Asus Mars Quad SLI overheating might be solved

[EtheEnthusiast]

Whats going on guys ;)
Got 2x Asus Mars yesterday.
The performance is the best I have ever seen. Crysis Warhead 64 2560*
1600 Enthusiast 16Q AA Ice Level running ok, with 4 AA 8Q pretty perfect.
Best setting with stock clocks is 2 AA. My Mars Quad SLI idle at 50-60c but also reach 100c and they shut down.
The cooler is a joke ,why didnt Asus use liquid cooling. It would have been the ultimate thing. So I need someone to build blocks!!
Im now checking for RMA or return if the the overheating cannot be solved.
When the Mars are not fully used temps are ok. Passes also Vantage.
Are my Mars bad like OBRs is. Has anyone tested his Mars?

Update: I optimized the extreme ventilator air flow and the Mars can hold 93c now

[ViRuS2k]

Didnt you get the momo. these mars bars melt, its no secret..

[iTravis]

I don't think besides you and ORB we have other having this card. It might be off topic but can you take a screenshot of your Crysis benchmark @2560x1600? :D

[EtheEnthusiast]

Here is a first run with Asus Mars Quad SLI
Crysis Warhead 64 2560*1600 Enthusiast Frost Level
Fps are actually hitting 90 but the tool doesnt show it

[iTravis]

That's impressive man, Crysis 60fps @2560x1600 is finally reality. I'm wondering what if you crank up to 4xAA or even 8xAA, does the 4GB memory help?

[texasreefer]

I have seen approx 30% increase from I7 platform from QX9650. I think it's the triple channel RAM and the CHip help a lot, not to mention 2x Mars is the top benchmarker. With that many horses in your Stall, I would be kinda dissapointed with 60 fps. Evidently, the main problem with running these cards is that they turn your case into a Hibatchi Grill. lol

[Splave]

whats your room temp OP

[Brian y.]

Do you have these cards sitting in an enclosed case or are they in a caseless setup?

[EtheEnthusiast]

That's impressive man, Crysis 60fps @2560x1600 is finally reality. I'm wondering what if you crank up to 4xAA or even 8xAA, does the 4GB memory help?

Thx. The ram makes the difference so performance is not breaking in so much.
Ram was the last bottleneck in my Systems.I tried to kill the Mars and put 16Q from no AA in game and the ram just ate it. With liquid or extreme cooling 16Q should work. The benchmark tool is not showing the real performance I think coz the difference between recorded fps and fps counter is really big. Like with 8Q Ice Level timedemo recording 35 but counter showing 110. In game its ok.

[EtheEnthusiast]

whats your room temp OP

Case temp is 22c

[EtheEnthusiast]

Do you have these cards sitting in an enclosed case or are they in a caseless setup?

They are in my Cosmos S with the side open and 2x 22cm fans working from the side. I was checking temps also with a laser.
I think either my Mars are bad or the ram has unlocked the full boost so when performance explodes heat explodes too using the tdp of 700 watts. Running Crysis 64 could be now like running furmark :D

[koc]

my cards also reach 95C , but i set the fan rpm to 85 (with evga precious) and the temp. 60~70C

[EtheEnthusiast]

my cards also reach 95C , but i set the fan rpm to 85 (with evga precious) and the temp. 60~70C

Thanks. I set both fans to 100% with precision and they reach 100c in Crysis 64. Other games run cooler. I was playing Wolfenstein 2 and temps were 70c with fans on auto. So I think the Mars are just like that. Some games are now like furmark. If someone is building blocks let me know :buddies:
Anyway, I have other liquid setups. Its just too bad that Asus build a cooler that cannot hold stock clocks

[EtheEnthusiast]

Today I was using high flow ventilators, so creating extreme airflow around the Mars. In
Crysis Warhead 64 2560 1600 Enthusiast 2 AA ice level they could hold 95c now. I was also experimenting with the volterras.
I will now build an old mod that will create extreme airflow inside the Mars. My goal is 80c with fully loaded oc

[Andrea deluxe]

try with cpu at 4ghz.... quad sli run more great


nb: try to set at 0 pre render frame in the nvidia control panel

[EtheEnthusiast]

try with cpu at 4ghz.... quad sli run more great


nb: try to set at 0 pre render frame in the nvidia control panel

This is basic stuff
My 975 was at 4. Tool not showing the right speed.
Also tested with 4.6 but it is NOT needed in Crysis.
Im working on temps right now, not drivers.

[Andrea deluxe]

This is basic stuff
My 975 was at 4. Tool not showing the right speed.
Also tested with 4.6 but it is NOT needed in Crysis.
Im working on temps right now, not drivers.


i have used nibitor to change the fan regulation on my ex gtx 295 quad sli.....

i remenber i have set to run 100% fan at 82°.....


but i dont know if this trick work whit mars....

Go here: http://www.mvktech.net/

[EtheEnthusiast]

Good suggestion but the auto or manual fan settings are
not the problem. The coolers cannot hold the Mars without
support due to the TDP of 700 watts. I can use precision to set
auto fans or use the Asus Smart Doctor to program fan behavior.
Even if I set fans to 100% the Mars were reaching 100c in Crysis. With
extreme ventilation I could get them to hold 95c. As I said before I will build
an old mod that might solve the problem.

[Andrea deluxe]

Good suggestion but the auto or manual fan settings are
not the problem. The coolers cannot hold the Mars without
support due to the TDP of 700 watts. I can use precision to set
auto fans or use the Asus Smart Doctor to program fan behavior.
Even if I set fans to 100% the Mars were reaching 100c in Crysis. With
extreme ventilation I could get them to hold 95c. As I said before I will build
an old mod that might solve the problem.

RMA....

[dinos22]

another Mars overheating
damn

[SoulsCollective]

Just a thought, but could you flip the PCBs and mod in MCW-60s? Haven't seen any PCB shots with dimensions listed, so not sure if they'd fit on, but it'd certainly solve your heat issues.

[largon]

MCW60 with G200-compliant x-plate will fit without modding.

[SoulsCollective]

The MCW-60 may fit the socket (great if it does), but from looking at the pics you're still going to have to flip the PCBs to get two on there.

[zalbard]

Can it be bad TIM?

[EtheEnthusiast]

Good point guys:up:
I was thinking the same, just colling gpus and cooling the rest like with pots or evaps. Flipping the second pcb will be a problem due to the ribbon cable. Asus said its longer but I dont think its enough. The reason I use the WS Pro for the Mars is that there is a lot more space between the cards than on the R2E but I dont know if it is enough.
Still Im not sure if the Mars are bad. Both of them behave the same way. I dont want to lose the rma chance right now. I contacted customer support but they have not answered (of course) :ROTF: . When its clear that they are not bad I have to mod them. I hope that one company or builder will build blocks, otherwise I have to take them apart and find another way. Best would be to see what temps other Mars users have on full load.

Edit: I dont think its bad tim but if others dont have problems on full load it could be possible

[SoulsCollective]

Really, I don't think there's anything wrong with the cards apart from the design. Asus have run into precisely the reason that nVidia uses a lower-spec (and lower-TDP) chip on their dual-GPU cards than they do on their high-end single-core cards - HEAT. You're overclocking a GTX285 core, doubling the RAM, doubling the VReg circuitry etc, and putting it all into a space that's only marginally bigger than a standard 295, and the more-or-less reference design cooler simply can't cope.

[JonnyG]

LOL

Don't want to laugh at the misfortunes of the poster but you do have to laugh at the fact that only 1000 are being made and half of these dont even seem to work. In fact the only 3 we have seen on xtremesystems have all FAILED due to heat. Its a joke really, and an expensive one at that.

[EtheEnthusiast]

Really, I don't think there's anything wrong with the cards apart from the design. Asus have run into precisely the reason that nVidia uses a lower-spec (and lower-TDP) chip on their dual-GPU cards than they do on their high-end single-core cards - HEAT. You're overclocking a GTX285 core, doubling the RAM, doubling the VReg circuitry etc, and putting it all into a space that's only marginally bigger than a standard 295, and the more-or-less reference design cooler simply can't cope.

I also think my Mars are ok. Still Asus should have used liquid cooling. It would not have been a problem with only 1000 units and a high price. Liquid cooling is a must for a long time but some product managers dont get it:stick:
After a mod they will be ok. I could get a refund but as I like it the hard way:rolleyes: The possible boost is just too important

[EtheEnthusiast]

LOL

Don't want to laugh at the misfortunes of the poster but you do have to laugh at the fact that only 1000 are being made and half of these dont even seem to work. In fact the only 3 we have seen on xtremesystems have all FAILED due to heat. Its a joke really, and an expensive one at that.

Yeah Im laughing myself:ROTF:
Still the heat problem thing will entertain people who did not get them and I dont have a problem keeping it real with things that are not that good. Now they are working btw, the Mars can hold 93c. Again, not using liquid cooling is the joke of the year. I dont want to be the product manager now:cord:

[Sh1tyMcGee]

wow, only asus would charge a $1,000 for a video card and not put a high quality cooler on it.

[JonnyG]

Are we going to get some results now you got temps under control?

[jaredpace]

drop teh volts.

[REVHEAD]

Over heating on a supercard like this is unacceptable IMO.

The PR surrounding this card was good on paper.

[B.E.E.F.]

Hahaha. And there's suckers that lay a grand for one of these babies.

[EtheEnthusiast]

wow, only asus would charge a $1,000 for a video card and not put a high quality cooler on it.

Very friendly customer support is telling me that my coolers are bad so lets see:up:

[EtheEnthusiast]

drop teh volts.

I dropped volts and clocks but it would not help

[EtheEnthusiast]

Over heating on a supercard like this is unacceptable IMO.

The PR surrounding this card was good on paper.

:up:
I still dont want to judge too early but if this is really true this fail will be in the
history books.
The Mars should hold 80c without support otherwise the 285 gpus will fry after a short period of time. I used to boycott Asus hardware and went to Evga. Now Im back on the Asus side. Lets see if stock cooled Mars are only good on paper
For gt300s it will be a must for Asus to have the gt300 top liquid cooled, have volterras and be available on day one:yepp:

[EtheEnthusiast]

Hahaha. And there's suckers that lay a grand for one of these babies.

and hold WORLD RECORDs :rofl: :yepp:

[LedHed]

I was saying this from day one that the cards were announced, it was obvious NVIDIA didn't put two 285 cores on the 295 due to heat and power consumption. Asus is flat out retarded for using the same stock cooler with a shell around it to make it look nice. Have fun trying to RMA a limited production card :D

BTW my 295 idles at 39C and loads at 65-70C in Crysis for 2 hours.

[EtheEnthusiast]

I was saying this from day one that the cards were announced, it was obvious NVIDIA didn't put two 285 cores on the 295 due to heat and power consumption. Asus is flat out retarded for using the same stock cooler with a shell around it to make it look nice. Have fun trying to RMA a limited production card :D

BTW my 295 idles at 39C and loads at 65-70C in Crysis for 2 hours.

True but using liquid cooling would not have been a problem. Cooler companies have a block market ready in a few weeks.
I also have liquid dual pcb 295s , they are great but do not have the at all cost needed ram

[EtheEnthusiast]

I was also contacted by a very friendly ASUS Rep so lets see what is really going on with the Mars

[chispy]

Darn , seems like everybody that bought Mars are indeed all overheating lol , need LN2 24/7 to run stable :shakes:

:D

[B.E.E.F.]

and hold WORLD RECORDs :rofl: :yepp:

Congratulations on being able to turn the knob on hardware other people build. Now if you will excuse me, I will attempt to set a new record for most rubber bands held in track pants pockets.

[EaglePC]

is that card loud at 100% when you turn your pc on?and where can i buy one?

[EtheEnthusiast]

Darn , seems like everybody that bought Mars are indeed all overheating lol , need LN2 24/7 to run stable :shakes:

:D

:up:
I also havent seen a fully loaded Mars not exceeding 80c.
24/7 LN2 Mars boost would really bring tears to my eyes :D
but I need a skilled LN2 slave then:rofl:

[EtheEnthusiast]

Congratulations on being able to turn the knob on hardware other people build. Now if you will excuse me, I will attempt to set a new record for most rubber bands held in track pants pockets.

:rofl: :D :up:

[EtheEnthusiast]

is that card loud at 100% when you turn your pc on?and where can i buy one?

You can not hear the Mars at all when you power them on. When the fan is 100% it is load but its not extreme coz the cooler is a lot bigger so there is a lot more space to push the air through.
All of them are sold out I think. I did not check but on ebay you might find a high priced Mars. You will also need 2x Mars to really have the full boost, otherwise its better to use 2x 285 2gb

[STEvil]

Imagine that, more Asus problems.

[Sebastione]

This card is a sandwich as well with the cooler being in between the cards, correct?
If the heatsink fins are not covered by the Asus case you could try mounting a scythe ultra blowing air into it

[EtheEnthusiast]

Imagine that, more Asus problems.

:up:
What else is new:D

[EtheEnthusiast]

This card is a sandwich as well with the cooler being in between the cards, correct?
If the heatsink fins are not covered by the Asus case you could try mounting a scythe ultra blowing air into it

Normal pc air cooling beside maybe biggest deltas is not enough. It takes extreme ventilation to support the Mars.

[EtheEnthusiast]

I think I found the cause of overheating. When the Mars are fully loaded with ozone furmark they draw 940 watts:ROTF: so 2x 470, JUST the Mars:rofl:
Very impressive, WR in power use :clap:
The coolers of my Mars might easily hold 700 watts but not 940:D

[PreacherMan]

I think I found the cause of overheating. When the Mars are fully loaded with ozone furmark they draw 940 watts:ROTF: so 2x 470, JUST the Mars:rofl:
Very impressive, WR in power use :clap:
The coolers of my Mars might easily hold 700 watts but not 940:D

Jesus... Yeah, that must be WR in power usage for a "stock" card. :D It's like putting a heatsink on a radiator, and try to keep the radiator cool.