Arctic Cooling Silencer 5 or Zalman VF700cu

[opuntia]

Just built my first system...finally, and the evga 6800gs video card is a little too loud for my taste. Does anybody have any first hand experience with either (or both) the Arctic Cooling Silencer 5 or the Zalman VF700cu? I've found reviews for both of them, but nothing that compares the two.

I'm only interested in which one is the quietest, I'm not a heavy gamer or into extreme overclocking.

If it make a difference, my MB is a ASUS a8n-sli premium.

Thanks in advance for you comments.

 

[mwmorph]

i think the zalman might be slightly quieter.

 

[opuntia]

Thanks, I was thinking that might be the case since the Zalman claims a "silence" mode, though the Artic is called the "silencer"...ah, who knows!!

 

[mwmorph]

well both have a high and low mode(i think not sure, but my silencer ahs a high and low selector) anyway, the low mode on the zalamn, which limits operating voltage to 5v, like my silencer makes it basicaly inaudiable. on my silencer, the noise is almost inauidble, but if you listen really carefully in a quiet room ,you can hear the woosh of the sound of air as it's exhausted past the grates out of yuor case.

 

[jiffylube1024]

You know what - they're about equal. I've owned both and I'd say they are equal. The Silencer is almost inaudible at the maximum setting (around 2200rpm), as is the Zalman. Remember, you are sacrificing a bit of performance to slow the RPM's on the Zalman running it below 100% fan capacity (also around 2200 rpm).

For the pros and cons, I'd say:

-The AC 5 has slightly better RAM cooling (since it's attached to the main heatsink instead of RAMsinks)
-The AC5 is a bit smarter/more elegant solution (it blows the air out of the case)
-The AC5 gives better case temperatures (again since it blows the air out)
-The AC5 is lighter than the Zalman Cu model (although it doesn't really make much of a difference)
-The AC5 is easier to remove/put on a different GPU, because it is all one piece; the Zalman's RAMsinks need to be twisted off and it can be a bit of a pain if you want to switch GPU's/RMA/etc.
-The AC5 makes putting the 6-pin power plug a bit tricky to remove (but it just takes a few seconds of fiddling)

-The Zalman does a tiny bit better to cool the GPU
-The Zalman has a better/more secure mounting mechanism. It clamps on tightly and is VERY secure. I had an AC5 on an X850XT that mounted perfectly, but I also got a wobbly NV Silencer 5 that wouldn't quite attach right on a 7800GT.
-The Zalman is a bit more attractive looking IMO, although I personally couldn't care less.

 

[lifeguard1999]

Link to LegionHardware Review comparing VF-700-Cu with Thermalright V-1 Ultra with NV Silencer 5.

 

[opuntia]

Thanks everybody for your response. I may go with the arctic silencer just becuase it looks easier to assemble (and dissassemble).

 

[lifeguard1999]

Yeah, but once you change cards, the Arctic Cooling Silencer 5 may not fit. Look at how many different versions there are. Your choice though.

 

[INM8]

I have an Nv Silencer 5 (rev 3) on my 7800gtx, and it isnt "silent", or anywhere near it a stock speed. Infact, the stcok 7800gtx cooler is quieter than it when the computer is idling. I find the the nvsilencer makes a very annoying hum (could be the plasic enclosure resonating) at stock speeds. It goes away once you turn the fan down a considerable amount, but you need a seperate fan controller for that, and then your temps go up, which defeats some of the purpose of having the cooler in the first place. It goes keep the 7800gtx cooler now, but not by much (temps are the same idling), and the only benefit is that when im gaming the fan never gets unbearably loud like it did on the gtx...although that was really only a problem at night when i had to have the sound turned down.

I also found the "sticky thermal pads" that arctic cooling provide to so you can stick that ramsink thing onto the back of the gtx to be an unelegant solution. The thermal pads are not sticky at all, and the only thing that is really keeping that ramsink on is gravity.

 

[fliguy84]

i find that the vf700 is better since it supports most of the video cards out there. plus, zalman has an LED version that is super cool

 

[Conky]

I am considering an Arctic Cooler myself as I have come to really like the heat exhausting from my case as my stock X850XT does. Moving to this card has reduced the interior temp by 10 degrees farenheit. The Arctic Cooler should cool my card and my case better... and we all know that it's best to be cool.

 

[Steelski]

I have a silencer on my 9800 pro. it occasionally starts up and the fan starts screaming (the bearings are !§"%) it quietens down once i get into windpoos. but still annoying and not a great testimony of how great the build quality is. But i think i am a one off special guy.

 

[jmke]

I'd go for Arctic Cooling Accelero
http://www.madshrimps.be/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20409

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

VF700 can give better temps depending on your case situation.

My case gets pretty hot around the GF, but it's nice and cool near the CPU because of the good exhaust system I have. The 120mm intake for me near the HDs (I have an Antec P160) doesn't help cool the video card area well enough. In this case I'm guessing an Arctic Cooling Silencer 5 can do a better job in my case. Unfortunately, I already have a VF700 cooler installed. Thus, my solution is to drill a hole into my side panel and install a Nexus fan or slow yate loon...

 

[DeathReborn]

I didn't encounter any issues with my NV Silencers (will replace them with Accellero tho) and they are quiter than the AC Freezer 64, Raptors & PSU fans. I ran the PC with the side offf the case for a few days and found no difference in temps or noise. I did try a VF700 and it was no noisier than the Silencer so noise wise, either is fine. The NV Silencer would be easier, due to it's all in one design.

If you get the VF700 make sure you get some Ramsinks too, helps keep the memory cool.

 

[opuntia]

On the VF700, how easy is it to take those blue RAM heatsinks off? Since those stick on, do they leave any kind of residue or paste on the memory? I'm wondering just in case I need to RMA or do anything else with the card.

Also, let me know if I'm wrong, but it seems like you can't control the fan speed on the Silencer like you can with the VF700?

Thanks

 

[Icepick]

Originally posted by: opuntia
On the VF700, how easy is it to take those blue RAM heatsinks off? Since those stick on, do they leave any kind of residue or paste on the memory? I'm wondering just in case I need to RMA or do anything else with the card.

Also, let me know if I'm wrong, but it seems like you can't control the fan speed on the Silencer like you can with the VF700?

Thanks

Yes, you can remove the RAM heatsinks if you twist them while taking them off. They'll leave some residue on them so you'll have to clean it off the RAM before putting any other cooler on.

The only way to control the fan speed with the Silencer is by using a software fan controller like the one included with RivaTuner.

By the way, I used the Arctic Cooling NV5 Silencer from last spring until last week. It sucked. It was noisy unless I turned the fan speed down with RivaTuner. This fall the fan started making a very loud rumbling noise every once in a while. I replaced it with the Zalman VF700-CU last week. I have it on the 5V setting and it is silent. The Zalman also lowered my GPU temp by five degrees even on the low speed setting.

Another problem with the Silencer is that the heatsink traps dust and it's very difficult to get it cleaned. Also, regarding the function it cleams to vent hot air out of the case - I find this questionable. The heatsink doesn't sit flush with the PCI slot. There was a large gap between the end of the heatsink and the PCI slot in my setup so I don't believe it was efficient at exhausting the hot air out.

In short, I recommend you go with the Zalman VF700. It was simple to install, it's quieter, and keeps my GPU cooler.

 

[imported_Sincity]

The NV Silencer was the quietest component in my rig. I had to send it back to Newegg because I am waiting for the Accelero. I could not fit two NV Silencers in SLI on my mobo.