Anyone using one of those Zalman fanless HS's on their videocard?

[MichaelD]

How well does it work? Is it all hype or does it really work well? My videocard is the noisiest thing in my case, and I was mulling over maybe giving it a shot.

 

[BoomAM]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
How well does it work? Is it all hype or does it really work well? My videocard is the noisiest thing in my case, and I was mulling over maybe giving it a shot.

You`ll get mixed opinions and reviews of it, but they all have one thing in common:
They all say that it cools well enough for it to be used without a fan.
And with a fan, it cools even better, and OCs better than the stock HSF.

 

[klein297]

Give it a shot.
Using an older version on a GF3 Ti200 , no problems.
Am not overclocking the card though.
Love the sound of silence.

 

[Nafets]

I'm running a BB ATI Radeon 9600 Pro with a Zalman ZM80HP-A. The heatsinks barely get warm to the touch...

 

[aSnipingPenguin]

On a tangent, does anybody use one with a side intake fan that blows across the video card? I've read that for these to work correctly, both the heatsink on the VPU and the heatpipe need to get hot enough to evaporate the liquid in the heatpipe and transfer the heat to the main heatsink on the back (something along those lines?) Does using a side intake fan interfere with this, or am I way off course to begin with?

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks guys. I am considering doing it...but on a brand new videocard. :Q Don't know about that, though. I would be OCing it, that's for sure. :evil: It sure looks neat though.

 

[huesmann]

I have two, and they work fine. One on an old GF2 and one on a Radeon 9700Pro.

 

i suggest u get the zalman fan bracket the BR-something something and slap on a 120mm fan made by Evercool. It cools ur videocard and everything else with nothing more than a whoosh.

 

[sodcha0s]

The Zalman works quite well, but is a bit of a PITA to install. Very well worth it though for peace and quiet. You will not need a fan on it if you don't O/C.

 

[Almighty1]

Originally posted by: sodcha0s
The Zalman works quite well, but is a bit of a PITA to install. Very well worth it though for peace and quiet. You will not need a fan on it if you don't O/C.

Yeah, you're right... What fans are people actually using though?

The bracket can be gotten here:
http://www.casecooler.com/fanadbrac.html

Only reason I list casecooler.com is that they sell the optional screws for the 2nd and 3rd fan if needed although even with my SuperMicro SC760A case, I can only fit 2 120mmx25mm Enermax 92cfm fans.
This is the link for the extra screws:
http://www.casecooler.com/thumscrewfor.html

and then for fans, this one seems to be using Panaflo's technology and cheap at $4.99 a piece.

http://www.pcmods.com/details.asp?ProdID=596

 

[MichaelD]

IMO, using any fan at all with this thing completely negates the entire purpose of using it in the first place.

It was just a thought; I appreciate the responses.

 

[huesmann]

Not really, you can use a bigger fan that's much quieter than the little screamers they usually put on vid cards. That's not really defeating the purpose.

 

[clarkmo]

Got this with a XaserIII and the pipes still get warm. They did use to get hot. The idae for me though was no fan noise and if the side blowing fan is nuking the heat pipe function because it's keeping the heat down well I'll settle for a marginally functioning cool and quiet solution.

 

[KGB1]

Originally posted by: MichaelD
IMO, using any fan at all with this thing completely negates the entire purpose of using it in the first place.

It was just a thought; I appreciate the responses.

You've completely got the wrong idea. I have 2 Zalman fanless heatsinks. One for a GF2 ti500 64MB and a GF4ti4200 128MB AGP8X and it works great. Considering my cases are midtower HP Pavilion cases where there is absolutely no air movement or space. I really do recommed it Works and I'm not afraid to overclock.. its just I don't need it now... later down the road when my cards are getting older I will think about. Short of going to a waterblock for the videocard... the Zalman wont let you down..

-PITA?! I installed my in 5 minutes each. I got the package on 9 am saturday moring... I was barely awake... I scratched my oily hair... got out my tools..arctic silver 3 and went to work... 9:15 they were both in my rigs.

 

[clarkmo]

Musta been a dull Friday night.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: KGB

Originally posted by: MichaelD
IMO, using any fan at all with this thing completely negates the entire purpose of using it in the first place.

It was just a thought; I appreciate the responses.

You've completely got the wrong idea. I have 2 Zalman fanless heatsinks. One for a GF2 ti500 64MB and a GF4ti4200 128MB AGP8X and it works great. Considering my cases are midtower HP Pavilion cases where there is absolutely no air movement or space. I really do recommed it Works and I'm not afraid to overclock.. its just I don't need it now... later down the road when my cards are getting older I will think about. Short of going to a waterblock for the videocard... the Zalman wont let you down..

-PITA?! I installed my in 5 minutes each. I got the package on 9 am saturday moring... I was barely awake... I scratched my oily hair... got out my tools..arctic silver 3 and went to work... 9:15 they were both in my rigs.

Hmm, okay; a very good True Testimonial! I may get one and just OC the snot out of my GF4200....AFTER I get my new card.

 

[huesmann]

Originally posted by: clarkmo
Musta been a dull Friday night.

Nah, he said the package arrived at 9am. Doesn't sound like he was awake til it arrived.

 

[KGB1]

Originally posted by: huesmann

Originally posted by: clarkmo
Musta been a dull Friday night.

Nah, he said the package arrived at 9am. Doesn't sound like he was awake til it arrived.

Actually I remember that friday night pretty well.. I was at rutgers for a birfday party... I didn't drink..smoke.. nada... just danced my @ss off. I woke up fine in the mornin'