Just got an Asus 8800GT with non-ref cooler....

[Excelsior]

I kept waiting to see if the prices would drop any further but with my Q6700 system still using integrated graphics I couldn't wait any longer.

So I thought about getting a card from NCIX but I decided to go with ZZF. I found they had the Asus 8800GT for $259 and Fed Ex 2-day shipping is only ~$9. I realized this card had a different cooler on it and what I read about it was mainly positive. Yeah it takes up some more space (and blocks at least one of the PCI express slots) but it is very quiet. I am very pleased with it.

Now the price has dropped to $249. It comes bundled with CoH as well.

Here is a pic of it.

 

[Cheex]

I love your signature man!!!

Anyway. I'm glad you now finally have a card to play with.

Let us know how the overclocking goes with that cooler.

 

[Excelsior]

Anyway. I'm glad you now finally have a card to play with.

Me too. The 9-series stuff doesn't sound like it'll be too impressive so I figured now was the time.

I hadn't thought about overclocking it, but maybe I'll give it a go.

 

[Corporate Thug]

that looks like on serious cooler. what kind of temps are you getting?

 

[Excelsior]

As soon as I install the SW to check the temps, I'll let you know.

Edit: Asus SmartDoctor is indicating an idle temp of 37C. Is there another program out there I can use to monitor the temp or is this one accurate?

 

[Corporate Thug]

ATi tool

 

[angry hampster]

I use Rivatuner and prefer it to ATI Tool -- I actually couldn't get the latter to work with my GT. Let us know what your load temps are like. That's a really nice looking HSF.

 

[Excelsior]

I couldn't get it to read in Rivatuner. Just showed up as 0. Even after I uninstalled SmartDoctor.

 

[Cheex]

What are the load temps with SmartDoctor?

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Cheex
What are the load temps with SmartDoctor?

I'll have to check again. I forgot what it indicated just after I quit crysis.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Did you try ATiTool or Speedfan? I don't trust first-party temp monitoring software...

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
Did you try ATiTool or Speedfan? I don't trust first-party temp monitoring software...

I tried ATiTool. I didn't try Speedfan.

And the first party tool might be the only one I can use...

I thought I had read it was fairly accurate. I'll give speedfan a go.

 

[Slick5150]

This card (with that cooler) isn't even listed on Asus' site anywhere. I'd be curious to know the results too as far as temps and overclocking ability.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
This card (with that cooler) isn't even listed on Asus' site anywhere. I'd be curious to know the results too as far as temps and overclocking ability.

It is, but its harder to find. They have two different version shown here for the 8800GT 512MB...

http://www.asus.com/products.a...model=1918&modelmenu=1

I think the difference is in the model number. The one with the new cooler has /A on the end: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M/A

The reference cooler model number is just: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M. I think the story is that they realized the reference cooler wasn't very good so they just put on this one (which they've used on other cards before) and didn't make a big deal about it. I'd say the primary downside is that it takes up more space.

Thats all I can gather so far. And The latest beta of Speedfan wouldn't even start up. Could someone maybe give the latest Smartdoc a try with their 8800GT and compare its readings to another program instead? http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/AS...ga/app/SmartDoc508.zip

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Slick5150
This card (with that cooler) isn't even listed on Asus' site anywhere. I'd be curious to know the results too as far as temps and overclocking ability.

It is, but its harder to find. They have two different version shown here for the 8800GT 512MB...

http://www.asus.com/products.a...model=1918&modelmenu=1

I think the difference is in the model number. The one with the new cooler has /A on the end: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M/A

The reference cooler model number is just: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M. I think the story is that they realized the reference cooler wasn't very good so they just put on this one (which they've used on other cards before) and didn't make a big deal about it. I'd say the primary downside is that it takes up more space.

Thats all I can gather so far. And The latest beta of Speedfan wouldn't even start up. Could someone maybe give the latest Smartdoc a try with their 8800GT and compare its readings to another program instead? http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/AS...ga/app/SmartDoc508.zip

And naked memory. No ramsinks. Memory is once again, ignored. But nice core cooler.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Slick5150
This card (with that cooler) isn't even listed on Asus' site anywhere. I'd be curious to know the results too as far as temps and overclocking ability.

It is, but its harder to find. They have two different version shown here for the 8800GT 512MB...

http://www.asus.com/products.a...model=1918&modelmenu=1

I think the difference is in the model number. The one with the new cooler has /A on the end: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M/A

The reference cooler model number is just: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M. I think the story is that they realized the reference cooler wasn't very good so they just put on this one (which they've used on other cards before) and didn't make a big deal about it. I'd say the primary downside is that it takes up more space.

Thats all I can gather so far. And The latest beta of Speedfan wouldn't even start up. Could someone maybe give the latest Smartdoc a try with their 8800GT and compare its readings to another program instead? http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/AS...ga/app/SmartDoc508.zip

And naked memory. No ramsinks. Memory is once again, ignored. But nice core cooler.

True, but would it not be much easier and cheaper to throw on some ramsinks rather than replace the core cooler?

 

[Keysplayr]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Slick5150
This card (with that cooler) isn't even listed on Asus' site anywhere. I'd be curious to know the results too as far as temps and overclocking ability.

It is, but its harder to find. They have two different version shown here for the 8800GT 512MB...

http://www.asus.com/products.a...model=1918&modelmenu=1

I think the difference is in the model number. The one with the new cooler has /A on the end: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M/A

The reference cooler model number is just: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M. I think the story is that they realized the reference cooler wasn't very good so they just put on this one (which they've used on other cards before) and didn't make a big deal about it. I'd say the primary downside is that it takes up more space.

Thats all I can gather so far. And The latest beta of Speedfan wouldn't even start up. Could someone maybe give the latest Smartdoc a try with their 8800GT and compare its readings to another program instead? http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/AS...ga/app/SmartDoc508.zip

And naked memory. No ramsinks. Memory is once again, ignored. But nice core cooler.

True, but would it not be much easier and cheaper to throw on some ramsinks rather than replace the core cooler?

Absolutely it would. Do you have enough clearance under that HS for ramsinks?

 

[dotcommie]

How loud is the card at idle and during use? (what is your definition of quiet) This seems like a good card from a decent vendor at a good price (w/o shipping).

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: dotcommie
How loud is the card at idle and during use? (what is your definition of quiet) This seems like a good card from a decent vendor at a good price (w/o shipping).

My def of quiet?

I have an Antec solo case. The stock 120mm fan is on the lowest setting, I am using an Antec 430W earthwatts PSU, and the stock intel HSF. The additional noise of the card was discernible but doesn't necessarily stick out with the side panel off. With the panel on, its really hard to notice.

Of course this new rig is far quieter than the my older one, but this card should be quiet enough for most people. That definitely pushed me towards getting this card since I had read from other folks who had this cooler that the card was quiet.

And I agree.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: Slick5150
This card (with that cooler) isn't even listed on Asus' site anywhere. I'd be curious to know the results too as far as temps and overclocking ability.

It is, but its harder to find. They have two different version shown here for the 8800GT 512MB...

http://www.asus.com/products.a...model=1918&modelmenu=1

I think the difference is in the model number. The one with the new cooler has /A on the end: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M/A

The reference cooler model number is just: EN8800GT/G/HTDP/512M. I think the story is that they realized the reference cooler wasn't very good so they just put on this one (which they've used on other cards before) and didn't make a big deal about it. I'd say the primary downside is that it takes up more space.

Thats all I can gather so far. And The latest beta of Speedfan wouldn't even start up. Could someone maybe give the latest Smartdoc a try with their 8800GT and compare its readings to another program instead? http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/AS...ga/app/SmartDoc508.zip

And naked memory. No ramsinks. Memory is once again, ignored. But nice core cooler.

True, but would it not be much easier and cheaper to throw on some ramsinks rather than replace the core cooler?

Absolutely it would. Do you have enough clearance under that HS for ramsinks?

Just checked the clearance. There is maybe 5-6mm of vertical clearance above the ram.

 

[Slick5150]

I was reading people on the Asus forums complaining that nothing was able to read the temps on this card, nor could you adjust the fan (maybe not a big deal if the fan is quiet at 100% anyways), but it is a bit strange that you can't get any temp readings on it.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
I was reading people on the Asus forums complaining that nothing was able to read the temps on this card, nor could you adjust the fan (maybe not a big deal if the fan is quiet at 100% anyways), but it is a bit strange that you can't get any temp readings on it.

Yeah, I've read the same thing. They're right. The stock setup would be quiet enough for most people. The silent PC guys might find it too loud, but they take quiet computing to another level.

Looks like the Asus program is the only way to read the temps on it.

I just checked the ramsink situation. There isn't enough clearance for 8mm tall heatsinks. Maybe 5mm tall would fit though.

 

[ja1484]

I doubt you need RAMsinks - the cooler is obviously designed to flush air right over the memory.

The only reason I put RAMsinks on my 8800GT is because I could. If I wasn't able to and the core cooling solution was capable, I probably wouldn't rock the boat. It's not like this thing is memory bandwidth shy...

 

[Cookie Monster]

Plus GDDR3 doesnt get that hot.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: ja1484

I doubt you need RAMsinks - the cooler is obviously designed to flush air right over the memory.

Plus GDDR3 doesnt get that hot.

Good to know.