Whats the best Video Card Cooler

[penceman]

I'm thinking about keeping my 9800SE for a little while longer. I can't open up all of the pipelines or OC it because it overheats and freezes. So if I get a new cooler, I was thinking I could open up all of the pipelines and OC it and be able to run it stable. I was wondering what VGA cooler you guys reccomend.
P.S. - I've been looking at the Zalmans and Thermaltakes.

 

[Matt2]

ATI Silencer is a good one too.

 

[w00t]

zalman probably cools better but the silencer gets the heat from video card outa the case.

 

[potato28]

Zalman FTW!

 

[CalamitySymphony]

you wont be able to open any pipelines, its not dependent on your cooling. Only OCing to some degree.

 

[imported_Noob]

Originally posted by: w00t
zalman probably cools better but the silencer gets the heat from video card outa the case.

I still don't understand that concept. Wouldn't your case and case fans be the only factor in that? That claim that they make sounds like a marketing ploy to me.

 

[penceman]

Originally posted by: CalamitySymphony
you wont be able to open any pipelines, its not dependent on your cooling. Only OCing to some degree.

I can open pipelines. I've done it before with this card. But it overheats when you do, so I need a better cooler.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Zalman

 

[Yreka]

Originally posted by: Noob

Originally posted by: w00t
zalman probably cools better but the silencer gets the heat from video card outa the case.

I still don't understand that concept. Wouldn't your case and case fans be the only factor in that? That claim that they make sounds like a marketing ploy to me.

No it really works. I have 2 silencers on my 7800Gts, during gaming it feels like a blast furnace coming out of the back of them. It blows the hot air right out the back of the case, where as before the airflow was going back to front and dumping heated air right on my NB. *using the stock coolers*

 

[Munky]

I'd take the zalman because it fits more cards, and you'd still be able to use it on a newer card when you upgrade. Also, IIRC the older silencers that fit the 128mb 9800p models dont cool the mem, so it wouldnt be a good choice.

 

[Elfear]

The Zalman isa good universal cooler like munky mentioned. It will cool well and fit other cards you might buy one day. The Thermalright V1 is crazy good VGA cooler IMO. My brother has one on an unlocked and oced 6800NU and he never goes over 50C under load. Problem with it is that it isn't as universal as the Zalman.

If you want relative silence than the stock Zalman is great and will cool your 9800SE better than the stock cooler. If you don't mind modding a bit and want really good temps than maybe you could take out the fan that comes with the Zalman and strap a 92mm or 120mm on it.

 

[lifeguard1999]

Link to LegionHardware Review comparing VF-700-Cu with Thermalright V-1 Ultra with NV Silencer 5.