Talk to me about Radeon R9 290X cooling, aftermarket

[Bateluer]

So, I bought an XFX branded 290X last week and finally got to log some real gaming hours with it. I did a lot of playing around with target GPU temps and fan speeds, and eventually settled on about 65% fan speed as untolerable, with 60% being annoying in some games. I've set the target GPU temp to 82C, and it routinely kicks the fan speed up to 55%+ while gaming. Its distracting when the fan will slow down, such as during pre-rendered cutscenes or mission briefings, or the like, only to ramp back up during the gameplay. Breaks immersion.

For the cooler months, I keep my thermostat at 72F, though right now it still gets up to 76-78F in my house. It'll be down to 72F max in another week or so though. But, during the summer, I am not going to be paying the electric bill to keep the AC at 72F. 😛 In the summer, its 84 or 86F. I don't think the 290X is going to like that.

I have until about May 2014 before this becomes an issue, I think, but I'm going to replace the stock cooler before then for sure.

I briefly looked at watercooling, but thats more money than I want to spend. So I'm looking at either full air coolers or closed loop LCS units.

Few of the models I've been looking at.
Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme III
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186068
I think THG actually install the Extreme III on their 290X review unit for some testing and should be publishing a guide on it before too long, so I know it does work on the card.

ARCTIC Accelero Hybrid Extreme closed loop LCS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186067

Gelid cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835426031


Thoughts?

 

[Theguynextdoor]

Best of luck to you, I am ordering my R290X on friday. I am interested on which option you choose and how it works out for you.

Either way I haven't built a new computer in 6 years time to retire the old Q6600. And I've never had a Flagship anything much less a video card.

Soooo...I broke down and bought a water cooling. Specifically for the R290x. Frozencpu has is having a sale this weekend so snapped up on that oppurtunity. 9% off $500 and free shipping over $75. Hard to beat that...