8800GT cooling

Tichinde

Tichinde

Tichinde

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Joined
21 Apr 2009
Posts
14
Hi there.

I'm looking to try and improve the cooling on my MSI/EVGA 800GT sli setup.
Case: Gigabyte Aurora 3d
Motherboard: XFX 780i

I'm after a 3rd party cooler that can run quietly when I'm watching DVDs etc.
Noise is not an issue when I'm gaming (the 5.1's or my headphones will see to that :) ).

The problem (as I see it) is the EVGA card is in the bottom of my case (PCI-E slot 2 is the lowest one on the motherboard). As such the airflow goes down and nowhere. Add to that the 2 PCI cards on either side of it and it starts getting restrictive in terms of usable 3rd party coolers.
I can't move either PCI card.

I was looking at a Thermalright HR-03 and mounting it so the heatsink was behind the card facing upwards but I don't think there'll be enough clearance to not interfere with the PCI card above the EVGA.

I've considered watercooling but it'd be my first foray into watercooling and I don't fancy frying my new PC as I attempt to set up a complicated loop to cool the CPU, motherboard and SLI setup.

Any ideas to an air solution?

Cheers all.
 
The thermalright HR-03 will use up two slots above the one the card is in. Besides that it works well, I can't see two of them fitting for sli.

I've since put an ek block on the 8800gt, running through a 120 rad. It now loads at 3 degrees above idle, pretty successful I think
 
I have the same case as you, but i only have 1x 8800gt.
I found the akasa vortexx neo to be an excellent cooler vents to back of case, but
card now takes up 2 slots now. card idles at 46c and peaks at 55c.
Worth a look maybe? Don't think anyone makes a aftermarket single slot cooler.
Got Custom pc gold award too.
 
I'll snap a photo tonight and get it up.

In the meantime here's a wonderful (¬¬) ascii representation

------------------------- (8800GT)
----- (empty PCI-E x1)
------------------------- (empty PCI-E x16)
----------------- (PCI 1)
------------------------- (8800GT)
----------------- (PCI 2)

--------------Bottom of Case---------------
 
I have a HR-03 on my 4850 and have just measured it.

You will need at least two and a half inches of clear space above the card and that includes the heatsink with a 90mm fan strapped to it.

You will need around 3 inches of space if the cooler is going below the card.

Here is mine. It takes up 2 PCI-E x1 and 1 PCI slot.

2n0n22q.jpg
 
Tichinde said:
I'll snap a photo tonight and get it up.

In the meantime here's a wonderful (¬¬) ascii representation

------------------------- (8800GT)
----- (empty PCI-E x1)
------------------------- (empty PCI-E x16)
----------------- (PCI 1)
------------------------- (8800GT)
----------------- (PCI 2)

--------------Bottom of Case---------------
Click to expand...

my current board is simular in that i cant use the 1st 2 pici slots for the xonar due to irq restriction with graphic cards
so had to use the bottom last slot and that restrict the airflow.
my temps are okay tho as they too idle low 40's and peak at mid 50's even with restrictions.

my cards are evga 8800gt ko version and i use the temperature software provided to kepp the fan at around 70% speed which keepd the noise very low.

----- (empty PCI-E x4)
------------------------- (PCI-E 1 x16 -- 8800GT)
----------------- (PCI 1)
----------------- (PCI 2)
------------------------- (PCI-E 2 x16 -- 8800GT)
----------------- (PCI 3 - Xonar D2)
--------------Bottom of Case---------------

have you tried the provided software if included to lower the fan speed? that may halp as i know if i turn mine to 100% it whines slightly and can compete with the cpu coolers fan:P


HRhino
 
As a temporary fix I've ramped up the fan speeds with Rivatuner.
It's certainly a lot frostier down the bottom of the case now but it's a whole lot noisier :(

I think I'm definately out of options in terms of air cooling them.

Thanks for the help and advice folks.
 
Tichinde said:
I've considered watercooling but it'd be my first foray into watercooling and I don't fancy frying my new PC as I attempt to set up a complicated loop to cool the CPU, motherboard and SLI setup.
Click to expand...

Hey man. Just to say I've started watercooling in the last week or so and it really isn't as difficult as it sounds. My loop is pump -> 8800gt ->q9550 ->120 rad -> reservoir -> pump. Only starting overclocking now, at stock, running prime 95 and furmark, I get 45 degrees on the gfx and 47 on the processor. This is not loud, and I am happy. Soon to add a second radiator, and then I'll be set

Give it some thought. You could always just put the graphics cards under water and leave the rest on air. The waterblock + card is taking up one slot :)
 
120mm fan at Sli Gpu level.

Tichinde said:
As a temporary fix I've ramped up the fan speeds with Rivatuner.
It's certainly a lot frostier down the bottom of the case now but it's a whole lot noisier :(

I think I'm definately out of options in terms of air cooling them.

Thanks for the help and advice folks.
Click to expand...

Does your case have the side panel with additional fan? or closed side?

You can mod the case and place a 120mm fan down at the Sli gpu level ;)
 
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Jleo said:
Does your case have the side panel with additional fan? or closed side?

You can mod the case and place a 120mm fan down at the Sli gpu level ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, done that already, there's a great big 120mm fan down the bottom of the grill :)

The more I think about watercooling it the bolder I get about it
I wonder how much a watercooling loop would cost for both GPUs and the CPU.....
I'll have to take a look over lunch :)
 
Tichinde said:
Yeah, done that already, there's a great big 120mm fan down the bottom of the grill :)

The more I think about watercooling it the bolder I get about it
I wonder how much a watercooling loop would cost for both GPUs and the CPU.....
I'll have to take a look over lunch :)
Click to expand...

The overall cost is probably not that logical but it's great fun. You could probably get away with a PA120.2 Push/Pull setup and simply hang it off the back of your computer.

This kit would be perfect IMO although it would be better to buy second hand. You would also need 2 X MCW60. One for each of your GPUs.

EDIT: Looking at your case it's already setup for watercooling :D
 
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