Passive Heatsink on Radeon 8500?

[edro]

I have an old Radeon 8500LE (250/275) and the Fan is grinding loud and is probably about to die. It at the least needs replaced because it is moving slower than normal (the bushings are prolly worn out).

Anyways... since it is in an old server, I was thinking about getting a Passive Heatsink for it. What do you recommend? What will fit on it?

Will this work ok?

I don't really have much experience with passive stuff (with how well they work). I will prolly just mount a small fan on the current HS, after I remove the stock fan (it's one of those fans that are built inside the HS).

 

[KGB1]

Sorry dude, it probably wont. The 8500 runs pretty hot over time. I'd recommend you get this. The one you mentioned is for smaller/older video cards that don't need that much cooling already. You don't have to be a elite computer hardware guy to install it either. Took me 20 minutes to install it on 2 different cards

/also check other places, there is a newer model out, and cheaper too Good luck.

 

[Strk]

I would say that the 8500LE should be able to run with just a heatsink as long as the case is well ventilated. A 9000/9200 both run with just a heatsink(not always, but a lot ship with just a heatsink), which aren't much different than the 8500.(one texture unit per pipeline instead of 2 on the 9000/9200) In 2d mode I don't see the 8500LE running much warmer than the 9200 does.

 

[VIAN]

For the Radeon 8500 just get a regular VGA fan BFG or Thermaltake, it should work. That zalman is overkill.

 

[Boogak]

Way overkill, an regular 8500 would probably need a massive heatsink but an 8500LE can get by with a smaller one. I replaced the stock heatsink/fan on my 8500LE with just this heatsink almost a year ago and it's been fine (attached it with Artic Silver thermal epoxy). An even cheaper alternative is just to disconnect the stock fan and run it with just the stock heatsink, someone else did just that a few months ago and didn't have any problems.

 

[Mike99Pgh]

Overkill for an 8500, yes, but you're not going to have that card forever and when you upgrade you can just install the Zalman on the new card. If you're going to spend any money at all then invest in the Zalman. Alternatively, you could just try disconnecting the stock fan like the other guy said and see how the stock heatsink does.