My thoughts on the GTX 480... Now with video

[Bryf50]

How much did you apply? Remember that you have direct heat pipe technology on that cooler. So it's very important to make sure the thermal paste fills the grooves between those heatpipes. If you looked at the GTX470 TIM change video, you notice they first put TIM on the heatpipes to spread the paste and then a large blob on the heat spreader.

That's one hell of a blob on the gpu. Seems overkill to me. Most of that is probably just going to spread down the sides of the gpu.

 

[bryanW1995]

The video shows how different gpu heat sinks and CPU heat sinks are. I would not want to try reapplying the tim without first watching it.

 

[lavaheadache]

So I decided to re-tim my heatsink again because The temps rose a couple degrees after the first time.

Boy I'm glad I did. There was about 25% of the IHS untouched with tim. I'm shocked because I really thought I was putting too much on the first time.

This time I put a much more substantial pea drop and rubbed a little inbetween the heatpipes on the contact surface. I hope I got better coverage this time. Anyhow temps went back down to about 83c under load. So about a 1 degree difference from my original factory tim temps. This is with zero set time and a 5 run loop of the Metro benchmark.

To tell you the truth what has changed the most is the fan profile. The fans are now spinning slower from about 65-67% down to just under 60% to mantain temp. I think the cards bios is programed to keep the card in the 83-84 temp range and just vary the fan speed to accomplish that.

This actually makes sense to me over just a flat out temp decrease.

What do you guys think?

 

[RussianSensation]

So I decided to re-tim my heatsink again because The temps rose a couple degrees after the first time.

Boy I'm glad I did. There was about 25% of the IHS untouched with tim. I'm shocked because I really thought I was putting too much on the first time.

Good that you revisited. Most people think you should put about the same on the GPU as they are used to for their CPU. In reality, you should put about 3x as much. The size of the heat spreader is much larger and then you have the empty grooves between each of the heatpipes, which thermal paste is supposed to fill to remove any air bubbles.

Too tell you the truth what has changed the most is the fan profile. The fans are now spinning slower from about 65-67% down to just under 60% to mantain temp. I think the cards bios is programed to keep the card in the 83-84 temp range and just vary the fan speed to accomplish that.

That's the main idea imo. I'd rather run my GPU at 83-84*C at a quieter fan speed than at 75*C at a much louder noise level. With lower temperatures, the BIOS is programmed to run at lower fan speeds. You can of course change this to your liking using MSI Afterburner or EVGA precision. That's why it's recommended to change TIM on Fermi cards since one of the main complaints was that they run too loud. I wouldn't worry too much about the higher temperatures of 85*C+ since you still have a 3 year warranty and those GPUs are rated to run at 105*C or something similar. Also, I bet by the time the GPU dies, it'll be slower than a $100 one in 3 years hhehe.

 

[bryanW1995]

Fan profile is the main issue for me, though my temps/noise have been so much lower than expected I might end up making a true over/underclocking chart and actually dialing in my temps/fan/etc exactly.

 

[lavaheadache]

Fan profile is the main issue for me, though my temps/noise have been so much lower than expected I might end up making a true over/underclocking chart and actually dialing in my temps/fan/etc exactly.

somebody's bored...

 

[goobernoodles]

Installed my 480 on Friday.

Coming from dual 4890's... this card is pretty friggin quiet compared to those things. I'm getting about 73c playing BF3. I'll apply some Arctic Silver tonight and report back.

 

[batmang]

375$ was a smoking deal. Dunno how much you can get for your used 580, but damn if that doesn't sound like a great upgrade.

$375 is a bit much for a new 480, especially when a 570 performs identical, runs cooler and cost a little less. However, I got two Zotac GTX 480's brand new off Amazon for $299 each and they are absolutely fantastic in SLI. Yes, they are loud, yes, they can run hot, and yes they eat some power. But...when I'm getting 120FPS on my 120hz monitor in BF3(turned off hbao and aa defered, everything else maxed), I could careless if its loud or hot or eats power.

480's are still a very capable card, as long as you don't mind some heat and noise.

 

[RussianSensation]

$375 is a bit much for a new 480, especially when a 570 performs identical, runs cooler and cost a little less. However, I got two Zotac GTX 480's brand new off Amazon for $299 each and they are absolutely fantastic in SLI.

That was for 2. The card was for sale for $200 with a $25 rebate. Since it's 1 rebate per household, I think the $375 was calculated as $199.99 x 2 - $25 MIR = $375.

 

[batmang]

Oh snap, well nevermind. GREAT deal OP!
How did he get two for $375 AR? Deal long gone already?

 

[toyota]

Oh snap, well nevermind. GREAT deal OP!
How did he get two for $375 AR? Deal long gone already?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2200351

 

[batmang]

I'm no mathematician, but how does $225 after rebate for each card equal $375 for two? Isn't that more like $450? Either or, I agree that the 480's are a very good card. Watercooled they are absolutely beast because they oc sooooo well when cooled right. I was planning to get some blocks for mine and start a second loop but after $140 a pop, I figured I'd pass.

 

[RussianSensation]

I'm no mathematician, but how does $225 after rebate for each card equal $375 for two? Isn't that more like $450? Either or, I agree that the 480's are a very good card. Watercooled they are absolutely beast because they oc sooooo well when cooled right. I was planning to get some blocks for mine and start a second loop but after $140 a pop, I figured I'd pass.

The price was originally $199.99 with a $25 MIR. Then Newegg decided to raise the price to $249.99 with the same $25 MIR. He just got in on the earlier $199 deal.

 

[batmang]

So much stuff I miss while being away from AAT... i need to start coming back here. Thats an aweeeesome deal.

 

[bryanW1995]

The funny thing is, I think that everybody who jumped on the deal at $199 didn't even know about the $25 rebate at the time. Somebody in the hot deals section linked it after the deal was dead then came back at $250.

@lavaheadache: I think that I've played all of my games to death. However, I was so worried about the heat/noise on the new card that it's actually been fun to tweak it. Time to get bf3 and skyrim apparently... Oh, and I'm a cowboys/rangers/Aggies fan, so I've declared a moratorium on ESPN for at least a week.

 

[toyota]

bryanW1995, I wonder how that gtx480 will do temp wise during your summer heat. I spent some time at Lackland Air Force Base and remember it being quite toasty there in the summer. I really liked San Antonio but it was a little too dry for me since I grew up in a much more humid area.

 

[bryanW1995]

Haha, I've spent 13 years in houston or on the coast (96-08) and just moved here a few years ago. MUCH drier here, but you get used to it.

The heat was more of an issue in my old office, I had this computer PLUS my x3350 with 2 gpus running seti 24/7 in there for 2 years. In the summer it was just stupid, typically ~ 85f. However, my downstairs is very open and I moved the main rig downt here ~ 6 mos ago. Our living room ceiling is probably 17 ft high or so with tons of windows, ditto the entryway, so 500w or so extra from this one rig isn't really even noticeable. It's usually ~ 70f in winter and 76f in summer, and both of those are easily manageable after those horrible 85f adventures...

This weekend we were just beginning our summer/fall transition, I think it was around 74f and it was extremely nice.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

My stock voltage was 1.050. I was able to lower the voltage to 1.025 and overclock the core to 774. So good so far. Still more testing needed but if the overclock and undervolt holds then I'm very happy.

 

[peonyu]

I have owned both a GTX 470 and GTX 580.Needless to say GTX 580 is a quieter card while being faster.My GTX 580 is not reference though,it's a ASUS direct cu ii.I do game with my headphones on so noise was not a deal breaker for me when i installed the GTX 470.Temperatures were OK too.But after i played Arcania Gothic 4 it constantly hit 90 s and that got me worried.I had a CM 690 case then so it probably contributed to the temperature issue.I enabled asus smart-cooling for the gtx 470.During heavy gaming other people could definitely hear the noise as i was constantly reminded by my mom
GTX 580 on the other hand reaches 56-57 degrees after playing witcher 2 while staying quieter.I have enabled smart cooling for gtx 580 too.I know its not fair to compare a reference model to a non reference one but the truth is gtx 470 was not a suitable card for everyone.I live in India and the ambient temperature during summer is around 27-28 degrees.So for people like myself gtx 580 is a boon(the price could be a bit better though).

Your card being a DC II makes your point mute. I have a Accelero on my 580 now to, and its quiet as hell. That matters 0 when discussing stock noise levels...Which the 580 is a loud ass card @ stock.

 

[lavaheadache]

Your card being a DC II makes your point mute. I have a Accelero on my 580 now to, and its quiet as hell. That matters 0 when discussing stock noise levels...Which the 580 is a loud ass card @ stock.

You mean..... Makes your point moot, not mute. Secondly, I don't know what you are talking about as far as a 580 being loud. Mine never gets above 65% fan speed. Even then it is more quiet than my system itself which is fairly quiet. You wanna hear loud cards? Fire up a 5800 Ultra or something.

Maybe you have terrible airflow and your fans crank up.

If you turning the fan up manually then yes, I can see your point. The card starts getting audible above my system itself @ 70% and definately noisy as you approach 80% and up. Other than that, this card is not noisy or even loud for that matter.

 

[lavaheadache]

all this mumbo jumbo of 480's and 580's being loud on the stock fan profile prompted me to make a little video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffp4E7Zr7cE&feature=feedu

let me know what you think

 

[peonyu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6jeGS4SjOg

Go to 3:45, thats how my 580 sounded like. Maybe Zotac messed up their fan profile but it was always like a vacuum cleaner in games. Your card seems ok, I had a 480 aswell awhile back and while it can be loud it still was not nowhere loud as my Zotac 580. So maybe its a vendor issue. I would still buy a aftermarket cooler regardless, zero noise > noise, and better temps are always good.

 

[bryanW1995]

Looks like you have a very capable assistant. My 5 and 4 yr olds aren't quite as helpful... Whoops, never mind, looks like she started trying to "help" a bit at the end...

Our gtx 480's are very similar, it seems like the newer 480's benefitted from a few more months of process refinement.

 

[lavaheadache]

yes my assistant tries to take control of whatever I'm doing. She will be 10 months old in 5 days. Just began full on walking about 24 hours ago. House is rapidly becoming baby proofed

 

[RussianSensation]

all this mumbo jumbo of 480's and 580's being loud on the stock fan profile prompted me to make a little video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffp4E7Zr7cE&feature=feedu

let me know what you think

:thumbsup: Thanks a lot for the video!

That's a very quiet reference GTX480 card. Actually it's a quiet card by any standards. My 6950 is WAY louder, it's not even close. And you had your case open too. At just 30% fan speed, my 6950 is louder than any fan I have in my case (and I have 4 case fans and a PSU fan). But in gaming the fan speed gets to 46% or so.

I think the original Fermi cards were extreme outliers and didn't really represent the latter GTX480 cards. I definitely can't see anyone complaining about how loud that GTX480 in the video was.

Also, your temperatures were still 85*C at 62% fan speed, not 92-93*C at 80-100% fan speed as most reviewers *claimed* on Fermi launch. I said from the beginning, it's very difficult to have a loud and hot Fermi. It'll either run at 85-87*C or so at medium fan speeds or at 75-77*C at much higher fan speeds.

BTW, you can even lower the idle fan speed to 32-33% in the profile. It will be even quieter.

Cute kid btw!!