• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Aftermarket Video Card Coolers?

DasFox

DasFox

Diamond Member
My question and thoughts are geared at the high-end market of cards that come with lifetime warranties.


Of course a card with a one year warranty I can see the point, cards with these lifetime warranties I don't really see anything especially if companies are saying the cards performance is going to be just fine.

Many people I see that are buying higher end vid cards that even carry a lifetime warranty are still buying aftermarket coolers like Zalmans and Artic cooling.

According to Evga they're telling me temps on cards with stock coolers are fine.

Ok so they'll be fine, then why are people wasting their money buying after market coolers if they're going to be fine, run fine etc...?

We all know heat robs performance, and Evga is telling me anything under 90c is ok, then what is Evga saying here, that from either the 60s, 70s, or 80s there is not going to be any difference in performance? Any of those temps, card performance will be the same all the way across the board, and if so, then getting back to my original question, then why are people wasting money here on aftermarket coolers?

It makes no sense...

ALOHA

P.S. I forgot to address these issues as why most people will use them then:

Overclocking
Quieter fans
 
if the aftermarket cooler is better than stock, then it will give you more room for OCing, which translates to better performance.
 
I go for aftermarket coolers because they tend to much quieter or even silent with the passive heatsinks. The 7900GTO/GTX was the first stock cooler that I haven't felt a need to replace. But compare that to something like the little whiny fans on the 7900GTs and such and you'll notice a huge difference in noise levels.
 
Ahh OC and silence yes I forgot those, so I edited them into the post, anything else that falls along these lines?

ALOHA
 
Originally posted by: brikis98
if the aftermarket cooler is better than stock, then it will give you more room for OCing, which translates to better performance.
Click to expand...

Which translates in to a voided warranty.
 
My next problem is, the fan uses the 3 pin connector you put onto the motherboard, and my board only has 3 and 2 are being used for the rear fans, so that just leaves me with one.

Can you plug both cards into this, or do I need seperate, two of these connectors for each card?

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/images/large/products/ZMMC1_t_LRG.jpg

Here is the 3 pin on the Zalman;

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/35-118-001-03.jpg

That will plug into this adaptor correct?

ALOHA
 
Evga will let you put on a aftermarket cooler, and it doesn't void the warranty. They'll even tell you on the phone to make sure you remove it and put the stock one back before sending in the card.

Now how cool is that! 🙂

ALOHA
 
eVGA + Zalman VF900 = super quiet cool running video card with full warranty.

Silence is the reason to change.
 
Zalman sells passive cooling GPU sinks as well. My computer makes basically no noise.

I'll always be getting aftermarket GPU sinks/fanks, the stock ones are just so damned loud with the tiny high RPM fans.
 
Smartazz that Vornado on the slow setting is quiet.

cryptonomicon I don't think there is a passive cooler from Zalman for the 7900 cards.

ALOHA
 
Originally posted by: DasFox
Smartazz that Vornado on the slow setting is quiet.

cryptonomicon I don't think there is a passive cooler from Zalman for the 7900 cards.

ALOHA
Click to expand...

I had a similar fan that made a lot of noise. I later found out why when it split apart when I was using it. Everything came loose within the fan.
 
There is a very good reason to have an aftermarket GPU HSF. They cool better than stock. I have an eVGA 7900GT CO Superclocked with an OC to 575MHz. I bought a Zalman VF900 and my temps went from 56C down to 42C and the HS is completly silent. Plus having one does not void my lifetime warranty with eVGA. The question is why not get one when it works so well.
 
Aftermarket cooling is the way to go, I have 2 zalmans on the 2 x1900xt's I have and it has reduced the noise by 25db and brought the temps from 50c idle to 41c and only 56c under load. I dont overclock anything in my system.
i'd say they are well worth it.

ALOHA
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top