Video card overheating

[jimscafe]

I recently bought a PC and later added a ATI 9550 Radeon card. It was ok until I played Command & Conquer Zero Hour when it would occasionally crash suggesting an overheating problem. I thought it was the card and bought a GForce 5500, but had the same problem (I now have two cards). I don't play the most demanding games so don't need the latest video cards.

This suggests that the cards are overheating (even though both come with a fan). Do I need to buy a case with more airflow, just buy fans? Not sure what to do.

Taking the cover off doesn't help but if I put an external fan (quite large) blowing into the case when the cover is off I don't get a problem.

I have another PC also with the GForce card and I don't get any problems.

I would buy a different case but am not sure how to connect up all the wires to the motherboard

[Whyzman]

Sure sounds like a cooling issue. How many fans do you have currently, and where are they placed in the case?

[jimscafe]

I added just one fan near the cpu, but there is also a space for a fan on the cover. Should these bu pulling air out of the case or pushing it in or a bit of both?

[Whyzman]

Here's some reading on the cooling principles:

http://www.atruereview.com/Articles/compcool2.php

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1835927,00.asp

http://www.technibble.com/case-cooling-the-physics-of-good-airflow/

http://www.heatsink-guide.com/content.php?content=case.shtml