Help me lower the temps on my 6800 GT!

Vany7777 · Oct 11, 2004, 12:39 PM

As of late, I've been worried about the significant temperatures my BFG GeForce 6800 GT has been reaching. My idle temperature is around 60C and the card runs at around 85C under full load. One time, it even reached 90C!

Needless to say, this isn't something I am pleased about. I do some minor overclocking, and usually have my card cranked up to Ultra-speed but that is about it.

I've tried applying Arctic Silver 5 to the core and the memory, and I've had some success. Only recently have I seen any improvement in my temperatures (my card idles at around 55C now, but still hovers around 80C under full load), and I am wondering if I could do more. That said, I've plotted my strategy. But, before I proceed, I would like some advice and help answering some questions.

First of all, these are the products I'm looking at.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...126-051&depa=0
http://www.evga.com/products/moreinf...202-F1-EV19-01

Secondly, I have a few specific questions.

1. If I was to apply the BGA Ramsinks and the new copper heatsink, would it be advisable for me to remove the current layer of AS-5 I have on the memory and on the core? Or should I just leave it on? I think I should probably take it off, but correct me if I'm wrong.

2. If I do end up removing the AS-5, does anyone have any sure-fire recommendations on how to apply the damn stuff? Last time, I put a little blob on each memory chip and a little extra on the core. I then used a credit card to spread it as flat as I possibly could. This seems to have worked, but I've heard that it might be wiser to just leave a little drop the targeted component and let the heatsink spread it out naturally when you apply it. Which way is better?

3. What should I do about the thermal tape that comes affixed to the BGA Ramsinks? Should I remove it? Or should I clean the AS-5 off my memory chips, and apply the Ramsinks using the thermal tape? The latter choice seems like the best course of action to me, but if I'm making a mistake let me know.

4. Lastly, is this worth it? Will I see a significant improvement in my temperatures? I mean, I think I will. The memory cooler that comes with the card seems pretty crappy, and I am sure that copper heatsink is going to be way more efficient at dissapating heat than the aluminum one. Am I wasting my time?

That's everything. Thanks for your time and help.

**Asmoday** · Oct 11, 2004, 12:48 PM

I really think you should check out the Nv silencer 5, it have got some nice reviews, and should bring down those temps.
But first of all you should make sure that you have sufficient caseventilation.

Vany7777 · Oct 11, 2004, 12:55 PM

Unfortunately, the VGA Silencer isn't really an option for me. I use a Small-Form-Factor PC. While I love it, it doesn't allow for those kind of massive cooling solutions.

As for airflow, I have a fan running over the case and I keep my room very cool. I also have a Vantec Spectrum Fan Card I could slap into the open PCI slot if I needed to. All in all, I think I get pretty solid airflow.

Yallrun · Oct 11, 2004, 01:45 PM

What are you doing under a full load?

Hum my GT never breaks out of the 60's (idle 63c, full load 68c) but then again I have 5 case fans. 2 pulling air in and 3 pulling air out. My PSU has 3 fans in it as well.

Yallrun

Vany7777 · Oct 11, 2004, 02:57 PM

As I said before, my temperatures range from 75C to 85C under load, depending on how stressful the program is and how long I've been using it.

Nacht · Oct 11, 2004, 03:29 PM

you wont be able to use those ramsinks...they are covered by the current cooling solution (at least on eVGA cards). and as far as that heatsink goes, it is made to replace the heatsink portion on the eVGA cooling solutions, which are the reference designs. i dont think BFG uses the reference design, so i dont know if that would work for you.

MiDKnYtE · Oct 11, 2004, 03:48 PM

you could get one of those blower fans, and flip it so that the intake is on the video card side.

The evga copper heatsink should also help. I was lucky enough to win one in their contest. very easy to install and it definitely helps in OCing.

Vany7777 · Oct 11, 2004, 04:22 PM

I am using one of the early BFG's, and it (fortunately) still uses the nVidia reference design for its cooler. I plan to remove that crappy (plastic?) stock heat spreader and replace it with the Ramsinks.

As for the blower fan...are you referring to a PC component or just a generic desktop fan?

PS: I'm glad to hear that the copper heatsink is such an improvement! Can you tell me anything else about it?

MiDKnYtE · Oct 11, 2004, 04:35 PM

I meant the pci slot blower fans. I'll post a link to the antec one, but I'm not sure if the new ones are reversible. I had to get one from CompUSA because the slot plate was keyed on my old Antec.
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=77094

The evga is basically a stock replacement of the aluminum core heatsink. you still need to use the stock ramsinks. not sure what you mean by crappy plastic, since the ramsinks are also aluminum with a heatpipe running through them.

Vany7777 · Oct 11, 2004, 04:51 PM

Ah, well, I already have a PCI slot fan.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...888-112&depa=0

It does it's job pretty well. I just cleaned it recently and I am loaning it to a friend. I may go get it back though once I mod my card.

And, are you saying that in order to use the copper heatsink I have to also use the stock ramsink? Why? It looks like the ramsink could detach seperately and leave enough room for me to put down the copper ramsinks.

MiDKnYtE · Oct 11, 2004, 04:56 PM

you don't have to use the stock ram sinks if you don't want to. I'm just saying that the evga one is only a core replacement. there are some like the arctic silencer series that are both core and ram heatsinks. just changing to copper, I got 4mhz more out of the core at stock voltage.

it's good that you have a pci slot fan, but see if the hole is facing the back of the video card. like I said, I had to flip mines over. you want to have it drawing air across the back of the card.

Vany7777 · Oct 11, 2004, 05:06 PM

Ah ok. You see, my plan is to mount eVGA's copper heatsink in place of the aluminum one, remove the stock ramsink, put down the 8 copper BGA ramsinks from OCZ to replace it, and hook the fan back up.

I will need to check the airflow on that fan card too. The downside is, since it is in a SFF PC, it is actually mounted behind the video card. Needless to say, this diminishes its power and effectiveness. Nonetheless, it might still serve to draw off heat.

Any suggestions on how to effectively check airflow? I would like to mount the BGA Ramsinks so that they take full advantage of the air in order to dissipate heat.

Thanks for the assistance guys! I appreciate it.

PS: After doing some research, I found the answer to question #3. It is better to just use the thermal tape apparently. That being said, anyone know anything concerning my other questions?

Nacht · Oct 11, 2004, 05:17 PM

if you use silver on the memory, be careful as it conducts electricity and a drop off of the surface can cause problems. my recommendation would be arctic ceramique for the memory, and silver for the core.

MiDKnYtE · Oct 11, 2004, 05:24 PM

[quote=Vany7777]I will need to check the airflow on that fan card too. The downside is, since it is in a SFF PC, it is actually mounted behind the video card. Needless to say, this diminishes its power and effectiveness. Nonetheless, it might still serve to draw off heat.[quote]

That's exactly why I said you had to flip the fan over. Most pci slot fans have the hole facing right. you want the hole facing left so that it can cool the back of your GT. That card actually puts out a lot of heat on the back side as well.

Vany7777 · Oct 11, 2004, 07:34 PM

It seems as though there is only one way to mount it in my case. I can't just "flip" it around. Currently, there is air blowing on the back of my video card, not air blowing away from it. Is that what I want? Or are you saying it would better if I could somehow reverse the flow?

MiDKnYtE · Oct 11, 2004, 07:42 PM

i see. you have a vantec fan card. that is not the same as mine. please look at the link I posted earlier. antec, vantec. I can see how things got mixed up. typically a "blower" type fan looks more like a snail shell.

Shike · Oct 11, 2004, 08:01 PM

Those temps look quite normal, mine used to run around 58C idle not OC'ed to Ultra...

Vany7777 · Oct 11, 2004, 08:22 PM

Ah, so I am out of luck then? Can you adjust the position of those "snail shell" type fans?

And yes, I know those temperatures are pretty standard for most people. However, I want my card to run cooler than most other cards.

MiDKnYtE · Oct 11, 2004, 08:31 PM

I just pulled the metal slot cover off and flipped the fan over. it took 5 secs. that's it.

CDsDontBurn · Oct 20, 2004, 12:54 PM

the temps on my GT went down 5 degrees after i applied some AS 5 to both my core and memory. I was quite pleased with the results. I'm planning on purchasing the VGA silencer 5 sometime soon.

MiDKnYtE · Oct 20, 2004, 01:04 PM

Too bad he has a SFF. The NV5 Silencer is pretty sweet.

CDsDontBurn · Oct 21, 2004, 02:39 AM

SFF? what's that?