Anyone tried the VF900's yet?

[nib95]

I'm looking to maybe pick to up for my 7900 GT's.
The problem I have currently is that I can easily reach OC's of 580/1600, but problem is getting it to run stable at those speeds. Memory is the main issue, it gets to an unbearable heat when playing heavy games like COD2 on max settings 19200 x 1200.
And eventually leads to problems or artifacts.

I have to lower the memory OC to 1480 on the memory to keep it stable at heaviest of load.
I'm assuming with the VF900's I could maintain my high OC's without worry of heat issues?

Just wondered if anyones tried them.

I really do not want to waste £50 on coolers if they're not going to help much.

 

[RussianSensation]

Remember the heat from GPU affects the heat spots around memory. You should aim to lower gpu temperature first and then get some ram sinks.

So how do coolers stack up in terms of gpu temperatures?

Review 1
Review 2

The problem is Thermalright's units won't fit with 2 sli cards. So that leaves Accelero as the best option.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Here's another review - http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=743

And another option - Sytrin KuFormula VF1 Plus VGA Cooler

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Here's another review - http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=743

And another option - Sytrin KuFormula VF1 Plus VGA Cooler

Damn, now I'm confused. From the other reviews it seemed like the the Accelero was getting lower temps than either of the Zalman coolers. Now in this one apparently the Zalman vf900 blows away the competition. Who do I believe?

As a side not, I should mention that I used the Zalman vf700cu in 12v mode on all my older gfx cards, and it was nowhere as loud as the stock x1900xtx cooler under load.

 

[RussianSensation]

Originally posted by: munky

Damn, now I'm confused. From the other reviews it seemed like the the Accelero was getting lower temps than either of the Zalman coolers. Now in this one apparently the Zalman vf900 blows away the competition. Who do I believe?

As a side not, I should mention that I used the Zalman vf700cu in 12v mode on all my older gfx cards, and it was nowhere as loud as the stock x1900xtx cooler under load.

They did test them on different graphics cards. That can explain some of the differences. If one is a lot cheaper than the other, it's the one I'd go for. One disadvantage of accelero though is that it only fits on either Nvidia or ATI cards. Zalman is universal for the most part and will likely fit newer generation of cards in the future. I just don't think VF900's $20 price hike justifies its compatibility advantages. $50 for aftermarket cooling for a graphics card that doesn't even cool the memory?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Based on the numbers, for the X1900XTX I'm getting, I'm between the Thermalright V-1 Ultra, Sytrin KuFormula VF1 Plus VGA Cooler and Zalman VF900cu. When I can get some feedback from the user community, I will figure out which one.

 

[dug777]

Good to see the VF700-Cu still pwns, even on an x1800xt

 

[the Chase]

Here's a link with a few user's feedback. Flytech has a 1900xtx and had pretty good results. Also has a link to a place that has them in stock! Order one and let us know what's up with them OP!! http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

 

[nib95]

Originally posted by: the Chase
Here's a link with a few user's feedback. Flytech has a 1900xtx and had pretty good results. Also has a link to a place that has them in stock! Order one and let us know what's up with them OP!! http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

Wow, that VF900 virtually pwned the stock X1900 XTX cooler.
I'm seriously considering two of these babies.

Are they hard to install? I'm just scared I might damage the core

I'm sure they'd improve my OC's though, because currently, I can obtain massive OC's, it's just running games at heavy load on the OC's thats the problem, as they just heat up way too much.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: the Chase
Here's a link with a few user's feedback. Flytech has a 1900xtx and had pretty good results. Also has a link to a place that has them in stock! Order one and let us know what's up with them OP!! http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

Nice find. One zalman vf900 on the way...

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: nib95

Originally posted by: the Chase
Here's a link with a few user's feedback. Flytech has a 1900xtx and had pretty good results. Also has a link to a place that has them in stock! Order one and let us know what's up with them OP!! http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

Wow, that VF900 virtually pwned the stock X1900 XTX cooler.
I'm seriously considering two of these babies.

Are they hard to install? I'm just scared I might damage the core

I'm sure they'd improve my OC's though, because currently, I can obtain massive OC's, it's just running games at heavy load on the OC's thats the problem, as they just heat up way too much.

No especially since iirc x1x000s and 7x00s have a little pad like thing around the GPU so the hsf can't rock and crush a corner. Was reasonably challenging putting a VF700 Cu on my AGP 6600GT tho

 

[nib95]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: nib95

Originally posted by: the Chase
Here's a link with a few user's feedback. Flytech has a 1900xtx and had pretty good results. Also has a link to a place that has them in stock! Order one and let us know what's up with them OP!! http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

Wow, that VF900 virtually pwned the stock X1900 XTX cooler.
I'm seriously considering two of these babies.

Are they hard to install? I'm just scared I might damage the core

I'm sure they'd improve my OC's though, because currently, I can obtain massive OC's, it's just running games at heavy load on the OC's thats the problem, as they just heat up way too much.

No especially since iirc x1x000s and 7x00s have a little pad like thing around the GPU so the hsf can't rock and crush a corner. Was reasonably challenging putting a VF700 Cu on my AGP 6600GT tho

I've heard the 7900 GT does not have that little shim you are talking about.
Though I did notice the VF900 has some sort of spring retention on the clips, perhaps this stops it from getting too tight?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: nib95

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: nib95

Originally posted by: the Chase
Here's a link with a few user's feedback. Flytech has a 1900xtx and had pretty good results. Also has a link to a place that has them in stock! Order one and let us know what's up with them OP!! http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

Wow, that VF900 virtually pwned the stock X1900 XTX cooler.
I'm seriously considering two of these babies.

Are they hard to install? I'm just scared I might damage the core

I'm sure they'd improve my OC's though, because currently, I can obtain massive OC's, it's just running games at heavy load on the OC's thats the problem, as they just heat up way too much.

No especially since iirc x1x000s and 7x00s have a little pad like thing around the GPU so the hsf can't rock and crush a corner. Was reasonably challenging putting a VF700 Cu on my AGP 6600GT tho

I've heard the 7900 GT does not have that little shim you are talking about.
Though I did notice the VF900 has some sort of spring retention on the clips, perhaps this stops it from getting too tight?

yeah, the 700 does too. It would be very hard to crush a core providing the hsf is level. the problem occurs when you get it an an angle...sucks about it not having the shim, but if you are careful you'll be fine...

 

[the Chase]

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: the Chase
Here's a link with a few user's feedback. Flytech has a 1900xtx and had pretty good results. Also has a link to a place that has them in stock! Order one and let us know what's up with them OP!! http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

Nice find. One zalman vf900 on the way...

Hope it does well for ya. Let us know what you think! I am using the VF700 now on my X1800XT and looking for better temps...

 

[nib95]

I think I'll order two of these when my mate posts me my artic silver. because I'm not paying an extra £7 for some more!
They should really help my OC's. Shame I'll be getting a new GPU in another 4/5 months

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: dug777
Good to see the VF700-Cu still pwns, even on an x1800xt

I got one of those on my 7900GT and it's done a world of wonders for me. I don't overclock my card beyond what XFX already did, but the noise and temp. drops were phenomenal. IMHO with it's $20 price defecit to the VF900CU, the VF700CU is a top bang for the buck performer. :beer:

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: nib95

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: nib95

Originally posted by: the Chase
Here's a link with a few user's feedback. Flytech has a 1900xtx and had pretty good results. Also has a link to a place that has them in stock! Order one and let us know what's up with them OP!! http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

Wow, that VF900 virtually pwned the stock X1900 XTX cooler.
I'm seriously considering two of these babies.

Are they hard to install? I'm just scared I might damage the core

I'm sure they'd improve my OC's though, because currently, I can obtain massive OC's, it's just running games at heavy load on the OC's thats the problem, as they just heat up way too much.

No especially since iirc x1x000s and 7x00s have a little pad like thing around the GPU so the hsf can't rock and crush a corner. Was reasonably challenging putting a VF700 Cu on my AGP 6600GT tho

I've heard the 7900 GT does not have that little shim you are talking about.

This is true, but the standoffs help alot. Just be diligent and careful (like I was) and there's no problem installing an aftermarket cooler on a 7900GT.

 

[JT1]

What temp differences has your VF700 made compared to stock 7900GT cooler? Were you impressed with the sound difference?

 

[JT1]

Originally posted by: Megatomic

Originally posted by: nib95

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: nib95

Originally posted by: the Chase
Here's a link with a few user's feedback. Flytech has a 1900xtx and had pretty good results. Also has a link to a place that has them in stock! Order one and let us know what's up with them OP!! http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

Wow, that VF900 virtually pwned the stock X1900 XTX cooler.
I'm seriously considering two of these babies.

Are they hard to install? I'm just scared I might damage the core

I'm sure they'd improve my OC's though, because currently, I can obtain massive OC's, it's just running games at heavy load on the OC's thats the problem, as they just heat up way too much.

No especially since iirc x1x000s and 7x00s have a little pad like thing around the GPU so the hsf can't rock and crush a corner. Was reasonably challenging putting a VF700 Cu on my AGP 6600GT tho

I've heard the 7900 GT does not have that little shim you are talking about.

This is true, but the standoffs help alot. Just be diligent and careful (like I was) and there's no problem installing an aftermarket cooler on a 7900GT.

What temp differences has your VF700 made compared to stock 7900GT cooler? Were you impressed with the sound difference?

 

[Megatomic]

My card is about 10C cooler than it was with the stock cooler. And now I can barely hear the video card at all in my system even with the VF700 running at 100%. It was well worth the $30 I spent on it.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
My card is about 10C cooler than it was with the stock cooler. And now I can barely hear the video card at all in my system even with the VF700 running at 100%. It was well worth the $30 I spent on it.

I can second that statement. I ran about 10-15°C less than stock on a 7800GT. The noise difference is night and day. I was using the "poorer" performing VF700AlCu also.

 

[Canterwood]

Gonna have to get me one of these coolers. The 7900GT coolers are just to loud.

Wish they'd implemented throttling in them.

 

[JT1]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
My card is about 10C cooler than it was with the stock cooler. And now I can barely hear the video card at all in my system even with the VF700 running at 100%. It was well worth the $30 I spent on it.

Sounds great. Although my eVGA 7900 GT CO Superclocked fan spins down after boot, it is still noisy. I will invest in either the VF700 or the VF900.

 

[CaptainCraptacular]

Originally posted by: nib95
I think I'll order two of these when my mate posts me my artic silver. because I'm not paying an extra £7 for some more!

Hey nib95, just something you may want to be aware of.

The Zalman vf700's perform extremely well when there's no card beside it to restrict the airflow to the fan. However, when used in an SLI configuration with a regular sized space between the 2 PCI-e slots (for instace the DFI SLI-DR non expert edition) the zalman will perform worse than the stock cooler.

For example: I have a DFI NF4 SLI-DR (the non-expert version) which has a smaller space between the 2 pci-e slots. I did have 2 7800GTX's, one with stock cooler and one with the zalman. When I put the zalman on the inside card, it performed terribly, much much worse than stock. When moved the zalman card to the outside with nothing restricting airflow to its fan, it worked great. Idle temps on the outside 78000GTx with the zalman was 38-42celcius and 55-59 load.

Since you have the expert edition you have a bit more space in between the 2 cards. Plus the vf900 is smaller than the vf700. So you may not have any problems at all. Just something to think about.

Myself, I'm wondering how the 900 will perform in SLI on the inside card. I now have 2 7900GTX's with stock cooling that I'd like to replace with the zalman assuming the 900s perform well on the inside board. If anyone knows of a review that covers this, I'm very interested.

 

[GTaudiophile]

So, what's the verdict here? I was planning on a VF900? Is the VF700 as good or better? Something else?