Computer fan question

[Keirie]

Does the character select screen take more graphical oomph then the game it self? I was wondering because if i spend a several minutes on that page my computer fans spool up, but when i start the game they go back to normal running. I noticed this to a lesser degree back during the Holloween event where you fought the werewolf boss in the maze. I do not get any warning messages and no graphical glitches appear, the fans just run a bit faster. Was just wondering if this was normal, or if anyone else had a similar experience? My vid card is a MSI 1Gb 250gts the comp is a Systemax i got from Tiger a while back with a 2.5Ghz dual core, 3 gb ram. Its not a big problems since it only happens if i spend to much time on the character selection page, was just wondering why it happened.

[thephantomposter]

I would say yes, it definately puts a strain on my system more so than the game itself. I computer has overheating issues now, its old, and if I leave it on the character select screen, it overheats and turns off.

[Wingrider01]

Keirie wrote:

Does the character select screen take more graphical oomph then the game it self? I was wondering because if i spend a several minutes on that page my computer fans spool up, but when i start the game they go back to normal running. I noticed this to a lesser degree back during the Holloween event where you fought the werewolf boss in the maze. I do not get any warning messages and no graphical glitches appear, the fans just run a bit faster. Was just wondering if this was normal, or if anyone else had a similar experience? My vid card is a MSI 1Gb 250gts the comp is a Systemax i got from Tiger a while back with a 2.5Ghz dual core, 3 gb ram. Its not a big problems since it only happens if i spend to much time on the character selection page, was just wondering why it happened.

when was the last time you did a basic cleaning of the inside of the case? Killer dust bunnies multiple quickly in a computer, a once a month cleaning with compressed air does wonders, more often if you are in a dusty environment. With all the fans and the electronic compenents a pc tends to draw dust fast

to the seocnd poster, sounds like you machine is clogged or some of the fans are not spinning, it should not do that

[thephantomposter]

My system overheated when I was playing around with EQ2 max settings and shadow stuff awhile back, think a fan or 2 were going anyways. Did some damage but cant afford another computer so I am gonna run this one into the ground.

When I monitor heat on the cpu and video card, it spikes severely when left on the character select screen for more than a few minutes

[Tallisman]

The select screen definitely requires more oomph from the CPU. Both my old machine (very clean, dust free) and my new PC (ditto) see the processor fan whirr faster.

[MurFalad]

Wingrider01 wrote:

Keirie wrote:

Does the character select screen take more graphical oomph then the game it self? I was wondering because if i spend a several minutes on that page my computer fans spool up, but when i start the game they go back to normal running. I noticed this to a lesser degree back during the Holloween event where you fought the werewolf boss in the maze. I do not get any warning messages and no graphical glitches appear, the fans just run a bit faster. Was just wondering if this was normal, or if anyone else had a similar experience? My vid card is a MSI 1Gb 250gts the comp is a Systemax i got from Tiger a while back with a 2.5Ghz dual core, 3 gb ram. Its not a big problems since it only happens if i spend to much time on the character selection page, was just wondering why it happened.

when was the last time you did a basic cleaning of the inside of the case? Killer dust bunnies multiple quickly in a computer, a once a month cleaning with compressed air does wonders, more often if you are in a dusty environment. With all the fans and the electronic compenents a pc tends to draw dust fast

to the seocnd poster, sounds like you machine is clogged or some of the fans are not spinning, it should not do that

I'd second that, I've had a graphics card (double height style) overheat due to dust clogging the heatsinks up, and even my laptop which has worked fine I found had a thick layer of dust over the heatsinks when I took it apart (for a CPU upgrade).

If you are getting overheating issues then I'd guess either its clogged with dust on the GPU (you might need to unscrew the cooler on the graphics card if its a double height plastic style thing), or the CPU fan has become clogged (easy to clean the worst off), or the fans are clogged and running slowly.

Once a month would be great, but if you are having troubles then I'd recommend giving it a clean now since it could save a bill/annoyance of having to replace gear, otherwise every 1-2 years probably will be fine.

[Keirie]

Well I looked inside my box and did not really see that much of a dust build up on either the cpu heat sink or the heat sink on my 250gts card. But since i had the cover off anyway i used canned air to clean off what little dust was there on both the cpu heat sink, vid card heat sink, rear fan and the psu. I also gave the front intake a shot or two as well as the board. Not sure if any of this had any impact on the fan issue or not as i have not spent much time on the select screen, i have been picking the toon i want to play from the launcher's drop down box and camping to desktop. The spool up does not happen in game other then the afore mentioned cut scene for the werewolf maze thing. I have no problems when surfing or what have you, just when i play eq, so i will have to conclude that something about the game plays hob with things on computers. heh I have not got any warning messages at all so I am not going to sweat it to much.

[TSR-JoshuaM]

There are a lot of immediate effects shown on the character select screen that it doesn't surprise me that it may heat up things and cause your fans to rev up.  Depending on where you log in to once you select your character, your fans may slow down if it is not as demanding.

[Keirie]

Thanks for the replay Joshua. I guess i am just not used to the sound of the fans reving up when the card gets a bit warm, as this is my first dual fan vid card. I get no warning messages or negetive graphic effects so its probably normal, the sound is just disconcerting when you are not used to hearing it. lol Think i will start listening to my ipod during gaming so it does not bother me. heh

[TSR-JoshuaM]

I set my GPU fans to 100% duty cycle automatically when I launch any 3d environment.  It gets loud, but if you want to do something similar it should be able to be set up with the utilities available from your video card manufacturer.