Serious problems with AC Nvidia Rev 3

[Kaeishiwaza]

This is a repost of a post I made in technical support. Never seem to get good feedback there, but always in here. So I'll try it again 🙂

Long story short, I'm slowly overclocking my system to see what I can get out of it. I've got the processor stable and I was going to start working on the GPU and RAM. I have a 7800 GTX by MSI. I bought a AC Rev 3 for it to drop the temperatures for OCing. I installed it tonight and after booting back up, I started getting blue screens while running SuperPi. Then random crashes and terrible slow downs. I took the AC Rev 3 out and replaced it with the stock cooler and the system is back to normal.

Two issues I had during installation: I tried installing it about 2 weeks ago before I realized I didn't have a screwdriver small enough to remove the stock heatsink. I put it aside as I wasn't in a big hurry to get it on. However, I uncovered the thermal paste on the cooler and that was exposed for about 2 weeks. I don't know if that could be an issue.

Also, the backside RAM heatsink. The thermal pads that were included were not sticky at all and the passive sink would not stick to the pads. AC provided no screws for attaching the sink that way. The screws from my old heatsink wouldn't work because they screw into the old heatsink face which was replaced.

I'd like to give it another go, but I was pretty upset by my computer puking like it did. Someone just posted a thread on how the AC killed their graphics card through ESD. When the cooler arived it had pre-applied thermal paste and alot of it. Much more than I used on my CPU that's for sure. But all the reviews I read said that the preapplied past was fine so I didn't replace it. Certainly now I'll need to replace it. For GPUs is the practice to coat the entire chip, corner to corner?

Any ideas or feedback on how I could install this safely now would be welcome.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

Originally posted by: Kaeishiwaza
This is a repost of a post I made in technical support. Never seem to get good feedback there, but always in here. So I'll try it again 🙂

Long story short, I'm slowly overclocking my system to see what I can get out of it. I've got the processor stable and I was going to start working on the GPU and RAM. I have a 7800 GTX by MSI. I bought a AC Rev 3 for it to drop the temperatures for OCing. I installed it tonight and after booting back up, I started getting blue screens while running SuperPi. Then random crashes and terrible slow downs. I took the AC Rev 3 out and replaced it with the stock cooler and the system is back to normal.

Two issues I had during installation: I tried installing it about 2 weeks ago before I realized I didn't have a screwdriver small enough to remove the stock heatsink. I put it aside as I wasn't in a big hurry to get it on. However, I uncovered the thermal paste on the cooler and that was exposed for about 2 weeks. I don't know if that could be an issue.

Also, the backside RAM heatsink. The thermal pads that were included were not sticky at all and the passive sink would not stick to the pads. AC provided no screws for attaching the sink that way. The screws from my old heatsink wouldn't work because they screw into the old heatsink face which was replaced.

I'd like to give it another go, but I was pretty upset by my computer puking like it did. Someone just posted a thread on how the AC killed their graphics card through ESD. When the cooler arived it had pre-applied thermal paste and alot of it. Much more than I used on my CPU that's for sure. But all the reviews I read said that the preapplied past was fine so I didn't replace it. Certainly now I'll need to replace it. For GPUs is the practice to coat the entire chip, corner to corner?

Any ideas or feedback on how I could install this safely now would be welcome.

Yeah I wouldn't use the supplied thermal compound. Clean it off and apply a thin layer of AS5 . . . the best way to do it is to put a small amount in the center of the GPU and then spread around the entire surface (I usually clean a used credit card with isopropyl alcohol and then use that to spread the AS5), creating as thin a layer as possible. It is not necessary to cover 100% of the GPU surface but try to do it as close as possible . . . you just want to ensure good contact . . .

I would also make sure there's nothing wrong with your NV Silencer 5 Rev. 3. Is the fan spinning correctly? Perhaps the unit is defective? It's also a possibility that the fan connector is defective . . .

 

[zagood]

However, I uncovered the thermal paste on the cooler and that was exposed for about 2 weeks. I don't know if that could be an issue.

That's the problem. Clean it off and re-apply some new thermal grease and you should be fine.

Don't know about the "backside" issues.

-z

 

[Operandi]

AC Silencers seem to prone to problems. I recommend you check out the Zalman VF-700.

 

[Kaeishiwaza]

In terms of reapplying AS5 to the heatsink. When I used AS5 on my CPU, I did the 'rice grain in the middle' technique. That covers the center of the CPU, but not the edges so much. Is it the same way for the GPU? Or should I make sure that the entire GPU has the grease applied.

 

[JRich]

Originally posted by: Operandi
AC Silencers seem to prone to problems. I recommend you check out the Zalman VF-700.

I'll 2nd that motion.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: JRich

Originally posted by: Operandi
AC Silencers seem to prone to problems. I recommend you check out the Zalman VF-700.

I'll 2nd that motion.

I don't recommend that at all, it doesn't have self sustained wiring (NV5 plugs into video card, not routing through your case) , it doesn't exhaust the air out of your case, and it doesn't cool the memory. Not to mention they cost around the same. Re-install the NV5 with some new thermal grease and away you go. Don't be scared to snug down the screws to the right tension, if they are too loose, it won't make proper contact.

I had an NV5 on my 6800GT, it was a wicked GPU cooler... I plan on getting one for my 7800GT.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: CraigRT

Originally posted by: JRich

Originally posted by: Operandi
AC Silencers seem to prone to problems. I recommend you check out the Zalman VF-700.

I'll 2nd that motion.

I don't recommend that at all, it doesn't have self sustained wiring (NV5 plugs into video card, not routing through your case) , it doesn't exhaust the air out of your case, and it doesn't cool the memory. Not to mention they cost around the same. Re-install the NV5 with some new thermal grease and away you go. Don't be scared to snug down the screws to the right tension, if they are too loose, it won't make proper contact.

I had an NV5 on my 6800GT, it was a wicked GPU cooler... I plan on getting one for my 7800GT.

The VF-700 dose cool the RAM, with it?s 8 included RAM sinks. The ACs don't move enough air for the exhaust to be of any real benefit. The lack of being able to plug directly into the card is a bit of a down fall; you can only choose from 12v or 5v stock. If you're handy with a soldering iron you could easily wire the VF-700 to run off the cards fan header.

 

[klocwerk]

I had problems with a AC Silencer on my 9800pro.
I reinstalled it a few times, used AS5 every time, and performance was always noticably worse than the stock cooler.
The Zalman does come with RamSinks, and the fan will blow on the ram as well as the GPU.

I'm debating what to buy to toss on my 6800GS. My bad experience with the AC Silencer has me leaning towards the Zalman, but I e-mailed EVGA (6800gs manufacturer) and their tech guy told me that he'd definitely suggest the AC Silencer as the cooling of choice.
I still can't decide.

 

[Kaeishiwaza]

Does anyone have any information on the new Thermalright V-1 Ultra? It's supposed to fit the 7800 GTX

 

[imported_ST]

Originally posted by: Kaeishiwaza
This is a repost of a post I made in technical support. Never seem to get good feedback there, but always in here. So I'll try it again 🙂

Long story short, I'm slowly overclocking my system to see what I can get out of it. I've got the processor stable and I was going to start working on the GPU and RAM. I have a 7800 GTX by MSI. I bought a AC Rev 3 for it to drop the temperatures for OCing. I installed it tonight and after booting back up, I started getting blue screens while running SuperPi. Then random crashes and terrible slow downs. I took the AC Rev 3 out and replaced it with the stock cooler and the system is back to normal.

Two issues I had during installation: I tried installing it about 2 weeks ago before I realized I didn't have a screwdriver small enough to remove the stock heatsink. I put it aside as I wasn't in a big hurry to get it on. However, I uncovered the thermal paste on the cooler and that was exposed for about 2 weeks. I don't know if that could be an issue.

Also, the backside RAM heatsink. The thermal pads that were included were not sticky at all and the passive sink would not stick to the pads. AC provided no screws for attaching the sink that way. The screws from my old heatsink wouldn't work because they screw into the old heatsink face which was replaced.

I'd like to give it another go, but I was pretty upset by my computer puking like it did. Someone just posted a thread on how the AC killed their graphics card through ESD. When the cooler arived it had pre-applied thermal paste and alot of it. Much more than I used on my CPU that's for sure. But all the reviews I read said that the preapplied past was fine so I didn't replace it. Certainly now I'll need to replace it. For GPUs is the practice to coat the entire chip, corner to corner?

Any ideas or feedback on how I could install this safely now would be welcome.

Do a search on Rev. 3 silencer...plenty of people have addressed this already. In summary, there are known defects with the wires (backwards) and also the backplating. Return them to your store or AC direclty for exchange...

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: CraigRT

Originally posted by: JRich

Originally posted by: Operandi
AC Silencers seem to prone to problems. I recommend you check out the Zalman VF-700.

I'll 2nd that motion.

I don't recommend that at all, it doesn't have self sustained wiring (NV5 plugs into video card, not routing through your case) , it doesn't exhaust the air out of your case, and it doesn't cool the memory. Not to mention they cost around the same. Re-install the NV5 with some new thermal grease and away you go. Don't be scared to snug down the screws to the right tension, if they are too loose, it won't make proper contact.

I had an NV5 on my 6800GT, it was a wicked GPU cooler... I plan on getting one for my 7800GT.

The VF-700 dose cool the RAM, with it?s 8 included RAM sinks. The ACs don't move enough air for the exhaust to be of any real benefit. The lack of being able to plug directly into the card is a bit of a down fall; you can only choose from 12v or 5v stock. If you're handy with a soldering iron you could easily wire the VF-700 to run off the cards fan header.

That's all fine and dandy, but the NV5 is all bundled into one.. I dunno, I really prefer the ease of install and the whole idae behind the NV5. But that's just me.