Voodoo5 cooling question

[Godfodda]

I think this is more of a general cooling question rather than video card, but if it needs to be moved to the other forum, please do.

I have a Voodoo 5 5500 in the 866@1.1 machine in my sig. Last night while working on airflow in the case, I noticed that the backside of the GPUs was quite warm (warm enough to be uncomfortable to touch). I know. I can see your surprise, its being hot @ 85 AGP bus. Imagine that! :D

I still have the factory HSFs on them, but since they're so warm (and I'm not planning on backing down the FSB) I'm looking for ideas on what to put on them instead. I don't overclock the card and don't game, so I'm not looking for top-of-the-line cooling, just something cheap that will cool better than stock so I don't burn the card up. Will a simple reseating with thermal compound work (with the stock coolers)? If not, what's a cheap HSF that will easily work on it?

Forgive my ignorance. I've seen posts regarding this one or that one, but never pay attention since it hasn't been anything that could help me out. :rolleyes: TIA

[The Doors]

Hi Godfodda,
I'll consider the ThermalTake CrystalOrb, here (http://thermaltake.com/) for more info ;)

[Godfodda]

Originally posted by The Doors
Hi Godfodda,
I'll consider the ThermalTake CrystalOrb, here (http://thermaltake.com/) for more info ;)


It's very cool looking, but does it actually work? Looks like there isn't much room for air to actually move through all those "blades" above the fan. :) I'd have to take a Dremel and chop some things off. :D

[The Doors]

It's an Idea ;)
but you can also consider one of the Copper HS for vid card, but at the moment I don't remember where I founded this kind of Cooler :rolleyes:

[Silversinksam]

I remember my Voodoo 5, it was so hot running I was thinking about adding a roticere<sp> rack to bake chickens in my pc case.


I added two blue orbs as 3dfx used poor quality control when they put on the thermal adhesive.


In the Immortal words of Bladerunner:

"The Gluing on of sinks by manufactures is a completely different league though and horrible at best. At least the Radeons don't get that hot I suppose, but Voodoo 5's were appalling in the heatsink bonding. Most looked like a bunch of untrained monkeys had applied some thick grunge sparingly with a baseball bat and the heatsink had been randomly dropped on to the card by a passing helicopter. "



You can get cheap Arctic alumina adhesive here with free shipping and they sell the Crystal and blue orbs reasonable.

http://www.svcompucycle.com/


I would recommend an IU cooler but I dont remember if it would fit the Voodoo's GPU's layout
http://www.nexfan.com/29/cat29.htm?356

Millesec sells some that will fit as they are smaller than IU coolers

http://www.millisec.com/graphics-chipset-coolers.html

[Godfodda]

Thanks for the response so far. Looks like the blorb is pretty cheap and the crystal one isn't too bad. And I think I could make the 1U coolers work with a little drilling and tapping. Sam, did the blorbs make a difference in your chip temps? I know they won't freeze, but cooler than an oven is better. :)

Any more suggestions? On the nexfan link, I saw some very cheap CPU coolers that I could probably make work, but I think their weight might be an issue. ??

[Silversinksam]

It made a big differense on the Voodoo5 That sucker just plain runs hot!!

The Blue orbs usually always need to be lapped/But with the Voodoo you gotta buy two.

You know these coolers although not quite as good as a blue orb are a good alternative to the Voodoo's stock coolers and they are cheap:
$3.95
http://www.mpja.com/pictures/12813.jpg

http://www.mpja.com/product.asp?product=12813+FN

Tennmax sells this same cooler at thier site for $18.95

SVC sells Arctic Alumina Adhesive for $7.95 with free shipping

http://www.svcompucycle.com/

[dreadlord79]

Hey Godfadda, I ran a question about which was better about 2wks back debating the BOrb and the COrb. The Crystal Orb won out. You don't have to lap these and while they do cost more, the performacne is better then the BOrb even with the top on it. Remeber that the Crystal Orb is just coated will tin to make it shiny. It has a heart of copper though. ;) If I were you, I'd go with the COrb and some Arctic Silver Epoxy or as mentioned above the "Alumina" line. Might I also recommend getting some Ram Sinks made of copper. Everything that I has told you about here can be found here: http://www.crazypc.com/products/cooling/cooling.htm#cardcoolers
Good hunting. :)