Please suggest cooling for 9600 Pro

[bbendingr]

Hey guys, the fan on my Sapphire Atlantis 9600 Pro is driving me nuts. It will alternate between sounding normal and emitting a higher pitched whine (like the fan speeding up?). It seems to switch between the two every ten seconds or so. I'm looking to replace it with something quieter, maybe a Vantec Iceberq4 or Thermaltake Blue Orb. Does anyone with this card have any experience with these two fans? I'm primarily concerned about fit. Also, how do I remove the original fan? It looks like it's held on with two plastic anchors that go through the card.

Thanks.

 

[Corporate Thug]

iceberq 4 (vantec)

 

[lazybum131]

Since your card has the pin holes, I'd get the Zalman heatpipe if you really want a quieter cooling solution.

The Iceberq4 and Blue Orb both use small fans that are gonna be whiny (and by the looks of them they'd really only be better at cooling then stock HSF if the fans spun quicker)

 

[Pete]

Be aware that swapping HSFs will void your warranty. That said, this looks like the best aftermarket cooler available (direct link to product at SVC, though it's OoS), if it fits the 9600 series. It's quiet, it cools your whole case, and (IIRC) it's not too expensive. Don't forget to order a phase-change pad (TIM) as well if you don't want to try removing the shim.

I'd try asking the store you bought the card from to fix your fan first, though (either by mailing you a new one if you can change it yourself, or by RMAing the whole card). If you bought it online, the store you bought it from should be responsible for a one-year warranty for retail cards, and possibly 30 days for OEMs (depends on the store).

Edit: I'm referring to the Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer, if you don't want to follow those links.

 

[boyRacer]

I have my 9600P clocked at 500... and that thing doesn't even get hot... i don't think you're going to need all those oversized heatsinks... the vantec should be enough...

 

[Rogodin2]

Get a cardcooler.

Here's the link:

cardcooler

rogo

 

[bbendingr]

Originally posted by: Pete
I'd try asking the store you bought the card from to fix your fan first, though (either by mailing you a new one if you can change it yourself, or by RMAing the whole card). If you bought it online, the store you bought it from should be responsible for a one-year warranty for retail cards, and possibly 30 days for OEMs (depends on the store).

I bought it from newegg a couple of months ago, but I can't seem to find any warranty information (it's OEM). In any event, I'd rather spend a few bucks and not have to deal with RMAing stuff. The problem is rather intermittant- it just started while I was typing this out, and my computer has been on for 35 minutes. Other times, it won't start until the system has been on a couple of hours. I suspect that maybe the heatsink isn't making good contact. I'll remove it and check, but I don't really know where to start with that. Anyone know how to remove it? It's held on with two plastic anchors that go through the board.

That Arctic Cooling VGA silencer looks great. I'll do a little more research on it; I think it might be overkill for my purposes. Come to think of it, the stock HSF is just fine, it's the damn inconsistency of noise that's the problem.

 

[Blastman]

This might work.

Remove the fan off the heatsink, on the bottom of the fan where the 2 wires go in there is a round piece of paper/plastic stuck on there (if it's like my 7500fan). Peel it off and hopefully you can see the bearing in there, put a drop of oil in then reassemble.

 

[bbendingr]

Update: I managed to quiet the oem fan for a while by removing and reseating it. There was way too much thermal grease on that thing. However, now it sounds like the fan bearing is starting to go.

Originally posted by: PeteDon't forget to order a phase-change pad (TIM) as well if you don't want to try removing the shim.

Could someone point me in the direction as to where I might get one of these?

 

[tacom8]

same here,
My Sapphire R9600 pro fan seems to be dying a slow death as well (crapy HSFs??)... too bad, Has anyone had any real experience with those artic cooling vga silencers? I know its overkill for a 9600 but its cheep ish and would look crazy on my card.. alternatly, are those iceberqs any quiet or am i just goona get another screamer in a couple months?