VF700-Cu or Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer?

Insolent · Post by **Insolent** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:09 am

I can't stand the stock HSF on my Radeon X850XT. The fan speed is dynamically controlled according to the temp, and even at 18% the fan roars like a jet taking off. It's pathetic.

So now it's time to spend some money and change the damn thing. I was wondering which would be better - good ol' Zalman and the VF700-Cu or the Artic Cooling VGA Silencer ATI, Rev 2?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

Ackelind · Post by **Ackelind** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:03 am

The Zalman cooler seem to be a bit more quiet, and also have better quality. The AC Silencer have been reported to rattle and becoming loud after a few months to a year of use.

They both seem to have about the same cooling capacity, with the VF700 perhaps being slighly more effective, while giving higher case temperatures.

thetoad30 · Post by **thetoad30** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 3:08 pm

I love my Zalman. But...

I have just put it on my X800GTO^2 that I have flashed to 16 pipes and OC'ed to 576/591(x2), which is basically an overclocked X850XT PE. I notice that when my room is hot, above 75 degrees, that I get artifacts in my games when I have been gaming for a while.

While the Zalman does well at low noise, I have to constantly have the fan on high in order for the card to be cooled effectively.

I do have low airflow inside my case as I am using the P180 and Nexus fans for the top and rear, and the tricool on medium at the front, so that could be some of the problem. I also have 2 PCI slots filled with an Audigy and TV Wonder Pro right next to the Zalman fan. This could be some of the problem.

I was starting to think that maybe the AC5rev2 might be worth getting, but then when I just cooled my room off the Zalman did a great job.

If you are going to use the card for gaming and OC'ing your video card in a warm room, I would be careful about getting the Zalman if you have low air circulation. If you are just going to be using it daily for Windows tasks (doubt it with an XT version) then the Zalman would be wonderful.

Otherwise, really consider going with the AC5rev2 I guess, as it will not recirculate the hot air.

It's really a matter of what your situation is.

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:58 am

So which do you suggest to use with a Geforce 6800GT?

BR!

rootdown · Post by **rootdown** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:45 pm

I've installed a Silencer on my Sapphire X800 GTO2 overclocked to 530/620 (core clock almost at X850XT PE speeds). The card is not audible at idle and somewhat audible on load (outside the case). I was shocked by how much of a difference it did on my CPU temps (probably 3C).

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:57 am

rootdown wrote:I've installed a Silencer on my Sapphire X800 GTO2 overclocked to 530/620 (core clock almost at X850XT PE speeds). The card is not audible at idle and somewhat audible on load (outside the case). I was shocked by how much of a difference it did on my CPU temps (probably 3C).

By saying, that is more audiable at full load, you mean, that the fan is speeding up?

Doesn't the Silencer have a constant speed fan? (2200RPM)

BR!

fat jez · Post by **fat jez** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 8:22 am

Charles wrote: Doesn't the Silencer have a constant speed fan? (2200RPM)

BR!

No, it is controlled by the bios on the graphics card. The speed varies according to the GPU temperature.

Cheers,
Jez

warriorpoet · Post by **warriorpoet** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 2:35 pm

Charles wrote:So which do you suggest to use with a Geforce 6800GT?

BR!

I only have experience with the NV Silencer5 Rev.3, not the Zalman, so I cannot compare, but my impressions of what I do have are posted here.

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:38 pm

fat jez wrote:
Charles wrote: Doesn't the Silencer have a constant speed fan? (2200RPM)

BR!
No, it is controlled by the bios on the graphics card. The speed varies according to the GPU temperature.

Cheers,
Jez

Too bad for me... I would need a constant silen solution... My Leadtek is also controlled by BIOS, althouh now it is set to 25%/35%/50% in Rivatuner...

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:39 pm

warriorpoet wrote:
I only have experience with the NV Silencer5 Rev.3, not the Zalman, so I cannot compare, but my impressions of what I do have are posted here.

Thanks, I will read through that topic...

I thought the nvS5 rev 3 is good for GT7800 series ONLY...

BR!

warriorpoet · Post by **warriorpoet** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:08 pm

Charles wrote:
I thought the nvS5 rev 3 is good for GT7800 series ONLY...

BR!

Nope, it just adds the appropriate power connector for the 7800. I do not know if there are any other optimizations over the Rev.2, but I figured, why take the chance?

Charles · Post by **Charles** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 5:34 am

warriorpoet wrote:
Charles wrote:
I thought the nvS5 rev 3 is good for GT7800 series ONLY...

BR!
Nope, it just adds the appropriate power connector for the 7800. I do not know if there are any other optimizations over the Rev.2, but I figured, why take the chance?

I read in one review, that the contact between the memory coolers are better in Rev3... And by the way they give the back memory cooler, so there is no such thing for 7800xx... So it is good for 6800GT/U too...

Nonetheless, I will go for the Vf700-Cu, I think...

BR!