Video Card coolers?

[Fenixgoon]

I currently have an ATI X850XT. As many can attest, the thing is close to a jet engine at full speed (though mine hasn't hit full RPM except at startup). Anyway, it's still a little noisy, and I was thinking of getting something closer to a silent cooling solution. I checked out newegg, and these two HSF/Fan combos looked like they'd be good for (near) silent cooling. FWIW, my budget is ~~$20. If you think there's something better, please feel free to suggest so

Kingwin KWVC- 3x 50mm fans
Logisys block

Thanks,

Fenixgoon

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
If you think there's something better, please feel free to suggest so

Well... it's a little more than $20, but...

I've put a Masscool/Sytrin KuFormula VF1 Plus cooler on my ATI 9800 Pro, and I LOVE this thing!!!

And, I'm NOT the kinda guy that automatically loves stuff, just 'cause I own it. If I didn't like the KuFormula, I wouldn't have any problem throwing it on my workbench, and blasting it in every thread I'm in...

Anyway, if you don't mind taking up two slots (and the stupid name), this is the best vga cooler out there IMHO!

 

[Operandi]

Zalman VF-700 / VF-900; you won't find it for under $20 but if you can't spend the money to do it right you probably shouldn't do it at all.

 

[Ayah]

I'd go with something like an ATI Silencer.

 

[Zap]

ATI Silencer. $19.99, but shipping will put it over budget. It'll pump hot air to outside the case like the stock fan, but do a better job (as your card will run cooler) plus will be quieter. That Kingwin... can't see how a bunch of tiny fans would be all that quiet.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: Zap
ATI Silencer. $19.99, but shipping will put it over budget. It'll pump hot air to outside the case like the stock fan, but do a better job (as your card will run cooler) plus will be quieter. That Kingwin... can't see how a bunch of tiny fans would be all that quiet.

DEFINITELY the ATI silencer :thumbsup: My friend has a X850XT and put that silencer on there and his temps dropped quite a bit and the thing is very quiet in doing it. Plus, it has DHES (direct heat exaust system) so none of that hot air gets blown around in your case

 

[Fenixgoon]

other thoughts? hopefully i can pick up that silencer on FS/FT or something and save myself a few $$

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

Thermalright HR-03 if it will fit. Otherwise Zalman VF900. Stock coolers all suck.

 

[imported_Truenofan]

i used the silencer on my x800xl pci-e, i loved that thing, its absolutly silent, even at 100% speed. also drops your temps, you can oc pretty high on it but it does use two slots.

 

[acegazda]

Originally posted by: scrawnypaleguy
Thermalright HR-03 if it will fit. Otherwise Zalman VF900. Stock coolers all suck.

The HIS ice3Q are about the equivelent of an acclero X2. Those aren't technically "stock" though...

 

[Fenixgoon]

does newegg charge restocking fees or any BS like for items returned? what about return shipping?i could do a mini VGA-HSF review for this thread

 

[Maluno]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186002
accelero x2 FTW. Silent, and excellent performance!

EDIT: argh, I just saw now that you have an x800 generation card. sorry.

 

[LordGestle]

http://www.svc.com/avc-at4-r1.html
May want to check compatibility but I know it works with the AGP X800 series.

 

[tmoneygetpaid]

I've had both Arctic cooling and zalman stuff... Specifically, on my older 9800pro I have a vf700, and on my 6800gt I have a NVsilencer 5. The NV5 cools more effectively and is quieter. The fans on the zalmans are not as quiet as you'd think. Though, strangely, while the NVsilencer dropped my load temps a ton, the idle and load temps are actually not that far from one another. Anyway, my recommendation is definitely with NVsilencer, especially with the way-too-high price of vf900s right now, IMO.

 

[pkme2]

Have you considering getting a new case with that 250mm side fan?
Here's one possibility

 

[Noubourne]

What does Enermax translate Chakra to mean? "Loud noise in ear"?

Vf900 or bust.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Noubourne
What does Enermax translate Chakra to mean? "Loud noise in ear"?

Vf900 or bust.

Hah, agreed.

SPCR did a roundup awhile ago VF-700 vs. VF-900 vs. Silencer vs. Thermalright V-1.

Short story, the VF-900, and VF-700 were the low noise champs. The V-1 had the performance crown but was very loud. The Silencer trailed in just about all categories and didn't have much to offer.

If you browse the SPCR forums you find most people there come to the same conclusion.

 

[Fenixgoon]

so i picked up the kingwin - it should arrive in a few days. the reason i went with it is because it's *supposed* to be quieter than the silencer (<21db vs. 0.5 sone, which is ~30db across most frequencies). if it doesn't end up being a quiet/good solution, i will complain to newegg to get my money back and get the silencer

 

[natethegreat]

I bought 1 of those AC Silencers around January for my 7800GT. It worked for about 1 month then it developed a very loud and annoying rattle from the fan, it turns out the fan has a history of failure. It's pretty quiet when it works but has a chance of being a dud.

I tried the VF-900 and have been very happy with it so far, and I think it does a better job of cooling my GPU also.