Do you cool your graphics card???

[caz67]

Hi.

How many people use a Graphics card Cooler??

Is so, what one are you using??

I just bought the Zalman ZM80C-HP.

This thing is a Beast..LOL

 

[Cerb]

Dude, get the ZM80D if you haven't installed the C already! It comes w/ RAMsinks, too.
I have the ZM80C, and it works, but my 5900XT gives it a good run even with a fan (max 92C--stock coolers generally don't get much above 75).

If I'd known the D would come out 8 days after I got my C, I'd have waited . I may still get the D if things get too hot (and with the Georgia summer, they just might get that hot). Be warned: have spare heatsink compound around, use a good screwdriver to get the plates on TIGHT, and be careful. It's a PITA to install the first time. Even with the manual, there's a learning curve.

Most people you'll find use the VGA Silencer. But like choosing Thermalright for a heatsink, I want to do the fan part, thank-you-very-much. Aerocool has a new one out, but while it probably performs well, it won't work in a desktop, where the Zalmans work in all but one case that I know of (the new Lian-Li).

 

[DerwenArtos12]

I have an artic cooling vga silencer in passive mode, aka no plastic shroud or fan on a 9600 and it works much better than stock and is perfectly silent.

 

[ChkSix]

Swiftech MCW50 VGA Waterblock here. I went water a year ago, and I don't think I'll ever go back to air cooling.

Mike

 

[McArra]

My cooler

 

[ChkSix]

LOL! Now that thing is a four slot solution!!!! HUGE!!!!!

 

[Cheetah8799]

VGA Silencer on my 9800 Pro. I'm planning on putting one on my new 9600XT as well for better cooling and quieter fan.

 

[CraigRT]

I used to cool my video-card back in the day.. but now I just use stock cooling.

 

[StrangerGuy]

I am still using the stock cooler for my 9800 Pro.

 

[DarkKnight]

stock on radeon 9800 and geforce4 stock cooler on geforce3

 

[oldfart]

Using a VGA Silencer on a 9800P for the noise reduction over stock.

 

[ZobarStyl]

Stock on Leadtek 4200; got it because their cooling solutions are always inventive and never standard fare, saves me the trouble of an aftermarket cooler. Some of their stock cooling is crazy though; their 5900 series cards were completely incased and had dual fan outputs...it looked like an engine block on a truck.

 

[Bartokomus]

Originally posted by: Cheetah8799
VGA Silencer on my 9800 Pro...

ditto

 

[NapalmDeath]

I have the Zalman HP-80A on my Radeon 9700 pro.
yup, the A version which doesnt have the mounts for the OPM1 fan.

When I really push the video card it would over-heat since I use
1000 rpm 120mm case fans. I found a fix by turning up my
Zalman CNPS-7000-cu heatsink from 1400 rpm to 2500rpm since it
sits just above the vid card.

Was going for the whole silent PC thing.
Got the silence but have to battle heat issues.
Water cooling with a giant side of the case radiator is next for me.

love the Zalman products...

 

[JBT]

I modded an old Athlon 1.4Ghz T-Bird heat sink to my 9500 Pro

 

[Brian48]

I don't bother adding extra cooling onto my video cards any more. Lost interest when I crushed the core of my 1st 9700Pro with a sloppily made Crystal Orb. I just make sure my case gets plenty of air circulation. To be honest, I've never known much of a performance increase from just o/c'ng my video cards. Besides, the video cards in my top three gaming boxes are plenty powerful enough as is.

 

[apoppin]

Still using the stock cooling on my ATI Radeon 9800Pro -256MB > Flashed to ati Radeon 9800-XT.

Gets hot (the HS) but not super-hot (the PCB); i will get a cooler when i decide to o/c further . . . only running the OVerDrive thermal/variable O/C ~ core's 412+Mhz . . . the measurement from the thermal diode shows 70-74C . . . .

 

[Soulkeeper]

i would love to set up a brand new 6800 with water cooling and a pelt and benchmark the sucker overclocked before the japanese do
but i'm too broke
haha

btw i had my gf4 ti4200 cooled by a self-modified retail 1800+ athlon hsf
it seemed to give me a good 4 to 5 more mhz when compared to the already "decked out", but small, copper heatsink. I couldn't tell you the temp change tho...

 

[caz67]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I have just bought a Leadtek 600Ultra. I read about the new cooling design and fans. Does a card of this level even need one. Will the Zalman even support the new gen cards??

I will obviously be voiding my warranty right??

 

[ShawnD1]

Instead of buying a juggernaut of a video cooling system for the sake of overclocking, why not just buy a faster video card?

I use stock cooling on a 9600XT. Memory is at 390 instead of 337, an increase of 15.7%. Core is at 560 instead of 493, an increase of 13.6%.

 

[zodder]

VGA Silencer on my 9800 Pro

 

[furie27]

Arctic Silencer on my 9800 pro with an R360 core it's a nice mod to the XT. Another is on the way for my 9600xt, which I've been able to hit 600 core with the stock cooling, so looking forward to what this can do.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: ShawnD1
Instead of buying a juggernaut of a video cooling system for the sake of overclocking, why not just buy a faster video card?

Presumably, better cooling for your current card is cheaper than a new card, and if it gives you more overclocking headroom...

Also, even top-end cards often come with inadequate (or overly noisy) cooling.

I have a Sapphire "Ultimate" 9800Pro, which uses the Zalman ZM-80CHP. I added the optional Zalman fan that mounts on it, and it runs much cooler with it (even with the fan at its low-speed setting, which is basically inaudible inside my case).

 

[Nebor]

Wow, I didn't realize the ZM80D-HP was already released, we've been waiting for months now!

Too bad I'm set on the Reserator, or I'd order one.

 

[Cerb]

Originally posted by: caz67
Thanks for the replies everyone.

I have just bought a Leadtek 600Ultra. I read about the new cooling design and fans. Does a card of this level even need one. Will the Zalman even support the new gen cards??

I will obviously be voiding my warranty right??

I take it you mean a 6800?
No, no, and no. The ZM80D might suffice for a plain 6800, but the ZM80C barely manages cooling my 5900XT, with a fan at that. Too many watts for something designed to do passive cooling.
I say wait at least until the ZM80D gets a few reviews. With a fan and some RAMsinks, the new Aerocool one might do a good job.
I have no doubt the 6800 Ultra can pull 150w all by its lonesome.