"Blocked" Dual-slot 5770 cooler

[Imp]

Just picked up an XFX 5770 last night with an egg cooler, and it works fine so far (so quiet compared to my 7600gt). The only problem is that I cheaped out (takes care of my needs) and got a micro-atx board, so the slot layout is:

PCI-E x16
PCI
PCI
PCI-E x16 @ x4

My X-fi Xtrememusic is sitting in the lower PCI slot, and with the 5770 in the upper PCI-E, there is about a 2mm to 3mm clearance (1/8"-ish) between the cooler and the back of the X-fi. There's no contact, but I can't help but feel giving a fan 1/8" breathing room is bad.

Should I just monitor the temps and go from there, or take out the X-fi and use the onbaord Realtek ALC 888? I turn off all the Crystalization, CMSS-3D, sound post-processing anyways (soundcard goes to a receiver and Hi-fi system).

Thanks.

 

[deimos3428]

If it fits, you could try the 5770 in the lower x4 slot and see what sort of performance hit you take -- if any. It might not be as bad as you think:

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_5870_PCI-Express_Scaling

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you're using an optical or coax digital cable there's no reason not to use the onboard sound. Analog should be fine too if there is no RF hash mixed in to the audio.

 

[ZipSpeed]

I have a custom cooler on my 4870 (see sig) and with the fan attached, there is roughly a 5mm gap between the fan and my sound card. While it does impede the airflow, the temperatures are still acceptable. If I remember correctly, idle is about 55 C and load about 70 C.

Here's a pic:

http://www3.telus.net/zipspeed/computer03.JPG

 

[Imp]

The performance hit at x4 seems to be pretty minimal, but I can't rationalize gimping (even slightly) my graphics over the sound when there's onboard available that may be roughly the same.

Using optical or digital might be a good idea if I go with onboard; it has an optical out. Think my X-fi uses coax, but the difference shouldn't be big. The only thing I care about sound quality in is music since I near-lossless rip all my CDs, and my system is my main music device. Might even be good to go onboard. I get to get rid of the mode changing thing on the X-fi.

Wish I had 5mm space. No, I'd still be concerned, but I've only got 3mm.

 

[lopri]

Depends on where that x4 is rooted. Most likely south bridge of some sort, and it's a huge no-no for a video card. I'd get rid of the X-Fi as Dave suggets.

 

[Imp]

Ya, looks like the X-fi is going.

Just gotta go home, run Drive Sweeper in safemode, enable my Realtek and install the drivers.

Thanks for all the help and ideas.

 

[tweakboy]

Can you give us a pic of your rig so we can see. Maybe you need to cut some metal or something hmmmm...

 

[Imp]

There goes the sound card. Wow. With a $500 sound system, you can definately tell the difference...


Should also add that my idle temps dropped 4 degrees Celsius. Woops, make that 5.

 

[Phil1977]

Just get the new PCIe X-Fi.

My gigabyte has your layout and the video card goes in the 16x slot, the X-fi into the 4x slot.

I also don't think it would be been a problem anyway. These cards run very cool and I doubt you would have had any issues.

 

[Imp]

I have a custom cooler on my 4870 (see sig) and with the fan attached, there is roughly a 5mm gap between the fan and my sound card. While it does impede the airflow, the temperatures are still acceptable. If I remember correctly, idle is about 55 C and load about 70 C.

Here's a pic:

http://www3.telus.net/zipspeed/computer03.JPG

I actually took a closer look, and it's closer to 4-5mm spacing. I e-mailed XFX and if they say no problem, I might just stick it back in. The difference is very noticable.

The alternative is that I buy a $100 PCI-E X-fi/soundcard (PCI-E x1 fits in a x16?). Or, I sell my 5770 to someone I know who's looking to replace a wonky 9600gt, and buy myself a 5850 with the fan sticking past most of the card.

 

[Hyperlite]

There's really that much of a sound quality difference? I find that interesting...and somewhat hard to believe. I'm no stranger to decent sound systems, driven by all sorts of media. have you worked on the configuration for the optical out at all? bitrate, etc?

 

[DaveSimmons]

There should be no difference at all between the two using the digital outs. Even if you buy a $100 Monster optical cable with biphotonic malignment technology.

 

[nyker96]

if you can tolerate on board will be the best. these gcards sure to run hot.

 

[Schmide]

The alternative is that I buy a $100 PCI-E X-fi/soundcard (PCI-E x1 fits in a x16?). Or, I sell my 5770 to someone I know who's looking to replace a wonky 9600gt, and buy myself a 5850 with the fan sticking past most of the card.

Or you spend $18 bucks on a Flexible Ribbon PCI-E Riser Card

Edit: you can probably find them locally for a bit more or get a simple 90deg one for like 4 bucks.

 

[Phil1977]

Believe it or not, but these cards are tested for use right next to another card.

I don't think the OP is using digital out, but analogue.

And for analogue audio the X-Fi is superoir. Mostly because the onboard ones still make you hear when the "computer thinks". Everyone who heard it knows what I mean.

 

[MrK6]

I just glanced through this thread, but OP, why would you gimp your sound quality if you haven't even tested your cards temperatures? Load up GPU-Z and see what you're getting under idle and load. The 5770's run extremely cool, and I'd be willing to be that your temps are still excellent. Throw the X-Fi back into the comp, verify the temps, and get back to gaming .

 

[Imp]

It's probably paranoia more than actual issues. I just don't like the idea of having a fan with 3-4mm of breathing room; sounds like a good way to kill the fan. At Idle, there's a 4 degree Celsius temperature difference, which is practically nothing.

And yes, I am using analogue. I can tell the difference because I have a few songs on my system ripped at pretty much lossless that I've listened to at least 50 times in the past 2 weeks. After switching over, everything is flatter, and the fine details aren't as noticable.

The onboard has an optical out, but then there's the whole issue of having a $100 sound card getting boxed with no guarantee of better quality.

Also, I've noticed my Windows 7 Desktop acting really sluggish after changing to onboard. CPU usage is 0%, so it's probably a driver issue. *Cough* ATI. I'm already getting the super-sized mouse pointer like 5 minutes after boot-up. I'm using the latest Catalyst.

 

[Hyperlite]

It's probably paranoia more than actual issues. I just don't like the idea of having a fan with 3-4mm of breathing room; sounds like a good way to kill the fan. At Idle, there's a 4 degree Celsius temperature difference, which is practically nothing.

And yes, I am using analogue. I can tell the difference because I have a few songs on my system ripped at pretty much lossless that I've listened to at least 50 times in the past 2 weeks. After switching over, everything is flatter, and the fine details aren't as noticable.

The onboard has an optical out, but then there's the whole issue of having a $100 sound card getting boxed with no guarantee of better quality.

Also, I've noticed my Windows 7 Desktop acting really sluggish after changing to onboard. CPU usage is 0%, so it's probably a driver issue. *Cough* ATI. I'm already getting the super-sized mouse pointer like 5 minutes after boot-up. I'm using the latest Catalyst.

10.1 with CCC made my system completely unstable. constant BSOD's. Uninstalled both and just installed the display driver...

 

[Imp]

I stuck the damn sound card back in, and wow, I will now appreciate it a lot more.

As for the 5770, finally booted up Empire: Total War (1680x1050) and Left4Dead 2 (1920x1080) at max detail. Not a hiccup, which I've never had before.

Temps are now:
Idle: ~40 C (~30 C without soundcard)
Load: 67-70 C

Fan:
Idle: 35%
Load: 45-50%

When should I be worried?

It's winter though, so the indoor temp where the system is sitting is about 10-15C probably. It'll probably hit 25-30C on the hotter days of summer.

 

[MrK6]

If you're <95C, you're golden. AMD actually designs the cards to run at ~90C. Now overvolt and overclock the SOB and make her scream .