BFG Tech 8800GT OC w/Zalman VF1000 Reveiw

[ImprtRcr]

As I promised, my review for the Zalman VF1000 (http://www.zalman.com/ENG/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=276)on a BFG Tech 8800GT OC 512 MB card.

All testing was done with RivaTuner v2.06 and temperatures confirmed with GPU-Z.

I used Artic Silver 5 for the processor and the memory heat sinks that came with the package.

Ambient Temp: 71f

Stock Cooler:

No load or web browsing
45.5c: stock speed
36c: %100 speed

Load or gaming
67.3c: stock speed
49.5c: %100 speed

VF1000 Cooler:

No load or web browsing
28.5c
Load or gaming
34.5c

*Please note* The VF1000 is directly connected to the motherboard as a chassis fan so the fan speed is the same at %100. You can not hear it, at all :)


Pictures:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/DSCF2956.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/DSCF2958.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/DSCF2961.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/DSCF2963.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/DSCF2965.jpg

I will have a 3DMark06 score up tomorrow after I get my new RAM. I have four sticks of 512 which is totally killing my OC at the moment. I bought OCZ Platinum 2 x 1GB :)

Edit: Can a Mod please change the title word "Reveiw" to it's correct spelling. Thanks.

[Brolloks]

This is a great review, can you do me a favor and run FUR (http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/)for 10 minutes and let me know what the GPU temps are.

Run it at 640 x 480, disable full screen, enable 4 x AA and choose the stability testing option

thanks man, I'm gonna put my VF-1000 on the 8800GTS and see if I can increase the OC

[Tankshagswell]

I have one installed and on idle it'll run around 36-37C and on gaming load it'll run anywhere from 41-47C, and I put additional heatsinks on the smaller chipsets on the board. I have the VF1000 running at 100%.

I've got three fans running as well: 2 150mm (one in front by the HDD, one in back by the power supply) and 1 90mm in the case door.

Here's where I doc'ed my install (http://jromi.blogspot.com/2008/01/8800more-lanes-your-friendly.html). Any feedback on how to lower the temps?

[Brolloks]

I have one installed and on idle it'll run around 36-37C and on gaming load it'll run anywhere from 41-47C, and I put additional heatsinks on the smaller chipsets on the board. I have the VF1000 running at 100%.

I've got three fans running as well: 2 150mm (one in front by the HDD, one in back by the power supply) and 1 90mm in the case door.

Here's where I doc'ed my install (http://jromi.blogspot.com/2008/01/8800more-lanes-your-friendly.html). Any feedback on how to lower the temps?


Those temps are low enough already, start OCing it and see how far it goes.

*Edit* Nice review on the blog BTW

[Humpz]

This is a great review :)

This is the card and cooler that i am going with and just happen to stumble across this thread :)

Was it a straight forward install ? what did you have to do ?

I am asking because i have never fitted a fan to a VGA card so would like some advice on what i need to do etc :)

[ImprtRcr]

This is a great review, can you do me a favor and run FUR (http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/)for 10 minutes and let me know what the GPU temps are.

Run it at 640 x 480, disable full screen, enable 4 x AA and choose the stability testing option

thanks man, I'm gonna put my VF-1000 on the 8800GTS and see if I can increase the OC

Most welcome! I believe this is what you are wanting:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/88bench.jpg

I guess it gets a little warmer while benching, but who plays FUR. I tested it on Crysis on High settings in multi-player and campaign. It reads 44.3 if its hard to see.

This is a great review :)

This is the card and cooler that i am going with and just happen to stumble across this thread :)

Was it a straight forward install ? what did you have to do ?

I am asking because i have never fitted a fan to a VGA card so would like some advice on what i need to do etc :)

About as straight forward as can be. I used care of course and took about 30min tops. This is my first time as well. I also used Artic Silver 5 instead of the Zalman paste that comes with it.

Thanks for the comments guys :beer:

On another note, I am trying to get my Opty 165 stable at 3.0GHz but I can not find the right combo. Any ideas on what clocks to use? Here is my Bios and a CPU-z shot:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/DSCF2966.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/CPU-01.jpg

It's not Prime95 stable but I can run benches on it.

[Brolloks]

Thanks

Yes, FUR is about as much stress you can throw at that core.

Have you OC'ed the card, you should get some good results with your cooling solution. Look forward to it :)

[ImprtRcr]

Thanks

Yes, FUR is about as much stress you can throw at that core.

Have you OC'ed the card, you should get some good results with your cooling solution. Look forward to it :)

That is next! Any tips on my Opty issue? I would like to get it stable to get some good OC'ing out of my 8800 with out crashing and such.

[Brolloks]

That is next! Any tips on my Opty issue? I would like to get it stable to get some good OC'ing out of my 8800 with out crashing and such.

What is your stock speed and timings on your RAM, the bios screenshot is of the RAM settings, not the CPU setting?

[ScottinIndy]

That is next! Any tips on my Opty issue? I would like to get it stable to get some good OC'ing out of my 8800 with out crashing and such.


Take a little time and read through this thread, There is also another thread stickied on O.C.ing a-64's and Optys in the AMD Cpu section of the forums, I think you will find some nice tips and tweaks for you to get the most out of your opty.


http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=427461

[ImprtRcr]

What is your stock speed and timings on your RAM, the bios screenshot is of the RAM settings, not the CPU setting?

That is the ram config shot. The stock settings on the ram is CL 2-3-2-5
These (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_el_ddr_pc_3200_dual_channel_platinum)are exactly it.

[ImprtRcr]

Well, if anyone else has anymore ideas, feel free to let me know.

As far as a 3DMark06 score, I went from 9658 with a x2 4200 at 2.75 to 10,870 with an Opty 165 at 2.95. I got it to 3.0 but it's stable at 2.92.

I'm sure the VF1000 helped. Some pictures to sum things up:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/DSCF2973.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v146/lucy_fer/DSCF2972.jpg

[Brolloks]

Nice pictures man, you should go work for one of these official online hardware review companies :beer:

just noticed you have some mosfets to the right of your card that needs cooling desperately, these ones, market in yellow

[ps2cho]

My MSI VF1000 hits 33c Idle and 53c full load 100% fan. With the fan at 50%, it hits 57c full load.

I really wanna get some ramsinks so I can overclock comfortably!

Also Brollocks, isn't there a couple of mosfets on the back of the card too?

[Brolloks]

My MSI VF1000 hits 33c Idle and 53c full load 100% fan. With the fan at 50%, it hits 57c full load.

I really wanna get some ramsinks so I can overclock comfortably!

Also Brollocks, isn't there a couple of mosfets on the back of the card too?

Yes, this one in particular http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?p=5470044

[Humpz]

Nice pictures man, you should go work for one of these official online hardware review companies :beer:

just noticed you have some mosfets to the right of your card that needs cooling desperately, these ones, market in yellow

What do you use to cool them ???

[Brolloks]

What do you use to cool them ???

Al or Cu sinks, same as for the RAM chips, you get longer rectangular ones you can stick on there.

[ImprtRcr]

I am picking some up later... I thought it was kind of wierd I was not getting the same score before. Will get some OC #'s up tomorrow on the card.

[Humpz]

Al or Cu sinks, same as for the RAM chips, you get longer rectangular ones you can stick on there.

where can i get them ?? do they just stick on ??

i am UK based

[ImprtRcr]

I'm pretty sure all the Zalman heatsinks are stick on, check these (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Zalman-ZM-RHS1-Silent-VGA-RAM-Heatsink-Kit_W0QQitemZ110226907588QQihZ001QQcategoryZ131502 QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p163 8.m122) out. A little on the spendy side for just some small heatsinks but it's the easy way to go. I prefer my parts on the higher end.

I ended up buying a Zalman VF700 and took the heat sinks out of the box and going to sell the cooler. It was only $20 at Fry's and they are all cooper.

[ps2cho]

Damn....EVERYWHERE is out of stock for BGA sinks!!!

[ScottinIndy]

Damn....EVERYWHERE is out of stock for BGA sinks!!!


Try Jab-tech or Sidewinder, I think they both have some in stock.