Where to get ATI Silencer 5 Rev 2?

[aelfwyne]

My ears are in pain from the fan on my Sapphire x850XT video card!

I have been looking for an ATI Silencer 5 Rev 2 (the one that fits this card), but everywhere I go is sold out. Does anyone know where I might be able to find one in stock?

 

[Nickel020]

Have you looked at any reviews? IIRC the Zalman VF-whatever coolers are better, but I might be wrong.

Just as an alternative, if you can't find the Silencer in stock somewhere.

 

[IlllI]

try svc.com?

 

[aelfwyne]

clandren: Already tried...... as I said, everywhere seems to be out of stock ....

Nickel020: Yeah.... the Zalmans are just a little bit costly though... was hoping not to spend as much, but apparently I'm hosed on getting an ATI Silencer... the Silencer would have done everything I need. I don't need better cooling, I just need quieter cooling than stock. The x850xt should never have made it to production with this horribly loud fan, I can't believe they sold this POS. The card performs well... I just can't turn games up loud enough to drown out the card without waking the neighbourhood.

 

[aelfwyne]

What do you think of this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118116

 

[Nickel020]

That's the one I was talking about actually^^

Have you tried ATI Tool or the like? You can create a profile with a different temperature/fan speed curve to quiet down the stock cooler and have it start at windows start-up.

 

[aelfwyne]

Yeah... I currently use ATI Tray Tools.... since the default fan speed profile on many x850XTs is borked anyway (fan turned off until card is baking at 90+ degrees)... They probably did that in an attempt to control the noise... However, at low speed it growls/drones. I can hear it even at 10% speed... some speeds hit a pitch that is piercing.. and full speed is just.. well LOUD... None of my older video cards were this bad.

I'm putting that zalman into my shopping cart as we speak. I wanted an ATI Silencer for the external exhaust, but I just can't put up with this noise any longer.

 

[Nickel020]

The direct exhaust is nice in theory, but yields no real benefit in praxis. I remember when the first Silencers for 9700/9800 PROs were released people reported no noticealbe difference in case/CPU temps, I don't think much has changed since then. GPUs are running somewhat hotter, but if the benefit wasn't measurable back then, then it's very likely marginal at best with more recent cards.
But I think you'll be happy with the Zalman, everything from Zalman I've had in my hands was quality stuff, maybe not always the very best there is, but certainly very good.

I got a 8800GTS coming in, let's see how much of a difference that is in overall noise compared to my passive X800XL (R.I.P.)^^