7900GT Fan vs x1900xt fan

[TheBiggmann]

I just put a 7900GT in my new system and I can't get over how loud that card is. I'm thinking of sending it in and getting a x1900xt. Has anyone here had experience with both cards and can tell me if there is a big difference in loudness?

 

[Cookie Monster]

Well i dont you just get a 3rd party cooler like zalman vf900, which reduces temps on 7900GTs by alot.

The X1900XT can hit 60dbs, while the 7900GT is around ~50dbs constantly because you cant control its fan settings. (Its always on its max i believe)

 

[CP5670]

They're both equally loud, but the particular kind of noise the X1900 cooler makes is more annoying in my opinion.

 

[TheBiggmann]

Does the x1900xt seem quieter though because the fan speed fluctuates? And also, doesn't putting a different fan on thecard void the warranty?

 

[nib95]

I know tests show that they are about the same db.
My own personal experience shows otherwise.

Two of my 7900 GT's in SLI make less sound then my one single X1900 XTX used to.
If I can rate my XTX as 8/10 in terms of how loud it was, I'd rate my 2 7900 GT's together as 5/10 to about 6/10.

So they are a fair bit quieter, and cooler too.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: nib95
I know tests show that they are about the same db.
My own personal experience shows otherwise.

Two of my 7900 GT's in SLI make less sound then my one single X1900 XTX used to.
If I can rate my XTX as 8/10 in terms of how loud it was, I'd rate my 2 7900 GT's together as 5/10 to about 6/10.

So they are a fair bit quieter, and cooler too.

What brand of 7900GT do you have? I know some manufacturers use something other than the reference hsf or they program the fan speeds differently.

OP- The X1900XT is loud at full blast but I personally thought it was fine during normal operation or up to ~60-70% fan speed. I don't have any experience with the 7900GT so I can't comment about a comparison between the two. These guys found the 7900GT to be louder. I've seen other reviews that put them on par with each other.

 

[TheBiggmann]

My 7900 is an XFX.

 

[MrWizzard]

I have a 7950GX2 and a 1900xt, when idle I think the 1900xt is quieter, but the 7950GX2 is quieter under load....

Seriously though if you have that card you game, at least I hope you do otherwise it's a waist, and when you game you have your sound on, so wouldn?t it be drowned out by the sound anyway?

EDIT: Oh and both the cards have the exact same cases and PS so it's not like one case is helping quite one card more.

 

[firewolfsm]

Buy a VF700 for $20 on newegg and if you need to use your warrentee switch them back.

 

[TheBiggmann]

Are the fan's pretty easy to install?

 

[imported_Seer]

my vf900 was ridiculously easy to install.

 

[Hidden Hippo]

I find that the fan on my x1900 is pretty quiet. With the rest of the fans in my case (2x120, 2x92, CPU fan which I think is another 92) the noise level isn't really that bad.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: Hidden Hippo
I find that the fan on my x1900 is pretty quiet. With the rest of the fans in my case (2x120, 2x92, CPU fan which I think is another 92) the noise level isn't really that bad.

XT/XTX or just vanilla x1900? The xt's have a dual slot cooler that's quite large and noisy.

*edit*
Duh just looked at your sig lol.

 

[TheBiggmann]

What's the difference between the VF700 and the VF900?

 

[cmdrdredd]

The x1900xt/xtx have a variable fan speed and I never hear it spool up to 100%.

 

[schneiderguy]

my 7600gt is quieter than my friend's x1900xt when they're running 3d apps. but they're both way too loud... i throttle down my fan to 20-30% while running games and it doesnt get too hot

 

[yacoub]

My 7900GT is very quiet (aside from 3D intensive gaming of course because the fan runs at a faster speed). It's the eVGA N584 model, which is a little different than the average cooler in design. Very pleased wih th e noise levels, plus it doesn't exhaust outside of the case so again less noise than an X1900 series two-slot card.

 

[TheBiggmann]

K, I've decided I'm not switching the cards but I'm definitely getting a different fan. Some of you guys recommmended the Zalman vf700 and vf900 and I'm wondering what the difference is.

 

[Canterwood]

My 7900GT was just constantly noisy. Very loud and annoying.

For the price I paid, I expect a cooler that at least throttles back in 2D mode, and not the trashy POS that Nvidia supplied.

I assume the X1900XT cooler might be loud, but at least it throttles back and would run somewhat quieter in normal desktop use, not to mention the superior performance of the card over the 7900GT.

 

[josh6079]

Water cooling FTW!

 

[yacoub]

Funny how many folks claim 7900GTs are very noisy. I guess the reference cooler design is crappy. The eVGA N584 model uses a different cooler and it's not noisy at all in Windows use and throttles up for gaming.

 

[BFG10K]

I guess the reference cooler design is crappy

Yep.

 

[hmorphone]

Originally posted by: TheBiggmann
What's the difference between the VF700 and the VF900?

Vf700 is an older model and has less cooling capability than a Vf900. Might work fine on a 7900GT but is not enough for a X1900XT.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

^^ what are you talking about vf900 not enough for x1900xt? mine idles at 40 with vf900 and load at 60.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Both are loud. Its just the XT cooler has a "whiney" pitch to it, that annoys some users here. It uses a small 60mm fan that could get very annoying.