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AMD Radeon R9 M295X Core Clock Throttling, Heat, and Performance
- Thread starter Fenn
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How do you mean? You think the 395X will prove to be slower than the 395?
Or are you just talking about heat?
R9 m290 2048Mb, i changed the paste that it comes with, to an Arctic thermal pad. This is the culprit, I now have to find out what to replace it with. Anyone knows a good solution? I am considering using a cooper shim to fill the gap between the cooler and GPU which is 1-2mm.
I just have a quick look of your link. If I didn't miss read it, that means it's your 2nd iMac have exactly the same issue.
I wonder if it's hardware related or software related. (Assuming you install the same problematic software, or recover from the problematic backup, etc.)
He upgraded an iMac 5K that doesn't support upgrading and that gets a bad rating from iFixit for repairability because of that. It is very likely that there is a hardware issue, either with using the wrong components or by causing some kind of damage just as much as it is likely a software issue. Restarts are usually due to kernel panics which are usually caused by issues with memory. If you use memory that isn't compatible with your computer it can cause these kind of issues as well (good idea to use the compatibility check from the website of the memory manufacturer), it's not just faulty memory. As he says in his post at AskDifferent there is more research to be done to find out what is going on.
Thanks for the reply guys, but I wrote all the details in that thread. Rams were changed, the CPU is the exact same one they use and a SSD is just an SSD. I am very good with computers, I upgraded at least 5 imacs so thats not a problem. Like I said, i isolated the problem. Its a GPU temperature issue. No software to blame, on both macs that i upgraded I used the same thermal pad and they both give the same results. So i have to find a better cooling pad/paste to replace the Arctic pad. AS5 cannot be used as there is a gap between the cooler and chips, I must use a thicker paste or a copper shim with AS5 on both sides. Other forum users have been doing this mod for laptop GPUs and have seen improved cooling and temperatures.
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Sorry about the misinterpretation about your writing, I was in rush and doing something else.
Anyway, did you check the VRAM and VRM temperature as well? 95C can freeze my 7950, but should not be a problem for your GPU.
However, provided that you get the same error in both self upgraded iMac. And it's temperature related. It may be not the GPU itself's problem but something else.
IMO, if you sure it's the GPU and you want to cool it properly, cooper shim is the way to go (assuming your 1-2mm gap accessment is correct).
Anyway, did you check the VRAM and VRM temperature as well? 95C can freeze my 7950, but should not be a problem for your GPU.
However, provided that you get the same error in both self upgraded iMac. And it's temperature related. It may be not the GPU itself's problem but something else.
IMO, if you sure it's the GPU and you want to cool it properly, cooper shim is the way to go (assuming your 1-2mm gap accessment is correct).
I am using iStat and I do not have the Vram and Vrm options of temps. What to you check it with?
Well just a look at the picture from ifixit makes me believe its a 1.5-2mm gap. The only thing related between the two macs is the thermal pad. One is 5k and the other one was late 2013 with Gt755 M of 1gb. I think i will go with the shim. Just hypothetically, is the shim better to be a tad thicker than thinner, right?
Thank you
Thank you
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Mind you, the actual computer temperature never exceeds normal levels. Just the temperature of the processor cores in the i7 occasionally get within 5 degrees of what Intel says is max.
Of course when I had my old G5 tower the backside of the memory controller would routinely exceed 213 degrees fahrenheit so I'm used to things running hot. I'm not overly concerned....yet.
This is what AppleCare is for.
Of course when I had my old G5 tower the backside of the memory controller would routinely exceed 213 degrees fahrenheit so I'm used to things running hot. I'm not overly concerned....yet.
This is what AppleCare is for.
This thread's just a little too long to read, but just to ask quickly: Is it bad for the GPU (M295X) to reach 100°C<? Does it shorten its lifetime or make it performe worse in time? I'm just a little worried as I do some gaming on this computer and don't want to kill it off within three years or so.
Like you, I own a late 2014 Retina iMac which, among other things, i game on. It's a great computer and I love it.
That said it's a first generation device with temps that, during heavy load, go way outside what most people would consider normal, acceptable, or safe. While the Retina iMac may be "designed" to handle these temps and does indeed throttle to bring them down, I don't think anyone can rationally deny the high probability of this having a negative impact on the machines lifespan.
My advice is, if you have AppleCare (which with temps like this you should), use the machine to the fullest until generation 3 comes out (probably late 2016) with (hopefully) thunderbolt 3 (for external GPUs) and cooler, higher performing 16nm FinFET built in GPUs, and at that time sell your generation 1 for what should still be a high price and buy generation 3.
If you don't have AppleCare.... pray that the heat issues don't start impacting the lifespan until after generation 3 comes out, or perhaps lighten your usage a bit to mitigate the heat issues, and attempt above... Or you can just hope that your usage isn't strenous enough on a regular basis to cause any real damage.
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Fortunately, I do have Apple Care.
Does the new M395X have same heat issues as the M295X?
There may be possibilities to upgrade the cooling system somewhat. A forum user in another thread suggested to install / attach an external fan at the outside - blowing 'heat' from the backside of the iMac.
I think this might reduce the thermal stress, I would love to see the effect measured with and without an external fan on the internal temp sensors for equal use scenarios.
Is there even someone with the M295X who dosen't have any heat issues? Otherwise, is it possible to turn in your computer to Apple and get it changed?
it wont help much with internal heat..unless you make a hole in the back housing and direct the flow on the heatsink itself
As i mentioned before i found that opening imac and applying liquid metal paste helps a bit
Hi everyone...new to this forum...I'm a videographer looking at upgrading from a 27" imac 2009 i5 running 10.6.8 to a new late 2015 27"imac i7 or a used late 2014 i7...
I was looking into the 2014 imac but i read that it had overheating issues with the 4GB GPU and that discouraged me from buying it used..I don't play games on my macs but video will be intensive...not 4K yet but lots of exports etc and I think that will force the imac to work at full load...and this thread seems to indicate that not only it would get hotter than recommended but that performance would suffer as the computer lowers GHZ to compensate for the heat...
I guess ALL late 2014 have this issue? Perhaps this is why some people are selling them now while they still work?
I know that most imacs get hotter (no real cooling system inside) but the warnings about the imac late 2014 seem a bit more worrying to me...so for anyone who owns a late 2014 and/or upgraded to a late 2015, how much difference does that 2015 make? I'd rather save up a bit and get a system that will be good for 4-5 years. My imac 2009 does get hot but never shut down or gave a panic warning and it runs fine...sure I have to render at night etc but it sure handles FCP 7 fine and adobe Premiere 5.5 and sure AFX is slow but it works fine...I will keep it as back up but I would love to believe that all those incredible benchmark numbers really make a huge difference in real life work..I don't play games..just video and some photo...
first hand opinions would be greatly appreciated..
I hope I'm suffering from a silly case of upgraditis!
thanks
Erick
I was looking into the 2014 imac but i read that it had overheating issues with the 4GB GPU and that discouraged me from buying it used..I don't play games on my macs but video will be intensive...not 4K yet but lots of exports etc and I think that will force the imac to work at full load...and this thread seems to indicate that not only it would get hotter than recommended but that performance would suffer as the computer lowers GHZ to compensate for the heat...
I guess ALL late 2014 have this issue? Perhaps this is why some people are selling them now while they still work?
I know that most imacs get hotter (no real cooling system inside) but the warnings about the imac late 2014 seem a bit more worrying to me...so for anyone who owns a late 2014 and/or upgraded to a late 2015, how much difference does that 2015 make? I'd rather save up a bit and get a system that will be good for 4-5 years. My imac 2009 does get hot but never shut down or gave a panic warning and it runs fine...sure I have to render at night etc but it sure handles FCP 7 fine and adobe Premiere 5.5 and sure AFX is slow but it works fine...I will keep it as back up but I would love to believe that all those incredible benchmark numbers really make a huge difference in real life work..I don't play games..just video and some photo...
first hand opinions would be greatly appreciated..
I hope I'm suffering from a silly case of upgraditis!
thanks
Erick
i have imac 27 2014 with nvidia 780 4gbHi everyone...new to this forum...I'm a videographer looking at upgrading from a 27" imac 2009 i5 running 10.6.8 to a new late 2015 27"imac i7 or a used late 2014 i7...
I was looking into the 2014 imac but i read that it had overheating issues with the 4GB GPU and that discouraged me from buying it used..I don't play games on my macs but video will be intensive...not 4K yet but lots of exports etc and I think that will force the imac to work at full load...and this thread seems to indicate that not only it would get hotter than recommended but that performance would suffer as the computer lowers GHZ to compensate for the heat...
I guess ALL late 2014 have this issue? Perhaps this is why some people are selling them now while they still work?
I know that most imacs get hotter (no real cooling system inside) but the warnings about the imac late 2014 seem a bit more worrying to me...so for anyone who owns a late 2014 and/or upgraded to a late 2015, how much difference does that 2015 make? I'd rather save up a bit and get a system that will be good for 4-5 years. My imac 2009 does get hot but never shut down or gave a panic warning and it runs fine...sure I have to render at night etc but it sure handles FCP 7 fine and adobe Premiere 5.5 and sure AFX is slow but it works fine...I will keep it as back up but I would love to believe that all those incredible benchmark numbers really make a huge difference in real life work..I don't play games..just video and some photo...
first hand opinions would be greatly appreciated..
I hope I'm suffering from a silly case of upgraditis!
thanks
Erick
No heat issue at all
that is why i skipped 5k retina imacs so far because they have overheating issue
2014 is the best imac to get and not to worry that it will die on you