Graphic Cards Water cooling or better HSF?

V

Vandal

Explorer
Guys I want better coolers for both the ATi cards, buggers are getting a touch too hot I've found... The x1800xt reaches 88 degrees and the x1900xt touches 90 degrees.

In fact after around 6 hours of F.E.A.R, when came to the main menu, I got some screen corruption. Of course this wasn't repeated but still

Now the zalman cooler (circular fins walla) seems quite cool I've seen it cooling a 7900GT and does a good job of it.

I don't want the hassle of a water kit though. Will some AS5 on the core region help? to what extent?

What about the cooler on the x1950xtx, will that be good nuff if I can get a couple of them?

suggestions for coolers please... provide links if possible. Thanks :)
 
I thought the X1900 had pretty good stock coolers.... if your cards are that hot, maybe your case needs better overall cooling. And before you invest in a cooler, I'd recommend you try applying AS5 on the GPU. It dropped my 6800GT temps by 15° C.
 
RiO said:
I thought the X1900 had pretty good stock coolers.... if your cards are that hot, maybe your case needs better overall cooling. And before you invest in a cooler, I'd recommend you try applying AS5 on the GPU. It dropped my 6800GT temps by 15° C.
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Ok. both the x1800 and the x1900 have metal spreaders on the core right?? So I can put AS5 right, I hope the cores ain't exposed...

I was also thinking of the x1950xtx's cooling solution which seems to do the job better.

Will try AS5 when time permits some tinkering around....
 
Don't expect the X1950 cooler to work miracles :P It will probably drop temps down further by 5°. Trust me when I say a $6 tube of AS5 will be more useful ;)
 
vandal said:
Guys I want better coolers for both the ATi cards, buggers are getting a touch too hot I've found... The x1800xt reaches 88 degrees and the x1900xt touches 90 degrees.

In fact after around 6 hours of F.E.A.R, when came to the main menu, I got some screen corruption. Of course this wasn't repeated but still

Now the zalman cooler (circular fins walla) seems quite cool I've seen it cooling a 7900GT and does a good job of it.

I don't want the hassle of a water kit though. Will some AS5 on the core region help? to what extent?

What about the cooler on the x1950xtx, will that be good nuff if I can get a couple of them?

suggestions for coolers please... provide links if possible. Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Define too hot in terms of temps :P. Too hot can be 30 degrees or 60 degrees or 100 degrees... its all relative :P. If your temps are 85-90, then its fine. Any higher and its trouble.
 
Chaos said:
Define too hot in terms of temps :P. Too hot can be 30 degrees or 60 degrees or 100 degrees... its all relative :P. If your temps are 85-90, then its fine. Any higher and its trouble.
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arre mentioned temps yaar. I was thinking of x1950xtx's cooler + AS5....

btw RiO whaddya think of the zalman GPU coolers?? I could arrange for ram heat sinks too...
 
^^Zalman is garbage... Sorry I missed the temps... 90 is fine actually. The only viable option for an x1900xt over the stock cooler is water.
 
Chaos said:
^^Zalman is garbage... Sorry I missed the temps... 90 is fine actually. The only viable option for an x1900xt over the stock cooler is water.
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So you're saying the x1900's cooler is good?? Also isn't it identical to the x1800?? I can see no visible difference between the two....
rave is that IceQ cooler even available? It sure looks good... What'd it cost? layout looks similar to the x1950xtx's cooler, at least at first glance..
 
Dude, let me reiterate... X1900 stock cooler is fine. If you want to drop temps further, nothing like some AS5 application :D
 
RiO said:
Dude, let me reiterate... X1900 stock cooler is fine. If you want to drop temps further, nothing like some AS5 application :D
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OK... keep your shirt on... just confirming yaar. :P reiterate karne ki zaroorat nahi..;)
 
And ya , core is exposed. No IHS on X1900/1800

Applying AS5 and resetting caused 10-15C drop in load temps for me.

here is pic of whats under the hood of my card.

 
Thanks a million funky for that... really helped..

And since the core is exposed and you put AS5 why not on the memory chips too???

Awesome pics. Repped you for the help..:)
 
Well u see those pink pads, those are thick thermal pads for memory.

Memory does not make physical contact with heatsink. There is gap of good 2-3 mm. And that is filled by using those pads. So you basically cant remove those and use the AS5 or even arctic ceramiq there. thats why :P
 
Funky said:
Well u see those pink pads, those are thick thermal pads for memory.
Memory does not make physical contact with heatsink. There is gap of good 2-3 mm. And that is filled by using those pads. So you basically cant remove those and use the AS5 or even arctic ceramiq there. thats why :P
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yep guessed that. I reckon it won't serve any purpose putting AS5 on the thermal pads right? (n00b query)

Anyways thanks, I'll do the needful with both cores, and post back temperatures.
 
nope, the pads have a very thin layer of that pinkish thermal material over white thermal pads. if i apply as5 that will be spoiled from the looks of it. so left it alone.
 
Funky said:
nope, the pads have a very thin layer of that pinkish thermal material over white thermal pads. if i apply as5 that will be spoiled from the looks of it. so left it alone.
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Once again funky thanks. I'll try the experiment with AS5 and post back here with pics of me doing it and stuff....:) will also show u guys screenies of temps n stuff
 
Darklord said:
Best option is water my friend.

Load temps dont cross 42C here. Lol
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darky problem is I have a small cabby for this rig. See I got an SLB, SLK 3000B and P180, the latter two are at home....

I want a Stacker 810, but carry this rig around so that's out for the x1900. Was planning on this GPU inside the conroe rig.

Long story short, can u suggest say 3 alternative water cooling kits below 5K.
 
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