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Thread: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

  1. #1
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    How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Not sure if anyone's suggested this before -

    Dead PCI card (well it's dead now). Hole's been cut with a Dremel.



    White blobs are UHU White Tack (softer than Blu Tack IMO)



    Side view



    First thought of this when I had a fanless card - it was getting a bit too hot for my liking.

    Now I use this cooling method for graphics cards with active cooling - I just remove/unplug the fan. I only have low end cards (currently have 6600 + 6610 so not sure how the cooling method will work with high power cards).

    Another idea - not as good as the one above as I could feel vibrations on the PCI plate/green PCB.





    Edit: Solution For High Power Cards - LOL (this is someone else's idea - can't remember where I saw it though)



    Last edited by amjedm; 23-11-2007 at 10:49 PM.

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    moogle (01-01-2008),Pob255 (23-11-2007)

  3. #2
    finding nemo staffsMike's Avatar
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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    i did something very similar with one of my old geforce 1's

    it's not dead..but only good for something like this lol

  4. #3
    sneaks quietly away. schmunk's Avatar
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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Or, you can get one of those Zalman fan brackets.

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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Quote Originally Posted by schmunk View Post
    Or, you can get one of those Zalman fan brackets.
    I prefer the above because it's better at cooling than the Zalman - direct cooling to the heatsink whereas the Zalman/fan are at 90 degrees? Also, with the White Tack you can dampen vibrations easily.

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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Have edited first post with solution for high power cards

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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    I'd sugest getting some hair bands and cutting them up instead of cable ties, it works very well for vibrations
    you'd need to drill 4 holes in the corners af the first card.
    Tie a knot in the end feed it through the fan the the card, back through another hole and fan and tie the other end, repete with the other side of the fan.
    Try to keep the elastic loose don't pull it tight.
    It can take a bit of tweeking but works well

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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    love the twin fan design!

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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Quote Originally Posted by staffsMike View Post
    love the twin fan design!
    It's someone elses idea so I can't claim to be a genius

  10. #9
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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Quote Originally Posted by staffsMike View Post
    love the twin fan design!
    I 2nd that one
    Could I sugest a bent wire coathannger for added strength?

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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Quote Originally Posted by Pob255 View Post
    I 2nd that one
    Could I sugest a bent wire coathannger for added strength?
    I suppose a thicker (stronger) cable tie could be used?

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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    This is genius! And the hippies would love us for recycling. Also maybe superglue would be better than the cable ties, although I can see the vibrations being worse.

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    Senior Amoeba iranu's Avatar
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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Superglue does work very well for fan to fan adhesion.

    One of my favourite solutions for DIY dampers for fans is to reuse (keeping up with the hippies - Cartman voice "God damn hippies!") an old bicycle inner tube. Cut out a section then cut and fit to your fans using superglue - a stationary (paper) hole puncher produces the perfect holes for the fan screws to fit through. As many layers as you want.

    Fans can also be placed strategically using nylon or fishing wire. This is also a neato (continuing the south park voices) way of suspending hard drives.

    Iirc there was an entire case made from fans, I need to google the link, however, the fanboi case whilst consisting of a lot of huff and puff did not cool the PC to anywhere near the same extent.
    "Reality is what it is, not what you want it to be." Frank Zappa. ----------- "The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." Huang Po.----------- "A drowsy line of wasted time bathes my open mind", - Ride.

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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Quote Originally Posted by iranu View Post
    Iirc there was an entire case made from fans, I need to google the link, however, the fanboi case whilst consisting of a lot of huff and puff did not cool the PC to anywhere near the same extent.
    Oh please find that link

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    Senior Amoeba iranu's Avatar
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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    "Reality is what it is, not what you want it to be." Frank Zappa. ----------- "The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." Huang Po.----------- "A drowsy line of wasted time bathes my open mind", - Ride.

  16. #15
    isn't trying to wind U up Shooty*'s Avatar
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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Wow. Bet it's quiet too

    As to the dual fan solution above... wait... I have an idea... how about...

    QUAD COOLING?

    Yes, I know, perhaps we should walk before we can run and do 3, but hell, why not try 4?

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    Re: How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

    Quote Originally Posted by Shooty* View Post
    Wow. Bet it's quiet too

    As to the dual fan solution above... wait... I have an idea... how about...

    QUAD COOLING?

    Yes, I know, perhaps we should walk before we can run and do 3, but hell, why not try 4?
    Quietness is the reason I've done the mod, fan is at 5v or 7v and very very quiet IMO, silent if you listen to the system with sides closed. The fan I'm using (Coolermaster Blue LED 80mm from Scan at around £2.34) is one of the best 80mm fans I've used.

    LOL to the QUAD cooling, might rip the PCI plate out

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