Arctic Cooler

imported_Noob

Senior member
Dec 4, 2004
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Is it easy to apply an Arctic Cooler without damaging the card? Are there a lot of steps involving the process? I am thinking of buying one but I am a little iffy considering the warranty issues.
 

Burrbaby

Member
Mar 2, 2005
41
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Its not so bad.
I was so excited about getting my 6800gt last year that I installed the NV5 the same day the GT came in the mail. Make sure you order some ASilver and that you DO NOT put too much on the mem (if you decided to use it on mem at all). I glopped it on and when I was tightening down the heatsink some oozed out and got in the contacts on the underside of the ram. I didn't really notice until when running the card couldn't play 3d games. I took it apart, cleaned the contacts thoroughly and haven't had any real probelms since. Its really hard to figure out how tight is too tight though for the heatsink; theres no easy way to figure it out with those soft rubber mounts.

Its damn quiet though, definately inaudible. But that card gets hott. I'm oc'd to 425/1100, and its working fine but i get idle temps of 50-55 and load 65-75.

I can't wait til i can afford a vapoChill :evil:
 

imported_Noob

Senior member
Dec 4, 2004
812
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What is ASilver? Do you mean the Silicon Paste? It think it comes with it? And if the paste oozes out out onto other components of the board, could it damage them?
 

fbrdphreak

Lifer
Apr 17, 2004
17,555
1
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ASilver = AS = AS5 = Artic Silver 5 (High quality silver-based paste)
It is generally more accepted to use Artic Silver Ceramique on memory and other components that are closer to contacts; there is a theoretical risk of shorting some stuff out with AS5 as it is slightly capacitive. If you have AS, just be careful applying it to memory and you'll be fine.
I'll be installing mine sometime over the next week, but it looks VERY straight forward.
 

imported_Noob

Senior member
Dec 4, 2004
812
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Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
ASilver = AS = AS5 = Artic Silver 5 (High quality silver-based paste)
It is generally more accepted to use Artic Silver Ceramique on memory and other components that are closer to contacts; there is a theoretical risk of shorting some stuff out with AS5 as it is slightly capacitive. If you have AS, just be careful applying it to memory and you'll be fine.
I'll be installing mine sometime over the next week, but it looks VERY straight forward.

Do you need to apply silicon on the AS's?
 

Fenuxx

Senior member
Dec 3, 2004
907
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IMHO, the hardest part about installing an NV5 was removing the stock HSF. Boy, is it me, or does that thing have too damn many screws? Anyway, other than removing the b!tch that is the stock heatsink, everything is pretty straight forward.

I used the ceramique paste that came with the NV5 for the memory, and good ol' AS5 for the GPU. Just remember, don't spread on the AS5 like you're making a PB&J sandwitch. It could muck the GPU up and potentially fry your card. Just spread on a nice, thin, layer of the goop and spread it out with a business card or a popsicle stick (for that, use some wire cutters and cut a slanted edge off the top of it). Then, just put the NV5 on, making sure not to slide it around while installing it. Then, just plug int the fan, and you're good to go. Its really that simple ;) .
 

Cheval

Senior member
Jun 27, 2002
334
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I'm looking at doing this, too. The reason is the card (BFG 6800 ultra OC) is blowing right on my 4 hard drives and heating them up quite a bit !! So the cooling of my system, as well as the noise, should be decently improved. I am just wondering how this works in terms of RMAing the card if it ever has a problem (that I didn't cause by doing this) so I want to make sure the card isn't messed up or things need to be cut (like I read in the nvnews.net review).
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
I ordered an ATi Silencer 1 for my 9800.
The paste it came with was absolute crap, so I used AS5. I wouldn't try that junk on my worst enemy.
I accidentally ordered 2, and the first one I tried didn't fit (it was badly made), so wouldn't go into the holes for the heatsink.
The second one fitted OK.

It's worthwhile as it offers better cooling, but make sure you don't try the stock paste if it's anything like what came with mine.
 

fstime

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2004
4,382
5
81
Dont use AS5 on the ram. I did but if it gets under the pins your card is toast. Use AS5 only on the GPU. Use that stuff they give you to use on the mem,
 

imported_Noob

Senior member
Dec 4, 2004
812
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Oh and this is probably a n00b question (hence the name). But do I need to use non magnetic screw drivers even when it's unplugged?
 

homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Originally posted by: Noob
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
ASilver = AS = AS5 = Artic Silver 5 (High quality silver-based paste)
It is generally more accepted to use Artic Silver Ceramique on memory and other components that are closer to contacts; there is a theoretical risk of shorting some stuff out with AS5 as it is slightly capacitive. If you have AS, just be careful applying it to memory and you'll be fine.
I'll be installing mine sometime over the next week, but it looks VERY straight forward.

Do you need to apply silicon on the AS's?

Oh jeez, rig in sig, >300 AT posts and no clue about thermal paste? :confused:
 

imported_Noob

Senior member
Dec 4, 2004
812
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Originally posted by: homercles337
Originally posted by: Noob
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
ASilver = AS = AS5 = Artic Silver 5 (High quality silver-based paste)
It is generally more accepted to use Artic Silver Ceramique on memory and other components that are closer to contacts; there is a theoretical risk of shorting some stuff out with AS5 as it is slightly capacitive. If you have AS, just be careful applying it to memory and you'll be fine.
I'll be installing mine sometime over the next week, but it looks VERY straight forward.

Do you need to apply silicon on the AS's?

Oh jeez, rig in sig, >300 AT posts and no clue about thermal paste? :confused:

I know about thermal paste> I just didn't know aobut this particular AS5. :roll: I thought it was the actuall RAM coolers. As stated by fprdphreak:

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
ASilver = AS = AS5 = Artic Silver 5 (High quality silver-based paste)
 

homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Originally posted by: Noob
I know about thermal paste> I just didn't know aobut this particular AS5. :roll: I thought it was the actuall RAM coolers. As stated by fprdphreak:

You asked if you should apply the silicone paste along with the thermal grease. :roll:

Not to mention that Ceramique is a better choice for GPU/ram heatsinks than AS5. Have you EVER read anything to do with cooling before?
 

imported_Noob

Senior member
Dec 4, 2004
812
0
0
Originally posted by: homercles337
Originally posted by: Noob
I know about thermal paste> I just didn't know aobut this particular AS5. :roll: I thought it was the actuall RAM coolers. As stated by fprdphreak:

You asked if you should apply the silicone paste along with the thermal grease. :roll:

I will say it again. Fpdrphreak said that the AS5 was silver plates. Then I find out it is paste. I was asking if you needed to use the thermal paste on the AS5 when I was thinking that AS5 were actual silver plates that went on the RAM. And I meant thermal paste not silicon. I was thinking CPU for some reason.