Just installed a Nv Silencer 5 on my GT

[jpthomas]

After becoming fed up with the noise and lousy cooling of the stock cooler that came with my XFX 6800gt, I decided to purchase an Arctic Cooling vga silencer 5. My system is as follows:

A64 3200+
ASUS K8n-e Deluxe
Antec Sonata
XFX 6800gt

Installation was pretty easy, and I've never installed anything like this before. I simply removed the screws from both the fan and the back side of the card and the stock fan and heatsink came right off. After scraping off the leftover thermal gunk from the core and the memory, I applied arctic silver 5 to the core and the thermal paste from the silencer package to the memory.

Make sure to plug the fan connecter to the card before mounting the silencer to the card. I was very concerned about breaking the screws by overtightening (after reading several reviews online) so at first I was very careful and didn't tighten the screws enough. Big Mistake!! After booting up and checking the temps I see that the core temp is at 103!!! I quickly powered down and tightened the screws several more turns. The instructions are very vague, as they just say to tighten until the rubber washer "compresses slightly."

With the stock cooler I was getting an idle core temp of 59 and ambient temp of 43. Under full load, the core temp went up to 83 and ambient up to 56! Now, with the silencer properly installed, my idle temps are 51 on the core and 38 ambient. Under full load, these temps rise to 69 and 46.

Needless to say I am very happy with the results, as the silencer has reduced my core temps, ambient temps, and noise level by quite a bit. I haven't tried oc'ing yet, I'm gonna give the as5 a few days before trying to push it.

These temps are probably still a little higher than where they should be, but I think an intake fan for my Sonata (which also blows air right over the video card) will help with that.

Overall I think this is a great replacement for the shoddy stock cooling on some of the gt's.

 

[ronnn]

Nice, the quiet must be a relief? Good job. :beer:

 

[Jeff7181]

Can't wait to see OCing results.

 

[druthelen]

Oh my... the GTs are "that" loud?

I was thinking getting a new box; in which I would put a 6800 GT in a Sonata case (+AMD64)

I found that the 6800GT Microstar wasn't using the stock cooler and is quieter (30dB) than most of the GTs. Anybody's got a "hand's on" experience with MSI + a "quiet case"

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: druthelen
Oh my... the GTs are "that" loud?

I was thinking getting a new box; in which I would put a 6800 GT in a Sonata case (+AMD64)

I found that the 6800GT Microstar wasn't using the stock cooler and is quieter (30dB) than most of the GTs. Anybody's got a "hand's on" experience with MSI + a "quiet case"

No, they're not THAT loud. But people who build near silent PC's are really anal about noises coming from the computer.

 

[druthelen]

TextNo, they're not THAT loud. But people who build near silent PC's are really anal about noises coming from the computer.

Hehe, I know someone like that.

But if a 6800GT (even a Microstar one) is making too much noise; i'll get another case than a Sonata!

(Whats the use of having silent fans if you lose all the benefits by you weaker component. (Well, I'm not saying the GT's are weak... performance-wise ) )

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: druthelen

TextNo, they're not THAT loud. But people who build near silent PC's are really anal about noises coming from the computer.

Hehe, I know someone like that.

But if a 6800GT (even a Microstar one) is making too much noise; i'll get another case than a Sonata!

(Whats the use of having silent fans if you lose all the benefits by you weaker component. (Well, I'm not saying the GT's are weak... performance-wise ) )

I'd go a step further and say, what's the point in putting an extremely high end video card in a computer you want nearly silent? High end stuff creates heat... heat is dissipated into the air... fans move air. The more heat you create, the more air you need to move.

 

[druthelen]

I agree. I dont really care if the computer is making some noise, and if it's a bit quieter than the one I got now.
(slot-A K7@600 w/ stock fan + asus geforce256 w/ stock fan ... 5 years with a constant a jet engine hum... and haven't got the computing power to justify it (well... 5 years ago, it was kick-@ss hardware ) )

I dont really want silent, I want "acceptable". ...but I live far from good computer shops and can only make my opinion based on reviews and decibel ratings

My main point is:
-If a Sonata case + a 6800 GT is quieter than a normal case + GT. I would be content with that

 

[JBT]

I have a PNY I plan on getting a NV5 once they can be had for 30 shipped. I have no idea how long that will take but hopfully sonner than later. The reasons I want it. Well obviously for its better cooling and to quiet my GT down. My computer is just about silent, even though GT is quiet at idle one I I play a game after words the card still stays pretty loud for awhile. At idle he GT is pretty quite about the same dB as a regular case fan. Its not bad for a regular system but obviously if you are going for silence a regular case fan just ain't going to cut it.

I have heard the NV5's screws are changing so they don't break anymore. Hopfully the newer ones will come down the line soon so that isn't a problem for people investing in such an expensive accessory.

 

[Tenchi4U]

I got mine for $36 shipped from Sidewinder Computers last week. I know pctoys.com has them for $24.95 (unsure of shipping price); they're reputable, I've ordered cables and fans from them before and got them pretty fast.

http://store.pctoys.com/840556035411.html

Anyways, on my PNY 6800GT w/ NV 5 (and AS5) running at 440/1100 it idles at around 54C and maxes out at around 72 (after an hour of Doom3 set on Highest at 1280/1024 4XAA/2XAF). I'm expecting a temp drop once the AS5 "cures", I just need to run it hot for a few hours.

It is a wonderful upgrade if you don't mind voiding the warranty and if you do it right (don't be afraid to tighten those nuts on the back).

Just checked pctoys.com...oversold (no big surprise there). oh well, atleast I have mine.

 

[IvanAndreevich]

Tenchi4U
Nice price for that NVSilencer right there.

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I'd go a step further and say, what's the point in putting an extremely high end video card in a computer you want nearly silent? High end stuff creates heat... heat is dissipated into the air... fans move air. The more heat you create, the more air you need to move.

Nope the really high end stuff is fast and quiet. Loud and fast is strictly plebian.

:beer:

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: ronnn

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I'd go a step further and say, what's the point in putting an extremely high end video card in a computer you want nearly silent? High end stuff creates heat... heat is dissipated into the air... fans move air. The more heat you create, the more air you need to move.

Nope the really high end stuff is fast and quiet. Loud and fast is strictly plebian.

:beer:

You can theorize all you want... the reality of it is high end components create a lot of heat and need to be cooled. When you're using air to cool and fans to move the air you WILL have noise.

Show me a heatsink/fan that cools better, and is more quiet than ALL the competition.

 

[jpthomas]

Oh my... the GTs are "that" loud?

I think ymmv depending on the brand of card you get. I don't expect a silent pc with these components, but I do want it to be somewhat quiet. The noise coming from the stock cooler just bothered me a bit and the silencer has fixed that problem.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: jpthomas

Oh my... the GTs are "that" loud?

I think ymmv depending on the brand of card you get. I don't expect a silent pc with these components, but I do want it to be somewhat quiet. The noise coming from the stock cooler just bothered me a bit and the silencer has fixed that problem.

Overclocking results? Come on now... don't leave us hanging =)

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: ronnn

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I'd go a step further and say, what's the point in putting an extremely high end video card in a computer you want nearly silent? High end stuff creates heat... heat is dissipated into the air... fans move air. The more heat you create, the more air you need to move.

Nope the really high end stuff is fast and quiet. Loud and fast is strictly plebian.

:beer:

You can theorize all you want... the reality of it is high end components create a lot of heat and need to be cooled. When you're using air to cool and fans to move the air you WILL have noise.

Show me a heatsink/fan that cools better, and is more quiet than ALL the competition.

the nv5 silencer is quieter and cools better than the ref GT cooler.

it only cools slightly better than the ref ultra silencer (which cools well), and again is quieter.

personally, while not anal i don't particularly like noise either, which is why my "high end stuff" is water cooled, which makes the moderately loud nv coolers even louder...

 

[jpthomas]

Overclocking results? Come on now... don't leave us hanging =)

Well I'm at work right now, so I'll try some oc'ing later tonight and post the results.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: CaiNaM

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: ronnn

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I'd go a step further and say, what's the point in putting an extremely high end video card in a computer you want nearly silent? High end stuff creates heat... heat is dissipated into the air... fans move air. The more heat you create, the more air you need to move.

Nope the really high end stuff is fast and quiet. Loud and fast is strictly plebian.

:beer:

You can theorize all you want... the reality of it is high end components create a lot of heat and need to be cooled. When you're using air to cool and fans to move the air you WILL have noise.

Show me a heatsink/fan that cools better, and is more quiet than ALL the competition.

the nv5 silencer is quieter and cools better than the ref GT cooler.

it only cools slightly better than the ref ultra silencer (which cools well), and again is quieter.

personally, while not anal i don't particularly like noise either, which is why my "high end stuff" is water cooled, which makes the moderately loud nv coolers even louder...

Modify a NV5 silencer with a fan that flows more cfm and the NV5 silencer will no longer be the best.

 

[Hauk]

I'm installing one on my BFG 6800GT OC, new version (dual fan/blue PCB) tonight. One thing struck me with the stock cooling solution. There is no raised surface area that comes in contact with the memory, as found on the NV5 silencer. BFG has relied on a thick (thicker than any I've seen) thermal pad to transmit heat to the cooler.

Check out the NV5 to see it's thicker surface area which comes in contact with the memory:

Backside NV5 Silencer

I really like the design of the NV5. It's worth $30.00 for a $400.00+ graphics card...

 

[Childs]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Show me a heatsink/fan that cools better, and is more quiet than ALL the competition.

Don't you think thats a silly question to ask in a NV5 Silencer thread?

Zalman also makes quiet cooling solutions. Cooling beyond a certain point in this area is meaningless, so I'm not sure what you mean by cools better than ALL the competition. There are obvious things you can do to get the balance you need between maximum cooling and low noise. Heatsinks with larger sufrace areas, bigger, angled fin fans running at low RPMS, vents, dampening mounts, etc. Air cooling doesnt have to be loud, and it doesnt mean poor cooling.

 

[CaiNaM]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: CaiNaM

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: ronnn

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I'd go a step further and say, what's the point in putting an extremely high end video card in a computer you want nearly silent? High end stuff creates heat... heat is dissipated into the air... fans move air. The more heat you create, the more air you need to move.

Nope the really high end stuff is fast and quiet. Loud and fast is strictly plebian.

:beer:

You can theorize all you want... the reality of it is high end components create a lot of heat and need to be cooled. When you're using air to cool and fans to move the air you WILL have noise.

Show me a heatsink/fan that cools better, and is more quiet than ALL the competition.

the nv5 silencer is quieter and cools better than the ref GT cooler.

it only cools slightly better than the ref ultra silencer (which cools well), and again is quieter.

personally, while not anal i don't particularly like noise either, which is why my "high end stuff" is water cooled, which makes the moderately loud nv coolers even louder...

Modify a NV5 silencer with a fan that flows more cfm and the NV5 silencer will no longer be the best.

irrelevant. no idea what logic would require you to add a different fan to the nv silencer; it doesnt need a different fan, it's already much more efficient than the ref GT cooler, while at worst still as efficient as the ultra cooler, yet still quieter.

using your logic, why don't we also put a "louder" fan on the ref setup & compare? :roll:

 

[jpthomas]

Initial overclocking results: I've got the core at 400 and the memory at 1100 right now, and the system is 100% stable. Overclocking this far had a minimal impact on temps, under a full load I see the core temp only going up by 1 degree. I'm sure I can go higher, but I think I'm gonna keep it at these settings for a few days just to make sure that there aren't any problems.

Running Doom 3 timedemo at 1600x1200, high settings, 2xAA I was getting 49fps at stock speeds and am now getting 56fps with the card overclocked.

 

[Jeff7181]

irrelevant. no idea what logic would require you to add a different fan to the nv silencer; it doesnt need a different fan, it's already much more efficient than the ref GT cooler, while at worst still as efficient as the ultra cooler, yet still quieter.

using your logic, why don't we also put a "louder" fan on the ref setup & compare?

Not at all... my logic is that cooling can be improved by spinning a fan faster... so no matter how quiet and efficient you get it, it can be MORE efficient.

 

[KevinH]

Your point is correct Jeff...however, I think other's have already pointed out that cooling up to a point is all that's needed. I can stick my overclocked XP chip in a freezer and it's not going to get higher than what it's getting right now with my Panaflo L1A +HS combo. Bottom line...yes, you want ultra cooling if you're squeezing out the very last drop out of your overclocks. Short of that...uh, not necessary AT ALL.

OP - Glad the NV Silencer works for you! Looks like I know what to buy with my video card when I make the purchase.

 

[Keysplayr]

I don't get it. I can barely hear my GT fan and my temps never go above 72C at full load. Reference cooler on my PNY 6800GT. So why spend another 40 bucks and void your warranty on top of this just to get it 8C cooler? I can see in CaiNaM's case, it was necessary because his temps were @ 100C. I actually would have just RMA'd the card myself.

So not sure why I would get this NV5 silencer for me personally.