ZALMAN NEW VF3000-A GPU COOLER - PERFORMANCE INFO AND BENCHMARKS

[Raikiri]

Installed mine earlier this morning, 5870 @ 920mhz core, 1245mhz mem.

Running Kombustor I got a max load of 62c at minimum fan speed in my pretty low airflow system, ambient was 25c. Unfortunately had to remove the shroud as it blocked my S-ata ports! Although that's poor design on MSI's part.

Currently sitting at 32c at 24c ambient.

Not the best pictures, was half alseep

Whoever says the 5800 series cooler is quiet under load is DEAF or already running a couple of delta screamers.

They are fairly quiet if you're sensible. If I kept mine to 25% is wasn't very loud at all, GPU would get a little warm though (80c or so).

 

[Cesar67]

Installed mine earlier this morning, 5870 @ 920mhz core, 1245mhz mem.

Running Kombustor I got a max load of 62c at minimum fan speed in my pretty low airflow system, ambient was 25c.

Could you post up a GPU-Z screenshot displaying VDDC Phase temps with Kombuster running 5 ~ 10 mins ?

How did you find the VRAM heatsinks ? I found all of the thermal stickers well well off line so, They never sat 'true' with the chip, I might buy some and re-apply.

This thing is absolutely silent on min RPM

 

[Raikiri]

Not too bad, considering the temp has actually increased in here (26c :/).


Just tried the same clocks undervolted to 1.1375v rather than the stock, running a couple of C cooler on the VDDCs and seems stable.

 

[Cesar67]

Not too bad, considering the temp has actually increased in here (26c :/).


Just tried the same clocks undervolted to 1.1375v rather than the stock, running a couple of C cooler on the VDDCs and seems stable.

That looks high mate, I ran at those settings too:

I seem to be stable @ 1000/1250 on lower voltages too with this cooler, That extra 50MHz on the VRAM has made a 3FPS difference in Kombuster, Up to the same as a 5870.

 

[Sean_UK]

Im going to try out Nvidia version of this cooler, currently I cant find a UK based store with stock.

 

[up2nogooduk]

Looks good. what were the temps on the 5870 stock cooler ?

They should make one for the 5970 version

 

[Raikiri]

Stock cooler got up to about 75-78c running Kombuster, was considerably louder doing so though. Idled at about 38c in the warm weather, compared to 27-32c with the Zalman (minimum fan speed).

That's in my case with very little cooling (1x120mmn CPU < 1000rpm, 1x120mm case < 10000rpm and PSU).

 

[up2nogooduk]

Stock cooler got up to about 75-78c running Kombuster, was considerably louder doing so though. Idled at about 38c in the warm weather, compared to 27-32c with the Zalman (minimum fan speed).

That's in my case with very little cooling (1x120mmn CPU < 1000rpm, 1x120mm case < 10000rpm and PSU).

27-32 idle?. so what are the real max temps. as i keep seeing different ones where does the air go from these fans ? and can you turn that led light off ?
Shame it isn't a red led

Cheers.

 

[Cesar67]

27-32 idle?. so what are the real max temps. as i keep seeing different ones where does the air go from these fans ? and can you turn that led light off ?
Shame it isn't a red led

Cheers.

I have seen mine drop to 24C idle.

The max temps are dependant on what stress you put on them, Ace Modder's results and my own are different due to the settings used.

I think the main points in comparison to the stock cooler are - Cools effectively - Inaudible when the GPU is at full load however, Takes up 3X PCI slots, Uses a separate fan controller ( I have mine wired to a Zalman MFC1) which has a load of wires. Also has the LED, Great if flashy lights impress you.

I don't think the LED's can be disabled without actually opening the fan assembly, I have been thinking of modding some other fans onto the cooler though.

I would say though, My VRAM seems to get high temps so, I will be looking into other adhesive/Thermal compound solutions to hopefully improve the load temps on VRAM.

I posted part of my stock cooler to a guy in need of one and he dropped a tenner into my PP account so, This really only cost me £23.

 

[Raikiri]

27-32 idle?. so what are the real max temps. as i keep seeing different ones where does the air go from these fans ? and can you turn that led light off ?
Shame it isn't a red led

Cheers.

Well it varies from person to person...

Mine were:

Stock cooling Idle (23c ambient):
38c @ 20% fan speed (very quiet)

Stock cooling running Kombuster (23c ambient):
78c @ 36% fan speed (quite loud)

Zalman Idle (24c ambient):
31c @ Minimum fan speed (near enough silent)

Zalman running Kombuster (24c ambient):
62c (near enough silent)

The air goes partly out the back, but mostly stays in the case. CPU temp has gone up 1c since installing it.

 

[1uke]

Has anyone tryed this in a crossfire setup yet? or can someone with 1 fitted tell me if they think there is enough room once fitted???

edit*
Just checked some measurements and theres no chance of using these with my crossfire setup there would be 5mm of room between cards and the bottom card with this cooler on would foul my psu. Shame!!!!!!

 

[minhbh]

Hi, I'm making VRM heatsink for my 5850, I need the dimension of VF3000A's VRM heatsink (diemension of each edge, hole). Anyone using VF3000A, please help me. Many thanks!

 

[Earth[Tera].bin]

Well I just smoked my 280 GTX after fitting the VF3000-N ( numpty ). Guessing I never fitted one of the FET heatsinks properly as that's where the smoke came from. Mind you the bloody layout of my FETs on the card made it difficult to use the provide heatsinks properly, it was like a Krypton Factor challenge trying to cover them all with the limited sizes provided.

Anyway more than likely put my 1-day old Zalman on the MM now ^^;

 

[PermaChanged]

Just installed the VF3000-A on my 5850 and I'm super impressed!

I used the Novtua NT-H1 rather than the supplied themal paste and it idles at 30-31 and loaded temps have hit a maximum of 61 using furmark, this is all on inaudible (quiter than the PSU) fan speed!

Really impressed with this heat sink, it's lighter that the stock HSF, quieter and perfoms extremely well.

 

[B!0HaZard]

What clocks are you getting 61C at?

 

[minhbh]

Just installed the VF3000-A on my 5850 and I'm super impressed!

I used the Novtua NT-H1 rather than the supplied themal paste and it idles at 30-31 and loaded temps have hit a maximum of 61 using furmark, this is all on inaudible (quiter than the PSU) fan speed!

Really impressed with this heat sink, it's lighter that the stock HSF, quieter and perfoms extremely well.

How about VRM temp, actually aftermarket cooler always make GPU is cooler than stockfan, but not enough for VRM temp. I install Trad 2 GTX on 5850, GPU is cooler stockfan 20oC (62oC compare with 86oC running Furmark, no overclock, room temp is 34oC). But VRM temp go up to the sky, with stockfan VRM temp is 90oC when run Furmark and stable, but with Trad 2 GTX it go up to 110oC in 3 minutes and continue increase - I use heatsink RAM in package, I must stop immedietly!



Now I come back to stock fan and finding way to cool VRM before use Trad 2 GTX again, VRM too hot therefore no way to overclock!

 

[1uke]

I have ordered 2 zalman gv/vf1000 for 2 reasons. 1* it can be used with the reference 5850 metal cool plate that cools the vrms and 2* it can be used in a crossfire setup

 

[minhbh]

I have ordered 2 zalman gv/vf1000 for 2 reasons. 1* it can be used with the reference 5850 metal cool plate that cools the vrms and 2* it can be used in a crossfire setup

Yeah, I am interesing, Trad GTX so thin therefore the heatpipe cut on the backplate - must to be mod the backplate if want to use but the warranty avoid.

How about temp compare to stockfan. I only can buy VF1000 at my local.

 

[PermaChanged]

How about VRM temp, actually aftermarket cooler always make GPU is cooler than stockfan, but not enough for VRM temp. I install Trad 2 GTX on 5850, GPU is cooler stockfan 20oC (62oC compare with 86oC running Furmark, no overclock, room temp is 34oC). But VRM temp go up to the sky, with stockfan VRM temp is 90oC when run Furmark and stable, but with Trad 2 GTX it go up to 110oC in 3 minutes and continue increase - I use heatsink RAM in package, I must stop immedietly!



Now I come back to stock fan and finding way to cool VRM before use Trad 2 GTX again, VRM too hot therefore no way to overclock!

850/1150, and still loads of headroom for more, will try benching at 1000/1200 and get some temps.

 

[PermaChanged]

Stayed cool enough for my liking at 900/1150, running prime at the same time too.

Tried 1000/1200 but it needed a big voltage bump for it, so I'm sticking with 900/1150, you can see the temp increase in the graph due to higher volts/clocks. This is all sitting in a near silent Fractal Design Define R2 with just the 2 stock fans.