GFX Cooling

[Dymetrie]

As some of you know I'm in the process of constructing a new system using some cast offs, spares, and my current PC.

So far I have a stable, quiet system running in an IDEQ 200N SFF case and just need to swap out the RAM (currently 512MB but I have a gig in my other PC which I am hoping will work), the HDD (currently 40GB IDE to be replaced with the 200GB SATA from my other PC), sort the 5.1 surround so it works (haven't even tried it yet) and the GFX card...

The GFX is the problem.

The system is currently using a 9500 pro/9700... which is fine for standard stuff but I've not tried it with both monitors and it's a bit rubbish for games. I'd like to use the 9800 pro from my other PC but it has a stonking great Zalman heatpipe on it so won't fit...

This is where I'm asking for advice, comments, ridicule.

I'm considering changing the heatpipe on the 9800 pro for the fan cooling on the 9500 pro/9700. Do you guys reckon that:

a) the active cooling on the 9500 pro/9700 will be good enough to replace the passive cooling on the 9800 pro?

b) I will be able to succesfully swap the coolers without b0rking both cards (is it easy? have any of you ever done it before? Any advice on how to go about it?)?

c) I should just give it up and buy/beg/steal a decent GFX card which will fit in the SFF?

All of this will be moot if either the RAM or the 5.1 won't work in the little box (it's a bit fussy about the RAM you use, wouldn't work with the gig I stole off the Antipodean Midget, but that was crap stuff :p), but fingers crossed all that will work so it'll just be the GFX which I need to sort out.

Thanks guys :D

Dym
building a smaller, quieter world to live in...

[Zirax]

They all use a standard socket now which is 4 holes around the socket. The problem with that cooler is that it will be noisy. Can you fit an artic cooler in there?

It is very easy to swap them, just clean the old paste off and put some artic silver on there.

[Dymetrie]

Well the cooler is the one which is cooling the 9500 pro/9700 at the moment...

The (almost) deathly silence when I turned Phoenix off last night was astounding... I slept well :D

Ideally I want this to cost as little as possible (because I'm skint atm) so if I can switch the coolers it'll be great. Even got some Arctic Silver 3 somewhere...

Just worried that the change in cooling might fry the 9800 pro.. which would be bad...

[Mark]

Possibly - it's a bit of a performance step up.

Arctic Cooling would be my bet as well.

Oh, and why didn't you take first dibs on the gig I sent you? :p :)

[Dymetrie]

Still trying to not spend out any cash on the rebuild.. But I think Arctic Cooling would fit in the case so may have a look around...

Already got a gig and a half of decent RAM, and hadn't planned to do this until after I sorted out Chris's system :/

[Zirax]

I have an artic cooler here for a 9800 pro, its 8.5*18.5*3.3cm

[Dymetrie]

You have as in spare?

I'll measure up when I get home or at the weekend, haven't even seen if the actual 9800 pro without the heatpipe will fit in the box but it's not a scary monster size one so should do, the 9500 pro/9700 does with its cooler...

There's actually a space for a PCI card next to the AGP slot so I think an arctic cooler that size should fit in ok...

[Zirax]

Sorry its not going spare but I thought I would give you the measurements to see if it would fit in your case

[Dymetrie]

Okies, measurements are good and checking around they're about £15...

I may grab one or I may see what the cooler off the 9500 pro/9700 can manage, hopefully without melting the card!

[rich99]

If it's any use I'm sure my brother still has his borked 9800 Pro at home which he still has his original cooler for (think he took the Arctic Cooler off and ebay'd it after the card died)

It looks like the one in this picture - http://www.gamepc.com/images/labs/rev-r9800pro-cardLG.jpg
and should still be in pretty good nick - only thing I'm not sure of is how irritating it is in terms of noise.

I should be home next weekend for Mother's Day so can grab it then and get it in the post to you if you think it'll be of any use :)

[Dymetrie]

That's actually a bit smaller than the cooler on the 9500 pro/9700! :eek:

Makes me think that swapping the coolers may well work and not melt my 9800 pro :D

I'll let you know RIch, and thanks for the offer :)

[Dymetrie]

Well this has been put on hold for the moment due to far too many complications....

It turns out the chip might be a 2500-M not a 3000+, which caused some serious graphical problems when setting the correct FSB on the RAM...

So for now I am back on Phoenix and may look to replace all the fans to make her quieter... Just need to find some silent 90mm fans now :p

[Zirax]

a 2500m should do 3000+ speeds without any issues. Up the volts to 1.8, put the memory on 200 * 10 giving 2ghz. The 2500's were mostly unlocked so you can push the chip further if you want

[Dymetrie]

Wasn't the issue with the chip, it was some serious GFX anomolies which have caused the problems...

No idea why it occured but it did and was bloody annoying so I've just switched back to Phoenix and from some looking around have hopefully found a new set of fans which will be quiet, good and not cost the earth :)

Will probably still look into the SFF at some point though....

[Mark]

What size fans do you need? If there's one thing BD members seem to have plenty of, it's fans. :)

[Dymetrie]

Well this (http://thermaltake.com/product/Chassis/midtower/lanfire/vm1000a.asp) is the case I've got so I was thinking of picking up a pair of these (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Fans%2C+Heatsinks%2C+Coolers/Case/+Xilence+Red+Wing+Case+Fan+8cm?productId=19864) and these (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Fans%2C+Heatsinks%2C+Coolers/Case/+Xilence+Red+Wing+Case+Fan+9cm?productId=19867) to fit...

Look to be nice and quiet :)

[Mark]

Aye, and cheap too. :)

[Dymetrie]

Well due to Phoenix making some pretty dodgy noises I ordered the fans on Monday and they arrived today (hurrah for Jarp being on lates and the package arriving before 8am :eek:).

Just spent a fun hour removing the old fans, cleaning the inside of the case out (spray air is FUN!) and fitting the new ones...

First problem was that my old fans had throughput molex connectors, these ones don't... Cue mad scramble to find some Y splitters and only coming up with one, so I have one of the new fans currently dormant.

So everything nice and clean (apart from the back garden which has a year's worth of dust in it now :embarassed:) I connect her back up and power on...

Nothing, no sound, it's like negative sound, then I hear the HDDs start to think... check the exhausts and the fans are running, geting some pretty decent airflow as well... But no sound...

HOLY ****

Me likes :D

Currently monitoring temps and for standard use the CPU is sitting at 47 degrees, which is well within my tolerances and 13 degrees lower than she was this time yesterday (and 23 degrees lower than this time Sunday night!) :D

Gonna source another Y splitter (I know I have one around somewhere I just have to find it) and see if I can get the 2 90mm fans extracting (may screw with the CPU fan, Volcano 12 if you're interested), which should create negative pressure (80+80 in, 90+90+120 (PSU FAN) out) and will hopefully drop the temperature even more :D

Will test her under load later on (gotta install a new digital TV card first) but if she stays under 60 degrees and the temp controlled PSU fan doesn't go into overdrive then I'm happy :D

[Feek]

\\o/

[Treefrog]

Just a suggestion: if it is a 2500M then they should run @ 1.45V as standard, so 1.8V may be much more than needed. I'm running one at 3200+ speeds @ 1.55V with AS-5, all copper Zalman flower and a 120mm case side fan as the CPU fan. Highest temp seen so far is 37 C with the Soltek CPU monitoring proggie.

[Garp]

A thing to remember with temperature monitoring is its a bit iffy between motherboards, not much value in comparing the temperature readings from one mobo to the other, only against itself, you can get anywhere up to a 10 Degree difference in my experience even if nothing else has changed (either settings or cooling.) Main thing to ensure is that running a stress test doesn't generate any errors. If it does then you may need to do something about your cooling (but do a memtest first just in case)