Loud XFX 5770 stock heatsink/Best course of action.

They make noise, too.

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keine
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Loud XFX 5770 stock heatsink/Best course of action.

Post by keine » Fri Sep 03, 2010 11:28 am

I have a Crossfire 5770 setup and one of my video cards gets very very loud when gaming (SC2). Its the stock type cooler seen here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814150447.

The other 5770 is an egg type cooler and doesn't make anywhere near as much noise.

I am wondering what the best course of action to silence this part would be. The catch is any modification to the video card will negate my *lifetime* warranty.

The case is a p180 Antec. I've got one fan on a Scythe Mugen 2, one nexus D12SL-12 on the rear intake, the stock Antec Tri's on the top and in the bottom HD/PSU bay.

Would I be best served trying to put an aftermarket VGA cooler on the XFX 5770 or would I be better off trying to increase airflow in the case with the addition of more fans (possibly a front intake fan.)

Thanks.

danimal
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Post by danimal » Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:11 pm

replace the 5770's with gtx460's, and put the antec fans on low, or replace 'em.

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Post by keine » Fri Sep 03, 2010 6:40 pm

:|. Anybody else?

Cryoburner
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Re: Loud XFX 5770 stock heatsink/Best course of action.

Post by Cryoburner » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:49 pm

The forum broke your link by including the period at the end. Here's a more clickable link...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814150447

Maybe try returning the card, and finding one with a cooler more like that found on your other one? The only problem might be that a second 'egg type' cooler would be dumping all of its heat back inside the case with the existing one.

It's possible that they're using a more aggressive fan speed than is necessary, and that reducing it could help, so long as the temperatures remain reasonable. It might also help to remove some PCI slot covers to improve ventilation around the cards. It might be worth trying, at least.

Das_Saunamies
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Post by Das_Saunamies » Fri Sep 03, 2010 8:22 pm

A better cooler is the only solution, unless your PC is seriously choking. Whether you do this with an aftermarket swap or by exchanging the card is up to you, but you can't help low-performance coolers with aggressive fans.

The 5770 is a difficult one to find coolers for unfortunately. :(

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Post by Lawrence Lee » Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:38 pm

If you think the fan is running faster than it should you could always tame it with software like MSI Afterburner.

Das_Saunamies
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Post by Das_Saunamies » Sat Sep 04, 2010 7:10 am

Lawrence Lee wrote:If you think the fan is running faster than it should you could always tame it with software like MSI Afterburner.
Could certainly try that, only there is one big But. It's the reference, low-performance blower-type cooler (just look at the limited intake, restricted exhaust, nasty stuff, the 'sink is no better).

Here's how things work out in CrossFire under load, according to X-bit Labs: http://www.xbitlabs.com/misc/picture/?s ... ig.png&1=1. It's XFX 5770s in CrossFire - 79'C at 49% fan power does not suggest confident performance with reduced RPM. :evil:

I doubt that cooler on that card in CrossFire can be run safely at lowered RPM. At least make sure you do a good, long burn run before actual gaming if you do decide to lower the RPM - I've tried this with a lot of reference coolers and they have all failed the test from the Gainward 6800 LE to the Asus 5770 CuCore.

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Post by keine » Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:03 pm

No, I can't reduce RPM. The card is way too hot. I *think* a Unigen Heaven run was putting it at almost 90C with stock RPM settings. It's not like I actually value XFX's so called warranty. I would be willing to bet they wouldn't give it to me anyway. I thought someone said the Accelero S1 Rev.2 can be fitted to the 5770. or the Accelero L2 Pro.

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Post by Das_Saunamies » Sat Sep 04, 2010 11:42 pm

Some non-reference-design 5770's like the Asus CuCore can accommodate the S1R2 without modification as the GPU is farther back. I don't know if the XFX is one, however.

The L2 Pro should fit any 5770 but looks nasty to my eye - it's just a block of aluminium with no heatpipes or anything.

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Post by lodestar » Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:55 am

Having built systems for my gaming relatives I would say the issue is lack of case air flow. If I were to build a CrossFire system now it would go in a high air flow case like the Antec 1200 or the CoolerMaster HAF-X. So the P180 is not ideal, but something can be done to improve air flow without spending too much money.

First I would suggest is that you remove the top hard drive caddy. Second, purchase two additional Scythe PWM fans of the same model as the one already fitted to the Mugen 2. They cost around $11 each from sources such as http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11636 ... 12H-P.html. Also buy a PWM splitter cable such as this one from Akasa costing around $8 from maybe here http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10350 ... CB002.html. That's a total spend of around 30$ plus shipping.

Using the splitter cable fit one of the Scythe PWM fans as the intake fan, connect the existing CPU fan to the splitter and use the last Scythe PWM fan to replace the current exhaust fan. This will give you a chain of three Scythe PWM fans tied to the CPU temperature. At idle all three will run at a fairly low speed, the same as your current Scythe fan or a touch lower. Under load they will speed up and give higher air flow that should moderate your graphics card temperatures. Load rpms could be in the region of 1100-1200 rpm. You could redeploy the displaced nexus D12SL-12 to the bottom HD/PSU bay as it will be quieter than a stock Antec Tri.

It might be worth noting that the Akasa PWM splitter cable draws its power from a molex, so the power for all three fans will not be drawn from the motherboard CPU fan header.

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Post by Das_Saunamies » Sun Sep 05, 2010 1:02 am

lodestar wrote:[...] Scythe PWM fans of the same model as the one already fitted to the Mugen 2. They cost around $11 each from sources such as http://www.frozencpu.com/products/11636 ... 12H-P.html. Also buy a PWM splitter cable such as this one from Akasa costing around $8 from maybe here http://www.frozencpu.com/products/10350 ... CB002.html. That's a total spend of around 30$ plus shipping.

Using the splitter cable fit one of the Scythe PWM fans as the intake fan, connect the existing CPU fan to the splitter and use the last Scythe PWM fan to replace the current exhaust fan. This will give you a chain of three Scythe PWM fans tied to the CPU temperature.
OT: Thanks for pointing that splitter cable out - I had no idea that was possible since I'm still using 3-pin fans. Now I'm considering moving to PWM fans if I can find some nice ones at a reasonable price (yeah, good luck with that in Finland!).

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Post by johnniecache7 » Sun Sep 05, 2010 2:22 am

danimal wrote:replace the 5770's with gtx460's, and put the antec fans on low, or replace 'em.
Why the hell would he do that the HD 5770 runs cooler and quieter then GTX 460.

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Post by Das_Saunamies » Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:17 am

johnniecache7 wrote:[...] the HD 5770 runs cooler and quieter then GTX 460.
From having used Asus 5770 1GB CuCore and Gainward GTX 460 1GB GS GLH I would have to say yes to the first and no to the second argument. All down to the cooler. :P

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Post by Parappaman » Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:35 am

Scythe Setsugen should fit, otherwise simply try lowering fan speed, these cards can withstand 80+ degrees wth ease if you don't ned overclocking.

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Post by BlackWhizz » Sun Sep 05, 2010 4:36 am

Parappaman wrote:Scythe Setsugen should fit, otherwise simply try lowering fan speed, these cards can withstand 80+ degrees wth ease if you don't ned overclocking.
Only with cards which have the back panel connectors no stacked but next to eachother.

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Post by Parappaman » Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:42 am

I see... looks like the "best" replacement cooler is the Zalman VF2000 then. Too bad it's overpriced and, well, Zalman...

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Post by danimal » Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:52 am

johnniecache7 wrote:
danimal wrote:replace the 5770's with gtx460's, and put the antec fans on low, or replace 'em.
Why the hell would he do that the HD 5770 runs cooler and quieter then GTX 460.
they are both 40nm gpu's.

along with what das posted... i'm guessing that gtx 460's in sli will blow away those 5770's??

but if performance doesn't matter...

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Post by Parappaman » Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:59 am

They cost more, of course they are faster... :lol:

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Post by keine » Sun Sep 05, 2010 4:30 pm

lodestar, you gave some really good advice.

Guess my best bet would be to follow your advice, unless someone else has anything else?

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Post by keine » Thu Sep 09, 2010 1:50 pm

Would it be advisable to reapply some AS5 on the card? Searching around seems suggest that this is a good idea. One user reported dry/cracked thermal on the XFX cards.

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Post by Das_Saunamies » Fri Sep 10, 2010 7:48 am

keine wrote:Would it be advisable to reapply some AS5 on the card? Searching around seems suggest that this is a good idea. One user reported dry/cracked thermal on the XFX cards.
If it looks easy to do (you've seen pictures at least) and you don't mind voiding your warranty, go right ahead. I've only done it once, but that time it helped improve the otherwise dodgy stability.

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Post by ~El~Jefe~ » Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:35 pm

not a terrible idea to reapply thermal paste. AS5 would be good for this type. I like ceramique for most everything else.

I am trying to cool mine as well. I dont know what happened but my L2 pro from accelero is not giving better results, albeit quieter.

Something might be not fitting right on the gpu. it's quite tiny.

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Post by datapappan » Sat Sep 11, 2010 12:33 pm

Wild idea in concurrence with case flow above: try to get fresh, cool air to the intake of the card, might do the trick. A silent fan pushing into the intake could also alleviate the GPU fan's job, making it not ramp up at all. You could try the potential of this with the case cover off, and maybe ghetto fitting a fan near the intake.

This might include breaking the side panel, sorry if this suggestion is too wild.

/ d

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Post by ~El~Jefe~ » Sun Sep 12, 2010 7:46 pm

my new case, SunbeamTech mid-tower Acrylic will have 2 side 120mm's a front 120mm, and a mid mounted 120mm that I will have facing the north/south bridge and gpu.

So.... I think I might go for crunching up a Accelero S1 rev2 and just not have a fan attached to the 5770. If this fails, I am going to go get a new card later this fall that is easier to cool because im pissed.

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Post by quest_for_silence » Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:31 am

~El~Jefe~ wrote:If this fails, I am going to go get a new card later this fall that is easier to cool because im pissed.

If you will ever need a (current) card which is cooler than the HD5770, I guess you'd be in trouble, lil'boss: IMVHO you unlikely can game (with most modern titles and comfortably) at mid-high resolutions (as 1680 x 1050 or 1920 x 1200) with less than a 5770, and personally I won't bet that the forthcoming Radeon HD6XXXXs will do that trick.

Regards,
Luca

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Post by ~El~Jefe~ » Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:12 am

I dont think the 6000 series cards will be cooler running. They have a wider bus and higher clocks.

The 6750 version of that series probably will be faster than the 5770 current.

I don't know when they will be out either. I probably will just put this S1 rev2 on the 5770 and just cut off the side fins.

Has anyone ever considered REMOVING one of the dvi connectors? I wonder how hard it is. It has a thin steel housing/box thing around the doubled headed connectors. I never will be running anything over 1920x1200 so I would never need bothg DVI's. Kinda rediculous to have them on a 5770, should be only on either a very low end card for office work and graphic work, or on a 5870 and up where you can game at those resolutions.

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Post by keine » Tue Sep 21, 2010 7:36 pm

Jefe, whatever you do, please let me know. I'm still hesitant on the correct way to go about this. XFX stock AMD cooler on the 5770 is a piece of poo. I hate it so badly. SO noisy when gaming. thinking of doing the AS5 and front intake cooler. problem is, the front intake on my P180 isn't *that* great of an intake. hell, i'd be suprise if any air was even drawn in and if so....it would reach the video cards.

I can't find a cooler that is proven to work with the 5770. its all guesswork. i'm also running a XFire setup, which complicates things.

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Post by ~El~Jefe~ » Wed Sep 22, 2010 6:55 am

well. I can tell you that I found one cure.

Accelero L2 pro, BUT, you voltage control the fan on it to go like 5 volts, so it's kinda inaudible, then, you have a side mounted fan on the side door, 120mm, blowing outside air above it. doesnt have to be dead on, 50% aiming at least is good. THis makes it cold. I probably could run crossfire 5770's but I cant justify the cost to buy a second card atm. Side fan's are the trick though.

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Post by ~El~Jefe~ » Wed Sep 22, 2010 6:56 am

well. I can tell you that I found one cure.

Accelero L2 pro, BUT, you voltage control the fan on it to go like 5 volts, so it's kinda inaudible, then, you have a side mounted fan on the side door, 120mm, blowing outside air above it. doesnt have to be dead on, 50% aiming at least is good. THis makes it cold. I probably could run crossfire 5770's but I cant justify the cost to buy a second card atm. Side fan's are the trick though.

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Post by zoob » Wed Sep 22, 2010 7:17 am

Really wouldn't recommend hacking off a DVI port. You lose the ability to connect another monitor (in the event you want multiple in the future). Dual-link DVI is NOT the same as using two DVI ports.

That, and I'd think you would rather hack-up a $20 heatsink than a $150 video card.

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