Accelero S1 Installed

[jdkick]

I took some time today to install an Accelero S1 on my BfG 7900GS OC and do some testing.

All GPU temperatures were recorded using RivaTuner v2.06. The GPU was loaded using both ATITool v0.26 and RTHDribl v1.2. I also noted the GPU temperature after a round of Battlefield 2.

Stock Cooler
---------------
Idle: 58c
Load: 85c
Gaming: 64c

Accerlo S1 (passive)
------------------------
Idle: 49c
Load: 63c
Gaming: 58c

I prepared the card by removing the stock HSF and cleaning the GPU/memory modules with 99% isopropyl alchohol. My 7900GS did not feature any factory cooling on the memory modules so there was no thermal compound to remove from those components. The heatsinks included with the S1 mounted without issue and the pre-applied thermal tape appears to be doing it's job.

As for installation, there is plenty of room for the S1 in the Cooler Master 690, provided the stock side-panel fan is removed from the lower position. I'm curious if a 120x20mm would fit but I think a 120x15mm would be ideal... not that I can find such a thing. The only fans installed in the case are the stock front/rear 120mm fans. While these fans are silent, they don't move much air. So, not a lot of airflow is required to use the S1 passively.

Needless to say, i'm quite happy with the S1 (bought on sale for $25 @ NCIX). Installation was a breeze, the S1 is performing admirably in passive mode and my PC is much quieter.

 

[us3rnotfound]

HI {ICS?

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Hmm... I could install my Accelero S1 and 8800GT with the side fan in my CM 690... My side panel bends (pops) outwards a bit, have you tried that?
But I didn't like it, so I rubber-banded the 120mm fan from the side onto the accelero instead.

 

[jdkick]

I took a measurement and I would need an additional 5mm clearance, which is why i'd like to snag a 120x20mm fan at some point. I did try to put the panel on with the stock 120x25mm fan attached but I couldn't get all of the tabs on the panel to catch, at least not without more force then I was comfortable with. Perhaps the side-panel on my 690 doesn't "pop" as much.

For the 8800GT, did you have the base of the S1 in it's default location or did you have to move it to the alternate location? For my 7900GS, it need to be in the default location as I measured ~50mm from the centre of the GPU to the base of the card.

For now, I moved the side 120mm fan to the top-rear location thinking it would create an upward draft - i'm now seeing 46c/51c for idle/gaming temperatures.

 

[jdkick]

Originally posted by: us3rnotfound
HI {ICS?

?

 

[poohbear]

hey did you guys install the S1 on an 8800gt without any heatsinks on the voltage regulators? arctic cooling says they dont need heatsinks, but the nvidia stock cooler covers them. i didnt put anything on em, took arctic coolings advice, and it works great, but im a bit worried. is this safe?

 

[error8]

Originally posted by: poohbear
hey did you guys install the S1 on an 8800gt without any heatsinks on the voltage regulators? arctic cooling says they dont need heatsinks, but the nvidia stock cooler covers them. i didnt put anything on em, took arctic coolings advice, and it works great, but im a bit worried. is this safe?

I guess it is. In my opinion the stock cooler that was on the card didn't do much to cool the voltage regulators, maybe even had the opposite effect.
But it would be recommended to have a fan onto the accelero so there will be some air circulating over these regulators.

 

[Bob151]

Thanks jdkick, for the followup and posting it for all. In a previous message, you mentioned that you estimated that 140-150mm clearance was needed. I haven't measured my case yet. I have an Antec Sonata.

Thanks.

 

[poohbear]

Originally posted by: error8

Originally posted by: poohbear
hey did you guys install the S1 on an 8800gt without any heatsinks on the voltage regulators? arctic cooling says they dont need heatsinks, but the nvidia stock cooler covers them. i didnt put anything on em, took arctic coolings advice, and it works great, but im a bit worried. is this safe?

I guess it is. In my opinion the stock cooler that was on the card didn't do much to cool the voltage regulators, maybe even had the opposite effect.
But it would be recommended to have a fan onto the accelero so there will be some air circulating over these regulators.

k thanks, i bought the turbo models fan coolers for $7, so its all good.

 

[jdkick]

Originally posted by: Bob151
Thanks jdkick, for the followup and posting it for all. In a previous message, you mentioned that you estimated that 140-150mm clearance was needed. I haven't measured my case yet. I have an Antec Sonata.

Thanks.

No problem. As for clearance, with the card/S1 installed in my PC I measured a touch under 140mm from the PCI-E slot to the outer edge of the S1.

 

[nycxandy]

Hey, I have a question. When you lay the S1 on the video card, how big of a gap is there between the white spacers and the video card board itself?

 

[jdkick]

Hmm. Just with the card laying on the S1 or with the screws actually tightened down?

 

[BlueAcolyte]

there should be none since you tightened the screws...

 

[jdkick]

I was going to get to that. I'm not about to remove the S1 as I don't have any spare thermal compound at the moment.

 

[nycxandy]

Originally posted by: jdkick
Hmm. Just with the card laying on the S1 or with the screws actually tightened down?

Both.

 

[jdkick]

Next time I have the case open i'll pop the card out and see if the spacers are touching the PCB. I won't be able to comment on any gap with the screws removed tho as i'm not about to unmount the S1. I don't have any spare thermal compound and everything is performing well as is.

 

[nycxandy]

Originally posted by: jdkick
Next time I have the case open i'll pop the card out and see if the spacers are touching the PCB. I won't be able to comment on any gap with the screws removed tho as i'm not about to unmount the S1. I don't have any spare thermal compound and everything is performing well as is.

Alright, thanks!

 

[foogan]

Originally posted by: jdkick
I took some time today to install an Accelero S1 on my BfG 7900GS OC and do some testing.

All GPU temperatures were recorded using RivaTuner v2.06. The GPU was loaded using both ATITool v0.26 and RTHDribl v1.2. I also noted the GPU temperature after a round of Battlefield 2.

Stock Cooler
---------------
Idle: 58c
Load: 85c
Gaming: 64c

Accerlo S1 (passive)
------------------------
Idle: 49c
Load: 63c
Gaming: 58c

I just got the Accelero S1 for $10CDN at a local computer shop because the Voltage Reg HS (for the X1950 I believe) is missing.

I installed it on my XFX Geforce 7900GS XXX (600mhz Core, 800mhz Mem) but first I did some temp testing with the stock HS/fan.

I used RTHDribl and ATITool (Same as you), and found the following:

Stock Cooler
--------------
Idle: 55c
Load: 82c
Gaming: (didn't test)

Accelero S1 (passive)
------------------------
Idle: 45c
Load: 67
Gaming: (didn't test.. yet)

I can't believe the difference, it's freaking awesome! Mind you my Accelero doesn't have the Turbo module (2 fans) so it would be considered "passive", but pressed right against it is one of those PCI-slot exhaust fans, which doesn't blow air onto the heatsink like a normal VGA fan would, but rather pulls it away and exhausts it out the back of the case.

Also I have 2 120mm fans on the case: front intake, and rear exhaust.

600/800 is the stock (well, stock for the XXX) core/mem for this card, and I had it overclocked a good bit in the past, but I am going to try overclocking it again, since I don't think temps will be holding me back this time.

 

[error8]

Why would anyone spend money for a new heatsink, to be used on an old card, is beyond me.
Oh, this thread is 9 months old. Great!

 

[RallyMaster]

I used an Accelero on my 6800GS for a couple of months before I sold the card. I moved the cooler to my HD3850 now though.

Works great even when folding for hours on end.