X1900XT Ramsinks

Deliverance · 22 Jun 2006 at 13:30

Just got a Swifttech MCW60 Waterblock for my X1900XT and OcUK neglected to mention it doesnt come with Ramsinks (when the Swiftech site does)

Are they neccessary or will i have problems running the card without Ramsinks? Am i right in thinking that the memory is BGA and therefore something like the Vantec Iceberq Copper BGA Ramsinks would do the job?

Do i need them?

weescott · 22 Jun 2006 at 14:05

You don't need them. I have run my last few cards bare with no problems.

4Qman · 22 Jun 2006 at 16:36

Id only use ramskins with AS5, the thermal pads conected to the ramsink dont actually do much.

My cards i use AS5 adhesive, altho they cant be removed after.

ja3h · 22 Jun 2006 at 16:50

4Qman said:
Id only use ramskins with AS5, the thermal pads conected to the ramsink dont actually do much.

My cards i use AS5 adhesive, altho they cant be removed after.

Some people mix the adhesive with arctic silver so they stick but are easier to take off

4Qman · 22 Jun 2006 at 16:52

Yeah agreed, unless your stupid like me and mix the same amount then they are on for life. :rolleyes:

FreeStream · 22 Jun 2006 at 16:53

BTX = can't fall off

upside down :eek:

Deliverance · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:03

I have AS5 and the AS Adhesive, but my question is do i need Ramsinks at all? I know someone already said no, and it isnt that i dont trust you i just dont want to destroy my card. Can someone else confirm i dont need them?

squiffy · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:20

Place a thermal probe onto the RAM chips and see how hot they get.

Deliverance · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:23

squiffy said:
Place a thermal probe onto the RAM chips and see how hot they get.

Dont have one so would have to buy one, and im guessing itll cost more than Ramsinks, so i may as well just buy them.

Is the card likely to die, or will i get BSOD's or artifacting before it gets to that stage?

squiffy · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:25

£10 multi meter, check it has temp reading and probe. Similar price to ramsinks, but a meter comes in handy.

And is cheaper than running a card without additional cooling and frying the ram chips!

Cyber-Mav · 23 Jun 2006 at 12:03

you can pick up 8 zalman ram sinks for around 4 quid. for that price i would get them and be done with it.

TaKeN · 23 Jun 2006 at 12:28

I would definately cool the ram chips :eek:

The stock cooler has contact with them for a reason you know

weescott · 23 Jun 2006 at 12:55

GDDR runs cooler than DDR and DDR doesn't need the heatspeaders. The stock coolers on some cards barely touch the ram and if they do they will probably be heated up by the GPU anyway.

Ramsinks are not needed on GFX cards.

TaKeN · 23 Jun 2006 at 13:21

* Awaits the OMG My card died and i didnt have any cooling on the RAM Chips Thread * :rolleyes:

Capt Doufos · 23 Jun 2006 at 14:31

You don't need them... Unless you start upping the voltage.

Some DDR/DDR2 Ram chips have heat spreaders, not all though.

matt100 · 23 Jun 2006 at 17:07

never used ramsinks on any of my watercooled cards and they were all havily clocked, x800, x850xtpe, sli 7800gtx and soon to be x1900xt

they're only ever warm to the touch anyway unless you've had a heavy gaming session in which case they're mildly uncomfortable.