need an aftermarket GPU cooler

[tviceman]

Nvidia gtx260 216!!!

I was cleaning my video card and accidentally ripped the fan power cord while trying to remove the heatsink fan from the shroud cover. Now I need an aftermarket cooler, and I need suggestions because I've never looked into buying one before.

I've got an Antec 900 case with 2 front intake fans, 1 side intake fan, one rear exhaust, and the massive exhaust fan on top of the case as well. My PC is pretty standard, 1 dvd drive, 1 hard drive, and video card. I've also got a Noctua N12P Heatsink/Fan keeping my CPU nice and cool. No other peripherals inside the case aside from the PSU.

Here are my concerns/criteria:

1. While ventiliation is not an issue with my case, I'm somewhat anal/skeptical about getting an aftermarket cooler that will not exhaust the GPU heat to the outside of the case. I'm not against it, but I do like to heavily overclock my CPU and RAM and Ido not want that adversly affected. So I'd prefer a cooler that will still rear exhaust, although if enough people on here say not having a rear exhaust shouldn't affect other peripherals given my situation I will take that into consideration. I've seen some aftermarket coolers that use the side intake on a case as an exhaust, so I will consider that if it is a viable solution.

2. I want a more effecient and quieter cooler than the stock cooler that was on my card.

3. I want the cooler to be compatible with a future upgrade.

4. I'd like to stay under $60 if possible.

5. I don't think I'm ready to upgrade, so please don't recommend that.

Suggestions please and thanks for the help.

 

[jaqie]

You didn't mention what video card you have.

http://www.svc.com/vga-cooler.html

 

[tviceman]

You didn't mention what video card you have.

http://www.svc.com/vga-cooler.html

dammit I did and then erased it out on accident while proof reading. nvidia gtx260 216.

 

[jaqie]

http://www.svc.com/mk-13.html looks like the best bet for you.

 

[tviceman]

http://www.svc.com/mk-13.html looks like the best bet for you.

This review is showing significantly increased vram heat vs. a stock cooler when using that. I don't think I will go with that one.

 

[jaqie]

That's because you need to get ramsinks too, silly.

 

[Leyawiin]

I have an Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme GTX Pro on my GTX 260 (216). Works quite well (and I have used it in both an Antec 300 and an Lian Li ATX mini tower - no heat issues). Idle temps went down very little (which is fine - not important) and load dropped by about 20C. It is extremely quiet - at 80% its barely louder than the stock 40% and much quieter than the stock cooler at that speed. In retrospect I doubt I would have bought it. They're pretty pricey and I think it would have been better for me to have saved the money for a better video card later on.

http://www.svc.com/fan-gtxpro.html

 

[tviceman]

I have an Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme GTX Pro on my GTX 260 (216). Works quite well (and I have used it in both an Antec 300 and an Lian Li ATX mini tower - no heat issues). Idle temps went down very little (which is fine - not important) and load dropped by about 20C. It is extremely quiet - at 80% its barely louder than the stock 40% and much quieter than the stock cooler at that speed. In retrospect I doubt I would have bought it. They're pretty pricey and I think it would have been better for me to have saved the money for a better video card later on.

http://www.svc.com/fan-gtxpro.html

Yes I think I'm going to break down and get this one. After looking over the costs of coolers, and wanting to see how the gtx460 prices out, overclocks, and compares to a hd5850, I'm a little pissed off at myself right now for having to drop this much just to get my current card working again. I could wait and not buy a new cooler, but I think I would have a harder time selling the card without a heatsink and cooler than if I put a new one on and tried to sell it....