can x1800xt fan be replaced with zalman?

[MidNiteMysT]

when i replace my heatsink/fan on my x1800xt with my zalman vf700cu, is it possible to hook up the zalman to the video card? i mean, i know its possible, i can make it possible, but would it be okay to hook it up to the video card? i would like to do this simply because i like the variable ability of the card to speed up the fan only when its hot instead of having to switch power on the zalman vf700cu to the high performance plug.

and also, what free program can i use to test the temperature differences of the two fans?

 

[OvErHeAtInG]

You'd have to make sure that the voltage scaling is right---i.e. that the card scales fan voltage from 5-12 volts or thereabouts. And make sure you get the wires right! Frankly I wouldn't run a vf700 on an X1800xt since it probably won't cool as well as the stock HSF. But if I did I would just run it at 12v all the time--the vf700 isn't very loud even at 12v.

Regarding your second question, you can check temps in CCC, or if you're not using that, install ATI Tray Tool. It's an awesome little app.

 

[morgash]

just so u know the vf700cu keeps the x1800xt 512 at about 5 degress higher temps idel and about 10C higher load. than stock fan at 100%. it IS however much quiter but u HAVE to run the zalman at 100% 24/7 to make it so it will work at all. and ur overclocking ability will be almost nonexistant. the VF900 however works amazingly well keeping it waay below stock on idle and load. might want to look into that

Morgash

 

[MidNiteMysT]

hmm.. i seem to be getting a lot of different sides. some people say the zalman 700 cools much better, but then others say it doesnt cool as good. its getting hard to decide which method to pick.

ill have to find to find out more about hooking upt he zalman fan to the card. i would email zalman, but it takes them a long time to respond.

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: MidNiteMysT
hmm.. i seem to be getting a lot of different sides. some people say the zalman 700 cools much better, but then others say it doesnt cool as good. its getting hard to decide which method to pick.

ill have to find to find out more about hooking upt he zalman fan to the card. i would email zalman, but it takes them a long time to respond.

think this might be another thing with zalmans having totally variable performance.

instead of emailing zalman, call them.

 

[anandtechrocks]

I've got an X1800 XT and i've got it overvolted (1.4V) and overclocked (700/800) and have a Zalman VF700 strapped on. With the fan at 100% the temps can get high. For example I idle around 50-51C and I load anywhere from 68-77C. It's a bit warm but I've had no crashes so far.

As far as the VF900 goes, i've heard ok things about it, but I don't think it's that much better than the VF700. Currently the best choice would be the Arctic Cooling Accelero X2. Check out this website. It compares all the perviously stated heatsinks:

http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&number=1&artpage=1774&articID=405

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

http://www.sudhian.com/index.php?/articles/show/graphics_cooler_roundup/

And the X2 is sucky according to that review?

I have issues with Madshrimps because according to more reviews, I see the VF900 winning....

 

[anandtechrocks]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
http://www.sudhian.com/index.php?/articles/show/graphics_cooler_roundup/

And the X2 is sucky according to that review?

I have issues with Madshrimps because according to more reviews, I see the VF900 winning....

Over at XS there was a huge thread about the BS that review spreads...

People who bought the X2s and VF900s were having completely different results (VF900 underperforming and X2 doing much better).

Here is the thread:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93803

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1354077&postcount=4

 

[aboothman]

I have this setup. At first I used the adapter, but the last time I reinstalled the cooler I cut the end off the stock cooler and soldiered it to the zalman.

It scales fine, and using ATI Tool I set it to go from 50% to 100% depending on temps. It does get quite hot at load. 50-55C idle and 75-80 under load.
All you have to do is put the approiate color wires together...and if you cannot soldier well, you may find some connectors that would work well.

I must say that I am not totally happy with the temps...if anyone has some suggestions on a more efficient cooler please share the wealth!!

 

[MidNiteMysT]

so maybe i should just stick with my stock cooler? it seems the vf700 isnt performing as nicely as i would have thought/hoped.

which zalman do you have aboothman? and did it cool better with stock?

so you guys are saying that keeping the stock fan is the wisier choice? i would have for sure thought the zalman to out perform the stock heatsink/fan, but it seems i am wrong.

 

[anandtechrocks]

Like I said, the Arctic Cooling Accelero X2 has been performing well for most people. Check out the links I posted. It's very cheap too, less than $30.

 

[Munky]

I've tried a vf700cu, a vf900 and the accelero on my x1900xt. I ran all the coolers at 100%, and the accelero got lower temps than either of the zalman coolers. Usually after an extended run of Oblivion, the vf700 would reach 89C, the vf900 would do about 86C, and the accelero gets about 82C.

 

[aboothman]

I have the VF700-cu on my x1800xt. It can be a bit finicky since I have installed it 3 times with different load temps every time. Lowest load I have had is 75C with idle around 50-52 depending on ambient temps. This was playing CoD2 and/or Oblivion so the card was being pushed hard. I think the difference is a matter of how much thermal paste I used. Since you cannot twist the heatsink once it is mounted as with a clip style mounting, it MAY be better
to either use more thermal paste or apply a thin layer.

As mentioned above I have ATI Tool adjust the fan speed by temp.

As for keeping the stock fan, if the temps are not bugging you then dont waste the money, time, and chance of voiding your warranty. I just cannot stand to have a fan running at half
or 1/4 speed, and when you spin the stock fan up it sounds like a delta, or a leafblower.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

Originally posted by: aboothman
I have the VF700-cu on my x1800xt. It can be a bit finicky since I have installed it 3 times with different load temps every time. Lowest load I have had is 75C with idle around 50-52 depending on ambient temps. This was playing CoD2 and/or Oblivion so the card was being pushed hard. I think the difference is a matter of how much thermal paste I used. Since you cannot twist the heatsink once it is mounted as with a clip style mounting, it MAY be better
to either use more thermal paste or apply a thin layer.

As mentioned above I have ATI Tool adjust the fan speed by temp.

As for keeping the stock fan, if the temps are not bugging you then dont waste the money, time, and chance of voiding your warranty. I just cannot stand to have a fan running at half
or 1/4 speed, and when you spin the stock fan up it sounds like a delta, or a leafblower.

so are you saying that the vf700cu gave you better temperatures? i already have the vf700 and dont plan on spending more money to buy the accelero. but if the vf700cu works, ill use that instead of the stock fan.

Munky: same question. how did the zalman compare to the stock fan?

 

[Munky]

The vf700 at 100% cooled about the same as the stock fan at default speeds, which is about 50-55%. At 100% the stock cooler got much better temps, like 8-10 degrees lower. But, again, this was on a x1900xt. The x1800xt generates less heat, and if your temps are under 80C load, then it should be fine with the vf700, and much quieter too. I actually ran the zalman at 100% off the 12v mobo fan header, and I barely heard it.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

if thats the case, i might aswell stick with the stock cooler. im actually not use to stock fans cooling better than aftermarket products, especially zalman. ill stick with the stock cooler then and if necessary, ill just edit the fan/temp tables.

is there a way to make the stock cooler more efficient? like maybe add some artic silver? and it looks like it connects to the ram sticks using thermal pads which arent very efficient. that could be changed to something better i think.

but regardless, im going to stick with the stock cooler. when playing obvlivion, it never gets to 100% and the game sound usually gets louder than the fan noise.

 

[nitromullet]

Meh, none of these third party coolers really impress me... I've decided to stick with the stock cooler on my X1900XTX... It is a tad loud, but it is effective and doesn't void the warrantee. The vf900 might be good itself, but I haven't had any luck actually getting the RAM sinks to stay on, plus they are aluminum and they are really small. The Accelero might be ok, but it sticks out from the top of the card which would force me to remove the box fan I have exhausting out the back of my case, which is part of the "plus" package with the Lian Li v1200+ case.

If it had been available when I bought my card, I would have gotten this:

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=190600

 

[aboothman]

so are you saying that the vf700cu gave you better temperatures? i already have the vf700 and dont plan on spending more money to buy the accelero. but if the vf700cu works, ill use that instead of the stock fan.

Munky: same question. how did the zalman compare to the stock fan?
[/quote]

You may laugh at this, but after my experience with the stock fan on my x850XT vs a Zalman vf700cu, I installed one out of the box without testing the stock fan. My X850XT
temps dropped over 20C with the fan on high...of couse that was the fatality vf-700cu also,
so the fan was spinning about 500 RPMs faster.

I am also surprised that a stock cooler could be even CLOSE to a good aftermarket cooler, especially given the design of this beast.

It sounds like the stock cooler will be fine for you. Just remember that unless you use ATI Tool to speed the fan up, it will run at pretty low speeds. When I used the stock
cooler on my x850XT, I would set the max speed to just below leafblower levels at high temps.

I just hopped on an accelero x2 deal form the hotdeals forums, so if I remember I will update in a few days with my results. Luck to you!!!

 

[MidNiteMysT]

cool. let me know on those updates. and if there was a deal, might have bought that accelero myself!

but as of now, looks like the stock cooler will suffice for me.