I need a QUIET fan for an ATI 8500LE Video Card ?

[JJordan]

I bought an Antec Sonata case to try and quiet down my wife's computer in the Kitchen and found that the BIGGEST noise I had was not the power supply, but the fan on this OEM card. Any suggestions for a replacement CHEAP -- card was only $70. Or should I try a passive heat sink (and how/where do I get one)-- she does nothing but e-mail and web surfing so not very taxing on the card at all.

 

[Blooz1]

An 8500LE will work fine with a passive sink. It's been done by many people, and Sapphire sells many models of the lower-end ATI line with passive sinks.

The only issue is the fact that it's a glue-on mod - no screws or bolts. Try the freezer trick if you don't have any luck getting the stock fan off. (plastic bag, 15-20 minutes in the freezer, carefully twist off the fan.)

 

[JJordan]

Where can I find passice heat sink cooling for a video card ? I tried google searching but am apparently not a good searcher

 

[boardsportsrule]

get teh zalman hp80-c....

 

[JJordan]

Uh, yea, right:

Quantity in Basket:none
Code: 1573ZALM
Price:$48.00

 

[boardsportsrule]

it might be expensive yeah but the silence is worth it.....plus on the forums i think that some ppl have some for sale now....seriuously its nice...oc's my 9700 pro to 350/350... not bad... ohhh u could also take a 1u cpu passive cooler and mod it to fit or thermal epoxie a old heatsink on and take off the fan...many options, just depends how much ur gonna spend...

 

[lazybum131]

forget the big heatsink from zalman, that's overkill for your card.

The northbridge heatsink they make should be good enough for he 8500. NB47 i think?

Or, for even less work (or in combination with the above if your not sure if that's enough cooling), I think you could probably buy a quiet 80mm fan (i.e. Panaflo L1A) blowing perpendicularly over the card. Take a slot cover, drill a hole at the end, then bend it. Use a screw and nut to secure the fan. Remove the existing fan of course.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Try disconnecting the fan and just use it. If you have no problems, then it's all good. You should be able to run it passively anyways... but if you feel like you need some cheap cooling, just get a Zalman FB123 to blow over the card or make your own version by taking one of the PCI slot covers and drilling some holes so that you can attach a fan to it so that it blows over the video card.

But I don't think you need a fan at all...

 

[Boogak]

I've been running my retail 8500LE for 10 months passively cooled with this 45x45 heatsink for under $7 shipped. I used the old baggy in a freezer trick and a flathead screwdriver to pop the retail heatsink off, cleaned off the goop, and used Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive to attach the new heatsink. Works great and alot cheaper than the Zalman alternative, or you might be able to just run it w/ the regular heatsink and disconnect the fan.

 

[render]

big heatsink mod

 

[JJordan]

Thank you all. I unplugged the fan last night and will see if she has any problems. With NO 3d use or games -- IE and Outlook - maybe it will just run. Thanks again.

 

[KDKPSJ]

I have Sapphire 9000 Pro. It works fine with stock HS fan plugged off, even in 3D game. I am not sure if 8500LE produces more heat or not, but I think it will be ok without fan running.

 

[JJordan]

Thanks. I have unplugged it and so far no problems