• Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • News
  • Tools
  • GamingHeaven
  • Forums
  • Network
 

Go Back   DriverHeaven.net > Forums > DriverHeaven's Heaven > DriverHeaven Guides
Reload this Page

Driverheaven Guide: Upgrading GFX Cooling

Register FAQ Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Notices
Welcome to the DriverHeaven.net forums.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.

Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old Apr 22, 2004, 07:55 AM   #1
Burned
 
Zardon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 29,663
Zardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his status
Driverheaven Guide: Upgrading GFX Cooling
Joe "Roadee" Dawson, one of Driverheavens Moderators has put up a great guide to help all of your interested in upgrading your video card cooling.

"I see a lot of members here on DriverHeaven wanting to get the most that they can out of their video cards. Games seem to keep getting better and more complex, and requiring more and more video power. Yet our income doesnt always allow us to upgrade every time the newest card comes on the market.

One of the easiest ways of increasing performance for low cost is upgrading the cooling on your video card. It is fairly easy to do, but a lot of people are understandably weary of trying it. So I figure that since I am upgrading the cooling on my card, I will share this experience with you, and hopefully help a few of you take the plunge in modding your video card. You must keep in mind though, that performing ANY mods on your video card VOIDS the warranty. So again, only attempt this mod at your own risk!!"

Read the guide here
Zardon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 08:05 AM   #2
Administrator
 
Veridian3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Cloaked
Posts: 2,836
Veridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seenVeridian3 has a divinity and aura the likes we have never seen
Very interesting read. Good work.
Veridian3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 08:48 AM   #3
DriverHeaven Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Trollhättan, Sweden
Posts: 512
Gardinen is on a distinguished road
hmm it seems that the VGA silencer is alot easier to install than the Zalman Heatpipe. But IMO, the Zalman makes my graphic card look goood.
Gardinen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 10:26 AM   #4
DriverHeaven Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Virginia
Posts: 77
Vidmaster23 is on a distinguished road
Man what great timing on this guide! I was looking to upgrade the cooling on my radeon... thanks!
Vidmaster23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 10:34 AM   #5
BANNED
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Indiana , USA
Posts: 2,677
Sourcer_2002 is on a distinguished road
Very nice Roadee great work!
Sourcer_2002 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 12:03 PM   #6
DH's Dormant Dragon
 
Judas's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: IN Rem-Dormancy
Posts: 23,665
Judas needs some serious mental readjustingJudas needs some serious mental readjusting
System Specs

i might have the balls now to do some of my own modding now.....
Judas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 12:55 PM   #7
Burned
 
Zardon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 29,663
Zardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his status
if you are getting those clocks on a 9800 pro with stock cooling judas, might be worthwhile to see how high the card can go.
Zardon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 01:18 PM   #8
The quest continues
 
Chaos's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 4,432
Chaos is on a distinguished road
System Specs

Nice one Roadee, I was going to do that exact guide but my VGA Silencer got lost by Canada Post in transit. After waiting 2 weeks I got pissed off and bought a dual fan card by Vantec that has blue led's instead
Chaos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 04:04 PM   #9
Never forgotten
 
Roadee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Rest In peace, Joe.
Posts: 2,202
Roadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of light
I was thinking about adding some blue LED's to the VGA Silencer
Roadee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 04:09 PM   #10
Demonic
 
Asmoday's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In the cold, dark north...
Posts: 5,098
Asmoday is a name known to allAsmoday is a name known to allAsmoday is a name known to allAsmoday is a name known to allAsmoday is a name known to allAsmoday is a name known to all
System Specs

Good job Roadee!!
Asmoday is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 22, 2004, 08:31 PM   #11
DH's Dormant Dragon
 
Judas's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: IN Rem-Dormancy
Posts: 23,665
Judas needs some serious mental readjustingJudas needs some serious mental readjusting
System Specs

Quote:
Originally posted by Zardon
if you are getting those clocks on a 9800 pro with stock cooling judas, might be worthwhile to see how high the card can go.
er.... i believe i got a good one... cause i was able to successfully complete the 3Dmark03 entire suite with the core at 450 and the mem at 400 on stock cooling... although i must admit... we bit more artifacts then i could have ever put up with... And i refuse to post the score....(bye bye chaos )
Judas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 23, 2004, 12:38 AM   #12
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Gurnee Illinois
Posts: 4,677
DriveEuro is on a distinguished road
I still prefer the time and effort it takes to attach an AMD heatsink to a vid card.

Nice guide Roadee. This will help A LOT of people.
DriveEuro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 23, 2004, 06:20 AM   #13
Burned
 
Zardon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 29,663
Zardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his status
Quote:
Originally posted by Judas
er.... i believe i got a good one... cause i was able to successfully complete the 3Dmark03 entire suite with the core at 450 and the mem at 400 on stock cooling... although i must admit... we bit more artifacts then i could have ever put up with... And i refuse to post the score....(bye bye chaos )
you could also successfully complete the entire suite at higher clocks but once you see artifacts you are past the cards running level so its kind of pointless.
Zardon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 23, 2004, 06:51 AM   #14
BWX
watching 1080i
 
BWX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: April 13th 2029
Posts: 19,432
BWX will become famous soon enough
System Specs

Nice guide, I'll probably do something like that with my next card- probably the 9800XT, the 9700p is going as fast as it will already.
BWX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 23, 2004, 08:02 AM   #15
DriverHeaven Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Trollhättan, Sweden
Posts: 512
Gardinen is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally posted by BWX
Nice guide, I'll probably do something like that with my next card- probably the 9800XT, the 9700p is going as fast as it will already.
I'm using about the same clock speeds on my 9700np as you are. Are you using stock cooling??
And also, would it be worth to upgrade to 9800XT?
Gardinen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 23, 2004, 10:17 AM   #16
BWX
watching 1080i
 
BWX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: April 13th 2029
Posts: 19,432
BWX will become famous soon enough
System Specs

Quote:
Originally posted by Gardinen
I'm using about the same clock speeds on my 9700np as you are. Are you using stock cooling??
And also, would it be worth to upgrade to 9800XT?
\

I'm using the stock heatsink, but I lapped it mirror smooth. Also I removed the shim, used AS Ceramique and used nylon nuts and springloaded washers w/ metal bolts to hold the heatsink on. I also took the stock fan out and strapped a 60 x 25mm 4000 rpm fan to the heatsink- Well I have it attached with screws now- I can complete 3dmark03 and any other benchmark @ 370 core- I also have big heatsinks on the ram.. The memory is weak on my 9700pro though- I think it''s just one of the chips because I used to run it at 350mhz all day long, then all of the sudden it starts showing artifacts at anything above 325 or so- but it will still complete benchmarks at much higher speed, just showing artifacts..

I think I'm going to buy a 9800XT when the new cards come out, or maybe just save up and buy one of the new cards (the X800) when the price comes down a little on them.. An OC's 9700 pro is still a pretty fast card though.. I just wish my memory went faster.. But Oh well.
'Here are some pics of the mod- the fan is now connected with regualar screws-
Actually now it's a 50 x 15mm fan @ 4500rpm, but I hardly hear it. and it fits better..

Oh, and I have a northbridge heatsink on the heatplate with a 40mm fan on that- it works great- pluse there is an 80mm fan blowing directly on the card that is mounted in the side of my case which cools the whole card.


http://users.adelphia.net/~bwx232/at...-ramsinks1.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~bwx232/at...-ramsinks2.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~bwx232/at...-ramsinks3.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~bwx232/at...-ramsinks4.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~bwx232/at...-ramsinks5.jpg


I would buy an XT if you got the money and like games like FarCry- But the 9700pro pushes even that game pretty good, I'm having fun with it.. But that game need a gig of ram to turn up all the options- When I put everything on very high I get stuttering & HD activity w/ only 512 mb of ram- but besides that get playable framerate..
BWX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 23, 2004, 10:47 AM   #17
DH's Dormant Dragon
 
Judas's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: IN Rem-Dormancy
Posts: 23,665
Judas needs some serious mental readjustingJudas needs some serious mental readjusting
System Specs

Quote:
Originally posted by Zardon
you could also successfully complete the entire suite at higher clocks but once you see artifacts you are past the cards running level so its kind of pointless.
Reason i said i wouldn't post my 3Dmark score...

I do believe though with some decent cooling... and maybe a stronger PSU i might be able push it to say 430 and 390 without a hitch....
Judas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 23, 2004, 12:54 PM   #18
Burned
 
Zardon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 29,663
Zardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his statusZardon is godlike in his status
Quote:
Originally posted by Judas
Reason i said i wouldn't post my 3Dmark score...

I do believe though with some decent cooling... and maybe a stronger PSU i might be able push it to say 430 and 390 without a hitch....
well go do it then !
Zardon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 23, 2004, 01:11 PM   #19
DriverHeaven Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Trollhättan, Sweden
Posts: 512
Gardinen is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally posted by BWX
\Oh, and I have a northbridge heatsink on the heatplate with a 40mm fan on that- it works great- .
What is the main purpose of the heatplate?
Gardinen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 23, 2004, 02:11 PM   #20
BWX
watching 1080i
 
BWX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: April 13th 2029
Posts: 19,432
BWX will become famous soon enough
System Specs

It cools off the chip underneath it-- put your finger on it after running a benchmark for a few minutes.. Mine gets crazy hot- well it used to, now it's just warm.
BWX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old Apr 29, 2004, 10:46 PM   #21
Never forgotten
 
Roadee's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Rest In peace, Joe.
Posts: 2,202
Roadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of lightRoadee is a glorious beacon of light
Are you using a VGA Silencer??
If anyone has done this mod using the VGA Silencer.......either on there own or had someone help them.....do me a favor and post your opinion about the install and your over all impression of the cooler. It will be a nice way for other's reading this to get a better idea about the cooler and what other's think about it.


Thanks!!
Roadee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 3, 2004, 12:01 AM   #22
Mr. Nobody
 
mainman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: OmniPresent Nightwatcher
Posts: 5,933
mainman will become famous soon enough
Awsome guide bud, i was thinking of doing the same on my 9700 Pro, this guide is really gonna help me, congrats on a very well done article, keep up the good work.
mainman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 3, 2004, 05:04 PM   #23
DriverHeaven Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Not Vegas, anymore :(
Posts: 1,370
@/2ct!< is on a distinguished road
You should just throw it in Kakarot's prommy
@/2ct!< is online now   Reply With Quote
Old May 4, 2004, 06:16 PM   #24
DriverHeaven Newbie
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Posts: 8
Evil Techie is on a distinguished road
im so sad that this arctic cooling VGA silencer wont work on my Ti4200...

looks like ive gotta go find a suitable AMD heatsink and start drilling and cutting...
Evil Techie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 4, 2004, 09:00 PM   #25
DriverHeaven Newbie
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Oulu, Finland
Posts: 19
DeeGee is on a distinguished road
Big Grin P
Well, my own Artic is in the mail... So i'll post my own impression of it soon

My