cooling a Gainward GF3Ti450 - stock or no?

[okra]

Hey all,
Just got a Gainward Gf3 Ti450 golden sample 128 meg and can o/c it pretty nice: 234 core/494 memory. Thing is, once you hit 240/500 artifacts (white points, some flickering) show up. I KNOW some of these cards o/c like mad, so I'm wondering if I'm being hindered by the stock Gainward heatsink/fan and memory heatsink (esp the thermal interface material).
SO...
Has anyone slapped anything else on one of these and had better results? E.G. a chrome orb, better ram sinks than stock or better TIM? Anything? (except watercooling of course).
The case I use has 2x120mm fans (front in/back out) and a 90mm fan on side to blow in over Northbridge and part of CPU. CPU (1000mhz TBird w/ Sk6 and Papst 60mm) usually around 35 to 40 deg C, case usually in low 20's. Was thinking of putting another 90mm over the AGP slot to blow in right onto the GPU - But if i can save cutting another blow hole, i'd be happy!

Any suggestions for improved card cooling are appreciated!
Ideally I'd want to hit 250/550 for o/c speeds (wouldn't everyone???).
In the end tho, I wonder if it's just the chips that are the hinderance.....

 

[okra]

Bumpomatic

 

[jcmkk]

My guess is that the chips are holding you back. Are you lacking for performance or something? I don't see why you need to push it any further. I think if anything, you should concentrate on upgrading your CPU.

 

[dakata24]

im running my gf3 ti200 (or ti450 if you like) at 250/550 without any artifacts.

all housed in a antec sx1030 (4x panaflo fans, 2 intake/2 exhaust)

im getting 8820 on 3dmark2001se at 1024x768x32bit (defaults)

seems like you have good cooling.. not sure what might be the problem. i guess it wouldnt hurt to do as you were planning by smothering some AS and changing the heatsink/fan..