Decided on going with an x1900xt

[xboxist]

Just looking for suggestions on what cooler I should look for, and maybe some advice for installing it onto the card. It will be my first time. I have no experience with thermal grease products.

Thanks!

 

[996GT2]

Zalman VF900+Arctic Silver Ceramique=Cooler, quieter GPU

 

[dug777]

AS5 should be just as good iirc...

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: dug777
AS5 should be just as good iirc...

Most likely, but I decided on Ceramique because AS5 is electrically conductive, and I didn't want to subject my brand new G73 to any possibility of ESD

 

[Vallybally]

If you are uncomfortable modding, you may want to consider the HIS x1900xt IceQ3 (bout $350 AR on one or two sites, comparable to generic ones). Google some reviews, there are good reviews saying it's quieter and cooler.

 

[996GT2]

I heard HIS has horrible rebate service though, so the price advantage probabaly won't exist. Also the HIS cooler is based on an Arctic Cooling design, one that is outperformed by the VF900. To its credit, though, the AC cooler does exhaust hot air out of the case rather than recirculate it like the Zalman.

 

[Mucker]

There are mixed reports on the VF-900 and 1900xt. The stock cooler is actually very good albiet a bit noisy in 3D. In 2D it's ok. The stock fan doesn't bother me because when I am gaming, I usually have the game cranked to insane volume anyway.....

 

[confused1234]

HIS rebate might be horrible but you get a one year replacement form newegg if you buy it there so your fine

 

[nitromullet]

Yeah, and if you have to RMA to HIS, it will only take them 3 months to RMA the card to you... Yes, they will actually do the RMA (my replacement is en route to me), but they will take a long to do it.

edit: although, I never did get my rebate

 

[SpeedZealot369]

Good aftermarket coolers:

x2 accelero (what im running right now)
vf-900

The x2 would be my choice simply because it's pretty cheap right now (~$20, compared to the ~$35 for the vf-900)

-SZ

 

[xboxist]

Thanks for the comments guys. The HIS seems like a fine card for me... but I can't find it in stock upon a quick, first search. I'll keep looking for it though.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I got my HIS rebates very quickly which scored me my HIS X1900XTX for $430 several months ago. As mentioned, even though the original cooler is very effective when fan speed is adjusted it can be annoying to some. I replaced mine with the Accelero X2 and run the fan 100%. It's quiet and does a good job of cooling. And I also used AS Ceramique.

 

[Vallybally]

You bought an aftermarket fan to replace the ATI generic fan? Or the HIS ICEQ3 fan?

 

[hans030390]

Just get the VF-900 and be happy.

 

[JBT]

Accelero X2 is a great cooler. The stock really isn't that bad either.....

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: dug777
AS5 should be just as good iirc...

Most likely, but I decided on Ceramique because AS5 is electrically conductive, and I didn't want to subject my brand new G73 to any possibility of ESD

are you sure. everywhere i;ve seen it look like AS5 is not conductive.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

anyone ever seen a x1900xt hit 38c on air?
location brooklyn, NYC
vf900 mounted on x1900xt in Lian Li V1000B case (upside down towards the top of the case)
load: 55c

room temp average: 75F

 

[ronnn]

Originally posted by: SpeedZealot369
Good aftermarket coolers:

x2 accelero (what im running right now)
vf-900

The x2 would be my choice simply because it's pretty cheap right now (~$20, compared to the ~$35 for the vf-900)

-SZ

Same running very nicely on my x1900gt.

 

[jadbox1]

Originally posted by: hans030390
Just get the VF-900 and be happy.

it worked great for me.

 

[OBCT]

Originally posted by: tanishalfelven

Originally posted by: 996GT2

Originally posted by: dug777
AS5 should be just as good iirc...

Most likely, but I decided on Ceramique because AS5 is electrically conductive, and I didn't want to subject my brand new G73 to any possibility of ESD

are you sure. everywhere i;ve seen it look like AS5 is not conductive.

Arctic SILVER 5. Think about it. Silver is conductive. Though the small amount of silver in AS5 isn't that conductive, it still has minimal conductivity.