Cooling solution for X1900xtx

[boead]

Cooling solution for X1900xtx

I’ve been reading lots and found a Toms Hardware article interesting where they show the stock ATI cooler performing the very best and the very worst. The best (coolest) with the fan running high and the worst (hottest) with the fan running low. That’s very interesting since it actually was capable of keeping the card the coolest on high over all the other coolers with their fans on high.
Since ATI tools lets you set some nice dynamic changes in fan speed to heat, I found that the noise isn’t bothersome while I’m gaming. I mean, I’m first, really into the game play and second, I have the game music and sounds pumping out at me I don’t’ really care about the fan noise. When the machine is idle, the fan noise is very low and not all that quieter then the aftermarket cooler.

I am using a Zalman fan bracket to hover a 90mm fan over the main board pushing air onto the NB and power regulators. Its very effective and a lot quieter then small 40mm fans on the NB itself. I also use a fan speed controller so I can tune the entire system to be very quiet, I mean the hard drives are by far the loudest thing in the case. When I’m gaming, I can easily turn the fans up to keep it cooler.

My aging LianLi case has become cramped and ventilation is not the best by todays standards. I might cut a hole in the side and mount a thin 120mm fan to help vet the case better.

So in looking at VGA coolers, I found that most protrude above the card and will inhibit me from using the Zalman bracket or possibly mounting a side case panel fan. There just isn’t enough room.

I found this cooler, anyone using it?
Antazone AS-V1000 (passive) and AS-V1100 (active)
Its large, but doesn’t appear like it will block the Zalman bracket and its only $27 at newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835701002

http://www.etmag.com/showcase/taiwan/company/CompTake/CompTake.htm

http://www.comptake.com/news-2006.htm

http://www.comptake.com/images/2006-A88.jpg



My system:

http://208.185.94.62/pics/Core2/Core2Duo004.jpg

http://208.185.94.62/pics/Core2/Core2Duo006.jpg

[jcw122]

YIKES! How about some wire/tubing clean up? That would improve general air flow for sure.

[squads]

There's just too much stuff in that mid-sized case. I have a similar size case and haven't moved to water cooling because it would be cramped like that.

[nd4spdbh2]

Cooling solution for X1900xtx

I’ve been reading lots and found a Toms Hardware article interesting where they show the stock ATI cooler performing the very best and the very worst. The best (coolest) with the fan running high and the worst (hottest) with the fan running low. That’s very interesting since it actually was capable of keeping the card the coolest on high over all the other coolers with their fans on high.
Since ATI tools lets you set some nice dynamic changes in fan speed to heat, I found that the noise isn’t bothersome while I’m gaming. I mean, I’m first, really into the game play and second, I have the game music and sounds pumping out at me I don’t’ really care about the fan noise. When the machine is idle, the fan noise is very low and not all that quieter then the aftermarket cooler.

I am using a Zalman fan bracket to hover a 90mm fan over the main board pushing air onto the NB and power regulators. Its very effective and a lot quieter then small 40mm fans on the NB itself. I also use a fan speed controller so I can tune the entire system to be very quiet, I mean the hard drives are by far the loudest thing in the case. When I’m gaming, I can easily turn the fans up to keep it cooler.

My aging LianLi case has become cramped and ventilation is not the best by todays standards. I might cut a hole in the side and mount a thin 120mm fan to help vet the case better.

So in looking at VGA coolers, I found that most protrude above the card and will inhibit me from using the Zalman bracket or possibly mounting a side case panel fan. There just isn’t enough room.

I found this cooler, anyone using it?
Antazone AS-V1000 (passive) and AS-V1100 (active)
Its large, but doesn’t appear like it will block the Zalman bracket and its only $27 at newegg. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835701002

http://www.etmag.com/showcase/taiwan/company/CompTake/CompTake.htm

http://www.comptake.com/news-2006.htm

http://www.comptake.com/images/2006-A88.jpg



My system:

http://208.185.94.62/pics/Core2/Core2Duo004.jpg

http://208.185.94.62/pics/Core2/Core2Duo006.jpg


a case that cramped is why i went with a Lian Li V2000b Plus 2 for just air cooling... and only 2 hds 1 cd drive floppy and fan crontroler. and 2 add in cards... gfx and sound.

also by the looks of even the passive cooler with a fan mounted on it i dont think it would performe nearly as good as a VF900.... this is another reason i chose a 7900gt KO 512 over a x1900xt / xtx i can get nice nice temps with an aftermarket cooler and be only about 5% less in performance.

[boead]

YIKES! How about some wire/tubing clean up? That would improve general air flow for sure.
That is ”cleaned up” notice the wire wraps and nylon tubes? :-/

Flow isn’t really a problem, The LianLi only has a single 80mm exhaust out the back. Many cases today have 120mm rear exhaust’s and side ports. Since I suck cool air in through two 80mm front ports, through the rads and into the case, I really need to exhaust the warm air faster or not introduce any more hot air in the case. As things are right now, all is fine. System temps are low, even under load I hardly hit 50ºc. But the X1900 gets VERY hot. Pump that air out the back instead on in the case is working well, but if I switch to an aftermarket cooler, that heat may become an issue.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/08/30/vga_heat_pipe_cooler_roundup_2006/

[vixro]

Or since you already have a cramped case you could just water cool your card, couldnt you?

[posrx7]

I'd just chop holes inside your side panel.

Make 2 120mm side vents.

One up high by the proc - exhaust

One low below the 1900 - intake

I'm running a v1 ultra. You could reverse the fan on the sink. It basically blows downwards. You could blow it upwards away from the card if you're worried about the card temp. The new exhaust and the new intake fans should handle the fact that its exhausting in your case.

Dont think you can fit the v1 with that huge zalman bracket though.

[boead]

I'd just chop holes inside your side panel.

Make 2 120mm side vents.

One up high by the proc - exhaust

One low below the 1900 - intake

I'm running a v1 ultra. You could reverse the fan on the sink. It basically blows downwards. You could blow it upwards away from the card if you're worried about the card temp. The new exhaust and the new intake fans should handle the fact that its exhausting in your case.

Dont think you can fit the v1 with that huge zalman bracket though.

Thanks good advice.

I was planning on water cooling but I was afraid of heating the system up. The darn 1900xtx gets very HOT.


What do you think about this Antazone AS-V1100?

Does anyone make a nice large CPU-like heatsink that mounts to the GPU?

[jcw122]

Or since you already have a cramped case you could just water cool your card, couldnt you?

Look at the radiator he has...single 80mm (if I'm seeing it right)...I really doubt the loop will be able to handle a 1900xtx

[redrumy3]

im using this on my x1800xt 512mb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835150072

theres a review of it in my sig it does way better job then the stock fan.

[boead]

Look at the radiator he has...single 80mm (if I'm seeing it right)...I really doubt the loop will be able to handle a 1900xtx

Nope, not seeing it right – look here. There are two radiators with two 80mm fans (one on each).

http://208.185.94.62/pics/Core2/Core2Duo005.jpg

[posrx7]

Thanks good advice.

I was planning on water cooling but I was afraid of heating the system up. The darn 1900xtx gets very HOT.


What do you think about this Antazone AS-V1100?

Does anyone make a nice large CPU-like heatsink that mounts to the GPU?


Antazone is untested.

I tried finding reviews for a month or two before I gave up and bought the v1 ultra.

You'll basically be a guinea pig for a product that may or may not perform well.

[tommcd64]

If you are going to use air cooling and oc I would go with the v1 ultra, accelero x2, or the thermalright h3.

[posrx7]

If you are going to use air cooling and oc I would go with the v1 ultra, accelero x2, or the thermalright h3.

This product was just released, and I'm guessing better than the v1 ultra.

The mounting system is better than the v1 ultra too.

[cooter]

I would say the most affordable, best performing solution in your case would be a waterblock.