Installing Crystal Orb on VT GF3ti200

[Jman13]

Hi. I'm thinking about getting a Crystal Orb and putting it on my GF3ti200, since the fan on the retail HSF is dying on me. I know the pin holes will line up on this card, but I have a few questions:

1) Anybody killed thier card doing this install?

2) How hard is it to remove the stock HSF on it, without causing damage to the board or the chip.

3) Will the push pins hold it tight enough to the GPU, so I don't need to worry about pressure?

4) I know I'll lose a PCI slot, (I'll still have 3 free), but will the weight of this thing bend my card to the point of damage (or at all)?

Thanks.

 

[Theslowone]

I haven't heard of anyone killing their cards from doing this. The process is quite simple. Take the pins out. IF it is also glued on put it in the freezer for 15-20 mins and pry it off with something solid but something that will not scratch the card, or use some canned air. Then use some acetone, goof off or something to get the glue off. Then rub it with alchol. Both surfaces needs to be clean, no fingerprints, no hairs.


Then put some as2 or 3 on it and hook it back up.
The push pins should be fine, but if you are worried you could use artic silver epoxy or artic alumina epoxy.

The weight shouldn't be a burdon what so ever on your card, the corb and blorb are pretty light, its mainly their design that makes them so good.

 

[Tates]

<< 1) Anybody killed thier card doing this install? >>


Haven't heard of anyone screwing up a CORB install.


<< 2) How hard is it to remove the stock HSF on it, without causing damage to the board or the chip. >>


It's fairly easy. Some prefer to put their card in the freezer for 20 minutes and then pry the HS off. I simply and gingerly twisted the HS off my GF3. Cleaned off the remaining Thermal "putty" with nail polish remover.


<< 3) Will the push pins hold it tight enough to the GPU, so I don't need to worry about pressure? >>


Absolutely snug.


<< 4) I know I'll lose a PCI slot, (I'll still have 3 free), but will the weight of this thing bend my card to the point of damage (or at all)? >>


It's a bit heavier than the stock HS or the Blue Orbs, but it won't do any damage.

 

[saintrobyn]

I installed one on a VT GF3Ti500 for the exact same reason.


1) Anybody killed thier card doing this install?

Worked like a charm. Very hard to kill the card. Just be careful when removing the old Heatsink.

2) How hard is it to remove the stock HSF on it, without causing damage to the board or the chip.

Freeze the card first and then use a credit card to pry up the old heatsink.

3) Will the push pins hold it tight enough to the GPU, so I don't need to worry about pressure?

Try and save the old push pins that came with the Ti200. I found the pins that came with the Crystal orb ro be cheap and they rattled against the orb causing horrible noise.

4) I know I'll lose a PCI slot, (I'll still have 3 free), but will the weight of this thing bend my card to the point of damage (or at all)?

Mine didn't warp an inch and I saw no strain on the AGP Slot. I think I'm going to use the orb as a chipset cooler for my motherboard since I just took it off my VT last Monday and replaced the card with a VT Geforce 4 Ti 4600.

Hope this helps.

Saint Robyn

 

[Kraid2xd]

I just modded my gainward gf3 ti200 with a crystal orb a few days ago.. and I removed the heatsink using a completely different method...

I just o/c the card to it's highest stable speed with stock cooling, played serious sam 2 for like 15min, shut of comp, pulled the still warm card out, popped the pins on existing HSF, and just yanked it right off with a twist... came off rather easily too cuz the thermal compound was soft and gooey...

The freeze method, although effective, *can* crack your GPU or PCB in the proccess as cold makes everything brittle...

ALSO!!! If you do decide to freeze it, PUT IT IN AN AIR-TIGHT PLASTIC BAG BEFORE PUTTING IT FREEZER!!!! Water condensation is computer hardware unfriendly

Also, in response to the heaviness of a C. orb, have you ever held one? Once you do, you'll realize that weight is not a problem (although the size is another story)

Also, to saintrobyn:

I had the same rattling pin problem with my crystal orb, but it wasn't because the pins were cheap. The problem was that one of the pins wasn't completely pushed in.... easily fixed...

 

[Jman13]

Thanks everyone. I ordered a Crystal Orb through my local PC shop...they can get it to me for $9! (plus tax of course) Still, that's $9.72 as opposed to $19.00 through Newegg or any other online store.

 

[saintrobyn]

Kraid2xd

I figured that might be the problem, but I still prefer the spring loaded clips to the ones that came with the crystal orb. It just did not seem right to bu such a nice cooler and then use such cheap clips with it.

 

[RacerX]

I can't believe you guys are calling a crystal orb light
Mine weighs about 3 to 4 times as much (or more) than the stock VT Ti200 blue fan/sink.
Still no problems though.

Freezing or heating up both work to remove the stock sink, just don't use excessive force.

By the way, to the guy who doesn't like the freezing idea ... you must live down south ... when I get videocards in the mail here (in winter) they sometimes sit outside on my porch in much much colder temps than my freezer with no ziploc or airtightness for the entire day before I get home from work ....never had any issues.

 

[CubicZirconia]

Me too racer, up here in minnesota things sit outside in the cold for hours before I pick them up...no problems here.

 

[Kraid2xd]

You guys are right on target! I live in San Diego, CA, whichs gets temperatures beyond 100 *F during the summer