Zalman VF700-Alcu's fan speed ...

[Zenoth]

I just finished installing my brand new Zalman VF700-Alcu.

Everything went without a single problem. All steps were properly followed.

But there must be something wrong somewhere ...

First of all, please, take note that the fan speed was modified for the stock cooling. I use ATi Tool for that. But now, the IDLE temp is about 5ºC HIGHER, with the Zalman, than with the default cooling.

I still haven't verified for Load temps ... but just knowing that the IDLE temp is higher worries me. I don't want to fry it in 3DMark06.

I am pretty sure though, that the actual reason for that is because the Zalman's current fan speed must be low by default. The default cooling's IDLE temp was about the same without custom fan speeds in ATi Tool.

So, is there a way to control the speed of the Zalman AF700-Alcu fan ?

Because right now ATi Tool does not detect (or more exactly "can't control") the speed, since the 3-Pin power connector is NOT plugged in the GPU's slot (as requested by the user manual). I had to plug it in some sort of converter thingy with a bunch of wires, which in turn must be plugged in a 4-Pin connector (like those used to power-up Hard-Disks).

So, yeah, all was installed, it works great ... but I can't seem to be able to control the fan speeds.

EDIT: Oh and, the 3-Pin connector is plugged into the black slot (12V, Normal operation).

 

[Operandi]

Of course you can't, it's just running off the PSUs power.

Having said that however it is possible to hook the VF-700/900 to the graphic card's fan header by performing a small mod to either the fan connector on the VF-700 or the header on the card itself.

Method one involves removing connector from the stock HS/F and the connector on the VF-700 and simply switching them; you'll need a soldering iron to do this the right way. The second way is to remove the plastic housing for the fan connector on the graphics card exposing the pins, there should be two. Then simply slide the VF-700's 3 pin connector over the power and ground, the tach wire won't have a pin to connect to but that?s fine.

 

[zagood]

The fans are not designed to run slowly out of the box. If you're running it on the black connector that came with it, that's full speed unless there's something wrong with the fan.

Honestly, I think the vf700-AlCu might be a little weak for that card. The X1800 XL is a monster in the heat department.

The only way you'll really know is to compare load temps between stock and the vf700. You may try taking it apart and re-appying thermal grease, you may not have applied it correctly the first time.

-z

 

[Zenoth]

Thanks for your help and suggestions guys.

But I was just thinking about something ...

On the base of the HS itself (the very surface making contact with the GPU's Core), there was something on it, some sort of round thin plastic-looking layer, and it was visibly scratched a little. I did not remove that "thing". Did I have to ? If so then I'll do it now and see it if makes any difference.

Here's a picture of what I'm talking about: http://img273.imageshack.us/img273/538/vf7006gf.jpg

If I had to remove it (it wasn't mentioned to do so in the user manual, so I did not), then my bad.

Because I don't think that even the IDLE temp should be 5ºC HIGHER ... with the Zalman.

ALL the reviews I saw about it reduced the IDLE temps on all the cards tested by at least 5ºC up to 10ºC in some cases (like the GeForce 6 series for example). There is no reasons, no technical reasons for the 5ºC INCREASE over the Stock cooling's IDLE temps according to those reviews.

And as far as applying thermal grease goes, I have done it the right way. No extra amount of grease getting outside the surface of the Core. I applied a very small amount, a very thin surface.

There is no lousy screws, everything is tight, well installed. I even removed some nasty dried dust surfaces with a can of compressed air resulting from the default cooling solution.

And you guys tell me that since it is plugged on the 12V line then it should already run at maximum speed. Well then I fear something is wrong somewhere. I can't figure it out.

 

[zagood]

Seriously?

Yeah, take that off. NOW.

-z

 

[Zenoth]

Wow ... ok I feel bad.

Off to take it out now. Also ... I think I might not have installed the "brace plate" correctly, you know, the part on the "back" of the card, with "Zalman" on it. Well, it seems a bit too elevated from the card for my tastes. I'll see if there's something I might have forgot.

 

[Zenoth]

Well hmmm ...

I just verified again.

You know, I do NOT have to remove that thing. It's made to stay there mate, I can't move it a milimeter anyway. Nah I think that circular thing in the middle of the base is exactly what must be in contact with the Core.

Well anyway, what I did was to completely remove the Thermal Grease offered by Zalman from the package.

Then I applied a thin layer (as usual) of Arctic Silver 5 instead, which I bought a few months ago for my 4400+.

Now guess what ?

IDLE Temp BEFORE AS5: 54ºC to 56ºC
IDLE Temp AFTER AS5: 44ºC to 46ºC

A quite noticeable change !

Now it's about 5ºC to 10ºC cooler at IDLE than before. Now all I have to do is to test the LOAD temps.

Oh, by the way, the difference in temperature for the RAM Chips however is DRASTIC, compared to the temps I observed before with ATi's reference cooling. Now the RAM Chips' IDLE temp is about 36ºC. And with ATi's default solution it remained between 46ºC to 55ºC.

Even the Voltage Regulator IDLE temp has decreased by a few degrees.

Overall I am happy now with this Zalman cooling. I just had to apply my AS5, and voila, now I got some more over-clocking headroom.

 

[zagood]

Ah, okay, sometimes heatsinks actually come with a plastic covering to protect the finish. You said the word "plastic" and a chill went down my spine. That round raised area, yeah, that's part of the molding of the heatsink. Sorry for the scare.

But, if we hadn't gone through that, it would have taken you longer to get to replacing the grease. Temps look good now!

-z

 

[Zenoth]

Yeah, but, I said "plastic-looking". I wasn't sure it was or wasn't actually real plastic covering the surface, which I'd have had to remove of course. Since I think that a mere plastic would have melt at 60ºC or so (well it depends what type of plastic it'd have been though).

Anyways ...

Now, temps are even a little better !

My AS5 had the time (more than 24 hours since applied now) to "reach maximum potential of efficiency". I've turned Off my system last night, and now it's back On. IDLE Temps is about 1ºC to 3ºC (depending on room temperature) lower. And around the same thing for LOAD.

I haven't seen the LOAD temps go above 59ºC so far ! Even with ATi Tool's 3-D View running for 25 minutes at 30 AMPS or so. I am extremely happy. And whoever has a Radeon X1K card with reference cooling than please do yourself a huge favor and buy the Zalman VF700-Alcu !

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Zenoth
Yeah, but, I said "plastic-looking". I wasn't sure it was or wasn't actually real plastic covering the surface, which I'd have had to remove of course. Since I think that a mere plastic would have melt at 60ºC or so (well it depends what type of plastic it'd have been though).

Anyways ...

Now, temps are even a little better !

My AS5 had the time (more than 24 hours since applied now) to "reach maximum potential of efficiency". I've turned Off my system last night, and now it's back On. IDLE Temps is about 1ºC to 3ºC (depending on room temperature) lower. And around the same thing for LOAD.

I haven't seen the LOAD temps go above 59ºC so far ! Even with ATi Tool's 3-D View running for 25 minutes at 30 AMPS or so. I am extremely happy. And whoever has a Radeon X1K card with reference cooling than please do yourself a huge favor and buy the Zalman VF700-Alcu !

Nice temps. :thumbsup:

If you are still interested in controlling the fan speed here are two threads on SPCR that deal with how to do it.

Thread1 (my own) Thread2

 

[erikistired]

yeah i tried the zalman thermal goo as well and it's not very good stuff.

btw if you're going to run the fan at full speed why even bother with that 4 headed monster adapter? i ran mine straight into a motherboard header. tidier case and all without it.

 

[Zenoth]

Thanks for the info Operandi. I'll take a look at it.

And, fisher, I thought about it, until I realized I had no such headers left to use on my Mobo. They're all taken by seperate Case fans.

 

[Zenoth]

I'm wondering though ...

If that same Zalman model (VF700-ALCu) is compatible with ATi's X1900 series ?

It should be huh ? Because I might eventually get the X1900 AIW for its very nice features, but I'm still not sure. I might just wait for ATi's R600/nVidia's G80 instead.

 

[erikistired]

if there isn't a different sku it should be. the zalman site lists all the cards it's compatible with i think.

 

[firewolfsm]

This is an old thread, but I want to mention something about controlling the fan speed. All you have to do is use a paperclip to push the metal tabs down in the header on the fan, and pull the wired out. Then the tabs on the wires can be used like springs and you can just stuff them in the sides. Keep the housing on the GPU, just use the side of the plastic and the pin on the GPU to hold it in place. It took 10 seconds.

 

[The Sly Syl]

I have my VF700-cu running through my normal case fan speed controller. Same thing that my two 120mm fans and my CPU's 90mm fan are connected too. I just keep it going full blast all the time, can't hear it anyway.