual idea on Guru3D, see link below. Single Card users only need to make two changes in the XML file created by your ATI Profile. I tried this and it worked perfectly, other than the noise generated by 65% fan speed which Bretware suggested. I found that a bit too noisy for my tastes.

http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.ph...69&postcount=8



First Enable Overdrive in the Catalyst Control Center.

Then Create a new Profile using the Profiles Manager in the CCC and make sure Save All Catalyst Control Center Settings is selected.


For Vista

Open any Folder, goto Organize Menu --> Folder and Search Options --> Select View Tab ---> Select "Show Hidden Files and Folders".

Then goto the following location and open the following file for editing "C:\Users\Your Windows ID\AppData\Local\ATI\ACE\Profiles\Your CCC Profile.XML. The xml file will have the same name as the Catalyst Profile you saved. right click and hit edit.


For XP

Open any Folder, goto Tools Menu --> Folder Options --> Select View Tab ---> Select "Show Hidden Files and Folders".

Then goto the following location and open the following file for editing "C:\Documents and Settings\Your Windows ID\Local Settings\Application Data\ATI\ACE\Profiles\Your CCC Profile.XML. The xml file will have the same name as the Catalyst Profile you saved. right click and hit edit.


HD 4850/HD4870 Users - should change the values below Bolded in Red within the Profile XML file.

<Feature name="FanSpeedAlgorithm_0">
<Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Automatic" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedRPMTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedPercentTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="23" />


Crossfire Users - must also make identical changes to the section labeled <Feature name="FanSpeedAlgorithm_1">

<Feature name="FanSpeedAlgorithm_1">
<Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Automatic" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedRPMTarget_1">
<Property name="Want" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedPercentTarget_1">
<Property name="Want" value="23" />


HD HD4870X2 Users - should change the values below Bolded in Red within the Profile XML file. Note if changing the section beginning FanSpeedAlgorithm_1 does not work, try making your changes in the section for FanSpeedAlgorithm_0. It seems results vary between brands of the X2.

<Feature name="FanSpeedAlgorithm_1">
<Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Automatic" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedRPMTarget_1">
<Property name="Want" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedPercentTarget_1">
<Property name="Want" value="23" />


Change the "Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value=" from "Automatic" to "Manual"

Then under "FanSpeedPercentTarget_x", change "Property name="Want" value=" from "23" to your desired fan speed.

Save the file then reload the Profile you just edited in the CCC. Done.



Edit 1:

After experimenting with my HIS HD4870 I found a fan-speed of 38% works best for me. My temps went from 79C at idle to 48C.

Edit 2:

Contrary to instructions posted on Guru3D by Bretware, most people are able to set their fan speed to "Automatic" rather than "Manual". Having it set to "Automatic" should allow the fan speed to ramp-up if needed beyond the fan-speed you entered. This doesn't work for me however and I must use "Manual".

Edit 3:

If you're using Catalyst Drivers 8.6 there is no "Profiles" Sub-Folder in Path and it will be created in C:\Documents and Settings\Your Windows ID\Local Settings\Application Data\ATI\ACE\Your CCC Profile.XML

[Vear Heart]

Congrats on your oh so cool 4870

[HonestJohn]

Originally Posted by Vear Heart

Congrats on your oh so cool 4870

Thanks man, no pun intended right.

[3legged dog]

Originally Posted by HonestJohn

You're gonna love this and I'd love to take credit for it, but someone else came up with it. I wouldn't be surprised if the person worked for ATI either as it was his first post. Anyway, I'll cut to the chase. All you need to do is change just two values in the XML which is attached to an ATI Profile you created. I tried this and it worked perfectly, other than the noise generated by 65% fan speed as suggested. I'll experiment later. But it works and easy as anything. I edited his instructions just a hair though. See below ....

http://forums.guru3d.com/showpost.ph...69&postcount=8

Make a profile in catalyst after turning on Overdrive and make sure clock and memory settings are correct.

Then go to the following location and open the following file for editing "C:\Users\Your Name\AppData\Local\ATI\ACE\Your Profile.XML. the xml file will have the same name as the Catalyst Profile you saved. right click and hit edit.

Go down the page until you see the following lines in the XML file ...

<Feature name="FanSpeedAlgorithm_0">
<Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value="Automatic" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedRPMTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="0" />
</Feature>
<Feature name="FanSpeedPercentTarget_0">
<Property name="Want" value="23" />

Change the "Property name="FanSpeedAlgorithm" value=" from "Automatic" to "Manual"

Then change "Property name="Want" value=" from "23" to your desired fan speed.

Save the file then reload the Profile you just edited in the CCC.

You will have to select the profile everytime you re-start the computer.

Edit:

After experimenting with my HIS HD 4870 I found a fan-speed of 40% works best for me. My temps went from 79C at idle to 49C, and now 47C after settling in.

Edit 2:

Tested this under Vista only. Under XP, the Profile XML you need to edit may be located in another folder. If you can't find it, just search for "your profile name.xml"

Would this also work on the 4850?? Has anyone tried this on a 4850?I'd sure like to know!

[HonestJohn]

Originally Posted by 3legged dog

Would this also work on the 4850?? Has anyone tried this on a 4850?I'd sure like to know!

I don't see why it wouldn't.

Edit:

Just to confirm, I just saw someone on another forum try this with a HD 4850 and it worked fine.

[jamie hayman]

I just tried it on my 4850 and it worked great..
Thanks
But I'm running crossfire and it only did 1 card what else do I need to edit to get the both cards to run same fan speed??

[jamie hayman]

Nevermind I figured it out..
If your running crossfire the profile will show 2 sets of the lines you have to change..
I was only looking for the 1 in the post, did that ran it, saw it only changed 1 fan, so I went back in to see if there was another set of lines to change and there was so I just tried now both fans running at 40%..
Now both cards are idleing at 54 degrees instead of 70+ drgrees..
Thanks again..

[kbohip]

Originally Posted by jamie hayman

Nevermind I figured it out..
If your running crossfire the profile will show 2 sets of the lines you have to change..
I was only looking for the 1 in the post, did that ran it, saw it only changed 1 fan, so I went back in to see if there was another set of lines to change and there was so I just tried now both fans running at 40%..
Now both cards are idleing at 54 degrees instead of 70+ drgrees..
Thanks again..

How is the fan noise at 40%? Can you hear it running from outside the case?

[jamie hayman]

still very quite..
I can't hear it..
I'm using an Antec P182 case..

[TheGlasMan]

Good stuff folks, just what the doctor ordered!

[HonestJohn]

As I was testing the fan speed profile hack, I came across an outstanding stress test which will really gets your card cooking for you. It's as good or better than the artifact tester in ATI Tool or ATI Tray Tools 3D Renderer. It's also a standalone which is one of the reasons I like it. Anyway, in case there are any of you that haven't tried it yet, it's called Fur Mark. Nice simple interface and it's free. New Version just released on June 24th.....

After 30 min of running the stability test my temps are @ 85C / 35% Fan

http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/

After 30 minutes of using the HDR Realtime Renderer (rthdribl), my temps went up to only 70C / 35% fan.

http://www.daionet.gr.jp/~masa/rthdribl/

[3legged dog]

Originally Posted by HonestJohn

I don't see why it wouldn't.

Edit:

Just to confirm, I just saw someone on another forum try this with a HD 4850 and it worked fine.

Abig thanks for the imfo + your time!~

[FingerOfGoad]

if u just want 100% fan, go to the fan plug on the card, unplug it, carfully take the blue plug out, plug the rest back in leaving the blue wire unconnected, bam 100% fan (did this to my 8800gts it kept reverting to slow dispite bios being locked at 75% minimum)

[HonestJohn]

Originally Posted by kbohip

How is the fan noise at 40%? Can you hear it running from outside the case?

Noise usually doesn't bother me, however anything over 40% I found too loud. 40% I could hear slightly, at 35% it blended in with the rest of my Rig. So it probably boils down to what you're use to.

[HonestJohn]

Originally Posted by 3legged dog

Abig thanks for the imfo + your time!~

No Prob 3legged, glad it helped.