Okay, Let's Settle This: NV Silencer or V700 Cu?

[MrControversial]

I don't know, so I'm waiting to hear from you guys.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Man i meant to vote for the Artic Cooling Silencer.

However, why are you upgrading in the first place. 99% of the time the stock cooling is excellent and doesn't produce too much noise.

-Kevin

 

[MrControversial]

Overclocking. Period. Plus stock coolers are ugly.

 

[akira34]

I have the NV Silencer 5 on my 6800GT and it simply rocks. Not only does it cool the chip better than the stock cooler (by at least 10C) it helps to keep the insides of my case cooler since it vents the air OUT. The zalman cooler just pushes the hot air into the case, just like 99% of the other GPU coolers. Also, the AC unit is quieter than the stock cooler was by more than enough to notice (can't even hear it).

Next video card I get will also get an Arctic Cooling unit installed on it in short order... Granted, that's going to be at least around the end of this year or by the middle of next... By then, who really knows what will be out for cards and such...

 

[hondAS2ooo170]

well for me i prefer the zalman bucause i lov quietness and zalman is the way to go.
but the artic cooling nv5 it is more on performance and thats wat i also like.

it is had to choose.
zalman r not really good for performance, but the nv5 is more for performance.
and the nv uses new air
and the zalman uses recyled air

 

[callmesteve]

voted for the arctic cooler, zalman... they're quiet, but is that what you want? Seems like you're in it for the performance.

 

[jdogg707]

The Zalman is so much better than the Artic cooling model, if you don't need quiet, cut the fan up and you have better performance and it is still pretty quiet when compared to many stock fans. I love mine on the 6800GT because it is quieter and dropped my temps by 15C on load.

 

[MrControversial]

So it's NV for performance and the Zalman for silence. Silence...lol. You guys should see th CPU fan I'm getting. The NV is looking good. I like the new air argument since the NV blows it out the back.

 

[wisdomtooth]

I build a lot of HTPCs. Oftentimes these are not as well-ventilated as full or mid towers. In such situations, the Zalman VF700 is not a good choice, because it will add to the thermal burden inside the case. In such situations, the Arctic silencer is the better choice-- it ducts heat right out of the case.

 

[murban135]

Originally posted by: wisdomtooth
the Arctic silencer is the better choice-- it ducts heat right out of the case.

Agree. I have an Artic Cooler on my 6800GT and am quite impressed

 

[MrControversial]

Is the NV Silencer as easy to install as the V700?

 

[hondAS2ooo170]

Originally posted by: MrControversial
Is the NV Silencer as easy to install as the V700?

yea it is easy

 

[MDE]

I have a Silencer but I'm replacing it with the Zalman because the Silencer blocks the SATA ports on my motherboard. I'd recommend it as long as you have the room in your case.

 

[gcol]

Could only vote for Zalman cause the Arctic couldn't be fitted to my card. Very please with VF700. Having said that I would like to see the Arctic in action.

gcol

 

[Azndude51]

I just wish someone could have a direct comparison of these two in cooling performance and noise. I'm going to get the VF700 myself, I like how the AC5 vents out the back of the case, but it is too big for me (I know the VF700 is also two slotted) and I heard it has some problems being installed on 6800GTs. I like the VF700 because of the variable fan speeds and how it is supposed to be extremely quiet.

Originally posted by: MrControversial
Overclocking. Period. Plus stock coolers are ugly.

I like the way mine looks (although the one in the pic is a 6800nu, the 6800GT looks exactly the same). People mistake it for an ATI though since all they can see is the red PCB.

EDIT: looks like the poll results are 12 to 12 right now.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: murban135

Originally posted by: wisdomtooth
the Arctic silencer is the better choice-- it ducts heat right out of the case.

Agree. I have an Artic Cooler on my 6800GT and am quite impressed

The duct has been shown to make no difference at all. For cooling performance and noise the VF-700 wins.

 

[wisdomtooth]

Originally posted by: Operandi
The duct has been shown to make no difference at all. For cooling performance and noise the VF-700 wins.

I don't know how others set theirs up, but with the Arctic ATI Silencer installed on my 9800Pro, my case temps dropped 3C. And I can feel hot air coming out of the duct in the back of my computer. Plus I don't hear my PSU fan spinning up in response to heat buildup in the case quite as much as before.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: wisdomtooth

Originally posted by: Operandi
The duct has been shown to make no difference at all. For cooling performance and noise the VF-700 wins.

I don't know how others set theirs up, but with the Arctic ATI Silencer installed on my 9800Pro, my case temps dropped 3C. And I can feel hot air coming out of the duct in the back of my computer. Plus I don't hear my PSU fan spinning up in response to heat buildup in the case quite as much as before.

I'm just going by what I've read in the SPCR forums. If you run the Silencer at full speed it make more of a differance then having it set to low.

 

[JBDan]

I would say NV5 from the time I owned it (Oct.2004) till the last two weeks. I am reading several forums with people complaining about the fan noise. Mine is starting to whine. It was silent for almost 3 months. This problem is turning up more and more each day on several forums. I'm voting for the Zalman and will soon be ordering one. I have rev. 1 of the NV5 so this might make a difference (theres a rev.2) and I do love the rear exhaust, but change is good. Zalman for me next go round.

 

[Tab]

If the Silencer actually had a good conducting surface that was "PURE" copper and fit perfectly on the boards, then I'd buy it.

 

[MrControversial]

Wow...I'm leaning Zalman right now. The fan issue with the NV5 is starting to bother me.

 

[JBDan]

Originally posted by: Tabb
If the Silencer actually had a good conducting surface that was "PURE" copper and fit perfectly on the boards, then I'd buy it.

Is it not pure copper? And it does NOT fit perfectly, but with a lil tightening makes excellent contact on my GPU. What bothered me most about the HSF is the POOR finish on the copper (or copper hybrid as Tabb states). Now its the whining fan. I hate to bash this cooler as many people will love theirs for years, but the issues being talked about on forums and mine as well lead me to believe that AC's mass production of these coolers greatly decreased the quality control in their manufacturing process. Going with the new Zalman next. I'll find the perfect GPU air cooler yet.

 

[Azndude51]

Last time I looked the poll was 12 to 12, now its 16 to 16...

 

[Azndude51]

Here's a comparo of the VF700 alcu/cu, AC5, and some passive cooler.

 

[Nessism]

Originally posted by: Azndude51
Here's a comparo of the VF700 alcu/cu, AC5, and some passive cooler.

That comparison is a little suspect. They only show a few degrees increase over idle for the "load" test for most of the coolers reviewed. I've read several different NV and V700 reviews and most show about 20 degrees increase which I believe.