GPU cooler

[bladefd]

Hi, I have a eVGA 6800GS and wanted to buy a better HSF for it. So far, I have looked at the following:

1) AC Silencer 5 RV3. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186133
2) AC Accelero X1. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835186001
3) Zalman VF700-CU. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118117
4) Zalman vf700-ALCU. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118116

What is the best buy out of those 4? Maybe you guys can recommend me something better but I don't plan on spending more than like 30 bucks on the GPU cooling. The only thing I care about from that is good cooling. I do not care about the noise. It might be nice to have it silent but I care more about cooling than anything else. Besides, if I ever play any games, I will have my headphones on so I will not notice the sound. I will not be keeping my computer on all night so there will be no computer noise to disturb me. Also, I will not be using SLI so it doesn't matter how much room the cooling device takes up. Thanks guys.

Edit: I do plan on overclocking just so you guys know. It will not be EXTREME EXTREME overclocking though.

 

[BassBomb]

VF700, it can be used on future video cards, which is important to me it requires good case cooling to be effective

 

[soydios]

VF900-Cu is what you need for all video cards (past, present, future).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118001

 

[josh6079]

Originally posted by: soydios
VF900-Cu is what you need for all video cards (past, present, future).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118001

QFT, if you're going to be aircooling and want the best performance/compatibility options. You might find other ones that perform marginally better, but then they probably wont transfer to another card as easily in the furture.

 

[acegazda]

Zipzoomfly has the zf-900 for $39.50 shipped here just goes to show...don't be limited to only one site. <caugh>newegg<caugh> From wat I hear it's a great gpu cooler and fits everything, like has been said. One question: how many slots does it take up? (how big is it?)

 

[Navid]

Second question:
How easy/safe is it to remove the RAM sinks (without possibly damaging/breaking the chips)?

 

[RyanVM]

I haven't tried to remove the RAMsinks, but from my own experience (I've got a VF900 on my 7900GT), but given that they're only held on my thermal tape, I'm sure a little twisting would get them off easily enough (maybe after blowing a hair dryer on them to warm them up a bit).

 

[josh6079]

1) It takes up the slot next to the PCI-E slot as well (Double Slot Cooling)

2) The sticky ram sinks comeoff just like anyother ram sinks would. Twisting along with some pulling should do it, but the hair dryer wouldn't hurt.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: josh6079
2) The sticky ram sinks comeoff just like anyother ram sinks would. Twisting along with some pulling should do it, but the hair dryer wouldn't hurt.

This is why I prefer the Silencer for a $300 card (no twisting)!

 

[Munky]

I've removed and reused my share or ramsinks, and it's not hard at all. In fact, it adds to the universal nature of the zalman coolers that they dont have to align to a certain memory chip arrangement. But in order to get the most out of the zalman coolers, you not only need to have 1 extra slot available for the cooler, but also need to leave a second exta slot open so that the cooler can breathe more easily. So, in essence it's a 3-slot cooling soution. If you don't have 2 exta slots open, you'd be better off with a Silencer.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: josh6079
1) It takes up the slot next to the PCI-E slot as well (Double Slot Cooling)

2) The sticky ram sinks comeoff just like anyother ram sinks would. Twisting along with some pulling should do it, but the hair dryer wouldn't hurt.

all the coolers he asked for take up an extra slot.

Personally, I would go with the NV5 (considering that's what i'm using now...). It's not very expensive, and performs relatively well for the price and age. it also blows air directly out so you don't have to worry about bad case ventilation.

 

[Navid]

munky,

You are absolutely right; the main disadvantage of the silencer is that you will never get a perfect contact between the sink and all the memory chips. So, you will end up with having to put more paste on the memory chips to make sure that some heat is transfered from them to the sink.

That is why I am considering Zalman.
My only concern is what I have specified; I just am not sure I can remove those thermal tapes from the memory chips multiple times without damaging them.
I remove and remount the sink so many times until I am happy with it.

 

[Munky]

I've reused the same ramsinks from a 9800p to a x800gto to a x1900xt, and they held well even on the 3rd time. But I wouldnt reuse them indefinitely, because the thermal tape does have it's limits.