Artifacts after lapping HSF FX5950u?

[MonroeM]

Hey everyone, I recently lapped my 5950u's heatsink to get a little better o/cing (the original HS was fairly rough) and applied AS5 to the GPU and all the RAM. Strange thing is, in 3DMark 03, I get strange blocky artifacts when running the Proxycon test.

Played 2 1/2 hours of Tribes Vengeance tonight and didn't notice a thing.

Beneath is the temps reported by the card. Are these normal? I didn't quite get a mirror finish on the HS, maybe I should try again and reaply the AS5?

Idle: 43c, Ambient: 26c, Full load: ~71c

Any help will be much appreciated.

[dicecca112]

71 is kinda high, you sure that the heatsink is mounted right, and all is right with the card? Mark sure it is seated correctly

[CandymanCan]

You didnt get any metal shards or AS5 under the core or memory did you ?

[MonroeM]

Well I don't see how I could get it under the core... since it seems to be stuck on there pretty well, and I made sure I didn't get any AS5 on anything but the RAM and GPU. =\

Maybe it's just my drivers? I'm using Omega's latest tweaked Nvidia drivers. I'll try updating to the 70 betas and see if it works any better.

If my card keeps jumping up there, I may relap the HS and reapply the AS5, see if that helps.

Thanks a lot guys.

[aNTiChRisT]

I would say its either;

1) The HSF isnt contacting the core enough/at all
2) Its bolted on too tight... causing PCB warping and all kinds of problems.

I dont think driver change is it, because it was working fine before, correct?

~t0m

[sevendevilhell]

make sure the layer of as5 isn't too thick. you need a REALLY thin layer in order to get decent heat transfer, and those temps look a little bit high.

make sure your layer is really thin and then reseat the hsf. check on it, and if the temps are still a little high, you might try relapping. and also check that there aren't any shreds of metal in there, from the sink.

[MonroeM]

I think I'm going to work on it tomorrow after my Linux final.

Here's another thing that seems to be happening: when I ALT+TAB out of TV (Say if someone IMs me through AIM or something), when I ALT+TAB back INTO the game, it loads very slow.

I don't mean I sit there for a few seconds stairing at a black screen, it's like it draws the entire game over again. First I'll see the ground, the buildings will quickly appear, the background, the hud, the gun I'm carrying... then all of a sudden it will flash black again, then to a screen full of garbled textures, and finally back into the game normally.

This all happens within just a few seconds, probably 3 - 4, but it's concerning me as this didn't happen before I lapped the HS.

It could be that there's too much AS5 on the core... I don't think the HSF is mounted on too tight as the stock HSF doesn't really let you mount it too tight.

This weekend, I'm definitely going to relap it and reapply the AS5. I applied a good amount, only because I've noticed on my P4, that applying too LITTLE causes high temps too.


Thanks for the help guys. =D Much appreciated.

[football]

I applied a good amount



That's the problem right there, and you should try and correct that immediately!

Too much silver cannot only cause high temps, but cause fatal errors that cannot be corrected. Especially true, if you did this on the ram chips?

Follow this guide, I think AS5 is at the bottom. But one thing is true, you don't want to use too much of the highly conducted AS5.. :(

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm

[MonroeM]

So it's NOT good to have AS5 on the ram chips? Or it's not good to have too much?

[MonroeM]

I'm still confused about that. It's not good to have AS5 on the ram chips?

Update: So I reapplied a thicker layer of AS5 on the core, and just a tiny dab on each ram chip. The artifacts seem to have disappeared but now the temperature monitor is reporting temps of around 100c! The highest I've seen is 103c and the lowest during a session of Hitman Contracts 86c.

Are these temps normal?! I'd hate to see the temps w/ Doom 3!!!

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated. I may have to relap it to a mirror finish.

[football]

why did you reapply a thicker layer?

did you not read the instructions in the link I posted?

AS5 on ram chips is ok, if you don't use too much. some prefer not to bother putting it on the ram chips, just for safe measure. i did put it on mine, and my ram does 1030 when I want it to. i also applied it on my GPU, and I don't think it ever reaches 50c load temps. i think I will open a game or two in window mode and test that out, i will post back later.

[MonroeM]

I did read the instructions on that page (which I already knew, but thanks). The reason I applied a thicker layer is because a thinner layer was creating artifacts. The thicker layer I applied wasn't much thicker but now it's reporting temps of ~100c. The trade-off is: no artfacts. Which is odd because it was reporting temps of ~70c before WITH artifacts. Now ~100c w/o? LOL, crazy.

Man... weak. I think I'm just going to buy an NV Silencer 4 and see how that does me, the stock HSF on this thing sucked in the first place.


Oh BTW, is it ok for the RAM chips to be hazey gray after applying AS5 (like after you wiped it off)?

[football]

I said mine never reaches 50c, that is not correct.

In quake and wolfstein, it never goes beyond 47c. But in doom, I've noticed it get's up in the 60c range! It didn't slow my performance down any, just didn't think the card got that hot. Now it is a 400/700 card running at 500/1000, so that could bring about a little heat. :) Plus, I had a couple of windows open while playing.

Please get one of those silencers, I've been wanting to see how those perform on a 5900 card.

Do you have a 5950U? Just asking, cause I want to know how the silencers work for the 256mb cards. Those need heatsinks on the top and bottom of the cards, and thus give out more heat.

[MonroeM]

Yes, I have a BFG 5900XT O/C and an MSI 5950u (current card).

I got 2 VGA Silencers a month or two ago (great deal on 'em, 10 bucks each, can't remember where though), one for my GF3, the other for the 5900. Unfortunately those aren't for 5900's... so I soldered that bad-boy to the 5900's heatsink (after I sliced it up a bit w/ the Dremel) and made it work. I haven't looked at the temps on it but the VGA Silencer got nice and hot which told me it was doing what I wanted it to.

And the NV Silencer 4 works through 5800 - 5950. It has a back-memory heatsink too (it's huge) but if you're buying it for a 5900, you don't need to use it. It's a hell of a lot bigger than the current HS that's on my card ATM, and a huge pure copper base... I definitely think I'm going to get it.

[football]

Mine would be for a 5900, but I would need to use the backplate. Just incase you don't know what mine look like, here is a pic of it.

http://www.explosivelabs.com/reviews/gainward_1300xt_tvdvi/pg2.shtml

That silencer would have to be awefully good for me to trade off what I have now, right at 60c in Doom 3 might be as good as it get's for my card and the overclock. I just played it at medium settings, and the temps never went past 55c. Hmmmmm........? That much of a temp difference just from settings? But since the other games stay under 50c, I might just keep what I have. Them again, it's pretty cold right now, and I wonder what temps I would get when it's hot?

[MonroeM]

Just bought the NV Silencer 4 from Sidewindercomputers.com for $33.00, I'll report back on how well it cools when I get it.

w/ that copper core and the hu'jass memory sinks, I'd bet I could pull off a good clock. My stock speeds are 450/950. I could already reach 500/1000 before I did my bass-ackwards lapping job, LOL.

[MonroeM]

Ok, recieved the Silencer (USPS shipping, medium order, 10 fans, XP-120, NVSilencer 4, got here in 2 days, LOL, better than FedEx from NewEgg!)

Slapped the Silencer on w/ fresh applications of AS5 and my 5950u is running at stock speed w/ temps of 38c idle, 60c 3DMark '03. Hmm... alot better than what I was getting before, I'll say that much! No more artifacts either. I'm going to see if I can get a good o/c w/o raising the temps too high. I'll loop 3DM'03 all night tonight and see if I get any better temps after the AS5 sets in a little.

Detinitely recommend the NV Silencer 4 though, a lot better than the stock MSI HSF.

[football]

You mean you did all that without posting pics? I've been waiting to see how that looks, along with your card, and you didn't take pictures? :-/

Your 38c idle temps, is that with the case closed or opened?

You mentioned you had two cards? Which one is this for, the 5900XT? But then you said better than the MSI heatsink, so is it for the 5950U?

Just wondering, it seems the 5950U should do 550/1100 with no problems.

TAKE PICS! :temper:

[MonroeM]

Yes, the Silencer was for my 5950. And yes, you'd think that it could push those speeds... but still, just the same as my other heatsink, I get artifacts if I push the speed higher than 2 clocks on either the core OR the mem. Such BS, I don't know what's wrong, I've thought of everything.

And no, I didn't take any pictures, I was too anxious to get it on. I'll take a few today when I reapply the AS5... for the last fscking time. Getting annoyed here w/ the artifacts thing. >=\

EDIT: will get some pics up tomorrow, going to an X-Mas party tonight.

[football]

It's hard to imagine you can't atleast get the clocks of my 5900XT 540/1035? But anyway, you seem to be using alot of AS5...Slow down with that stuff! :)

I would like to see how much you are actually applying to the core and memory, some pics of that would be cool!

It might be better to completely remove the old stuff, before you reapply the new stuff. I have luck removing silver with lighter fluid, then go over it with alcohol to clean the residue that might be left from the lighter fluid.

GL!

[larva]

Ok, recieved the Silencer (USPS shipping, medium order, 10 fans, XP-120, NVSilencer 4, got here in 2 days, LOL, better than FedEx from NewEgg!)

Slapped the Silencer on w/ fresh applications of AS5 and my 5950u is running at stock speed w/ temps of 38c idle, 60c 3DMark '03. Hmm... alot better than what I was getting before, I'll say that much! No more artifacts either. I'm going to see if I can get a good o/c w/o raising the temps too high. I'll loop 3DM'03 all night tonight and see if I get any better temps after the AS5 sets in a little.

Detinitely recommend the NV Silencer 4 though, a lot better than the stock MSI HSF.

Since you apparantly didn't look at the GPU temps before you lapped the stock heatsink it escaped your notice that you ruined it when you lapped it. Shiny does not = flat, and flat is more important.

[larva]

That silencer would have to be awefully good for me to trade off what I have now, right at 60c in Doom 3 might be as good as it get's for my card and the overclock. I just played it at medium settings, and the temps never went past 55c. Hmmmmm........? That much of a temp difference just from settings? But since the other games stay under 50c, I might just keep what I have. Them again, it's pretty cold right now, and I wonder what temps I would get when it's hot?

Whatever the temperature numbers you place upon it, you know the silencer is going to cool much better. It has positive mounting, large heatsink, big fan, and its own exhaust. Whatever the stock crap is doing for you the Sinlencer is bound to do better.

[Quailane]

My advice is just to remove that crappy heatspreader. With 5900's, extra cooling on the core does not = higher overclock.

[football]

Whatever the temperature numbers you place upon it, you know the silencer is going to cool much better. It has positive mounting, large heatsink, big fan, and its own exhaust. Whatever the stock crap is doing for you the Sinlencer is bound to do better.


Hmmm...........Research is always good.

The numbers I have seen from stock cooling (good stock cooling), and that with the silencer is minimal if not worst. The only trade off seems to be noise, and the two fans I have on mine does not get loud enough to justify a overhaul. So saying a silencer is bound to be better, is not the case. If all default cooling setups were the same (crappy), then I would agree.

When I actually see someone with the type of heatsink I have, revert to a silencer? Then I will know exactly what the case is. But I doubt if someone with my cooling is actually looking for something else, I was just curious (as always) about how that black and gold would look on my video card.:)

Besides that, it would also have to be worth $40 more. Meaning it would keep a 400/700 running at 530/1025 cooler than my default heatsink and fan by a bunch. My idle temps are 32c and load 40c, gaming temps anywhere between 45-60c.

Makes me wonder what I would get with it running at default 400/700?

[MonroeM]

Hmm... all good info.

@Larva, I actually didn't lap the core, fearing that I would render the card completely useless somehow. I just lapped the stock, aluminum HS. Since then, I've replaced the crap HS (which I couldn't pull a good o/c out of anyway, and the fan was quite loud) w/ the NV Silencer 4. Temps are better, but I get artifacts if I even clock 5~10 points higher. Something about that just isn't right. Either my card is crap (I could pull a 1Ghz mem clock w/ the stock setup, no artifacts, pre-lapping) or... it's something else that I just can't put my finger on.

I'm going to reapply everything today, take pictures, and show you all what I'm working w/ here.

@Football, I of course remove the old stuff w/ 91% isopropyl alcohol, and clean around everything w/ Q-tips, including the gold pins. I do this on everything that requires it. I apply a very thin layer (recommended on the AS website, half the size of a grain of rice) and spread it evenly w/ a straight-edge razor. On the RAM, I apply the SLIGHTEST amount, using the long plastic tool (can't describe it very well) that comes w/ AS Adhesive, to spread it around over the memory chips, evenly of course, making sure there's not too much as it could possibly spill over onto the board and make it's way to circuitry.

@Quailane, removing the heatspreader is of course an option, however this would be a worst-case scenerio, as it would be voiding my warranty.

[football]

Does just using alcohol remove all resident from AS5? It never worked for me by it self. I actually use three things to remove AS5 when I recieve a used card from someone, lighter fluid, nail polish remover and alcohol for the last cleaning.

I would not want to void the warranty of the 5900 you have, although technically you already have. Sending a 5900 in for repair now a days, might result in you getting a 6600 or 6800 in return LOL!

Will keep my eye on this thread, waiting for pics.:)

[Quailane]

Does just using alcohol remove all resident from AS5? It never worked for me by it self. I actually use three things to remove AS5 when I recieve a used card from someone, lighter fluid, nail polish remover and alcohol for the last cleaning.

I would not want to void the warranty of the 5900 you have, although technically you already have. Sending a 5900 in for repair now a days, might result in you getting a 6600 or 6800 in return LOL!

Will keep my eye on this thread, waiting for pics.:)

I have noticed that as5 removes at lot easier than white generic thermal paste. Regular water and soap can remove it easily as does alcohol, while it is really hard for me to clean that white goop.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Here's another thing that seems to be happening: when I ALT+TAB out of TV (Say if someone IMs me through AIM or something), when I ALT+TAB back INTO the game, it loads very slow.

I don't mean I sit there for a few seconds stairing at a black screen, it's like it draws the entire game over again. First I'll see the ground, the buildings will quickly appear, the background, the hud, the gun I'm carrying... then all of a sudden it will flash black again, then to a screen full of garbled textures, and finally back into the game normally.


That sounds like a low-on-system-RAM problem. That was common with PCs that have less than 256 MB of RAM. Chances are, you're OS got bloated. Probably required to free up some RAM. That symptom sounds like a swapping issue.
I have seen that type of symptom before.Also probably is more common with emulation, chiefly Nintendo 64 emulation, because of the large RAM requirements, even when able to run with 128 MB of RAM fine, probably because of the recompiler.

[MonroeM]

Thanks RJARRPCGP, might be that Windows is having trouble w/ my 2Gb of RAM? Maybe it's because I'm running w/ no swap file, I'd set my money on that. I'll add a 1Gb swap file and see if it still happens.


UPDATE: sorry to those who are waiting on pics tonight (hopefully you guys have more interesting lives than that, LOL), I am working on a project for a customer tonight that's due tomorrow.

[football]

UPDATE: sorry to those who are waiting on pics tonight (hopefully you guys have more interesting lives than that, LOL), I am working on a project for a customer tonight that's due tomorrow.


wasn't this wrote last night?

[MonroeM]

Alright, just finished COMPLETELY cleaning off all the AS5, cotton-swabbing around all the circuitry and pins, reapplying a thinner, more even layer of AS5, and reapplying the HSF.

I'd explain more indepth but I was out Wardriving all night/morning so I'm extremely tired. Basically the first few pictures are right after I took the HSF off and shows the AS5 job I did previously. Then comes cleaning everything off, I used Goo Off and 91% isopropyl alcohol w/ cotton swabs. The last few pictures show how much AS5 I used on the core, the smooth application of the AS5, and the finished behemoth product (the NVS4 is quite big). BTW, if you're wondering, that white plastic thing w/ the gray goop at the end is how much AS5 I used on each mem... thing. God I'm tired. I screwed the screws 2 turns each, one after the other, in a circle, so it should have good contact w/ the core.

Anyway, I popped the card in, artifacts occur in 3DM'03 w/o o/c'ing now. Wonderful. I'm going to test the card in my test system and see if the artifacts still occur. If not... FutureMark has a POS product on their hands. I'm sure it's something to do w/ the card though.

FEEDBACK WOULD BE WONDERFUL! On how I applied everything and whatnot.


Picture linkage (http://www.diablonet.net/~kelly/22/)

[Quailane]

Take off the heatspreader.

[football]

That could be anything, memory, core. As much as I hate to do this, I will take mine apart. I just don't remember appying that much stuff, I will have to see. To be frank about it, I think I just put a dab in the middle and that's it. So I'm a bit curious to how it will look. Just don't know why you are getting artifect city, the blows! But it does seem to have something to do with the silencer, since you didn't have that before?

O'well, nice pics!

Try reinstalling the game from a different download, your file could be currupted?

I'm going to look under the hood of mine, bbl.


EDIT

Too much work!

Forget taking that thing apart again, can't do it. You might have to take off the spreader, but that shouldn't have anything to do with you running a bench without artifact at default speeds. You might need to get that thing up and running, and sell it with NV while it is still worth something? You should beable to get quite a bit for it on ebay, just make sure it is running default speeds before you sell it. I would go that route, before taking off the heatspreader.

[MonroeM]

Ok, tested the card in my test system, worked w/ NO artifacts. So it has something to do w/ my system then. WTF? Anyone have any ideas?

Same drivers in test system, DX9c, no o/c'ing...

BTW, recently my PSU fan is reporting 0RPM's in ASUS's PC Probe, yet the fan seems to be working fine. I've been reading online that you can get artifacts in your system when a PSU can't handle everything in your system. Maybe it's my PSU? I plan on buying another Sparkle 550w since I just got like... 10 new Delta high CFM fans in my system.

Any thoughts?

EDIT: Been reading more and 70~80c is normal for the 5950u's. Strange. Just ordered a new PSU, will report back when it arrives.

[football]

EDIT: Been reading more and 70~80c is normal for the 5950u's. Strange. Just ordered a new PSU, will report back when it arrives.



A good PSU is always good!

I heard even 90c is normal, but that shouldn't be the case with a non overclocked card and a NV? I'm well under those numbers with default heatsink and a very high overclock, so I would think 60c should be your max?

How does your card run in games? Test it with high settings, since that seems to add the heat to my card. Play Doom 3 in window mode, showing the temperature of the card?

[football]

Seeing that they are using some sort of paste if any under the heatspreader, I might be tempted to remove mine. Atleast, if it was running hot I would.

Check these pics out?

Scroll down abit to see them, might be worth a try for you?


http://home.t-online.de/home/TobiWahnKenobi/FXPRO.htm

[MonroeM]

Hmm... I may remove the heatspreader if I can't find any resolution to this annoyng problem. I don't know if it would work though, it the HS on the NVS4 is flush w/ the heatspreader and the RAM. If I were to remove the heatspreader, the NVS4 wouldn't be able to touch the core. =\

[football]

Hmm... I may remove the heatspreader if I can't find any resolution to this annoyng problem. I don't know if it would work though, it the HS on the NVS4 is flush w/ the heatspreader and the RAM. If I were to remove the heatspreader, the NVS4 wouldn't be able to touch the core. =\


I'm pretty sure that will flex enough with pressure to sit flush on the core, can't see that not working?

Of course if it doesn't and you turn on the system, it's toast! Yea, that's enough to deter me from doing that, although there's a risk in just about anything you do now a days.

I know I would try it, if I had your situation. Ask Q how well his default heatsink sits, now that there's no spreader on it?

[Quailane]

Ask Q how well his default heatsink sits, now that there's no spreader on it?

The heatsink actually made good contact with the core. There was a lot of pressure on it before, and now there must be a bit less, but the contact is all there. It also got good contact with my zalman heatpipe cooler. If you remove the heatspreader and test it to see if it makes good contact and it doesn't it should be no trouble to glue it back on around the edges with super glue where there was the black glue. Just get it off with a razor blade so that you don't pull it off from a corner and bend it up, rendering it useless. The thermal goo they have under the heatspreader is more like rubber than paste or goo.

[MonroeM]

There is no flex room on the RAM part of the HS (I took the heatspreader off). I'll have to take a picture for you. So what I'm going to do is sand the RAM part down to sit flush w/ the core. They need to be sanded down probably 4~6mm (yes, that's how much of a gap), then I'll lap them the best I can. I'll probably do this within the next few days. Wish me luck.

[football]

There is no flex room on the RAM part of the HS (I took the heatspreader off). I'll have to take a picture for you. So what I'm going to do is sand the RAM part down to sit flush w/ the core. They need to be sanded down probably 4~6mm (yes, that's how much of a gap), then I'll lap them the best I can. I'll probably do this within the next few days. Wish me luck.


Wow! GL!

Man, that's a lot of dough going down the drain if you F something up. A 5950U with Silencer could net a 6600GT.:)

I sure hope everything works out, I have my fingers crossed that it does. Did you do as Q said? Apply some white stuff on the memory and core, then seat the heatsink. Afterwards, take everything apart and see if the core left white stuff on the heatsink? Meaning, it made contact?

Oh, and how well does the default heatsink work now that the heatspreader is off? And did they use enough "whatever" between the core and heatspreader?

One more thing.....You might want to sell or trade the NV for a Zalman, I would hate to see you mess your card up.:(

[MonroeM]

I'm going to see how well the stock HSF works now that I'm working on [carefully] sanding the NVS4. It'll take a few days... though I could probably get it done tonight if I went and got some sandpaper.

I'll report back w/ details.

[MonroeM]

HOLY FSCKING ****!!! I just installed the hold stock HSF and my idle temps are 33c, load 47c during Proxycon test in 3DM03!!! When I took off the heatspreader, it looked like some of the "rubbery goop" crap had worn off... but even w/ the heatspreader on, I don't think I would've been able to get temps like this!

Football! Void that warranty! Take your heatspreader off! I can't wait to play around w/ the clock speeds after I lap the NV4S. I'm definitely going to do it this afternoon. Merry X-Mas to me! xD

UPDATE: o/c core from 475 to 500, load temp of 65c
UPDATE: o/c from 500 - 560, load temp of still 65c!! Not a single artifact!!! w00000000t!

EDIT: Does anyone know if I push my card to 600mhz, could it kill my card even though the temps are below 80c?


EDIT: sorry for the swear mods, but I think a huge temp drop + o/c possibilities warrants a *nix checkdisk + the 'S' word. xD

[football]

That's good news MonroeM!

I rather see this, than you screwing your card up. That was a nice tip from Q, and I hope you get the results you want. Running the card at a clock speed it can handle, should not mess it up in the short run. 5950's should beable to do 550-650 core, and 1000-1200 memory. If I knew mine would do 600 core, I would take the heatspreader off in a hot second!

You seem to have something fun to do, Merry Christmas!:santa2:

[MonroeM]

That's good news MonroeM!

I rather see this, than you screwing your card up. That was a nice tip from Q, and I hope you get the results you want. Running the card at a clock speed it can handle, should not mess it up in the short run. 5950's should beable to do 550-650 core, and 1000-1200 memory. If I knew mine would do 600 core, I would take the heatspreader off in a hot second!

You seem to have something fun to do, Merry Christmas!:santa2:

Yeah, definitely a good X-Mas present for me. xD

Anyway, I'm still testing, I seem to be locking up at least once through the 4-game test @ 550mhz core, and I'm hitting about 69c at the most (the lock-ups only happen for about 5-secs of a test). I don't know if the locking-up is due to the o/c or Diskeeper in the background trying to defrag my HDDs when I keep delaying it 12 hours. It doesn't seem to like that for some reason.

But w/ 530/975 core/mem, I'm getting close to 7,000 3dmarks in the game tests alone. I don't know if that's good or not (just purchased a 3DM'03 license, I'm used to working more w/ 3DM'01) but to see SOME increase in o/c'ing ability and a huge drop in temps, is awesome.

I can't wait to lap the NVS4. I could probably push it further than the stock aluminum HSF, plus the NV4's mem sinks are much better/bigger than the stock.

UPDATE: Ok, the lock-ups are due to the o/c. I started seeing artifacts in the Troll test. Probably due to insufficient cooling (the alu stock HS) and an AS5 application I did last night (I mounted it this morning though). I'm going to leave the card in @ stock speeds until I'm finished lapping the NVS4. Then I'll install the NVS4 and try pushing it back up to 565 (where it locks-up and I notice the artifacts).

Awesome though, I can't wait. Thanks goes to everyone who has helped me through this (I'm a geek, I know, I get stressed when something's wrong w/ my box, LOL) especially Q and Football!

I'll keep this thread updated w/ more pics and updates on my progress. Now my new dilema is how to mount my thermal probe on the card and get a fairly accurate reading. =\

[MonroeM]

Well I sanded the damn thing down to near nothing (on accident) and now the heatsinks dont fit the MEMORY! LOL, 35 bucks in the trash. Ah well, live and learn I s'pose.

So I'm back to stock HSF for the time being. I may try Zalman's heatpipe cooler... since I have a 3600CFM Delta blowing directly onto the card.

Now that I think about it, the NVS4 isn't all that great. Sure it's got a huge copper base and all but what the stock HS has going for it is seperate memory heatsinks. The NV has the core hooked to the mem... so it adds more heat to both the mem and core. Kinda lame design, IMO.

Got my probe mounted right next to the core though, reads about -5c less than what the internal probe reads, which isn't bad. Just gotta remember to add 5 when I'm looking at the Fan Master. =D

[football]

I mentioned before you did anything to that silencer, to trade it for a zalman. I'm sure you would have found a few people willing to make that trade, so you're really out of $35 now. With that being said, it is still useable. You can still disassemble the heatsink base from the silencer, and just use seperate memory sinks for the top of the card. You still could use the back plate, so no need for adding anything there. This might be a better solution for you anyway, since it doesn't seem that the silencer add any cooling to the top rams with it's configuration. If you can't just take the white plate off, I'm sure it would saw off.:)

[buddhafumes]

Wow. I had to put the largest amount ever of As5 on my good old Fx5900 epv. Those things need a **** load of AS5. My RAM also needed tons of AS5. I remember when i first put as5 on my bro was pressuring me to put a little amount of as5, but i booted up and i got temps of above 70 degrees celsius. I put on quite a but (a couple millimeters at least) and got good results. Now, It seems like you could of accidentally put some as5 on some lead or something causing problems. If not, then perhaps you damaged the core actually (check for cracks, dents, etc). None of those, well then I dont know.

[Quailane]

I'm glad to have helped. I can't wait to get a new 5900 from newegg refurbs. I just need to figure out which one to get.

[football]

I'm glad to have helped. I can't wait to get a new 5900 from newegg refurbs. I just need to figure out which one to get.


Since you volt mod your cards, does it matter which?

The cheapest I've seen thus far is this one.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-122-183R&type=Refurbished

But for $10 more you can get this one. :drool:

Damn, it even has VIVO! It's a Golden Sample, so I'm sure there will be no problem with it doing atleast 500/1000. Man, wish mine had VIVO.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-128-157R&type=Refurbished

Here is the specs on that card, it is not a XT it's a high powered nu with hand picked GPU and memory.

http://www.gainwardusa.com/products/vga_1200xp_spec.htm

[MonroeM]

Since you volt mod your cards, does it matter which?

The cheapest I've seen thus far is this one.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-122-183R&type=Refurbished

But for $10 more you can get this one. :drool:

Damn, it even has VIVO! It's a Golden Sample, so I'm sure there will be no problem with it doing atleast 500/1000. Man, wish mine had VIVO.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-128-157R&type=Refurbished

Here is the specs on that card, it is not a XT it's a high powered nu with hand picked GPU and memory.

http://www.gainwardusa.com/products/vga_1200xp_spec.htm


Damn that looks nice. I've got a nice BFG 5900XT O/C w/ a VGA silencer jerry-rigged into it. Since I sliced up the stock HSF to mount the VGA silencer on it, I've already voided the warranty... hmm, I might have to remove the core and see if I can't o/c it some more. xD

Running quite stable at 530/950 w/ stock HSF... at load temps of about 65c. I can't seem to push the RAM to 1000 w/o failing the internal clock test. =\ Gotta get some better RAM sinks or something.

Does anyone know if the RAM sinks that protrude upwards (like TweakMonsters or OCZ) cool better than ones that are flat and go over all of the mem? It seems to me like they would since the heat is carried upwards and dissapates instead of spreading over the rest of the mem.

[MonroeM]

Anyway, yeah, that new Zalman VGA cooler looks nice. And it definitely looks like it'll have no problem fitting over the core. w/ all copper and a lot bigger fan, I'm sure I'll be able to get close to 600. This stock alu HSF doesn't do too bad but copper would be much better. After X-Mas, I think I'll look into ordering it w/ some OCZ ramsinks as well. What do you think Football?

[football]

Hell yeah that looks nice! Looks just like mine, without the large heatplate on the back due to 256mb.

Unless that 5900XT has atleast 2.2ns memory, I can't see it running or being stable at 1000mhz. The rated speed for 2.2ns memory is 908mhz, so it's not a guarantee either. But anything short of 2.2ns is a waste to try and run at 1000mhz. Seeing that you can buy coolers from Gainward, have you ever thought of doing that? Even for that 5950U you have, that would be a good option.

You would think the higher the heatsink, the better the cooling would be. But as you can see, the heatsink on mine and the card I posted have one slot solutions and they cool great! Could be because of the two fans, but the cooling is optimal. I used OCZ heatsinks on my 9600xt, and they did fairly well. I didn't get the highest overclock on ram, but I think it was doomed from the start.

Speaking of test. Can you not just disable testing of overclocking with rivatuner? I belive you can disable that feature, just never had to. Also, try to use Gainward's EXPERTool to allow higher overclocks?

[football]

Anyway, yeah, that new Zalman VGA cooler looks nice. And it definitely looks like it'll have no problem fitting over the core. w/ all copper and a lot bigger fan, I'm sure I'll be able to get close to 600. This stock alu HSF doesn't do too bad but copper would be much better. After X-Mas, I think I'll look into ordering it w/ some OCZ ramsinks as well. What do you think Football?


I think that's a good idea!

Why not make the most of what we have?

[MonroeM]

Yeah definitely, w/ all the 6**0GT/Ultra's out there that cost an arm and a leg... I'd rather spend ~$60 on better cooling for my current card and squeeze every possible frame out of it. I really like the idea of the dual 6600's that have been talked about here on the forums. Doesn't look like they'll be coming out TOO soon though, and I can run HL2 perfectly so I'm in no rush.

Eventually I'll probably sell the modded 5950 to a customer who isn't looking for the best of the best. Then I'll probably grab a newer card. *sigh* Another year, another computer part in the bin. We seriously need to break Moore's Law and hit a huge problem w/ silicon... or not, I don't want to jinx it now. LOL

Anyway, back to testing w/ 3DM'03. Getting ~6900... =(

[football]

I'm waiting to upgrade my computer to all new specifications before I think about another video card, just not worth it right now for me. If I'm playing high detail at 800/600 - 1024/768 with my crappy system and monitor, then there is nothing more I need. Untill I see I'm getting my butt kicked in on-line gaming (my love), then I'm surely not in no hurry. When I have enough money saved and better cards are out, I will be in a position to build a pretty nice system.

I'm thinking by that time, ATI will have one hell of a card out. x900Platinum or somethin, LOL!

Right now? Give me a faster CPU and RAM, and life would really be good....A larger PSU would make it just as good..:D

[MonroeM]

Hehe, I actually just built and sold an XP2400+ to a customer. It wasn't half-bad, I must admit. I've built P4 2Ghz that ended up performing worse. For an AMD (I'm an Intel guy personally, but AMD is cheaper), it was pretty nice.

BTW Football, since it says you're online ATM (or at least at the time of me typing this), help me clear a dispute between a friend of mine up, will ya'? I don't know a whole lot about AMD CPUs but general computing tells me that a 2400+ (266FSB) uses PC2100 RAM, am I correct? My buddy has a 2500+ (333FSB) and SWEARS that it utilizes the entire bandwidth of his 2 sticks of PC3200. Now as we all know, PC3200 is 400Mhz. and I tried telling my friend this (who is quite the know-it-all and extremely gullible) but he still swears that his 2500+ (@ stock speed BTW) can take full advantage of his 400Mhz RAM.

Is he wrong or am I missing something w/ AMD?

[football]

I could be logged on to this site, but I'm most likely somewhere else...ie another site or even playing quake or ET.:)

[Quailane]

Thanks football, I'm getting that gainward 5900 as soon as I can, ie monday. I just need to cash some checks at the bank and put some cash in my checking account as it is 1 dollar too little to order that card! I hope it stays there for a few days!

Also, speaking of ram, the ram in my dad's new 6800le doesn't get past 800Mhz. The memory in my dead 5900xt got up to 1.1Ghz in games without heatsinks or volt-mod to them! I wish I could remove them and put them on my new 5900 I'll be ordering on monday.

One thing I have noticed about the zalman heatsink is that the back half of it is completely not necessary. I was getting same OC with the front as I got with both, and the heatpipe was on there with arctic silver too.

[Quailane]

That refurbished gainward disappeared, so I just bought the leadtek 5900xt. I'm going to wait a few weeks to mod this one. Plus, I was already designing and planning on a 170 watt 50mm peltier for the 5900xt that fits perfectly with the mounting holes and pcb layout of the squared memory 5900xt as opposed to the angled mem of the 5900.

[football]

That refurbished gainward disappeared


Heck yeah someone was going to snatch that up!

I should have just PM'ed you that information, I'm sure someone seen that and bought it ASAP!

That's a 5900nu that might do 600/1040 with no mod..:(
And, you get VIVO! A 9600 or 5700 with VIVO cost atleast that, wish I had it. I was going to say wait, seeing this might be a trend? If they start selling off 5900U's and nu's with VIVO for $150 or less, that could really be a plus for us poor gamers. Not saying you are one, but I'm definitely one.:D

I guess I will just look for a TV capture card with remote, I really want a nice TV/computer setup.

MonroeM

I can run memory with at a different BUS speed than my CPU, so surely it's possible that your friend can use that RAM at full. To it's fullest? Dunno?

I want PC3200 RAM, just to overclock my system to 2.4, with the memory running in dual mode with 2.0CL.:)

Yes, this thoroughbred 2400+ does 2.4 :)

It's about time for us to make a small 5900 clan, and see if we can start swapping old parts and stuff. It's hard to do that with my buddies from Germany. :burn:

Anyway....Whoever got that Gainward, got one hell of a deal!

[Quailane]

I sold my motherboard and processor anticipating an athlon 64, but after buying the video card I will have to settle for socket 754 and a 2800+. Oh well, at least I can still carry out my mods on the video card and use it in my stepdad's comp.

[buddhafumes]

A 5900 clan would be good. I am happy with both of my Albatron EPV's that get 555/978 and 510/579. 5900's are good cards some people just have vendettas against them.