COOLING AN ATI X1800XL

[DAKNIGHTUK]

Hi,

I'm looking to try and cool an ATI X1800XL with a different cooler to the one supplied (the one supplied is very noisy) and at the same time select a motherboard which will have enough space for a cooler.

I've looked at the card and it has a sticker with the following on it

X1800XL DUAL LINK DVI VIVO 256MB GDDR3 256BIT
The card is a PCI express one

I'm thinking of the Acelero cooler but i've heard that it blows hot air onto the motherboard and that can't be good?

I've seen another cooler which takes 2 pci slots and just cools the GPU but again that can't be good as the original heatsink also cools the memory on the card any ideas?

Someone said Zalman do a cooler but it only appears to be for the GPU so has anyone any experience of this cooler and how did you cool the memory (did you need to?)

I don't want to go down the line of watercooling..

Im considering the ASUS Asus A8R-MVP Crossfire as the mainboard and have heard mixed stories about coolers not fitting e.t.c

Has anyone already got a ATI X1800XL with a decent cooler which fits the motherboard ok? if so could you post details so I may make a decent decision on what I should go for

Thanks

David

 

[CCityInstaller]

I am running an X1800XT with an Acelero X2 cooling it. I am running an Asus A8R-MVP MB as well, and I didnt have any trouble with anything fitting in place. Keep in mind that the Stock XT cooler is 2 slots, so for me switching to the X2 actually made for more room between the two PCI-e slots. The X2 is a wonderful cooler, dead silent at 100% fan load. I run mine at 100% 24/7 and I cannot hear it over the low speed 120mm fans I have cooling my system. I am very picky about noise, and I feel its the best cooler you could ask for in that regard. I noticed a very nice decrease in temps, my XT idles around 43C, and the case isnt really any hotter then when I had the stock cooler installed.

 

[DAKNIGHTUK]

Is the X1800XT the same as the X1800XL in terms of dimensions and cooling compatiblity?

 

[tallman45]

Go with the Accelero X2, some AS5 and pick up some BGA heatsinks for the Mosfets and you will be cooler and much much quieter than stock

 

[tallman45]

Go with the Accelero X2, some AS5 and pick up some BGA heatsinks for the Mosfets and you will be cooler and much much quieter than stock

 

[DAKNIGHTUK]

I'm assuming when you refer to Mosfets you mean the video memory on the card as this was the only thing I could find BGA heatsinks to fit?

 

[tallman45]

Sorry I am not sure what they are called, but on my x1900xt there is a red heatsink about 4 inches long, near the back of the card, just in front of those is a set of 8 "mosfets" which get really hot.

On the stock heatsink they are just at the entrance of the air intake. I put on some copper BGA heatsinks A1978 TT to help cool them down. The Accelero has an exhaust port that blows air right onto these

I am also thinking of getting this to help exhaust the hot air from the Acceleo out of the case.

Super Cyclone

 

[tallman45]

Looks like thex1800xl layout X1800XL has 5 of these. Look at the bottom right of the set of 4 pictures in this review

 

[DAKNIGHTUK]

I think its the black oblong chips, in that case should be easy to get a heatsink for them

 

[DAKNIGHTUK]

Is there any difference between the XL and XT models in terms of shape/size/mountings for fans?

 

[Zenoth]

Get a Zalman VF700-ALCu, and thank me later.

 

[CCityInstaller]

Originally posted by: DAKNIGHTUKI think its the black oblong chips, in that case should be easy to get a heatsink for them

Yes, the five black chips in a vertical row next to the red heatsink are what he was referring to.

Originally posted by: DAKNIGHTUK
Is there any difference between the XL and XT models in terms of shape/size/mountings for fans?

No there is no difference between the X1800XL, X1800XT, or the X1900 series. They can all use the same cooler with no worries. Go ahead and order the X2, you will love it.

Josh