a8n-sli chipset heatsink fan

[Whitewolf]

Here is a new topic on OcUK forums where someone has successfully installed dual GPUs (6600GTs) with the Zalman. It seems they fit ok and by the pictures I think it's ok to fit 6800GTs also, as long as they don't have massive heatshinks (like an arcitic cooling nv5 or a leadtek one - even then you can mount the Zalman at an angle and maybe it will be ok).

 

[iscsidude]

Thanks. Those pictures show just how close the 6600GT is to the Zalman Heatsink. One user says the NV Silencer and Heatsink are a no go. I hope you are correct in that I might be able to turn the Zalman. I'll know by Wednesday. Will be providing pictures if I can get it to fit...

 

[bob661]

than that, I ordered the blue Zalman cooler from svcompucycle for about $6.00 (shipping extra). That fan has got to go, and soon.

Are you talking about the passive heatsink? Has anyone tried that yet? Thanks.

 

[iscsidude]

Are you talking about the passive heatsink? Has anyone tried that yet? Thanks.

Several people are using the Zalman heatsink. Check out the pictures three posts up at the OcUK link.

 

[imported_Neuro]

Seems that guy at OcUK got an Asus 6600GT with a hs/fan that tends to snap off... I hope he doesn't have that issue. I'm still uncertain as to which brand I'll buy when I upgrade to the GT.

Also, does anyone know if ClawHammer is 130nm or 90nm? Sandra reports a 90nm ClawHammer for me, but I've seen in some places that ClawHammer is 130nm.

 

[bob661]

Also, does anyone know if ClawHammer is 130nm or 90nm? Sandra reports a 90nm ClawHammer for me, but I've seen in some places that ClawHammer is 130nm.

Claws and Newcastles are 130nm. Winchesters are 90nm.

Thanks iscsidude.

 

[tetete]

dont even think of it, guys,

if you are plan to OC, fanless is not for you.

cooler is better alway right for computer OC

further, Zalman's ZM-NB47 is too high to fit 6800 with NV5 silencer or some card with big heatsink.

the original fan is just toooo loud, I ordered this to replace it.



http://www.ncix.com/products/i...A1C&manufacture=VANTEC

it's quite quiet from some reviews.

 

[bob661]

it's quite quiet from some reviews.

That's probably a better solution. let us know how it works.

 

[iscsidude]

Originally posted by: tetete
dont even think of it, guys,

if you are plan to OC, fanless is not for you.

cooler is better alway right for computer OC

further, Zalman's ZM-NB47 is too high to fit 6800 with NV5 silencer or some card with big heatsink.

the original fan is just toooo loud, I ordered this to replace it.



http://www.ncix.com/products/i...A1C&manufacture=VANTEC

it's quite quiet from some reviews.

Thanks. I'll just go over and order one of those to replace that 8K RPM Screamer.

 

[sal69]

buy yourself a 4x4 fan and attach it to the original cooler. does the same @ quater prize =)

 

[user1234]

Originally posted by: mrscintilla

Originally posted by: bookman
Chantech's VNF4 has a passive heatsink for the Nforce 4 chip.

really? then perhaps a big passive heatsink is enough for nforce-sli chip.... Has anyone tried it on A8N? I guess someone will soon enough. I am waiitng for my board to arrive. If it's loud enough, I'll make a little profject out of it...

but owners of vnf4 have to replace it if they want to overclock past fsb 250, otherwise the chipset could get fried, or you get unstable system.

 

[Sleepyghost]

Originally posted by: sal69
buy yourself a 4x4 fan and attach it to the original cooler. does the same @ quater prize =)

Hi Sal
Could you, like your considered earlier, take a picture of the results? I'm sure there's quite a few that would be interested. I for one. Your modification seems good and cheap at the same time.
Thanks in advance.

My A8N-SLI (non-deluxe) is still on it's way.. The import company has been posponing arrival date three times already (amounting to over a month). Anyway while I wait I figured I could get as ready as I can..

- Sleepy

 

[Solema]

Does anyone here know if you can mount that zalman passive heatsink on the chipset, while using an NV5 Silencer on the GPU? Putting the silencer on my 6800GT has drastically reduced GPU, CPU, and case temps and I don't want to take it off, but damn the chipset fan is annoying as hell. Not to mention it shreiks during bootup until it slows down.

 

[sal69]

ok i take a photo =) give me some time

 

[remmdog]

Installed the zalman passive heatsink, works awsome. Temps stay at about 34 throughout playing online for about 4 hours or so. No oc but so far no issues, i have two 6600gts installed. Now i think i just need to replace the retail CPU fan and it will really be quiet.

 

[imported_GibMonkey]

Originally posted by: tetete
dont even think of it, guys,

if you are plan to OC, fanless is not for you.

cooler is better alway right for computer OC

further, Zalman's ZM-NB47 is too high to fit 6800 with NV5 silencer or some card with big heatsink.

the original fan is just toooo loud, I ordered this to replace it.



http://www.ncix.com/products/i...A1C&manufacture=VANTEC

it's quite quiet from some reviews.

Gonna have to grind the metal around the attachment holes to make it work, conflicts with some of the hardware on the board.

Good Luck!

 

[mrscintilla]

Easy solution, guys. Just bend the aluminum fins of the Zalman. I've seen a guy do it, but personally have not tried it on mine.

 

[tetete]

grrrrrrr

you should tell me earlier!!

I spend more than half an hour to put this small thing on!

Just like you said, I grind some metal around the attachment holes.

With about 3C cooler, and less noise, I feel it worth the change

only thing is, it can not monitor rpm, and still, not that silent, but much better than stock one

 

[imported_Neuro]

Just installed the NB-47, reporting 36 idling before, 31 after. Amazing. Just amazing. No more rattle.

 

[orlenfrost]

I also have the Zalman ZM-NB47J installed with two GPU's. So far zero stability problems. But as everyone is pointing out it does get hot. I took some un-scientific readings with a heat probe that I got at Fry's electronics. I picked a spot on the base of the heat sync between the heat sync fins that was easily accessible to the probe and measured in the same spot each time.

I would close up the side of the case and let the computer run at idle or under load for at least 20 minutes and then I would take the side off and measure the temperature again.

Here are the results:

Northbridge Chip:
With stock 8500 RPM Fan
33 c/91.7f Idle with case closed
43.2c / 109.7f under load with case closed

With Zalman ZM-NB47J
48.1c/118.5 Idle with case closed
53.c / 127.4f Under load with case closed

With the side of the case open the temperatures were dramatically different:

Case open with Zalman ZM-NB47J:
33.4C/92.12F Idle
Have not tried it under load yet sorry.

What I have decided is that I need some additional case cooling just to stay on the safe side as it does get almost too hot to touch after 20 minutes of Call of Duty with the case closed. But just with that little bit of air moving on it the zalman seems ample cooling and I think it will be ok.

My plan is to ad either a 92mm or 120mm fan to the side of my case blowing directly on the chip and two 6600gts in sli config. Then I would like to ditch the two GPU fans, but as of yet I have not found fanless coolers that look like they will work with the SLI bridge that runs from card to card. (any body know of one?)

Anyway, so far no problems with the Zalman, and it made a dramatic difference in noise reduction. I give it the THUMBS UP!

 

[bob661]

Gonna have to grind the metal around the attachment holes to make it work, conflicts with some of the hardware on the board.

You mean you have to grind the holes on the motherboard to get the Iceberg to fit?! Thanks.

 

[mrscintilla]

Hmmm. that temp sounds high. My after-zalman temp is about 34/36 idle, and 43/39 load (prime95). How did you define load??? Perhaps I should run some GPU-intensive benchmark in addition to prime95 to constitute an aboslutely tasking load...

May I suggest you re-apply the termal paste?

My complaint about all these heatsinks with pegs is that without screws they are not pressed HARD against the chipset.
oh, well. perhaps the springs on the peg work well enough... Wonder if someone sells heatsink with screws that go through those holes or maybe we can customize the zalman with some kind of screws................

 

[evilmrroboto]

Originally posted by: mrscintilla
...
My complaint about all these heatsinks with pegs is that without screws they are not pressed HARD against the chipset.
oh, well. perhaps the springs on the peg work well enough... Wonder if someone sells heatsink with screws that go through those holes or maybe we can customize the zalman with some kind of screws................

I was under the impression that was what the thermal paste was for. That way you wouldnt crush the chipset, as it is right there on the top. The paste should make a direct connection with the chipset and the bottom of the heatsink allowing the maximum amount of heat to get sucked away from the chip. I don't know what type of paste orlenfrost is using, but I would suggest arctic silver 5 and that you apply it like the directions for an Athlon XP CPU say to as the chipset resembles that fairly closely.


I guess if I'm wrong someone should tell me though.

 

[orlenfrost]

Yep, the temps did look a bit high to me too, but I think it is bad air flow through the case. When the case is open the heatsync stays MUCH cooler. So I am considering a case mod to place a quiet fan over the chipset cooler and replace the GPU fans with fanless coolers (if I can find any that will work with the SLI bridge...)

I DID use arctic silver 5 for the thermal paste now that you mention it, and it appears to have a very solid connection with the push pins. So I am pretty sure my high temperature reading was case flow and not a bad seat.

The only fan(s) I was running at the time I took the temperatures were the PSU fans from an Enermax NoiseTaker 495w PSU (Low Noise low speed the ASUS Probe program says the PSU fan is running at 980 RPM-1028RPM). And I know the interior of the case gets very warm because I have 2 video cards, 4 hard drives, and a very hot little chipset. So I will be working on a case mod in the next week. Until then I am just leaving the side of my case off.

EDIT: The load was a graphically rich game I play Everquest 2. It is fairly demanding on the video cards and heats up things quite nicely while I am playing.

My most recent temps are:
37.6c/99.6f With the Zalman with the side of the case off.

I will log in to EQ for a while and see how much I can get the temp up to and report back.

 

[mrscintilla]

Originally posted by: evilmrroboto

I was under the impression that was what the thermal paste was for. That way you wouldnt crush the chipset, as it is right there on the top. The paste should make a direct connection with the chipset and the bottom of the heatsink allowing the maximum amount of heat to get sucked away from the chip. I don't know what type of paste orlenfrost is using, but I would suggest arctic silver 5 and that you apply it like the directions for an Athlon XP CPU say to as the chipset resembles that fairly closely.


I guess if I'm wrong someone should tell me though.

NO, the paste is to fill microvalleys that is caused by imperfect flat surfaces. Think about it what is a better conductor than metal? Thermal paste would not work better than pure metal contact. It only helps by making sure metal contact is close to flat; hence a very thin layer is needed.. It does NOT help reducing pressure. You want the metal to be crushed together.