ZM80D-HP Bites the Dust

They make noise, too.

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diver
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ZM80D-HP Bites the Dust

Post by diver » Thu May 04, 2006 10:10 am

It would seem odd that a passive cooler could go bad, but that is what has happened.

The mounting of the ZM80D depends on two thin strips of spring steel bolted with very small screws to an aluminum block that sits on the GPU. There is no way that the assembly is stable. It tends to rock on an axis passing through the GPU or from side to side. Eventually, contact with the GPU is lost and overheating results.

Next cooler (if there is one) will have to have a better mounting system. So far the best I have seen is the new Zalman 900, but I am hopeful that shortly RivaTuner will support the 7600/7900 series and allow me to use software to keep things silent in 2D and reasonable in 3D.

What else mounts solid, either passive or active but silent?

McBanjo
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Post by McBanjo » Thu May 04, 2006 11:02 am

Can't you mod it a bit to create a more safe way to keep it in place?
Not sure I understand it correct. Do you mean those clips that is on the upper side of the cooler? Those that has to be removed to install the fan (or do they hold the fan in place?)?

If so then it should be easy to get a more firm metalpiece and drill 2 holes in it and replace

If I'm way out then just ignore me :-P
My example is on the way but for now I don't have much clue ;-P

IsaacKuo
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Post by IsaacKuo » Thu May 04, 2006 11:18 am

He's talking about these little curved arms that are attached to the little heatsink block (on the GPU itself). They're set in grooves to adjust to any mounting hole positions. It's the same sort of thing they put in their chipset heatsinks.

McBanjo
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Post by McBanjo » Thu May 04, 2006 4:23 pm

Ah ok, those. Might be tricky to fix :-(

openwheelformula1
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Post by openwheelformula1 » Fri May 05, 2006 1:53 am

FYI. I've had two 6600GTs died on me with this heapipe cooler just recently. I got greedy and unvervolted both intake and exahaust fans to 5V (lowest). (Nexus and Globalwin) The weather was hot (around 90 outside). Case was closed, and I was playing UT2004 for a couple hours. RMAed and lesson learned.

openwheelformula1
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Post by openwheelformula1 » Fri May 05, 2006 1:54 am

and if anyone is wondering about my heatsink assembly. It was assembled textbook style.

McBanjo
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Post by McBanjo » Sat May 13, 2006 5:51 am

It lowered my eVGA 7900GT with -5 degrees. 46 degrees C when playing is rather good ;-)

jhhoffma
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Post by jhhoffma » Wed May 17, 2006 5:37 am

I have a ZM80C and its mounting is rock-solid. I wonder if there is any difference in the mounting between the two in the mounting assembly. I can't imagine needing a completely different block to accomodate an extra heatpipe.

diver
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Post by diver » Thu May 18, 2006 8:31 am

The mounting system is the same. It has the potential to get loose. That does not mean everyone will have the problem

Thomas
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Post by Thomas » Thu May 18, 2006 9:21 am

I've burnt a FX5700LE with the Zalman thingy. I vent with AC Silencers, but got tired of the noise. So I've just re-mounted the Zalman.

To prevent it from breaking loose, the small screws and nuts around the GPU, should be tigthend as much as possible - due to the spring-tension thingies and rubber o-rings, you cant over-tigthen them.

McBanjo
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Post by McBanjo » Thu May 18, 2006 9:57 am

I am considering an easy modd to eliminate the risk for it to turn. Basicly something (woodcube or plastic etc) between the grapficcard and the silvery zalman plates on the top of the cooler.
Zalman is easy but the other coolers might be a bit trickier

Did a ghetto-thing of the idea but it was so small so my cellphone couldn't take any good pictures of it

diver
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Post by diver » Thu May 18, 2006 12:39 pm

Locktite?

McBanjo
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Post by McBanjo » Thu May 18, 2006 1:26 pm

diver wrote:Locktite?
ha ha that's cheating :-P
You might want to remove the cooler in the future. If that's possible when all that grease is set

BrianE
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Post by BrianE » Thu May 18, 2006 4:45 pm

McBanjo wrote:
diver wrote:Locktite?
ha ha that's cheating :-P
You might want to remove the cooler in the future. If that's possible when all that grease is set
Actually there are two types of Loctite. One is permanent, the other is not ("removable with hand tools"). Everyone seems to associate "Loctite" with permanent bonding, but they actually make a lot of different products other than threadlocker.

.....I don't know why I didn't think of threadlocker earlier though. :? If the problem was because of the screws slowly loosening due to vibration, that might work.

McBanjo
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Post by McBanjo » Thu May 18, 2006 4:52 pm

Me Swede, me lack education :-P

I prefer "removable with hands only" stuff. More user friendly
But ok, now I know there are atleast 2 types of loctite. Guess I'll google and educate myself ;-)

~El~Jefe~
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Post by ~El~Jefe~ » Fri May 19, 2006 7:57 pm

It took me way over an hour to attach the thing to my 9800pro all in wonder. I mean, this thing just is NOT easy. It sits all freaky and rolls around. then when you tighten it, you could swear you are bending and breaking the retaining plates with each screw turn. OR going to kink the heat pipes. it worked well though for me for a year till i water cooled.

I tossed it in the garbage though after i removed it, I dont think it would seat again properly. SHame, it cost me like 35 bux or more maybe?

McBanjo
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Post by McBanjo » Sat May 20, 2006 1:59 am

It's a little fiddly but I was suprsed how easy it was to asseble. If you are careful and take some time it's not a big deal

diver
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Post by diver » Sun May 21, 2006 5:19 pm

I have reinstalled my passive Zalman. I used blue Loktite where the screws attach to the central block, I am not totally convinced that it will prevent twisting. Looks like I have to treat it like a baby. The Loktite cost $6 at Lowes, but there are some other things I can use it for around here.

The good news is the performance is better than I had before with the same unit, very pleased in fact. Third time's the charm...

Perhaps, the Accelero S series will be perfect.

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