Zalman ZM80D-HP installed on my FX5900 XT/Se *update * Now on 6800GT

[spliffstar69]

Got this new heatsink from Zalman installed on my PNY 5900se looking to get my system as quiet as possible.

Its running without the option fan and current idle temp are in between 45-50c reported from the display setting tab.
The factor that will help your temps is how well you keep the case ventilated im running 2 low rpm fans one on the top and 1 on out back.

I ran Aquamark and 3dmark03 for about 20 mins and temp reading showed it at 70-75 it drops rapidly when you go back to 2d mode to get a reading so it not very accurate.

I?m very satisfied so far I need to do a longer gaming run to see how it does over time.
Very easy to install but also a pain in the A$$ mostly becuase of the amount of thermal paste needed.
(I used artic silver 5)

ohh and I left my stock ramsinks on.

let me know if you guys have any questions or want to see any pics.

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6800Gt with Zalman ZM80D
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[RiDE]

I would like to see pics please.

 

[spliffstar69]

Originally posted by: SWorks
I would like to see pics please.

you got it

 

[akira34]

Does it stress the AGP slot any when you set the computer upright? I've thought of installing this, or a product like it, onto my 9800 Pro... Of course, even Zalman says a fan should be used with teh 5800 or 9800 series cards (you probably should use it on your 5900 too)... I also noticed in the online instructions that if you remove the PCI slot cover below the card, it will drop the temps 4-5C... Doing that, as well as installing the fan, should a lot more to lower your load temps on the card.

 

[spliffstar69]

Originally posted by: akira34
Does it stress the AGP slot any when you set the computer upright? I've thought of installing this, or a product like it, onto my 9800 Pro... Of course, even Zalman says a fan should be used with teh 5800 or 9800 series cards (you probably should use it on your 5900 too)... I also noticed in the online instructions that if you remove the PCI slot cover below the card, it will drop the temps 4-5C... Doing that, as well as installing the fan, should a lot more to lower your load temps on the card.

When upright the weight is not an issue.
I will try removing the PCI slot cover see if i get lower temps.
the card is running cooler now than when I first installed maybe due to the better case fan i just installed

 

[akira34]

If I was to go with that, I'd also install the fan for the cooler... Especially since I can get both items from the distributor I'm using (warehouse in the same state as me).

 

[spliffstar69]

Originally posted by: akira34
If I was to go with that, I'd also install the fan for the cooler... Especially since I can get both items from the distributor I'm using (warehouse in the same state as me).

I think later on i might put on my own low speed fan, rigging up your fan mount to this is an easy one to configure.

 

[akira34]

The fan made for that cooler shouldn't be more than about $10 (plus shipping)... I [obviously] can get it for less, but I still have to pay shipping on small orders. I'd go with the fan made to work with the cooler rather than trying to n'rig up another...

 

[Nebor]

Why do you want to put a fan on it? Not loud enough for you?

 

[akira34]

They specifically state that for the 9800 Pro, and 5800 series (and higher/faster/newer) you need to install the fan...

"If you are using a nVIDIA GeForce FX5800, an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, a Matrox Parhelia, or a more advanced model, an Optional Fan (ZM-OP1, sold separately) must be installed."

See the "must be installed"??? That's directly from the zalman site about the above stated VGA cooler unit... In "silent" mode (for the fan) it's listed as being 20 dB, in "normal" mode, it's at 33dB... Still pretty damned quiet. I'd be pissed off if I installed the cooler, didn't install the fan (when told to install it in their instructions) and the card crapped out from too much heat. I'd have no one else to blame but myself since I didn't do as instructed.

 

[CWebb04]

Nice...I was looking for some more info on this vga cooler. But I would like to see how it performs with the fan. The slim zalman fan should be pretty quiet so I don't think noise will be a problem.

 

[spliffstar69]

Originally posted by: akira34
They specifically state that for the 9800 Pro, and 5800 series (and higher/faster/newer) you need to install the fan...

"If you are using a nVIDIA GeForce FX5800, an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, a Matrox Parhelia, or a more advanced model, an Optional Fan (ZM-OP1, sold separately) must be installed."

See the "must be installed"??? That's directly from the zalman site about the above stated VGA cooler unit... In "silent" mode (for the fan) it's listed as being 20 dB, in "normal" mode, it's at 33dB... Still pretty damned quiet. I'd be pissed off if I installed the cooler, didn't install the fan (when told to install it in their instructions) and the card crapped out from too much heat. I'd have no one else to blame but myself since I didn't do as instructed.

Just got home today its been running 3dmark in a loop for about 10hrs now an no issues that i can see its running flawlessly without the fan. Keep in mind that this card is a 5900se that runs at a lower clock speed than the 5800 and i dont overclock.

So to me you can kinda say its ok to run fanless on GPU's with clock speeds under 400mhz

now that i think about it I seen fanless P3 500mhz cpus with smaller heatsinks than this

 

[akira34]

I have This 9800 Pro video card (128MB version). I never could see the reason for getting the SE or non-Pro versions of the cards. I don't OC my 9800 Pro, since I don't need to. Still, if I get that cooler, I'll slap the fan onto it so that I don't need to worry about it getting too hot.

 

[Nebor]

I ran a fanless ZM80C for months on my 9800 Pro with no problem. I see that Zalman recommends the fan be attached to high end cards... but I disagree. The only way I can account for this discrepancy in opinions is that I have far more thermodynamic knowledge than all the Zalman engineers combined.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Nebor
I ran a fanless ZM80C for months on my 9800 Pro with no problem. I see that Zalman recommends the fan be attached to high end cards... but I disagree. The only way I can account for this discrepancy in opinions is that I have far more thermodynamic knowledge than all the Zalman engineers combined.

or they dont expect people to have well ventilated boxes...

 

[spliffstar69]

update bump

 

[dinde]

Ii definately hope you installed the fan on that new card......

 

[spliffstar69]

yea i will but im still going to test without it.

 

[spliffstar69]

I was doing some a review search on google for the ZM80 on google and saw my thread on the second page.

cool

 

[antipody]

nice work.. just wondering how you got around the issue zalman mention on their website about not being able to put that cooler on the 6800gt because of the lack of 3mm holes.

would be very keen to hear more of your experiences as I'm thinking about trying the same thing.

thanks!

 

[Balin le Savage]

thanks for the pics. I'm installing one of those in about 15 minutes and I'm looking for all the help/examples I can get

 

[Cerb]

Akira: Leadtek 5900XT w/ ZM80C here. The fan requirement is like the 400w+ requirement for the new cards: it's because many people have crappy airflow. I needed a fan, but then after a few hours of messing w/ cables, got it running fine passively. It gets to ~90C under load (Serious Sam 2 heats it up more than anything else I've tried), but works fine. Of course, I wish I had the money to ditch the 5900XT and go straight for a 600GT or 6800 .

Balin le Savage: have patience. Measure three times, mock them up twice. It's easy to install, but can get messy if you rush. Also, don't even think about using the screwdriver it comes with. Mine got all bent trying to tighten the plates...even something as basic as an orange-handled Craftsman #2 will do a fine job.

 

[ZombieJesus]

YOU GOT IT TO FIT ON A 6800 GT? WOOT

I have been trying to find possible passive solutions for 6800 type cards for a while now.

I have thought about putting a Aerocool VM-101 on a Gainward 2400 Goldensample. I planed on taking off the stock fan shroud and gpu heatsink but leave on the stock ram sink. I just don't know if the heatpipes of the aerocool will clear the ram sinks.....

Anyone know of other passive vga heatskins that can work on the 6800 cards?

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: ZombieJesus
YOU GOT IT TO FIT ON A 6800 GT? WOOT

I have been trying to find possible passive solutions for 6800 type cards for a while now.

I have thought about putting a Aerocool VM-101 on a Gainward 2400 Goldensample. I planed on taking off the stock fan shroud and gpu heatsink but leave on the stock ram sink. I just don't know if the heatpipes of the aerocool will clear the ram sinks.....

Anyone know of other passive vga heatskins that can work on the 6800 cards?

I had to use a *gulp* Dremel tool and cut a path in the ramsinks (still attached to card) so the VM101 heatpipes would fit. Bending the heatpipes is a no-go as they tend to flatten in the bends :Q (oops). However, the unit does a great job on my 5900XT card.

 

[daba]

How are the temps on the GPU?

Does it heat up the rest of the case?