Cheap & quiet (near)universal GPU cooler

[nikko1974]

Folks,

Many of you out there will have a GPU which is the stock reference design and so generally has a pretty horrible fan and heatsink on it.

GPU HSFs can be the loudest component in your case by a LONG way - and unless you've got a case with good airlflow, passive HSF's aren't a great idea.

But anyway - I was in a situation like this....a perfectly good Xpertvision 8600GT (512mb DDR3) - but the stock fan on it was like a buzzsaw! But its a great card and I wanted to use it in my HTPC (or even elsewhere)....but the noise!!!!!

Replacing the HSF on the GPU is very simple but domestically sourced options were cost prohibitive eg by the time I bought one & factored in the hassle etc I'd be 10-20% away from the price of a new one or a passive one.

So what to do?

This was the solution: LINK




DealXtreme are very well known in the IT circles for their cheap and cheerful IT gadgets and bits. Prices are in $US, though they're based in HKG.....but they do include free shipping. Payment via Paypal - no surcharges - very professional and well regarded company.

So for $12 - this was mine. Also picked up a few other gadgets. Delivery took 5 days! Some domestic shops could do as well!

Its a copy of a Zalman GPU cooler....and is easy to use and quite good construction - though the finishing on the base of the HS is very rough!!!!!

Its 4 mounting points are adjustable and can be slide in and out and then screwed in place - so if your GPU is 4 screws on the back of its HSF its almost a sure thing this will fit on it! The cooler is pretty big so will basically make the GPU take up 2 slots.

I mounted using Arctic Silver Ceramique (which I recommend over AS5 as there's no heavy metals in it & its safer with circuitry etc).....works a treat! Of course cleaned the old heat good off first with metho & a lint free cloth/q-tips....is a 20min job - and thats with my OCD detailing!

Only complaint I'd have was the polarity on the fan plug was the opposite of the stock one.....so I at first thought I had a DOA fan but then I noticed the colours were on the opposite site to the stock one and so slide the lil plastic socket off the GPU's PCB and then reversered it - allowding the fan plug to go on the osspite way - worked a charm.

Fan is a LOT quieter than the stock one ever was and I've not checked the temps (as I don't run RivaTuner or similar) but I'm sure they're very good as the surface area is a lot bigger.

So if you've an old GPU and you'd like to breathe some life into it and have some fun in the process - I can assure you that its $12 well spent.

Cheers, Nick

[01-0077]

Hey Nick,

Nice review, why dont you give speedfan a try. From memory it reported gpu temps on my 9500gt, it definitely reports the igpu temps on my current setup. If the temps check out this cooler would seem to have all bases covered - gotta love that price.

John.

[nikko1974]

Hey Nick,

Nice review, why dont you give speedfan a try. From memory it reported gpu temps on my 9500gt, it definitely reports the igpu temps on my current setup. If the temps check out this cooler would seem to have all bases covered - gotta love that price.

John.

Hi John,

Haha you're too kind - I wouldn't call it a review - I was going to do a proper one but just wanted to hurry and get it installed as I had to install an OCZ Vendetta 2 cpu cooler into my main desktop rig and woooooooooooooooooooooow thats a BIG SUCKER! Tricky install but one of the best aircoolers available.

Yes, I know Speedfan well - I might install it in a while - just midway through a MediaPortal install and the wife is getting crabby without her beloved HTPC!

But thats a good idea.

Yes, the cooler is a great price - I mean I checked some other reviews on it - not much available but I figured worst case scenario I'd have lost $12.

You could easily lap the base if you wanted (sorry but the overclocker in me wants to ghetto mod everything!)....but even without thats its very good for the money.

I recommend 'conditioning' the rough base first by rubbing your TIM(thermal interface material) into it with your finger in a lil plastic bag (is recommended technique from Arctic Silver).....then softly wipe excess with a lint free cloth. This will 'fill' the roughness to a degree and is much quicker and easier than a lapping.

I just thought a LOT of folks will have GPUs out there that are VERY much serviceable in their HTPC and its just the noisy fan keeping them from getting back into use.....

Problem solved.

And seriously have a look at some of the stuff on DX - sure a lot is crap but some nice stuff on there for a quick chuckle or tinker.

:-)

[pantonious]

thx for that...not for the GPU cooler, but that website...looks very good, have never heard of it before :P

[dgaust]

I had to install an OCZ Vendetta 2 cpu cooler into my main desktop rig and woooooooooooooooooooooow thats a BIG SUCKER! Tricky install but one of the best aircoolers available.

Bah, that's only half a cooler

I use this one

[pantonious]

Bah, that's only half a cooler

I use this one

surely you need to upgrade to one of these

[dgaust]

surely you need to upgrade to one of these

It's a computer, not a nucular (Bushism) power station

[nikko1974]

Bah, that's only half a cooler

I use this one

But yes, for pure real estate they're a very big cooler....

On first impressions I was impressed by them when they came out - they're very so big you think they're a best in class for sure - but the results from them is very average.

FWIW this review inked the Vendetta II as the choice for me - was essentially put as being the best available aircooler.

[nikko1974]

surely you need to upgrade to one of these

Yes, I saw those and they prolly are the BEST aircooler in the world - if price and size isn't a problem.

At around $200 each I think the law of diminishing marginal returns knocks them around pretty badly.....