My Zalman experience

[Elcs]

Today, I received my Zalman VF700 Cu via a rather nice delivery man.

After dismantiling my PC (god I hate those Antec rubber feet on my case), I removed the Sapphire 128meg 256-bit 9800 Pro from my machine.

The joy of ripping apart a package and throwing its contents all over my workstation was dulled by the daunting task of removing the stock HSF unit. In reality, the push pins were very very awkward to push through even by twiddling those bottom bits. A light cleaning of the core revealed a disappointing discovery, an R350 core. An R360 wouldnt have guarunteed me any overclock but hey, Id rather have had one.

The Zalman guide was awesome. Helped me every step of the way and I only ever felt nervous when I couldnt get the screw into the hole. Im currently using the fan speed but I might try the noisier one later to see how loud it is. I need to jury rig one of my 80mm fans to sit in the front of my case because Im running without an intake fan atm, not healthy but I dont have any 120mm fans for the front slot and cant find the ones I want.

I have downloaded ATItool in preparation to overclock. I was running at 425mhz Core and 365mhz memory to keep and apparently ATI Tool is happy with that although Im skeptical until Ive tested further.

Its a little expensive but I think the multi-gpu flexibility of the unit is worthy of the extra ££'s over the Silencer range. Cooling seems more than adequate and noise-wise it doesnt sound too different to my stock HSF but 40mm fan Vs. 80mm fan, it would sound better and probably break down less often. 40mm fans go really sound bad when they go bad

Not really a review, preview, question or problem. Just saying how my first VGA DIY experiment went.

Some pictures of the finished article:

Top-down View
Pic from the bottom.

 

[uOpt]

I have VGA coolers from Zalman (VF700 and that whatsisname passive one), AC NV silencer and the Aerocool VM-101.

Zalman is just way above any of the others. I just don't understand why they wouldn't plug the VF700 into the fan connector onthe graphics cars so that its RPMs would be adjusted automatically . Anyone knows?

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: MartinCracauer
I have VGA coolers from Zalman (VF700 and that whatsisname passive one), AC NV silencer and the Aerocool VM-101.

Zalman is just way above any of the others. I just don't understand why they wouldn't plug the VF700 into the fan connector onthe graphics cars so that its RPMs would be adjusted automatically . Anyone knows?

From the quality that Zalman put out on their CPU line, I expected a 5/7/12V switch or variable dial. That and the fact that the fins kind of moved a lot were the only 2 problems I came across.

Wobbly fins werent bad but I suspect they could be damaged if dropped awkwardly or severely mishandled during installation.

 

[Romir]

Being as noisy as the stock fan is way off from my experience.

I've installed a VF700 on a 6800GT, X800 XT, and a 9800 NP. Now they run 15*c cooler, overclock better, and are effectively silent at 5 volts (black and red connecter on the molex adapter). Replacing the noisy stock coolers with something silent is priceless!

 

[Saint Nick]

my first vga diy project involved a geforce fx 5500 and a socket a heatsink. i used some arctic alumina adhesive (smells like a 2 year old on an all fruit diet) and it took up like three slots in my pc. did it cool any better? not really. did it look bad ass? yep.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: Romir
Being as noisy as the stock fan is way off from my experience.

I've installed a VF700 on a 6800GT, X800 XT, and a 9800 NP. Now they run 15*c cooler, overclock better, and are effectively silent at 5 volts (black and red connecter on the molex adapter). Replacing the noisy stock coolers with something silent is priceless!

I cant hear much difference. My PC is pretty quiet to me and I havent heard much of a difference personally.

 

[Munky]

It's a good cooler, I have one on my 9800p and I'm running 440/375 no problems, but I'm using the high speed fan setting, and it's still the quietest fan in may case. Using atitool I could go as high as 459 on the core, but rthdribl showed some serious artifacts at that speed, so I backed down to 440. Just keep this in mind when OC'ing, atitool is not the best way to test for artifacts.

 

[nitromullet]

How many slots does that thing take up? Two? How about the RAM sinks, are they permanently adhered? This tthing does look pretty nice. I used to have an NV5 Silencer on my 6800GT. I llked that because it exhausted the heat outside the case. The main drawback to that was that it trapped a lot of dust. The Zalman looks like it would be easier to keep clean.

 

[cubby1223]

From a very early review I found of the VF700, the Cu & AlCu versions didn't offer much difference in temperatures, so I opted for the AlCu version to cut down 100g.

And you certainly lucked out. The VF700 looks butt ugly on a 6600GT.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
How many slots does that thing take up? Two? How about the RAM sinks, are they permanently adhered? This tthing does look pretty nice. I used to have an NV5 Silencer on my 6800GT. I llked that because it exhausted the heat outside the case. The main drawback to that was that it trapped a lot of dust. The Zalman looks like it would be easier to keep clean.

I think the RAMsinks are permenantly stuck on but I guess if you dont have RAMsinks on as stock, you dont need to use them if you dont want to.

It blocks 1 PCI slot below it but I have a plentiful gap of 3 slots so airflow isnt restricted.

Originally posted by: cubby1223
And you certainly lucked out. The VF700 looks butt ugly on a 6600GT.

Yes that does look ugly but it is of course the Al Cu version which looks worse to start off with. And so far, no-one has mentioned the 6600GT. I think it looks awesome on my 9800Pro. If only it could perform as good as it looks.....

 

[otispunkmeyer]

that looks very far over....i think you'll need two slots and a lot of room at the side of the case also if you have a 6600

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
From a very early review I found of the VF700, the Cu & AlCu versions didn't offer much difference in temperatures, so I opted for the AlCu version to cut down 100g.

And you certainly lucked out. The VF700 looks butt ugly on a 6600GT.

that looks very far over....i think you'll need two slots and a lot of room at the side of the case also if you have a 6600

 

[uOpt]

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: MartinCracauer
I have VGA coolers from Zalman (VF700 and that whatsisname passive one), AC NV silencer and the Aerocool VM-101.

Zalman is just way above any of the others. I just don't understand why they wouldn't plug the VF700 into the fan connector onthe graphics cars so that its RPMs would be adjusted automatically . Anyone knows?

From the quality that Zalman put out on their CPU line, I expected a 5/7/12V switch or variable dial. That and the fact that the fins kind of moved a lot were the only 2 problems I came across.

My package included a that connector to put it on 5 or 12 volts. So far so good but it doesn't switch automatically with the load.

Why couldn't they just use the existing connector?

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: MartinCracauer

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: MartinCracauer
I have VGA coolers from Zalman (VF700 and that whatsisname passive one), AC NV silencer and the Aerocool VM-101.

Zalman is just way above any of the others. I just don't understand why they wouldn't plug the VF700 into the fan connector onthe graphics cars so that its RPMs would be adjusted automatically . Anyone knows?

From the quality that Zalman put out on their CPU line, I expected a 5/7/12V switch or variable dial. That and the fact that the fins kind of moved a lot were the only 2 problems I came across.

My package included a that connector to put it on 5 or 12 volts. So far so good but it doesn't switch automatically with the load.

Why couldn't they just use the existing connector?

Yeah, I have that 5V or 12V wire. Makes things messier inside my case. Perhaps this was a manufacturer compatibility issue. Some GFX cards may not be able to pump enough juice to power an 80mm fan.

 

[uOpt]

Originally posted by: nitromullet
How many slots does that thing take up? Two? How about the RAM sinks, are they permanently adhered? This tthing does look pretty nice. I used to have an NV5 Silencer on my 6800GT. I llked that because it exhausted the heat outside the case. The main drawback to that was that it trapped a lot of dust. The Zalman looks like it would be easier to keep clean.

Only the first PCI slot is taken. It is actually smaller than the arctic cooling NV silencers which reaches a little into the second PCI slot (not enough to block the slot but enough to bend a long card).

The RAM sinks are attached with thermal tape. Apart from the problem of getting new tape if you want to reattach them it goes off cleanly.

My NV silceners was a lot louder than the Zalman. The Zalman is much quieter than people imagine.

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: cubby1223
From a very early review I found of the VF700, the Cu & AlCu versions didn't offer much difference in temperatures, so I opted for the AlCu version to cut down 100g.

And you certainly lucked out. The VF700 looks butt ugly on a 6600GT.

that looks very far over....i think you'll need two slots and a lot of room at the side of the case also if you have a 6600

It looks like its installed the wrong way or should I say, its installed correctly but my VF700 could be installed at 180 degrees to the way it is installed here.

If I had installed it 180 degrees to the way it is, I guess it would have been hanging over the end.

 

[uOpt]

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: MartinCracauer

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: MartinCracauer
I have VGA coolers from Zalman (VF700 and that whatsisname passive one), AC NV silencer and the Aerocool VM-101.

Zalman is just way above any of the others. I just don't understand why they wouldn't plug the VF700 into the fan connector onthe graphics cars so that its RPMs would be adjusted automatically . Anyone knows?

From the quality that Zalman put out on their CPU line, I expected a 5/7/12V switch or variable dial. That and the fact that the fins kind of moved a lot were the only 2 problems I came across.

My package included a that connector to put it on 5 or 12 volts. So far so good but it doesn't switch automatically with the load.

Why couldn't they just use the existing connector?

Yeah, I have that 5V or 12V wire. Makes things messier inside my case. Perhaps this was a manufacturer compatibility issue. Some GFX cards may not be able to pump enough juice to power an 80mm fan.

Well, they could still use the original fan output as a relais.

I'm a little set back by this. What are people supposed to do who overclock their cards for 4 hours a week while gaming and run it idle but want it quiet for 164 hours?

 

[Concillian]

Originally posted by: MartinCracauer

I'm a little set back by this. What are people supposed to do who overclock their cards for 4 hours a week while gaming and run it idle but want it quiet for 164 hours?

Plug it into a front panel fan control seutp along with all your other fans... crank the knobs up for 4 hours, then turn them down when you're done.

Sure it costs $15 more or so, but it adds significant functionality for people who want silent machines most of the time, but the ability to crank it up when they want to.

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: Elcs

Originally posted by: otispunkmeyer

Originally posted by: cubby1223
From a very early review I found of the VF700, the Cu & AlCu versions didn't offer much difference in temperatures, so I opted for the AlCu version to cut down 100g.

And you certainly lucked out. The VF700 looks butt ugly on a 6600GT.

that looks very far over....i think you'll need two slots and a lot of room at the side of the case also if you have a 6600

It looks like its installed the wrong way or should I say, its installed correctly but my VF700 could be installed at 180 degrees to the way it is installed here.

If I had installed it 180 degrees to the way it is, I guess it would have been hanging over the end.

It looks butt ugly on a 6600gt agp because the gpu is located in a different place than most cards. Mind you, the zalman is not compatible with every card, but on cards like the 9800p it fits completely inside the card's edges, so no overhang.

 

[AnnoyedGrunt]

I just installed the AlCu on an X800XL, and this things kicks the stock HSF all over the place.

The 9800pro may be a quiet card to start with, but the X800XL is one noisy bastage (when gaming anyway).

Mine was also having stability problems @ 70C which it would consistently reach on warmer days.

My initial testing has the V700 @ 5V hitting 55-60C and being extremely quiet compared to the stock heatsink.

Overall, I am very happy with mine so far.

-Doh!

 

[Avalon]

In my experience, Zalman fans are quiet even on their fastest settings. Zalman rocks.

 

[bREwIn dOdgEr dUDe]

my install went somewhat smoothly for a first-timer, the sound is considerably less than the stock fan on the 9800p... i used the packaged thermal paste, and now have a tube of AS5 that i'll eventually switch to...

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: bREwIn dOdgEr dUDe
my install went somewhat smoothly for a first-timer, the sound is considerably less than the stock fan on the 9800p... i used the packaged thermal paste, and now have a tube of AS5 that i'll eventually switch to...

I just recently moved my PC from a Generic Case to an Antec SLK3000B and I reseated my SLK900A so I had my AS5 handy for installation of my Zalman.

Comparing the Zalman to an old 60mm Coolermaster HSF my dad used to use on his 1.1 Ghz T'Bird.... its a good laugh. The Zalman looks so much better and larger.

Despite all the nuts, bolts and technical gear, I was suprised with just how easy it was to install the unit. The hardest points are getting the screws in the holes and getting the layer of TIM right .

 

[Elcs]

Personally, I cant tell the difference between 5v and 12v from listening, looking, feeling the hs/airflow on my Zalman so its at 12v.

I do have my old Thermaltake Volcano 7+ Fan Speed Controller. A rather decent performing heatsink and a neat little controller. If I need to control the fan speed of my Zalman on the fly, I could use that.

I believe MartinCracauers point is quite valid. The Zalman VF-700 Cu or Al-Cu are some of the best, if not the best aftermarket air-cooled VGA coolers out at this moment in time. Personally, Id expect on-the-fly fan speed control as standard. Id definately buy the Zalman again if I needed to because it is a quality product, missing 1 very nice feature that might add $1 or so to the price which Id guess wouldnt affect that many peoples purchase decisions.

 

[Romir]

Originally posted by: Elcs
The Zalman VF-700 Cu or Al-Cu are some of the best, if not the best aftermarket air-cooled VGA coolers out at this moment in time..

The copper one is only 2 bucks more than the aluminum, $33 shipped 2 day at ZipZoomFly. That's a buck less than the aluminum shipped from Newegg by 3 day.

Just pointing this out if anyones in the market for these. I'm EXTREMELY pleased with the two I've bought.