Upgrading graphics card cooling

[mallett]

Hi,

I've currently got a 7600GT XXX graphics card with the reference cooler on it. Although it isn’t especially loud when idling it can make a fair old racket when it wants to and is by far the nosiest thing in my case, so I’m looking to upgrade it.

I was wondering if any one on here would be able to give me some advice on which cooler to get, I’ve seen this zalman one which looks handy but does anyone have any experience with it?
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=369640

Also looking to add another fan in the case as will be getting a second HDD and I want to have some forced air over them. It needs to be a 92mm fan and been looking at the zalman quite fan here
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=396307
but have no idea how good it is.
Oh and I want to get it all from scan as this is where I’m getting the other little things that I need.

Cheers for any help...

[mr mister]

Hi,
Ive got a vf900 on my 7800gt and it is a pretty good cooler, keeps it under 55C load and thats on a fan controller at its lowest speed. I would definately recommend it.

Not sure on the zalman fan tbh, the specs look fairly reasonable.

[teachmech]

I've got a vf900 keeping my 6800GT (AGP) overclock to 410/1100 and its cool.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I also recommend the VF900 too!

[GSte]

Yes, the Zalman GPU cooler is good. I don't like the look of it personally, but it does it's job well.

[dave87]

vf900 or the Thermalright offering.

[Weetabix]

I tried the VF900 on my x1900xt, and I wasn't all to impressed tbh. Better than stock, I grant you, but it's not too quiet when it's on full blast. I've since replaced it with the Thermalright HR03, which I would recommend to anyone.

Make sure you have space for it though, as it's an absolute giant! Add a fan, and your graphics card will now take up 4 slots, but it'll be cooler than an eskimo's cold bits.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I tried the VF900 on my x1900xt, and I wasn't all to impressed tbh. Better than stock, I grant you, but it's not too quiet when it's on full blast. I've since replaced it with the Thermalright HR03, which I would recommend to anyone.

Make sure you have space for it though, as it's an absolute giant! Add a fan, and your graphics card will now take up 4 slots, but it'll be cooler than an eskimo's cold bits.

Considering that the Thermalright is supposed to be fanless it is not surprising that it is quieter!!

Anyway the VF900 is perfectly OK in low speed mode unless you have a very hot graphics card in your computer or love high overclocks. Even in full speed mode it not that noisy IMHO. I find that the thermal compound you use also is important and can shave a few degrees off load and non-load temperatures!!

[MSIC]

I have the VF900 on my 7600GT. Fits perfectly, can't hear it (unless I manually force the fan's speed up) and keeps everything running cool.

For case fans, consider Sharkoon silent eagles too.

[mallett]

Cheers for the advice people, much appreciated!!!

Think I’m gonna go for the VF900 for sure now and probably get some AS5 to stick it on with too. As for the case fan, those Sharkoon Silent Eagles look really nice and looking at their website they do do a 92mm one but its new and I just wonder how long it will take for scan to get some as I don’t want to buy just a small case fan from another supplier, that would be silly.

Oh and as for that Thermalright HR03, although it would be great having a fanless sink in there, its just too damn big and it just wouldn't fit as I am using the other slots.

[kidzer]

I've got a vf900 keeping my 6800GT (AGP) overclock to 410/1100 and its cool.

ditto, 'cept im at 430/1160, but its quiet as anything, I'd reccomend it - just make sure you have the fan cable pointing out the right way you want it and dont have to shift it about with the RAMsinks on, I had to shift mine and knocked 2 RAMsinks off, luckily they had some stickyness left on em and have stayed on the last 2 days so I think I got away with it!

A quick question about the VF900, there are 2 speed settings using the Fanmate, correct?

When I turn the Fanmate down (to the lowest setting I guess), it turns off my fan totally, that cant be right can it?

[MSIC]

Scan do sell the sharkoons now.
http://www.scan.co.uk/search/search....+fan&Submit=Go
EDIT: Sorry, you are right, they dont do the 92mm ones.

By the way, my Zalman fanmate has a dial, not a switch with 2 settings - you might have got some sort of cheaper version? Or maybe they changed the specs to save money??

[Weetabix]

Considering that the Thermalright is supposed to be fanless it is not surprising that it is quieter!!

I stuck a fan on it cos my voltage regulator temps we're astonishing. Big fans ftw

[Thor]

I've got the VF900 on my current X1600Pro card, currently on full speed and it's not noisy at all, I can only just hear it running when the room is completely silent - not often with my speakers, heh.
Can't fault it tbh.