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 ), but fingers crossed all that will work so it'll just be the GFX which I need to sort out.

Thanks guys

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