8800GT Cooling

[coxmaster]

Well, as anybody who has been online knows there is a multitude of problems with cooling on the 8800GT. My question is this.. would it be worth the money to buy an aftermarket heatsink and fan for mine? I havent updated the BIOS yet, but thats only because my motherboard is currently on its way back to XFX. Should i wait until it gets back, flash the BIOS, then install some aftermarket cooling if needed? Or just get aftermarket cooling now to be sure.

Also, will it require significantly more power? Power shouldnt be a problem since my PSU has a combined 34A 12V

 

[zorrt]

Simply put, if you feel its too hot then get an aftermarket cooler. If not then just leave it and crank up the fan speed using rivatuner.

 

[angry hampster]

I got sick of listening to the fan when it was at more than 50%. I got a Zalman VF900 and am VERY impressed.

http://www.hardocp.com/article...w2LCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

My findings mimic theirs.

 

[coxmaster]

Alright thanks everybody. I'll definately crank up the fan and see what the temps get to. If they seem high, or i dont like the noise, i will definately check out that fan. Sadly, my motherboard is in XFX's hands for an RMA so i cant actually try it out yet.

Thanks for the help peeps

 

[Capt Caveman]

I'm perfectly happy with the stock fan on my 8800GT SSC 700/1000. It's set to run 55% and temps don't go beyond 69c at load and run 45c at idle. If I raise the fan to 65%, load temps don't go beyond 65c.

 

[coxmaster]

Is that with or without the updated BIOS which is supposed to help with fan control?

 

[ja1484]

<--- Another satisfied VF900 user.

You gotta make the call - the temps/noise ok with your current config? If so, what me worry?

 

[Syntax Error]

I slapped on an Accelero S1 + 120MM Tri-Cool and my temperatures dropped from 56-60 Idle/72-75 Load (my P180 doesn't give the best airflow and my ambients are a bit high) to 39 Idle and 45 Load. Huge difference in temperatures and noise.

If it's a question of cooling, turning up the fan speed and monitoring the temperatures while you game should be fine enough, but if you want to have a quieter system and have your card run cooler for better overclocking potential, then I recommend you get an aftermarket cooler. VF900s or Accelero S1s should do you; the latter can be a silent solution granted you have ample airflow in your case.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: coxmaster
Is that with or without the updated BIOS which is supposed to help with fan control?

With the updated bios, but I use Rivatuner to set my clock speeds. The bios update ramps the fanspeed to 85% at load which is too loud for me. At 55%, it's barely audible.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

Seems like it would be cheaper then to just buy an 8800 GTS (G92) instead.

$240 (base 8800GT) + $30-40 (aftermarket cooler)

vs.

8800 GTS for $280 (EVGA or BFG at The Egg).


GTS gives you a little more performance too, plus few more shaders ...

 

[coxmaster]

It might be cheaper to buy a GTS.. but that wouldnt help me at all. I already have a GT so there is really no choice to change to a GTS. Im not going to trade up because its not worth it, and the GT is just fine to me.

 

[tigersty1e]

Just keep the old cooler... there's nothing wrong with it if you use Rivatuner...

I have mine set to start increasing once temps hit 50 and gradually increase to 100% when the temps hit 68C... perfectly fine....

I'm at 690/980...up from 625/900.

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
Just keep the old cooler... there's nothing wrong with it if you use Rivatuner...

I have mine set to start increasing once temps hit 50 and gradually increase to 100% when the temps hit 68C... perfectly fine....

I'm at 690/980...up from 625/900.

But it's ridiculously loud. At 100% it sounds like a hair dryer. Put a VF900 on it then say the stock cooler is perfectly fine.

 

[tigersty1e]

If you see my sig, you can see that I'm coming from a 1950XT... the F-14 Tomcat of all video card coolers. So the 8800 card sounds soft.

I have a VF700 on my 6800 so I know how well it lowers the sound.

My current fan never really hits 100%...I've set it so that it hits ~50-60% around 70C... It hits 100% as insurance in case something screws up.

 

[coxmaster]

Alright, as of now it looks like i will just use RivaTuner and have it set to turn the fan speed as necessary. The only problem i had with RivaTuner is that whener i set it to run at startup Vista wouldn't allow it. How do i set it so that Vista allows it to run at startup?

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: coxmaster
Alright, as of now it looks like i will just use RivaTuner and have it set to turn the fan speed as necessary. The only problem i had with RivaTuner is that whener i set it to run at startup Vista wouldn't allow it. How do i set it so that Vista allows it to run at startup?

Turn off UAC in the control panel. You'll be happier in the end anyway.

Or you could just override UAC and run RivaTuner whenever you're doing 3D gaming and need the custom fan profiles.

 

[tigersty1e]

There's no other way except to just start up Rivatuner manually or go the task panel and select run Rivatuner everytime Vista starts up.

You could try to right-click the Rivatuner.exe and check the box that says run as administrator.... might help... might not.

 

[coxmaster]

Alright, i'll disable UAC when i get my motherboard back..

Thanks

 

[NinjaJedi]

I have a VF900 also though it is on a x1800xt and I love it. Have it hooked up to my fan controller. (nexus) The only thing though, it is probably a good idea to get ramsinks also and that increases the overall price of purchasing an aftermarket cooler.

 

[postmortemIA]

So I got 8800GT by ASUS for my second rig, it seems that they use different cooler, might be quieter? haven't tested it yet.

EDIT: It is very quiet, at least on desktop.