Help me pick my cooler! (8800gt)

cboath

Senior member
Nov 19, 2007
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Ok, I have an 8800GT and want to replace the stock cooler with something more powerful and quieter.

After reading through the hardocp article I narrowed my choices to the following:

Zalman VF900
Thermaltake DuOrb

The Zalman seems to be a bit quieter (quiet isn't my biggest requirement) and has fan control, but needs additional ramsinks (if you're going to OC, which i'm going to try, but i'm not looking to set any records. Maybe get it up to 700?)

The DuOrb seems to cool a tad better, but has no fan control (uses a molex connector), and is a tad louder than the Zalman

I know there are a lot of accelero proponents, but once you add a fan on top of it, I don't have that type of room. I can take over one extra slot, not two.

Is there a wrong choice between the two? Or will I be fine either way?
 

imported_Scoop

Senior member
Dec 10, 2007
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Well you could consider the fact that the Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 performs better even without a fan than the VF900.
 

cboath

Senior member
Nov 19, 2007
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I haven't seen any write ups on the accelero on a 8800GT. Are there any?

As for the HR-03, i saw it in the review, but wanted one of the other two. I know there are all kinds of opinions, that's why I was looking for feedback on those two. The HR was too rich for my blood at 55-60+. Looking in the 30-40 range at most. The VF900 is had at 32, the Duorb at 37.
 

desertjedi

Junior Member
Dec 11, 2007
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I haven't seen any write ups on the accelero on a 8800GT.
I think the key here is that it's an awesome cooler and it fits the 8800GT.

consider the fact that the Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 performs better even without a fan than the VF900.
Nuf said - given the fact that the VF900 is an excellent cooler. As soon as I heard this, I snagged one for my future HD3870/8800GT purchase but I just bought an 8800GTS 512 so it's probably going to sit on the shelf for now.
 

ja1484

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2007
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VF900 is definitely the better choice. The cooling difference between the two is negligible. You can essentially consider them the same on cooling proficiency.

So, the VF900 being less expensive, quieter, and offering fan control are all gravy on the biscuit. It's also smaller, which seems to be a concern for you. I went with mine for that very reason: A long GPU cooler would interfere with my passive SB cooling.

I also have to attest to the fact that Thermaltake has questionable build quality on some of their items (Although the DuOrb seems to be just fine), and you won't find anyone out there saying Zalman equipment is inconsistent.

Edit: To answer your second question, you'd be fine with either of these coolers. It just depends on how the little things affect you.

 

desertjedi

Junior Member
Dec 11, 2007
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Yeah, I guess I left out that one small piece of information - the Accelero S1 is giant - larger than a paperback. The VF900 is my favorite vga cooler of all time and yeah, Zalman is amazing.
 

ja1484

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2007
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Originally posted by: Scoop
See here:

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article793-page4.html

I'd rather take the word of SPCR over any site.

EDIT: damn now you made me edit as well


I don't know how they screwed up the VF900 install that badly. I don't know what they did, but mine never crests 60C with a full burn on anything you care to throw at it. My 8800GT used to hit 108C with the stock cooler and bugged BIOS.

Normally I love SPCR, but they screwed something up MAJOR with that swap.


Edit: I see now that review was on the X1950XTX. Things don't appear to be quite the same with 8800GT. Apparently, on the G92, the ability to dissipate heat away from the core quickly matters more than most else.

i.e. - heatpipes. If you look through all the reviews, there's a very clear trend of coolers with heatpipes getting the job done, and coolers without them failing miserably.
 

desertjedi

Junior Member
Dec 11, 2007
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Wow - great find! I'll probably use this link when I install my S1.

I wonder if the VREGs on the 8800GTS 512 are the same as those on the 8800GT?

WOW! Look at the temps that guy got when he attached a fan to the S1! Which is what most people do I assume since it's so easy.
 

cboath

Senior member
Nov 19, 2007
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Yeah, excellent link. That guy did a hell of job. Even makes me think of getting one to be honest with you.
 

shabby

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,782
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I've had one and had the same results, load temps dropped in half. Best cooler for the money.
 

7earitup

Senior member
Sep 22, 2004
391
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76
Any places have the S1 in stock as well as the turbo fans for it? I just bought a EVGA 8800GT 512MB SSC and would like to keep it as cool as possible.
 

angry hampster

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2007
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www.lexaphoto.com
The Zalman is silent with the fan at 100%. It only takes up one PCI slot on top of the card. The S1+ fan takes up 3. I've been nothing but completely impressed by my VF900 since I got it earlier this month.
 

Jhatfie

Senior member
Jan 20, 2004
749
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If you can wait until stock is replenished, the Accelero S1 is awesome and cheap. Hook up a single 120mm fan to it if you want additional cooling and it rocks. My 8800GT at 720/2100 idles at 35C with it and fully loads at about 45C.
 

EarthwormJim

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2003
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Originally posted by: cboath
Ok, I have an 8800GT and want to replace the stock cooler with something more powerful and quieter.

After reading through the hardocp article I narrowed my choices to the following:

Zalman VF900
Thermaltake DuOrb

The Zalman seems to be a bit quieter (quiet isn't my biggest requirement) and has fan control, but needs additional ramsinks (if you're going to OC, which i'm going to try, but i'm not looking to set any records. Maybe get it up to 700?)

The DuOrb seems to cool a tad better, but has no fan control (uses a molex connector), and is a tad louder than the Zalman

I know there are a lot of accelero proponents, but once you add a fan on top of it, I don't have that type of room. I can take over one extra slot, not two.

Is there a wrong choice between the two? Or will I be fine either way?

Go with the Arctic Cooling Accelero, i haven't finished setting up my new computer yet. However I did look at idle temps on my 8800gt with the accelero and it was idling at 31C.
 

cboath

Senior member
Nov 19, 2007
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76
If it takes 2 or 3 slots, I can't do it. Too many cards. But, you can trust that in 12 months, when i update to a quad core penryn and ddr3 (if the prices reach normality) that i'll definitely be going for the accelerro. As it was, i went with the zalman, so come next weekend, looks like i'll be performing surgery on the 8800gt :)

Thanks for all the input.