First and last time i use Zalman!

Foehammer2003

Foehammer2003

Foehammer2003

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OMG! just got my new VGA heatsink (Zalman VF700-CU LED) and so went to work, get to installing it, after taking the old one off, installing the RAM sinks to my card just to find that it does not fit! :eek:

Yep, i checked the compatibility of my card, Zalmans website states that the x1600 is compatible (all cards is exactly what it says under x1600!)

Can a company do that? say something is compatible when its blatently not, i mean the fitting was not even close, there are two differently spaced holes on either side, i'd need a hole bang in the middle of where they put them :confused:

Really quite gutted coz i ended up snapping off a bit of my card in the removal of the old HSF, seems to be fixed ( i hope) and wasted ages for nothing. I always take great care to make sure stuff is compatible.

What a waste of money!

Anyone else had this problem?
 
I've seen pictures somewhere (gonna have a look) that they put the RAM heatsinks under those RAMs that are blocked by the fan...

Edit: can't find it, I saw them donkeys ago... sorry if I am not of help. Personally, I've yet read any complains about most Zalman CPU/VGA coolers... this is a first.
 
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Is it only the backplate that doesnt line up? From the looks of things you could use on of the outer holes and one of the inner holes in order to make it fit. BTW the backplate isnt *really* needed the coolers dont weigh that much.

Edit: Also have you tried fitting it the other way round witht he other two holes? they appear to be further apart from that image.
 
Unfortunately not, i thought maybe it was just the backplate too... but the actual heatsink holes match exactly to the backplate and are non adjustable. Well and truly gutted.
 
If worst comes to worst, use Epoxy?

Edit: can't you bend the backplate, so you get a "hump" and forcing it to fit?
 
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hmmm, i thought of superglue actually lol, but even epoxy would not be strong enough imo, the fan weighs quite a bit (270Grams) and to i would only want it screwed in. Also if anything should then go wrong, it would be my fault for bodging it on.
 
Dr Jones said:
Edit: can't you bend the backplate, so you get a "hump" and forcing it to fit?
Click to expand...

Yeah i could but i cant bend the heatsink itself, and thats the same, and non adjustable in any way.

EDIT: Raikiri, yeah i tried all angles and hole combinations, sat here for about half an hour just staring at it and trying different stuff, just wont fit, written to Zalman... guess i will have to wait and see what they say!
 
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The screws on the cooler itself fit through the PCB, it's just the backing plate has holes at the wrong position? Couldn't you make a piece of aluminium?
 
squiffy said:
The screws on the cooler itself fit through the PCB, it's just the backing plate has holes at the wrong position? Couldn't you make a piece of aluminium?
Click to expand...

Nope. well i could but this still wouldnt change the heatsink itself, see the link... the screw to the left is in place (not screwed in) as you can just about see the other side is nowhere near!

http://www.foehammer.co.uk/images/Zalman2.jpg
 
Raikiri said:
Drill a new hole in the bracket it uses so it fits? Alternatively don't buy the x1600 in the first place :p :X
Click to expand...

lol as much as i would love an excuse to buy a new card, a badly fitting heatsink wont quite cut it with the little lady (apparently i have better things to be saving up for!?!)

Squiffy: yeah i will most likely get a refund, but just annoyed, and hope that i have not damaged my card in any way what with that bit snapping off, stuck it back on, but i imagine that it must do something, and must have a negative effect having broken off in the first place. Only time (and gaming) will tell on that score :rolleyes:
 
You could , if you can't be bothered to go through all the hassle of returning it either get a small round file, or, better still, a Dremmel with a grinding bit and elongate the holes so that the screws would fit. If need be, then use a small washer on each nut and bolt so that they can't fit through the elongated hole. Easy to do and certainly a lot less aggro than sending it back.
 
That may be my best bet 1) i do want better cooling so i can overclock higher 2) as you say the hassle of returning it 3) will lose money on postage both ways anyway.

May have to leave it a while until a mate gets back from holiday though, as i dont have the tools for the job.
 
That does look poor but maybe this is one combo they didnt account for or are the holes always the same for the x1600.

I'd do whats said above, make the hole slightly bigger and use a washer.

Zalman have a question and answer forum on their website(s)
 
tbh i dont really know, but im almost certain each model of GPU has a standard PCB which has to be used. I will have a look thorough the forum in a min... was too annoyed when i went on the Zalman site earlier, just ended up complaining lol.
 
my fatal1ty cooler fitted my X1600XT without any issues or modifications, look similar to VF-700, could be wrong though
 
Well perhaps the PCB may have different position holes after all then. All i know is that there is no way this will currently fit, just tried it again, to see if i missed something blatent, but no :(

Oh well, either way Zalman shouldn't say its fits all x1600's if it doesn't, even if they are 99% sure it will. Still, not the end of the world, just puts my plans on hold as far as my rig goes.
 
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