Do you reckon an HR-03 GT will fit here?

My 8800GT performs superbly, and at idle is pretty much inaudible. However the whine of the fan as it ramps up during more taxing games (like Bioshock) makes it quite audible - even though this is one of the newer designs (reference cooler with the larger fan). So I'd like to fit an HR-03 GT, but use it in passive mode by installing it so it wraps around the card, and I can use the airflow from the case exhaust fans and cpu cooler to keep the temps well below the stock cooler.

Question is, will it fit?

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9...0coolerew0.jpg

This is the inside of my Antec P182. The motherboard is an Abit IP35 Pro, the cpu cooler is a Thermalright ULtra 120 Extreme.

I can see the height of the HR-03 GT on the Thermalright website, and measure the gap to the cpu cooler (haven't yet though - just wondering if anyone already knew whether it fits the gap?). However I've no idea whether it will clear the northbridge cooler. I'm hoping it will, as presumably the HR-03 GT is designed to clear the ram modules, and I don't think the northbridge cooler protrudes much more than the RAM.

Anyone know for sure if I can fit a passive HR-03 GT in this space?

Ultimate CPU Cooling Solutions! USA

in the features look at the pic on the right


it can be mounted on top of the card, or below.

i have one of these for my 8800gtx and it really does help with cooling.

Err, thanks, but...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by r_j_k_p

in the features look at the pic on the right
it can be mounted on top of the card, or below.

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lol, no sh** ;)

I said in the OP that I want to mount it on the back of my card. I'm asking whether it will fit into the space available in my rig.

Mine fitted no problem over the back of my x1950 XT below my Ultra 90 and was well away from the NB (on G33M-DS2R).

I wouldn't expect you to have a problem with the NB probably worth measuring the space between the CPU cooler and card though to make sure the is enough room though.

Will probably clear the NB, but the exhaust fan will be next to useless for cooling as you're blocking off the flow over the graphics card. The fins are just too close-packed to work passively - there won't be any real flow of air through the fins, so temps would soar. Your NB temps would go north very quickly too I'd imagine.

I know the HR03s claim to work passively, but they're pretty hopeless under load. You'd want (even need) a slow-moving fan pointing down over the cooler somewhere.

//edit: height-wise you can probably work out roughly if the HR03 would clear the northbridge cooler by comparing the GPU location to the base of the heatsink in this picture.

Thanks guys - that picture pretty much clears up any doubt about it clearing the north bridge - looks pretty safe. I can determine the clearance to the cpu cooler by getting a tape measure out, so no worries there.

I'm surprised at what you say though gav about still needing a dedicated fan for it. The case is an Antec P182 with both the rear and upper exhaust fans running, which creates a gentle but steady flow of air through the case. I could turn the cpu cooler through 90° and use the fan on that to provide more airflow too. I'm just that if I get one, I'm really quite keen to use it passively - one less fan to make any noise. :)

You can run it passive, but it'll be hot.
really hot

do you really wanna have the NB CPU and GPU all pretty much touching.. that's 1 hell of a heat build up when you're doing anything taxing with your PC..