"Dennis" wrote in message
...
I have built new system dual core MSI k9ag Neo Digital using passive
cooling nx8500gt video card. When I installed the card and booted
the system for the first time it got VERY hot for some reason, both to
the touch and the smell. I have no idea why. I quickly shut the PC
down, double checked all connections and finished my build.

The card has been working fine ever since, except that the MSI "dual
core center" utility wants to shut it down when it thinks the GPU temp
approaches 100 C, which happens under moderately low load (full
screen video).

But here's my question: The card's heatsink is scarcely even warm
to the touch despite the PC's conviction that the card is running in
the 90s.

This unit has a 450 Mhz core and 800Mhz memory. Pretty tame. Full screen
video is basically no load. 3D gaming or rendering is moderate to heavy
load. It sounds like there may be a contact issue between the cooler and
GPU, or a thermal compound issue. Thermal diode reading 100C in 2D with a
barely warm passive heatsink? Not right. Remove the HS and check for proper
contact and reapply thermal compound. I've seen some cards that had very
poor factory coverage of thermal compound.