Geforce 3/4 - aftermarket air cooling questions

[Slickone]

What is the noise level of the Arctic-Cooling VGA Silencer (at both speeds)? Would it perform better, or at least as good as (but quieter than), a Crystal Orb? This would be on a GF3 Ti 200.
Would the Crystal Orb be quieter than the stock fan?

Does anyone make they make something like the Arctic-Cooling VGA Silencer with DHES for a GF4 Ti 4200? Else what would be a good upgrade from the stock cooler on a PNY Verto 4200, if any (stock HSF has no problems)? Thermaltake doesn't list that the Crystal Orb will fit the GF4 Ti series, only the GF4 MX. Will it fit the 4200? Seems I read someone was using one. Would be better than or quieter than the stock fan?

Also, what's a good cooler for the GF FX? And same questions about Crystal Orb as above. Yes, I have a few PC's/video cards.

How are the fanless VGA coolers?


Also (slightly OT) would a Crystal Orb be a good Nforce2 northbridge cooler (or go for the Zalman passive HS?)?

 

[Slickone]

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[Slickone]

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[Slickone]

Bump for answers to OP.

Also, I see AC now has (or are about to) an 'NV Silencer' for the GF4 TI, but it doesn't appear to have selectable cooling like the previous ones. Why?

They don't have something like this for the GF3 TI do they? Yes, I know it's a real old card.

 

[CKTurbo128]

I know that the old VGA Silencers were compatible with GF3s... I have the VGA Silencer Rev. 3 card sitting next to me... yep, it says it's compatible with Radeon 9500-9800 and GF3 Ti video cards. I'm not so sure about the new versions though.

 

[Slickone]

You're right, they fit the GF3. The chart here shows this. It also shows the stock cooler did better than the Silencer did on low setting!? And I've read it's pretty loud on high.
Maybe that's why the new Silencer NV only has one setting, and I think it was at 2000 RPM, which is between the speeds of the Rev 3, which seems like that would put it right at the stock cooler as far as cooling, unless they improved it over the Rev 3.

Bump for answers to OP too.

 

[Slickone]

silentpcreview says about the new NV & ATI Silencers: "The fan is a bit bigger and now thermal speed controlled, and good memory cooling is also incorporated. They should be better than the original VGA Silencer.".

 

[Creig]

I have about 3 Crystal Orbs running duty as GPU coolers. They're nice, inexpensive and better performing than most of the stock solutions that the cards originally came with. They DO make a bit of noise, though. I doubt they're the quietest aftermarket cooler out there. If noise is a major consideration when choosing a replacement, I'd look elsewhere.

 

[TripperJoe]

I have a ti200 with a rev2 artic cooler. On the low fan setting I can't hear it above my 5-7v panaflos (damn quiet). On the high setting it's about as loud as a 12v panaflo (not loud). I hope that helps. And it cools it sufficiently, but I don't overclock.

 

[Slickone]

That (A.C. Silencer) doesn't seem very loud. I though reviews said it was (on high). So the Crystal Orb is probably louder?

I noticed the new Silencers (ATI/NV) are thermally controlled instead.

 

[Slickone]

Would an NV Silencer 1 be quieter and better performing than the stock HSF on a GF4 TI 4600?

Would a Crystal Orb modded to 5V or 7V be quieter and better performing than the stock HSF on a GF4 TI 4600?

 

[Slickone]

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