Passive 8800GT (Sparkle) Preview!

[TooNice]

Well, i've been keen to get a decent silent card for a couple of years to replace my X1900XTX. and have now got a Sparkle 8800GT Coolpipe sat at home waiting to be installed when I get in this evening. If anyone has any questions about it then let me know, but be warned I don't have much tech savvy so will probably not be able to provide detailed technical feedback, but i'll do my best.

Well, the first thing I have to ask is where you got it

[fyak1]

tekheads.co.uk.

It was showing as a pre-order but having placed my order it was dispatched that afternoon.

Have only had time to install it and little else so far due to festive socialising. Friends would never speak to me again if they knew I was yearning to be at home messing around with a pc rather than out on the beers. Being a closet geek is frustrating sometimes!

[disavowed]

tekheads.co.uk.

It was showing as a pre-order but having placed my order it was dispatched that afternoon.

Have only had time to install it and little else so far due to festive socialising. Friends would never speak to me again if they knew I was yearning to be at home messing around with a pc rather than out on the beers. Being a closet geek is frustrating sometimes!

You had a chance to use it yet? Any impressions?

[fyak1]

You had a chance to use it yet? Any impressions?

Seems fine to me. Playing Crysis with high settings is great but can't use even 2x anisotropic filtering as drops to 2-3 fps. Is this normal?

Does get very hot. 95-98 degrees playing Crysis. Know nothing about safe temps for cards but assume this is reasonable as it's passive. In my book the silence is worth the high temps. Let's see how it's going in 6 months time...

[Pob255]

Ooof 95-98

Personally that's a bit high I would consider trying to strap a 120mm fan to it, a good low rpm one will be near slient and should help lower the temps

[fyak1]

Ooof 95-98

Personally that's a bit high I would consider trying to strap a 120mm fan to it, a good low rpm one will be near slient and should help lower the temps

Decided i'm not overly comfortable after all so will follow your advice! Have ordered Noctua 120mm 800rpm to strap on and see how much difference it makes. Will let you know.

[sawyen]

well, I used to have the stock cooler and it hits 90C no problem..

I would pur a 120mm and see how well it goes.. you'd be suprised I think..

[fyak1]

Had been going over 100 degrees after particularly intense scenes on Crysis. Now have Noctua 800rpm fan literally just lying on top of heatsink and temps now peak at 80 degrees