Hmm... my card doesn't have the 'X' mounts on the back of the card, just the black heatsink panel on the back. Will that matter?
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4870x2 air coolers
- Thread starter Scougar
- Start date
Associate
Yeah, you will have a problem fitting a standard heat sink/ accelero if you don't have the original backplate to screw them on to. I would doubt it will fit correctly to backplate for the waterblock but you might be lucky!!
Might be worth getting hold of a dead 4870x2 from a well known auction site for the parts you need. I have seen a few threads on here recently with people looking to replace a dead 4870x2, perhaps they would let you have the dead card for a reasonable price if it's out of warranty???
Do you still want me to send you my heat sink tomorrow?
Might be worth getting hold of a dead 4870x2 from a well known auction site for the parts you need. I have seen a few threads on here recently with people looking to replace a dead 4870x2, perhaps they would let you have the dead card for a reasonable price if it's out of warranty???
Do you still want me to send you my heat sink tomorrow?
Hmm.. yes please. I'm sure I can made some bodge lol.
Associate
Sorry mate, didn't see your reply until this morning, will post it out tomorrow.
Turned up today.. I'm going to attempt an install of it without the X's braces (d'oh!). Should be... entertaining. Will attempt to remove the cowling and possibly strap some fans to it to tray and improve things.
Will post pics if I can find some cable ties for the fans lol.
Will post pics if I can find some cable ties for the fans lol.
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Associate
Great news, look forward to seeing how this turns out. 
They can hardly cope with the heat a 4870x2 puts out so you only improve things. Hope you have good case ventilation because this is going to be throwing a good bit of heat in to your case.
They can hardly cope with the heat a 4870x2 puts out so you only improve things. Hope you have good case ventilation because this is going to be throwing a good bit of heat in to your case.
OK.. attempt one. Bear in mind, I'm missing a capacitor from the board (bottom right). Not sure what that one was for so wish me luck lol.
1st attempt: Have removed the water cooler and mounted the standard cooler back on. Was interesting as I had to make my own washers up out of copper sheet and space them with those red cardboard washers. Not sure how well it will be making contact so wish me luck!! Seriously need 2 X-braces though d'oh.
Will update in a few mins, when I've tried plugging it in lol.
1st attempt: Have removed the water cooler and mounted the standard cooler back on. Was interesting as I had to make my own washers up out of copper sheet and space them with those red cardboard washers. Not sure how well it will be making contact so wish me luck!! Seriously need 2 X-braces though d'oh.
Will update in a few mins, when I've tried plugging it in lol.
Pants. Did not go to plan. Get the asus bios graphic but then fan goes to 100% and red leds come on, on the back of the 4870X2. A few times I briefly saw a message in ref saying something about connectors, but it was gone too quick.
Gonna have to try to get that bottom right capacitor back on, and hope thats the prob.
Gonna have to try to get that bottom right capacitor back on, and hope thats the prob.
Couldn't let it lie.
Took off heatsink. Remounted Heatsinks without the cowling, doubling up the washers. Used a 92mm fan on top of the copper heatsinks to keep it cool. (Will see if it's worth it and test against the cowling etc.)
Runs fine. Haven't run a 3D app yet to see if the capacitor is necessary however... will do that when driver is downloaded.
Took off heatsink. Remounted Heatsinks without the cowling, doubling up the washers. Used a 92mm fan on top of the copper heatsinks to keep it cool. (Will see if it's worth it and test against the cowling etc.)
Runs fine. Haven't run a 3D app yet to see if the capacitor is necessary however... will do that when driver is downloaded.
Well.. not sure what that capacitor does, but just been playing BFBC2 without issue 
Really must go to bed.
Oh and it's SOO smooth to play now Feels much more responsive.
Really must go to bed.Oh and it's SOO smooth to play now
Feels much more responsive.
Associate
Woohoo!! Really happy this has worked out for you Matt, I honestly had my doubts.
Can I recommend you d/l msi afterburner and see what your temps are like.
Post a pic so we can bask in your fantastic bodge!
Can I recommend you d/l msi afterburner and see what your temps are like.
Post a pic so we can bask in your fantastic bodge!
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1) Elastic band is used as i didn't have any cable ties to hand at 3 a.m.
2) I need a 2nd 92mm fan ideally as one 1300rpm 92mm fan is only just good enough.
3) Cables need to be sorted, just with swapping cards every day I haven't got round
to it.. it used to be so neat.
4) 4870x2 at 100% is bloody loud lol. MSI Afterburner won't allow proper control
over the fan profile for some reason, any ideas?
5) The heatsink cowling (not in picture!!) isn't mine so I can't hack it up
otherwise I would make two discreet holes in it.
6) Temps in Battle Field BC2 didn't get above 60C amazingly. Core usage was 100%
core 1, around 50% core 2.
7) I didn't have the X-brackets/braces for the rear of the GPU's I had to use 2x red
motherboard washers, a cut bit of copper and the original screws. I didn't have
enough washers, so the heatsinks are only held on by 2 screws each rather than 4
lol. Really need to get that sorted with proper washers (or X-Brackets asap).
8) Running 10.5 drivers, should really get 10.5a though. Is there a hot fix for it rather than getting the full install?
If anyone has spare X-brackets for a 4870X2 obviously let me know (often you won't
use them if you went and watercooled your card).
Sorry for quality of pictures, I took them using my TG01 which has a naff camera in
low light conditions.
2) I need a 2nd 92mm fan ideally as one 1300rpm 92mm fan is only just good enough.
3) Cables need to be sorted, just with swapping cards every day I haven't got round
to it.. it used to be so neat.
4) 4870x2 at 100% is bloody loud lol. MSI Afterburner won't allow proper control
over the fan profile for some reason, any ideas?
5) The heatsink cowling (not in picture!!) isn't mine so I can't hack it up
otherwise I would make two discreet holes in it.
6) Temps in Battle Field BC2 didn't get above 60C amazingly. Core usage was 100%
core 1, around 50% core 2.
7) I didn't have the X-brackets/braces for the rear of the GPU's I had to use 2x red
motherboard washers, a cut bit of copper and the original screws. I didn't have
enough washers, so the heatsinks are only held on by 2 screws each rather than 4
lol. Really need to get that sorted with proper washers (or X-Brackets asap).
8) Running 10.5 drivers, should really get 10.5a though. Is there a hot fix for it rather than getting the full install?
If anyone has spare X-brackets for a 4870X2 obviously let me know (often you won't
use them if you went and watercooled your card).
Sorry for quality of pictures, I took them using my TG01 which has a naff camera in
low light conditions.
Associate
Looking good there and those temps in BC2 are pretty good.
I presume you will be replacing the elastic bands with cables ties in the very near future?
If you want After burner to have control over the fan, you need to plug the fan in the the fan power header on the GFX card. Failing that you will need an external fan controller I guess.
If you want to make a few descreet holes in the cowl then go ahead but if you're still thinking of finding an Acellero then leave it as is.
Really great news you have it working.
I presume you will be replacing the elastic bands with cables ties in the very near future?
If you want After burner to have control over the fan, you need to plug the fan in the the fan power header on the GFX card. Failing that you will need an external fan controller I guess.
If you want to make a few descreet holes in the cowl then go ahead but if you're still thinking of finding an Acellero then leave it as is.
Really great news you have it working.
Lol, yeah, the elastic band was purely because I tried everything else I had to hand, and that was the only thing that would work for the evening. I will replace with cable ties or something similar, I may try a neater solution if it works out effective.
I want to see if I can get acceptable temps from this cooler without having to get the accelero (as it’s pricey), so might mock up some duct/cowling to help direct the airflow a little better. I might pick up a fan on the way back home, although I know it will be silly prices. If I can get it to acceptable temps then I might mod the cowling you sent, if not I’ll likely pick up the accelero brand new.
The GPU fan is plugged into the 4870X2 so I should be able to control it, but for some reason it won’t let me set a percentage for it. It’s either 40% and controlling itself, or just goes straight to 100% when I try to control it. Very odd. I have a fan controller already with two spare dials, so I can easily use that if necessary.
Really I think I need something a little better than an Akasa Amber 92mm, as they are designed to be quiet case fans’s not really for cooling a gpu.
More importantly I need to get some very small washers or those X-braces/brackets.
I want to see if I can get acceptable temps from this cooler without having to get the accelero (as it’s pricey), so might mock up some duct/cowling to help direct the airflow a little better. I might pick up a fan on the way back home, although I know it will be silly prices. If I can get it to acceptable temps then I might mod the cowling you sent, if not I’ll likely pick up the accelero brand new.
The GPU fan is plugged into the 4870X2 so I should be able to control it, but for some reason it won’t let me set a percentage for it. It’s either 40% and controlling itself, or just goes straight to 100% when I try to control it. Very odd. I have a fan controller already with two spare dials, so I can easily use that if necessary.
Really I think I need something a little better than an Akasa Amber 92mm, as they are designed to be quiet case fans’s not really for cooling a gpu.
More importantly I need to get some very small washers or those X-braces/brackets.
Refited the cowling as i never actually tested it for temps and the other way is very messy and very noisy. Trying to start now, will post temps.
I also tidied the case and reused the 92mm fan but hovering over the 4870x2 intake.
Will upload pics tomorrow at work, but not much change, just a tidy case and a standish looking 4870x2 lol.
Only possibly problem is that the fan profile seems pants as standard, well definately need to correct that as currently going towards 70C at idle! It's just creeping up. EDIT: I see the issue, it's only at 27% fan according to catalyst which works out about right, given I did see a max RPM reading yesterday. The fan speed percentage in GPU-Z and MSI-AB are displaying incorrectly at 40%.
Anyway.. just downloading 10.5a now.
I also tidied the case and reused the 92mm fan but hovering over the 4870x2 intake.
Will upload pics tomorrow at work, but not much change, just a tidy case and a standish looking 4870x2 lol.
Only possibly problem is that the fan profile seems pants as standard, well definately need to correct that as currently going towards 70C at idle! It's just creeping up. EDIT: I see the issue, it's only at 27% fan according to catalyst which works out about right, given I did see a max RPM reading yesterday. The fan speed percentage in GPU-Z and MSI-AB are displaying incorrectly at 40%.
Anyway.. just downloading 10.5a now.
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Associate
Yeah, 70 is not great. With the areo im at 30 idle and 41 load and it's whisper quiet.
Think I was hitting round 90 under load with the standard heatsink + could hear it over my case fans which are pretty loud.
Sounds like it's working as good as ever!!
I'm on 10.5a too, by far the best for a 4870x2.
Think I was hitting round 90 under load with the standard heatsink + could hear it over my case fans which are pretty loud.
Sounds like it's working as good as ever!!
I'm on 10.5a too, by far the best for a 4870x2.
SLLLLOOOWW connection taking ages to download the 10.5a drivers 
Halfway there though.
Just adjusted the fan profile with AB but have to keep MSI running for it to work properly. Can't believe they made such a damn loud fan on this thing. The last time I had anything this loud was the x1950xt!
No wonder the accelero was such a bit hit! Man this could get annoying (the fan). Almost drive you balmy actually lol. Might have to make a quieter second profile.
Halfway there though.Just adjusted the fan profile with AB but have to keep MSI running for it to work properly. Can't believe they made such a damn loud fan on this thing. The last time I had anything this loud was the x1950xt!
No wonder the accelero was such a bit hit! Man this could get annoying (the fan). Almost drive you balmy actually lol. Might have to make a quieter second profile.
Crysis makes it get VERY hot May have to redo the cowling off jobby but with a 120mm fan.
May have to redo the cowling off jobby but with a 120mm fan.