Anybody used the Zalman VGA Cooler or anything like it?

[SuprSi]

I'm still trying to kill any noise inside my computer (using it for audio productions so reducing noise output is very important) and have come across the Zalman VGA Cooler........

VGA Cooler

According to the report on QuietPC the thing works with any video card, and can work even better than a fan type cooler. Has anybody any experience with coolers like this? I've got a Creative GeForce Ti500, which I won't be over-clocking and I'd like to get rid of the fan on the heatsink and replace it with a quiet one.

Cheers,

Si.

 

[downhiller80]

My question is how do you get the original heatsink off? I was going to get the Zalman for my GF2GTS but can't for the life of me get the old one off, I'm scared to pull/twist any harder. As it is I've disconnected the fan and it runs fine, albeit a little toastie. I'm not suggesting you do this on yout Ti500 though!

- seb

 

[SuprSi]

Heh, believe it or not I hadn't even considered that! Guess I'll take a look tonight before ordering the thing

Si.

 

[SaturnX]

Seb: is it connected with plastic pins? If so... the way I removed my original heatsink was that I started up a nice demanded 3d games, ran that for about 15 minutes.. quickly shut down, pulled out the card, pushed out the pins and everything came off within seconds, just had to clean up the original goop, and I was good to go. Applied some AS2, and a CrOrb and I was set.

--Mark

 

[downhiller80]

No pins on mine, it's just glued on.
Didn't think to try it when hot, might help.


- seb

 

[PliotronX]

<< No pins on mine, it's just glued on. >>


Superglue's bond is severely weakened by cold temperature. Most video cards' HSF are glued on using superglue, so all you have to do is stick it in the freezer for about 30-90 seconds (wrapped in a papertowel), then put that papertowel between the heatsink and the PCB and use a flathead screwdriver or butterknife to pry the heatsink off. It will make an unpleasant cracking sound, but that is the glue giving I've done it this way to about 10 vid cards so far and it's the easiest. If you're lucky, all of the glue will release from the core of the GPU so you don't have to scrub with acetone before applying the new heatsink.