Zalman VF700 Review

[imported_humey]

http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/zalman_vf700/

That seems hard to believe, do you think it can really cool so well even with his case fans of to start with, i never rated the silencers all peeps use, but this is catching my eyes.

 

[Rogue 2]

Worked for me. I have the VG700-Cu on my 6600GT (AGP) and it went from 58C idle to 45C idle... load temps went from approaching 82C using 3DMark 05 to just barely hitting 60C. So yeah, I'd say it's worth it.. either that or the stock HSF ISN'T worth it...

 

[rise]

i'm puttin my 700 al/cu in monday with my new PSU. i've heard nothing but good about these. if it works nearly as well as my 7000 al/cu i'll be very happy.

 

[mdahc]

Originally posted by: Rogue 2
Worked for me. I have the VG700-Cu on my 6600GT (AGP) and it went from 58C idle to 45C idle... load temps went from approaching 82C using 3DMark 05 to just barely hitting 60C. So yeah, I'd say it's worth it.. either that or the stock HSF ISN'T worth it...

I have the VF700-AlCu on an AGP 6600GT. I know this is a bit off topic, but is there a way of monitoring the temp on a 6600GT without at thermistor (i.e. through software)? I think I read somewhere that only 6800's have built-in thermal diodes. Is this true?

 

[imported_humey]

Hmm, the crappy 5800 non ulra 256MB had temp readings in driver, and it was a POS, my pal has one, i would guess 6600 should but maybe depends on maker of card if they made pcb suit the cores sensors.

 

[Melchior]

XG drivers or Coolbits can monitor your 6600GT temps through the normal NV display GUI.

 

[cubby1223]

One very early review I saw had the Cu & AlCu versions running almost the same temps, so I'd strongly consider the AlCu version for weight reasons. That's what I stuck on my 6600GT, and couldn't be happier! In the slow fan mode, I got ~5 C cooler on the desktop compared to the XFX old style hsf, but that's good enough for me, it's stable, I swapped out for noise reduction as the priority.

 

[fliguy84]

Originally posted by: mdahc
I have the VF700-AlCu on an AGP 6600GT. I know this is a bit off topic, but is there a way of monitoring the temp on a 6600GT without at thermistor (i.e. through software)? I think I read somewhere that only 6800's have built-in thermal diodes. Is this true?

yup all geforce 6 series have thermal diodes. but some 6600gt doesnt enable the diode within bios, u have to flash your bios with a newer one. or enable it using nibitor

 

[Phlab]

Originally posted by: cubby1223
One very early review I saw had the Cu & AlCu versions running almost the same temps, so I'd strongly consider the AlCu version for weight reasons.

So, since the alcu is so much cheaper, should people get that instead?

 

[mdahc]

Thanks. Can someone point me to the latest version of Coolbits? After doing a search, I keep gettin various versions. Also, is it now called NVTweak?

 

[imported_humey]

www.guru3d.com


http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=911

 

[mdahc]

Thanks. Yeah, I installed it, but I got no temperature setting option in the driver. I guess this means I don't have a thermal diode on my card?

 

[rise]

you're better off just doing the registry hack than using the download imo.

put in my zalman today, i'll give it a few days for the as ceramique to set to really evaluate it, but it dropped my temps a bit, like 3-4c idle, haven't really checked load. i'll run some rthdribl tomorrow maybe.

 

[mdahc]

Is this the registry hack to which you're referring?

 

[imported_humey]

Ive used the manual reg entry and coolbits 2 < didnt like and now nvtweak and all are near same.

The temp reading is in the drivers without the hack its part of the card and drivers, some report esp asus ahving to flash bios to get a reading on 6600 GT's.

Im on 6800 U and my pals on 5800 non ultra and we both get temps on all drivers.

http://www.tech-report.com/reviews/2005q2/zalman-vf700s/index.x?pg=1

BTW although artic ceramic was better than artic silver 3 it isnt better than artic silver 5 and thats from their homepage and reviews.

Only plus was the ceramic was non conductive so could be used on ram chips, but on 6800 range of cards the ram chips have no live legs round them, you can cover the core and ram with silver and it will be impossible to get a short.
Only the small voltage chips mosfets need nonconductive ceram.ic as there to samll and close to small live aprts to risk silver (but it could be done)

 

[imported_humey]

That review i posted didnt paint the same picture as the above link i posted originally.

I know it can vary as his case and fans set up, but it basically was 99% same as the stock, it should have made more a difference.

Please post your results if you have tested both stock and this new Zalman in same rig same conditions.

 

[rise]

hey humey, i plugged mine into my mobo hoping i could adjust the speed thru it. haven't been able to yet but i haven't really looked much. what would be your guess as to the speed its at, lowest?

and thanks for the advice on the as5 vs. ceramique. this is the first time i'm using ceramique. i figured i'd try it on the 6800 and my nf4 chipset. i'll see how it goes, the as5 is ready to go, lol

as far as coolbits, yes i've used them all too but i just prefer the single regedit as i don't have to download crap that i don't know what does for the same result.

i wonder why he can't find a temp reading, coolbits or not, it's built into the card.

edit---its plugged into a 3 pin mobo connector so that must be low?

 

[imported_humey]

I can guarrentee, if you install nvtweak from guru3d, it wont mess up your pc and put in things you not know about, just install and then run it and "select all".

You will really not notice anything bar the coolbits slider and refresh rate overrides (missing in some recent drivers without this reg)

Also i would use rivatuner to kill opengl and direct3d sync locks, as in recent drivers you can only turn of opengl even with coolbits you cant turn of direct3d sync.


I dont get your Q about "lowest", you mean fan rpm ?


rise4310, nice to meet you, it makes a nice change from trolls that try tell me i talk sh1t, ive had a lot of testing and messing to try get as good a opionion over the years on aspects, but i am learning everyday and you knwo the old saying >>> opinions are like assholes, everybody has one.

 

[rise]

likewise, i've seen alot of your posts, some good, some not so good

anyway, yeah i meant the rpm setting.

btw, the idle temp is about 48 right now in my cm praetorian, so thats decent. the evga stock was 52-54 but i think their cooler is better than most to begin with, or my case is better than i give it credit for. i see alot idling high 50's low 60's.

 

[rise]

well, i ran rthdribl for 1/2 an hour and maxed temp was 65c. i'll hook up the fan selecting connector when i'm in my case later today.

and the as ceramique only went on yesterday, so it might drop a bit.

i'll be very happy if this is on the lower rpm setting.

 

[imported_humey]

Ok cool, i get ok temps on my Ultra anyhow on stock cooling and its alu not copper main core heatsink.

Just wondering if the artic silencer cool more as of heat goes outside case, i know their quieter but im looking for performance as stock isnt to loud for me, but the Zalman in that 1st url i posted seem to be amasing lol.

 

[rise]

i forgot to mention that.

i had the silencer on my 6800gt agp and this actually has slightly better temps, like 2-3c. i used to idle at 52 or so with the silencer. i was surprised at how little air is pushed outside using it, mostly it feels like the fan is on backwards (it wasn't). i think it just didn't have a good air flow out or the fan was so strong it just bounced back but at any rate, you didn't feel any rush of air out the back.

i still have a vented pci slot cover from an old silencer i use and might dremel out another so my front fans have more of a direct pass thru the back.

 

[imported_humey]

Ok Thanks for info.

 

[imported_humey]

Ok Thanks for info.

 

[Munky]

I don't have official tests, but lets just say that I flashed my 9800p stock (380/340) with an xt bios (412/365), and I would get visible artifacts while playing (not because of the flash, but the heat), and the memory chips were scary hot. I installed a vf700cu (kinda heavy, but I had no problems with it), and now I can run 460core/375mem without any artifacts. I have it set on high speed fan, but it's still really quiet, I can't even hear it over my case fans. I run the card constantly at 450/365 all the time now, and never get any artifacts. I don't have a temp sensor, though, so I can't post temps.