7900GT passive stock cooling from MSI

Webmonkey · Post by **Webmonkey** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 10:15 am

Webmonkey wrote:
yacoub wrote:
GamingGod wrote:do you have the 7900gt ko now? How is it working out, any issues?
Should arrive today.

We expect at full report tonight!

My own report on the ASUS EN7600GT Silent is that when idle on the desktop, the big wing feel barely warmer than my skin.

After a 30min BF2 session, it fells warmer, but I would not say burning hot at all - about as hot as my old 6600 was when idleling.

yacoub · Post by **yacoub** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:34 pm

The card was left somewhere I cannot get it until tomorrow. No update until at least tomorrow night.

yacoub · Post by **yacoub** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:11 pm

quick note: it's quieter than my X800XL with the Zalman cooler, perhaps because the ball-bearing fan on the Zalman made a slight mechanical noise.

It's very quiet which is nice.

Alas, the image quality is not as good as the ATI card, imho.

GamingGod · Post by **GamingGod** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:41 am

GamingGod · Post by **GamingGod** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:42 am

yes please do! that is the exact card I was looking into. Is it worth it to get the 583 over the584 (assuming you can find it cheaper) If the improved heatsink is still crap? I was thinking of putting a zalman 900 on it also but it would be more ideal if I could keep the stock cooling.

yacoub · Post by **yacoub** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:21 pm

well the 584 model has a heatsink that is copper and it also covers the RAM chips, which was important to me for longevity. also due to its different design i wouldn't be surprised if the fan was slightly different and that is why it is fairly quiet - ie, the design is different than the reference style hsf on the 583 model.

For me the 584 was a good choice. I like this card except that ATI Tool doesn't allow fan control or else I'd be very happy as I like ATI Tool better than any of the other options like RivaTuner or NTune. The fan seems to have at least three settings, which are around 20% 40% and maybe 75% which are for running in 2D mode, low 3D, and intensive/high 3D modes. IT is very quiet in Windows.

ziphnor · Post by **ziphnor** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 12:59 pm

Are RAM heatsinks really necessary? I always had the impression it was quite unnecessary, but thinks might have change

GreenRay · Post by **GreenRay** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 10:39 am

How does the performance compare with other 7900GT cards?

Arturo · Post by **Arturo** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 6:52 am

I hope you don't feel I am hijacking this thread, some of you (JAH, for one) mentioned wanting to setup a HTPC. It seems there are more issues than just how quiet a card might be, it includes compliance with HDCP and even if it is enabled on boards labelled "HDCP".
A very good discussion is available at the following link:

http://www.htpcnews.com/forums/index.ph ... opic=23416

maybe if some of you can plow through all of this you can come back and explain it to the rest of us

or at least me. Is this even a good time to be buying a card for a HTPC?

This card is available at Newegg w/ rebate now for US$240, but I don't how quiet it could be expected to perform:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814127218

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 3:08 am

I recently got the MSI Passive 7900GT. The cooler is relatively small.

While installing windows the cooler got so hot I almost burned my fingers (there wasn't any exhaust or intake fan installed). I placed a 80mm right on top of the cooler and the card is now always between 50 and 56C.

I plan to buy a silent 80mm fan and fix it on to the cooler with some thread.

If anyone needs pictures I can post my-currently-not-so-silent setup.

Greg F. · Post by **Greg F.** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:55 am

So is that card HDCP? Will it do 1080p? I am just trying to learn about these things and I think it is very confusing.

sgtspiff · Post by **sgtspiff** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:32 am

Jerry wrote:I recently got the MSI Passive 7900GT. The cooler is relatively small.

While installing windows the cooler got so hot I almost burned my fingers (there wasn't any exhaust or intake fan installed). I placed a 80mm right on top of the cooler and the card is now always between 50 and 56C.

I plan to buy a silent 80mm fan and fix it on to the cooler with some thread.

If anyone needs pictures I can post my-currently-not-so-silent setup.

So you need a fan next to it?
Thinking of getting the card myself. Just to cut down on one fan to get the computer even more quiet.

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:09 am

Well this is my current status (pictures were taken when the system was running):

I have ordered some Nexus fans and I'll test when I get them.

The Intel Stock Heatsink is at 70% (can't hear it, but at 100% it's like a jet taking off) on a E6400 @ 2.66 with SpeedStep and C1E enabled. Idles at 35C.

rkuo · Post by **rkuo** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:51 am

Anyone know where to buy the passively cooled MSI 7900GT in the US? I'm having a hard time finding it.

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:53 am

rkuo wrote:Anyone know where to buy the passively cooled MSI 7900GT in the US? I'm having a hard time finding it.

I think it's a Europe only card.

sgtspiff · Post by **sgtspiff** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 11:37 pm

Do you really need the fan on top of the card to keep it cool. Couldn't you just put in a 120mm fan in the back of the chassi?

I want to get the MSI card to but without the extra fan (preferable).

haugland · Post by **haugland** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 1:06 am

I am thinking of buying the passive MSI card and adding a 80 mm low noise fan with a shroud leading out of the cabinet. This should be plenty of cooling, and you can get 80 mm fans which are fairly silent and definetely much more silent than any VGA fans I have ever heard.

Any thoughts on this?

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 1:42 am

sgtspiff wrote:Do you really need the fan on top of the card to keep it cool. Couldn't you just put in a 120mm fan in the back of the chassi?

I want to get the MSI card to but without the extra fan (preferable).

I'll receive a 120mm fan in the following week.

rkuo · Post by **rkuo** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 8:02 am

Jerry wrote:
rkuo wrote:Anyone know where to buy the passively cooled MSI 7900GT in the US? I'm having a hard time finding it.
I think it's a Europe only card.

Oh dear. Sorry to take the thread a little off track here, but what's the best passive alternative in the US then?

7900GT passive stock cooling from MSI

HDCP AND OTHER ISSUES

I got the card 2 days ago.

HDCP?

Re: I got the card 2 days ago.