Best Third Party VGA Cooler for 4870

[tuteja1986]

On stock cooling i have my 4870 OC at 780/1100 and the temp are mega high 90+ C

So i need some Recommendation on any Cooler that is below $50 and is the best for 4870 :!

Here are the coolers i am looking at buying :

Thermaltake CL-G0102 VGA Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835106112
ZALMAN VF900 ? CU 2 Ball VGA Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835118001
ZALMAN VF1000 2 Ball VGA Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835118037
GIGABYTE GH-UDUP21-VC Ball V-Power VGA Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835128019

 

[ther00kie16]

Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Rev2
Only downside is that it takes up 2 slots without fan (still probably better than stock if you have any airflow in your case) and 3 slots if you zip tie on a 92mm/120mm fan.
AC Accelero + 120mm fan = best air cooling for GPU (so far).

 

[tuteja1986]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16
Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Rev2
Only downside is that it takes up 2 slots without fan (still probably better than stock if you have any airflow in your case) and 3 slots if you zip tie on a 92mm/120mm fan.
AC Accelero + 120mm fan = best air cooling for GPU (so far).

With AC Accelero does it have a connector for a 120mm fun or do i have to some glue it on ?

Also which is better :

ARCTIC COOLING Accelero S2 VGA Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186017

or
ARCTIC COOLING ACCELS1 Rev 2 VGA Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835186016


Thanks in advance : )

Also which 120mm fan do you recommend ?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811999344
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835129245
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835185054
or any other ?

 

[error8]

S1 is more efficient.
The first fan of those 3 you've listed seems the best choice, since you can control its rpm. Those other two will make a noise like that of a jet engine.
The fan can be mounted on the S1 with zip ties. I didn't have those and just tied it up with normal electrical wire.

 

[ther00kie16]

Yea, you can use almost anything to tie fans on as long as it's tight. I've used twisty ties before.
About the fan, you don't need 110CFM. A lot of people go for quiet fans with Accelero and SilenX fans are the best. However, those are quite expensive at around $20 when you can get any regular 120mm fan for <$10.

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: tuteja1986
On stock cooling i have my 4870 OC at 780/1100 and the temp are mega high 90+ C

So i need some Recommendation on any Cooler that is below $50 and is the best for 4870 :!

There's the key phrase. Best can be classfied several ways. With responses thus far best seems to = cheapest. To me best = highest quality and performance. Noise, styling, and other factors come in to play as well.

I haven't seen that Gigabyte cooler but it looks pretty darn nice for an ATI card! 90mm adjustable fan, heatpipes, very nice. Would need to check reveiws. The Zalman VF1000 is a solid performer and is top quality with a superior retention mechanism.

Good luck in choosing the "best" cooler to meet YOUR requirements..

 

[tuteja1986]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835185057

How much CF do you recommend ?

I really have no money objection :!

 

[Hauk]

Didn't see them in the Newegg pic; but that Gigabyte cooler DOES come with ramsinks...

 

[Kharohz]

Ok, I use a CM690 Case with two fans (Front/Back, I do not use the side panel fan). I do not plan overclocking the 4870, would a Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Rev2 work for me with no issues? (Without adding a fan)

Thanks

 

[Jessica69]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16
..... and SilenX fans are the best. However, those are quite expensive at around $20 when you can get any regular 120mm fan for <$10.

I'm sorry, but that comment just made me shoot coffee out my nose I laughed so hard.

The only thing SilenX fans are best at are being expensive pieces of dog feces......overpriced Globe rebadged fans that never are as quiet as advertised, never put out the CFM they're rated for, and tend to overheat and fail quickly....motor is just too small for sustained durability in the real world.

Read any impartial testing of a SilenX fan and you'll come away amazed afterward that anyone would pay $1 for those POS hunks of steaming dog turd plastic, never mind $20 and up. (The latest fan review on XS by Vapor comes to mind as a good, reliable source....)

 

[Hauk]

Tell us how you really feel Jessica..

 

[Hunt3rj2]

I'd go with the VF1000 if you prefer having HS/F. You will need good airflow in your case to keep the temps down too. The Arctic Cooling Acceleros are nice things, but you need ramsinks for the PWM and RAM, and also ideally some for the back-side. Zalman and Arctic Cooling are your options, and if you want silence but don't mind losing another slot, go for the Arctic Cooling Accelero. If you plan to CF the cards, I'd recommend Zalman's VF900, and VF1000, which both deliver similar performance, but I personally like the VF1000 better as I imagine that the bigger heatsink helps a lot.

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: Hunt3rj2
I'd go with the VF1000 if you prefer having HS/F.

Agreed. Much better cooler than S1 and already has fan installed. With a the VF1000 you don't need a 120mm fan for effective cooling; heat will transfer to the active cooled area quite quickly through the copper fins, as opposed to alum fins which require a larger fan for equal dissipation. Plus, it's much better quality.

I have VF900's on 4850's and recommend somthing more for 4870. The VF1000 is a solid choice. Found a review on that Gigabyte, not too impressed with the copper base and requires fan at 100% to work well. It does perform as well as an S1 though with fan at 100%.

 

[kpo6969]

If budget isn't an issue take a look at the GV1000:
http://www.performance-pcs.com...=196&products_id=23509

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: kpo6969
If budget isn't an issue take a look at the GV1000:
http://www.performance-pcs.com...=196&products_id=23509

Now that thing's a work of art. Even comes with black ramsinks. Too bads it's in the case. I'd want to admire that puppy.. :evil:

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: SteelSix
Tell us how you really feel Jessica..

Hey, at least she said it so I wouldn't have to (course, I wouldn't have been so blunt about it :laugh:...).

Yes, SilenX fans are way overrated. They're infamous among those in the know for shilling about their fans on enthusiast forums like SCPR (planting their marketing people to post good feedback about the fans). So unless a review is from an impartial, trusted source, it's going to be taken with a grain of salt.

 

[dds14u]

Originally posted by: ther00kie16
Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Rev2
Only downside is that it takes up 2 slots without fan (still probably better than stock if you have any airflow in your case) and 3 slots if you zip tie on a 92mm/120mm fan.
AC Accelero + 120mm fan = best air cooling for GPU (so far).

Good info, I'm definitely looking at that solution.

 

[digThisXL]

I just got a 4870 and it runs HOT. 80c idle.

I bought and installed a Zalman GV1000. It cools nicely - 45c idle with fan at full speed which is loud. 50c idle with fan at slowest speed but the fan noise is still annoyingly noticeable - louder that the stock cooler with the 65% higher fan speed fix posted here.

Conclusion: avoid the GV1000.

Now I'm trying to decide between the Accelero and the HR-03-GT. Also going to need a 120mm fan for either of these.

The gxfchilla is another option, but some customer reviews are so-so. Link

 

[Dopekitten]

The best 120mm fan for VGA cooling is this one:

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/de12tfexhisp.html

You don't even need a heatsink!

 

[Elcs]

Are there any aftermarket slot-like coolers that exhaust out of the back?

My case is already heating up with this "low noise" convention so it needs all the help it can get.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: Elcs
Are there any aftermarket slot-like coolers that exhaust out of the back?

My case is already heating up with this "low noise" convention so it needs all the help it can get.

Amen to that! I sometimes miss my 7800GT with the NV Silencer on it. I couldn't hear it at all if I was at the desktop or playing games.

I'm looking to buy a 4870 at the Egg when they come back in stock. (ASUS version) My question to you all is: Is the stock HSF safe to use? I would think so since they probably designed it to run quiet when idle and loud when gaming...

I am still personally kicking the idea around of actually changing the HSF or not when I get mine. I've heard the Accelero S1 does not come with RAM heatsinks, so you have to buy your own. What do you guys do in that case? Additionally, when you zip-tie your 92mm or 120mm fans onto the Accelero S1, should there be any concern for melting the zip-ties since they're on the heatsink?

The ZALMAN VF1000 seems to be the best all-in-one solution with ramsinks, copper heatsink, and the Zalman reputation. Although it doesn't direct the heat out of the case like the stock 4870 HSF, it does keep the GPU much cooler.

When all is said and done, if you're not going to overclock the graphics card, should I be concerned with running the card with the high temps? Afterall, I'm assuming it's safe to operate in that temperature range since ATi/AMD probably designed the cooler, too. Has anyone tried installing the stock HSF after applying some Arctic Silver 5 on the GPU instead of (what I presume) is thermal paste or sticky pad?

~Travis

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: Dopekitten
The best 120mm fan for VGA cooling is this one:

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/de12tfexhisp.html

You don't even need a heatsink!

I think an HD 4870 will literally fly with that thing.

Originally posted by: Kharohz
Ok, I use a CM690 Case with two fans (Front/Back, I do not use the side panel fan). I do not plan overclocking the 4870, would a Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Rev2 work for me with no issues? (Without adding a fan)

Thanks

I have a CM 690 as well. The stock heatsink is quiet and doesn't heat up the case temp. I stuck my hands to the space around the card and it didn't feel warm, which means the video card is being responsible for the heat it generates. Try the profile mod for fan speed first, I'd suggest. Go up by 1% (like 24%, 25%, 26%, etc.) and see how loud and hot it gets. I keep mine at 28% and it's not whisper quiet but alright. Anything faster made me uncomfortable. At 28%, my card (oc'ed to 790/990) idles @54~56C and loads @84~88C.

I looked for after-market coolers for my 4870, but there wasn't really anything to choose. Remember that HD 4870's TDP is 180W. I don't think those Zalman-type of small heatsinks will cut it. Thermalright HR-03 would be more than enough but it won't fit in my configuration. (Just how many slots does it take with a fan? 4? 5?)

I've never seen that Gigabyte cooler before. It reminds me of 7900 GTX cooler which I liked very much. It's deactivated @the Egg, does anyone know who else carries it?

 

[digThisXL]

After the bad luck with the Zalman GV1000 (an upgraded VF1000 with nickel plating), I installed a HR-03-GT with a Noctua 120mm fan. It works beautifully on this card. Idle temps are now 41c.

I highly recommend this setup. I got the parts from sidewinder computers -- they shipped fast and were the best price.

BTW the 4870 is an amazing card for the $$.

 

[digThisXL]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
I'm looking to buy a 4870 at the Egg when they come back in stock. (ASUS version) My question to you all is: Is the stock HSF safe to use? I would think so since they probably designed it to run quiet when idle and loud when gaming...

The ZALMAN VF1000 seems to be the best all-in-one solution with ramsinks, copper heatsink, and the Zalman reputation. Although it doesn't direct the heat out of the case like the stock 4870 HSF, it does keep the GPU much cooler.

It's hard to say it's not safe with the stock HSF because that is how AMD ships them, after all. However I did not like the idea of my card idling at around 80c.

Avoid the Zalman. It was very disappointing, especially after how many excellent products Zalman has created in the past.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Take the 4870 use the profile function and run the fan in the 30% area and be DONE with it. Spending money on a new cooler IMHO is just pisssing cash away since the card runs WELL into safe temps with just a fan increase.