My passive 0db 7900GT

[davidstone28]

I finally got round to installing the Aerocool VM-102 passive GPU cooler onto my overclocked Geforce 7900GT. The absence of noise compared to the mini-bansaw sounding reference cooler is absolutel bliss.

Original setup:-

- Antec P180
- 2 x Antec tricool fans on lowest settings, which in turn are then connected to a fan controller set at 50%
- Inno3D Nvidia Geforce 7900GT (overclocked from 450/1320 to 570/1600)
- Scythe Ninja
- Athon64 3200+ (Venice core) overclocked from 2.0ghz to 2.6ghz @ 1.4v
- Cool 'n Quiet disabled
- Asus A8N SLI Premium
- Crucial Ballistix (2x512mb)
- Arctic Silver 5
- Silverstone 30NF PSU (passive)
- CPU (35c idle, 45-47C load)
- GPU (38c idle, 49 load)

After Aerocool VM-102 installed
- CPU (40c idle, 48-50C load)
- GPU (52-58c idle, 65-71C load)

Only had time to run a couple of 3DMark05 loops but the temperatures of the GPU seem well within range and certainly alot lower than the last passive graphics card I had (Gigabyte Geforce 6800 - 70c idle, 90c load, with an additional 20C reduction in temps when using a Zalman fan bracket and Nexus 80mm fan at 12v)

I expected CPU temperatures to increase slightly because the copper heatsink of the Aercool is only about 1cm away from the fins of the Ninja, so presumably the P180 case fan will suck hot air from the GPU area onto the CPU heatisnk.

My standard setup is very sensitive to temperature changes (Tricools on low + additional 50% reduction using fan controller). For example if I have the central heating in the house on high, 50% fan controller, Tricools low, CPU and GPU temps can hit 65c and 85c respectively when under load such as 3D gaming. Having the central heating off and Tricools on low only (no fan controller), temps go back down to 45C and 65C on load. When gaming, I tend to put the fan controller on maximum so that the Tricools revert to running at standard stock speed (their standard "low" setting) without an further reduction.

I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be possible to use the P180 GPU fan bracket (though I don't see why it would be necessary).

Additional comments:-

- the Aerocool isn't difficult to fit, but its slightly fiddly (more so than the Zalman passive heatsink) because lining up the screws can involve some guesswork / trial and error.

- when fitting the heatsink onto the GPU block, you have to make sure that the heatisnk (alu/copper part) isn't positioned too far down along the heatpipes (ie not too close to motherboard). Otherwise it can intefere with the RAM. On my first attempt at fitting the copper/alu heatsink onto the GPU block, I fitted it far too low down and the fins ended up touching the tops of my DDR ram heatspreaders.

- the fins of the Aercool heatsink almost touch the frame of the P180 rear case fan (probably about 0.5mm away).

- The price of heastink is good (�22 here in the UK) and comparable to the Zalman VF-700 �18 or the VF900 �25. Alot cheaper than the Thermalright V-1.

- the GPU block is not "spring loaded", so you have to be careful not to screw it down too much so that it damages the core. Would have been nice if Aerocool could have provided some springs to reduce the risk.

Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the heatsink and the temperature results. The sound of silence is truly bliss!

[[DW]Cougho]

looks very nice indeed. Not surprised the 7900gt can run passive as its really really cool running. Nice overclock too.

[chilled]

Have you got your before temps?

[funnelhead]

damn that looks really sweet, and i'd only just got over my zalman lust....

[Barkotron]

Very nice. Do you have, and have you tried running Oblivion? For some reason it seems to be harder on a system heat-wise than just about everything else going, and certainly on the graphics card. Is it still okay when you run that?

I love the idea of using almost no fans though. Will definitely be looking towards this kind of thing with my next graphics card if at all possible - the X1900s don't really let you run fanless...

[davidstone28]

On a couple of initial runs, Oblivion seems fine - it doesn't seem to noticeably heat up the card - my fps never seem to drop lower than 40fps (default settings at 1280x1024), whereas in 3DMark06, fps can drop to 1fps in certain scenes. Pretty amazing getting close 500fps during certain scenes in 3DMark01. Will do a few more extensive tests with Oblivion though once I work out what's causing my HDD caching issue....

[Noni]

I really really envy your setup.

My system is way too loud. Maybe we can talk on msn?

PM me for adress if you want!

Thanks mate (P.S. you dont have to )

[amjedm]

I really really envy your setup.

My system is way too loud. Maybe we can talk on msn?

PM me for adress if you want!

Thanks mate (P.S. you dont have to )

You're not the first to ask for advice from David. Not sure if I was the first either. He was very helpful via PM.

A very quiet and nice setup he has there.

[zixiazhang]

really nice, only way to get quiter and cooler is to go water

[podman]

Looks very nice, I'm using a VM-101 on my 5900LX @ 5950U, and I've been very pleased with the result.

I've heard previously that the contact patch between the heatsink and the lump of metal that goes over the core isn't too great, but from the pictures it looks fine?

[Nox]

I never used to be able to hear my HD's!!!!

Now the delta has gone, i've downclocked (only a tiny amount really!!), and set fans lower, its suprising how something I never noticed before is starting to be very noticable.

I'm thinking about getting some of those HD chambers, but will run out of 5.25 slots way too quickly.

Nox

[fredered]

really nice, only way to get quiter and cooler is to go water

not really the only way, you could play silly fools with liquid nitrogen if you had money to waste or phase change if you were really rich but it seems like a good way to get good cooling and low noise without the risk or cost of water.

What cpu cooler do you use?

[MSIC]

HI David, nice system (similar to mine ), i'd not given much thought to that particular GPU cooler in my search for something for my 7600GT.
Quite unhelpfully, the Aerocool website just states that it is "compatible with ALL VGA cards" although my fear is that it isn't with mine, but they just havent tested it yet.
What do you think, based on what you can see / remember from yours - can it easily fit ANY graphics card?

[RDL]

Nice work!

I'm contemplating getting rid of my 3 noisy 120mm fans (Delta, and 2 others) and replacing them with akasa silent fans - the noise of the fans, even on a fan controller, isn't worth the small drop in temperatures you receive.

[davidstone28]

What do you think, based on what you can see / remember from yours - can it easily fit ANY graphics card?

I'd be very suprised if it didn't fit. As far as I'm aware, the 7600GT is a pretty standard card in terms of design.

Basically, my installation involved the following:-

1. Unscrew the 4 screws holding the original HSF.
2. Put the Aerocool GPU block onto the core and screw it into the holes on the graphics card PCB. The position of the screws are adjustable across the entire XYZ axis, so as long as you've got holes (at least 2) in your graphics card PCB, it should fit.
3. Slide the bigger Aercool heatsinks on and screw it into the GPU block.

What I would suggest is that you check that your 7600GT has holes in the PCB which the existing HSF uses to attach itself. You'll know, if on the underside of the card you see screws, plastic lugs or washers/nuts protruding though. If it has holes (minimum of 2), it should fit fine.

[MSIC]

That's great thank you.
I've had a look though and Scan dont sell it, so i'm going to bite the bullet and get a Zalman.
I appreciate the feedback though.