Problems installing VF700Cu on my 7800GT

[slimjim870]

I received my new vf700 heatsink today and the first time I tried installing it, temps on ATi Tool were over 80 degrees before i stopped it. I have tried reseating the heatsink about 3 times, tightening the backplate and nipples, but nothing seems to help. I never had these problems before even with SLi. Right now it is on the kitchen table and I am very frustrated since I have followed the instructions exactly. The unit appears to be making good contact with the core, but I'm out of ideas on how to fix it even if it is not. Any ideas?

 

[ub3rnewb]

I assume the fan is spinning at a decent RPM and everything?
Did you use any Artic Silver or similar thermal compund?

 

[slimjim870]

Yes, I have the fan spinning on the quieter 5V mode and I checked to make sure it was spinning when I got it into the case. I put a little BB sized amount of AS5 on the core.

 

[moonboy403]

make sure you spread it evenly!

and make sure it's tightened enough

 

[slimjim870]

I might try and redo it again in the morning and I will try spreading it rather than using the little dot idea. The more times I redo it though, the more AS5 gets permanently stuck on the heatsink. For now, I have the card with the vf700 on the bottom PCIE slot and now the temps seem inline with the original heatsink but much quieter. Something must still be wrong though because people are getting much better temps than I am getting.

 

[fliguy84]

well your case air flow must be good enough for the zalman to perform at its best. try clearing up the area beneath the card (leave some gap between your video card and any adjacent card).

also, AS5 can be easily cleaned with a clean cloth and some rubbing alcohol. try doing that on the AS5 that stucks to the heatsink

 

[Munky]

Originally posted by: slimjim870
Yes, I have the fan spinning on the quieter 5V mode and I checked to make sure it was spinning when I got it into the case. I put a little BB sized amount of AS5 on the core.

There's your problem - the fan is spinning slow, and for a fast card like the 7800gt it's not enough to dissipate the heat effectively. You should put the fan on the high setting @ 12v. Dont worry about the noise because the fan is not loud even on high speed but it will cool much better than at low speed.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: munky

Originally posted by: slimjim870
Yes, I have the fan spinning on the quieter 5V mode and I checked to make sure it was spinning when I got it into the case. I put a little BB sized amount of AS5 on the core.

There's your problem - the fan is spinning slow, and for a fast card like the 7800gt it's not enough to dissipate the heat effectively. You should put the fan on the high setting @ 12v. Dont worry about the noise because the fan is not loud even on high speed but it will cool much better than at low speed.

i used my Zalman Vf700 on 5v on my older 6800GT running Ultra speeds. it idled at about 50. and was silent, never got up to 80 under load though

at 12v it idle around 40-44 and never went much past 60 under load

i used AS5.....spread it evenly round the core. for AS5 instructions

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm

and follow the instructions for AS5 on an open core (ie Athlon XP) if you read it carefully you'll see in point 7 that you have to spread AS5 over the entire core

 

[slimjim870]

Thanks guys, I will try all of your suggestions.

 

[moonboy403]

r u using sli?

the primary card gets heck a hot!

mine gets up to 80 with the zalman when i oc it to 480/1140 (as primary in sli)

the bottom card has normal temp though

 

[slimjim870]

Yea I'm running 2 7800GTs. That makes me feel a lot better.

 

[moonboy403]

it's normal

i'm running a zalman on top and a silencer on the bottom (barely fits)

here's what i do to lower my max temp to 71 according to rivatuner

1) open case
2) have a 80mm (works better than 120mm) fan pulling hot air between the 2 cards
3) have a 120mm fan blowing air in between the 2 cards (meaning the 2 fans would be perpendicular to each other)