Goat_Guy

Got it today, along witha 2.5 gram tube of ceramique. Installation took 30 mins, partly becuase I was taking my time and partly because I am a n0Ob to applying thermal paste. But I am now running my 9500np->9700 approx. 15mhz faster for core speed. A couple of things I noticed:

a) There is definatly room for small(er) ramsinks between the PCB and cooler. There were some questions about this. Well, there is mostdefinatly room.

b) The cooler really is QUIET! I didnt even think that the 40mm fan that came on the stock heatsink was even that loud...its doesnt have that much depth to it but it is very high pitched..my computer got much quieter. Now it is more of a whoosh sound instead of a shrill sound.

c) My case temps dropped 5deg, from 32idle to 27idle. This is probably related to the 2deg drop in CPU temp (using Prime95), from 47 to 45.

d) The aluminum heatsink integrated into the VGA Silencer is also HUGE! There is just so much surface area for that fan to draw heat from and shoot it right out the back of the case.

e) Another note. There is about 3-5mm from the VGA Silencer to my next PCI card. I moved it, as its not a particularly heat intensive card (cheapo sound card, better than AC97), but a word of caution if you only haev 3 PCI slots and 2 other cards besides your video card.

f) GO GET IT! Its only $21 at svc.com, and they're the only place in North America that has it...or as least that will ship to the US.

I will take pictures hopfully tomorrow...next on the line: SLK 947U cooler ($44), then some new quieter Papst fans to complete my almost silent case....

Brian

tek

Thanks for the review, people are gonna understand much more from this.

Goat_Guy

Did some more fact finding about the VGA silencer. I will give some specific measurements for those looking to buy this cooler

a) There is infact 13mm (.51in) from the top of the ram modules to the bottom of the silencer. This will fit almost every ramsink, maybe even the OCZ Flower ram sinks (?..i could not find a height on the listings i read)

b) The fan is switchable from low to high while the computer is on; there is no reason to turn off the computer to turn it off. However, to turn the fan OFF, either the entire cooler must be removed, or you must get VERY handy with a pair of needlenose pliers.

c) There is an 8mm (.31in) gap between the grounding plate and the end of the cooler. I sealed this with standard electrical tape, and I seem to get somewhat of a better flow from the card. Not much though, becuase the air is already headed straight out the end of the card.

d) The fan sucks quite a bit of air, and having another PCI card directly below the cooler would hinder the blowing potential of the fan by probably 20% or more. Expect this thing to take up 2 PCI slots, not one. Sure, it only REALLY takes up one, but with the severe lack of space between one and the next, i would definatly NOT reccomend this.

e) As isaid before, picks of my lovely() $30 raidmax case and its contents, hopefully coming tomorrow.

Brian MacMillin

mkk

Nice reading and I agree that this is a very costworthy cooler for todays ATi cards. For what I can see it has currently got to be the best allround option for most users that are not so interested in bodging on a CPU cooler, or whatever solution modding people come up with. The VGA Silencer may not be a masterpiece of engineering but it uses some smart ideas that makes it work well without being expensive to manufacture. Just the way I like to see things designed in general.

dorkz

wp! I was thinking of getting one of these for my new radeon card. Only £17! Its gotta be worth it, cools the card down by 30 degrees It says!!

craigmci

sounds great,and you wrote great posts,been wondering what to do myself,they are hard to get here,would you get better peformance with a 1u cpu hsf,and ram sinks,or the silencer and ram sinks?maybee i should do 1 card each way and see,???I guess the vga silencer would be alot quieter though with maybee not alot of diff in performance from the cpu cooler?And the added bonus of removing heat from the case may be the deciding factor???Just my confused thoughts on this??

kelticknight

had the vga silincer with my other 9800pro,had a senor on the g-card,it cooled down 3-4 c,before that had a zalman with pipeline and 80mm fan,there wasn't much of differance in temps between the zalman and artic vga silencer,only easier to mod g-card with vga silencer and few euros cheaper,also zalman was louder with fan

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DELL XPS M1710 LAPTOP MODDED

tek

30 degrees? and you believe that crock of SH*T?! more like 4-5 degrees buddy....

lol

Goat_Guy

Craigmci: I think that since the heat is expelled out the back, the case really does get cooler. Its also 1\2 the cost of the Zalman.

tastyweat

*raises hand* - that would have been my question.

Think I might get one then... I don't fancy getting the Zalman... thanks for that B!

Just need to get some money now! Just used my last £150 on an xbox

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Goat_Guy

Tastyweat: I hope you saw my second post, about the actuall meaurements? There is room, but make sure that you put the ram sinks on FIRST, then put on the VGA silencer.

Brian

tastyweat

thx

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dorkz

Thats what it says...

sbrehm72255

Here's a little info for you guys to help you out a little.
http://www.arctic-cooling.com/en/products/vga_silencer/

http://www.arctic-cooling.com/en/products/vga_silencer/compatibility_en.pdf
Here's my card with the cooler installed with OCZ BGA Copper Ram Sinks installed.




By the way, there are other places to buy the cooler besides SVC.Com(they SUCK) try Scythe-usa.com, that's where I got mine. Much nicer people to deal with....JMHO.

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Davidgt

I just ordered mine Im waiting on it to come in for my r9700pro which i just got back from rma now the damn heatshink falls off great!

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wonderful sig by tastyweat