How To Cool A Graphics Card Cheaply

[amjedm]

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)

[staffsMike]

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

[schmunk]

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

[amjedm]

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.

[amjedm]

Have edited first post with solution for high power cards

[Pob255]

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

[staffsMike]

love the twin fan design!

[amjedm]

love the twin fan design!

It's someone elses idea so I can't claim to be a genius

[Pob255]

love the twin fan design!

I 2nd that one
Could I sugest a bent wire coathannger for added strength?

[amjedm]

I 2nd that one
Could I sugest a bent wire coathannger for added strength?

I suppose a thicker (stronger) cable tie could be used?

[Bhuvsta]

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.

[iranu]

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.

[Pob255]

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

[iranu]

Just for you > ...pete edge...casefancasefancase...

[Shooty*]

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?

[amjedm]

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