Anatomy of the stock 8800 GT cooler

[Hauk]

Some are okay with temps the stock solution offers, while some are surprised by them. Obviously you can go with an aftermarket cooler that fits. But for those who'd like to remain stock but would like to do something about temps, look at the cooler's design.

The cooler uses tight fins that channel air towards the pci slot opening, and from there it comes out this exaust area. How long hot air remains around the card depends on case airflow. Most of us know this, but worth repeating, card temps will vary a few degrees depending on air temps around the card.

I kept my 8800 GTX stock for some time but chose to get rid of exaust air by installing a PCI slot cooler below my GTX . Even with good case airflow, I noticed the card and cooler were cooler to the touch and it dropped GPU temps a few degrees.

Here's another thing to consider. I see many are using RivaTuner to raise stock fan's RPM. Little fans get noisy real fast. A quiet PCI slot cooler installed right under the card will create a slight vacuum at the card's exaust port, essentialy aiding the stock fan. One can experiment, likely finding a quieter rpm setting for the stock fan.

Here's a side view of the heatsink. Here's the thermal interface goop used with the cooler. I'm a fan of Arctic Ceramique. It's thick enough to serve as a replacement for the thick memory pads, and does well on GPU. Not a mandatory step to see results from a PCI slot cooler however. Here's the card naked.

 

[Sheninat0r]

So basically, to cool an 8800GT further, stick a PCI slot blower under it and replace the stock thermal goop?

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: Sheninat0r
So basically, to cool an 8800GT further, stick a PCI slot blower under it and replace the stock thermal goop?

Replacing stock thermal interfaces is optional. I always do it as it helps my curb my OCD...

 

[SniperDaws]

How much Ceramique should i put on the memory, because that stock stuff looks pretty thick.

Oh and good thread

 

[Hauk]

I squeeze out a pea sized bead onto center of each chip. It will spread out a bit yet remain thick enough for good contact. It's non-conductive, so no worries.

Standard white paste is not thick enough. I used to use little gauze patches soaked in standard white paste until I discovered Ceramique. It's thick enough to bridge a gap and stays put.

Thanks. I used to design baghouse ductwork. Airflow was my thing. :thumbsup:

 

[Cookie Monster]

Temps?

I want to see some results

 

[Hauk]

I know Cookie, how dare I post such info without results! Unfortunatly I'm away from home for a couple weeks. Maybe someone will experiment and post results. I know with my GTX it made a five degree diff in idle and load temps.


For those interested, here's another cooling alternative:


Take a look at this pic again. This view is with the heatsink faceplate removed. By design the stock fan forces air through the heatsink fins. For the design to work, the faceplate has to be in place. That is of course if you're relying on the stock fan to channel air through the fins.

If the faceplate was left off and one of these were installed, you could introduce a positive airflow across the entire heatsink. You'd unplug the stock fan and let this cool the card instead.

The thing I like about this alternative is you can adjust fan rpm in real-time from the back of the cooler. Turn it up while gaming and back down when not. Keep in mind, this thing is pushing air not pulling it. A slot cooler used in the first scenario would not be effective in this scenario. And keep in mind the first scenario sucks hot air out of the case while this does not. Those with roomy cases and plenty of airflow may consider this alternative.

 

[imported_TechKid]

The stock coolers you receive with the card are so crap they melt the core. This is what's happening to cards in AUS. Not sure of the USA but it should be the same story. Just get a cheapo fan and let it blow towards the GFX and your fine.

 

[Hauk]

Originally posted by: TechKid
The stock coolers you receive with the card are so crap they melt the core. This is what's happening to cards in AUS. Not sure of the USA but it should be the same story. Just get a cheapo fan and let it blow towards the GFX and your fine.

 

[imported_bc]

Only things going for them: single slot (who cares ?) and quiet - but the temps are indeed quite bad. My first go with the card and core temp shot to 95°C...

 

[Syntax Error]

Originally posted by: TechKid
The stock coolers you receive with the card are so crap they melt the core. This is what's happening to cards in AUS. Not sure of the USA but it should be the same story. Just get a cheapo fan and let it blow towards the GFX and your fine.

Probably because of the 29% fan. You'll have to adjust it yourself in RivaTuner. They should come out with a fix for that soon, from what I hear, but until then, you have to adjust it yourself.

 

[Munky]

There's no replacement for displacement... so goes an old saying. A pci exhaust fan may help things a bit, but I don't believe it would be anywhere as effective as replacing the cooler with a bigger one, even if it doesn't exhaust air. For example, the stock cooler on my 1900xt vented hot air outside, but still did not cool anywhere as well as the HR-03 I currently have installed, even though the latter does not exhaust hot air.

 

[Cookie Monster]

Originally posted by: TechKid
The stock coolers you receive with the card are so crap they melt the core. This is what's happening to cards in AUS. Not sure of the USA but it should be the same story. Just get a cheapo fan and let it blow towards the GFX and your fine.

lol?

This just made my day.

 

[MTDEW]

Probably because of the 29% fan. You'll have to adjust it yourself in RivaTuner. They should come out with a fix for that soon, from what I hear, but until then, you have to adjust it yourself.

I sure hope so, i just dumped the wifes bfg 8800GT bios to mod the fan speeds so i didnt need to use a program to adjust the fans speeds.

Well you CAN'T set the fan speeds in the cards bios.
Only setting is to run the fan at 100% when the temp reaches 100c.
That sux