post Crystal/Blue Orb o/c results here (GeForce cards). Also, is the Crystal orb loud??

[jiffylube1024]

I'm curious as to how much the Crystal/Blue orb allows you to overclock a Geforce / Radeon card above stock speed (and how it compares to the stock fan). I currently have a GF3 Ti200 which maxes out at around 230-235 core speed and I'm debating whether or not I should get a crystal orb to cool it. How loud is the crystal orb? I'm one of those people who hates noisy fans and the sound of a 7000 rpm fan annoys me to hell!

Thanks a lot for any replies, I'm definately interested in seeing those o/c results!

 

[Blain]

I installed two Crystal Orbs on a V5 card I just sold. I really liked them. I lapped them down to the copper, since that's where the good heat conduction is. I also removed the fan guards to help air flow and turbulance (noise). I've got some 120mm fans running. So I didn't even notice the CO's.
As close in price as the Crystal & Blue Orbs are, spring for the Crystal.

Plus they look better than the Blue's >http://www.geocities.com/blain450/Voodoo5.JPG

 

[oldfart]

I have a CORB on my GF3. The fan is quite loud in stock form. To quiet it down, I took off the "TT" lid, and did a 7 volt mod. Running it @ 7 volts instead of 12 reduces the fan RPM, which makes it considerably more quiet while still cooling well.

 

[Egrimm]

I cannot hear the Crystal Orb on the northbridge in my main rig, but it also has 3 37db 80mm fans.

 

[oldfart]

If you had a quiet system, you would definitely hear the CORB. It's pretty loud.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Very sweet replies so far, keep 'em coming.

by oldfart:

<< I have a CORB on my GF3. The fan is quite loud in stock form. To quiet it down, I took off the "TT" lid, and did a 7 volt mod. Running it @ 7 volts instead of 12 reduces the fan RPM, which makes it considerably more quiet while still cooling well. >>



That sound exactly like what I'm interested in doing. How do I do remove the lid and do the "volt mod."

thanks

 

[oldfart]

The lid will come off easily. It is just sort of pressed on. Look HERE for info on the 7 volt mod.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Thanks for the link, the instructions are very clear.

Where do I get these "crimp connectors"?

Also, after I perform the volt mod to a 4 pin to 4 pin power supply, do I connect the 4 pin to 4 pin adapter with the small 3-pin out (that comes with the crystal orb) to the crystal orb (I dont have the crorb yet but probably picking it up today).

 

[oldfart]

That web site makes it more complex than it really is. I did the mod on the adapter cable that comes with the CORB. All you really need to do is switch the black wire (Gnd) so it goes to the red wire (+5) on the PS feed so that you have the 7 volt diff in potential.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Yeah thats true. So perform the volt mod on the adaptor that comes with the card (I actually have a couple of these around the house anyways) and then the 3-pin that comes out of the adaptor will operate at 7V. Nice! Can't wait to get my crorb. As for getting the old HSF off, I've heard its pretty easy with a GF3 Ti; I just need to unscrew or remove the pins on the HSF that go to the other side of the card.

Oldfart - thanks for all the help!

Anyone else got any Blue/Crystal orb results?

 

[minipow]

so what was the effect of using the orb? more o/c on the core? does it help realworld performance?

 

[oldfart]

For me? It was just to get rid of the noise. Card overclocks about the same as before. No change.

 

[jiffylube1024]

<< so what was the effect of using the orb? more o/c on the core? does it help realworld performance? >>



When I get mine I'm gonna attempt to get at/above 240 MHz core, which is impossible for me currently. So yeah, I"m looking to get it to increase realworld performance (as well as prolong the life or my card).

 

[Blain]

As anyone knows who's run a V5, they operate very warm. The stock HS/fans are whimpy. Even upgrading to 50mm fans instead of the stock 40's the back of the card at the GPU's was pretty warm after some gaming.
With the CO's the back of the card was noticeably cooler. I don't know actual temps, before and after. But the change was dramatic.

 

[THUGSROOK]

im running a crystal orb modded with the 21cfm fan from a golden orb. (the fans are interchangable)

runs really nice - i got an extra 5mhz core over a blue orb & its not loud at all.
27dB for the golden orb fan - stock blue/crystal orb fans are 27dB and only 12.5cfm i think.

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