Zalman vf900-cu worth it?

wdEvA

wdEvA

wdEvA

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Hey guys, i'm intending to replace my cooler for my x1900xt witht he Zalman vf900-cu, is it worth it?

Or is there other recommendation for the replacement?

Would be looking at coolers that can cool the card better and also must be quiet..

Thanks
 
Very good idea, will keep it nice and cool and not blow your ears off. Definitely get this one and not the Fatal1ty one as it's stupidly loud and isn't worth the same, let alone MORE money :\
 
Got this cooler on my 7900 and what a difference it made! I'm happy with my GPU now...well until the next gen cards are out anyway :D
 
Got the VF900 on my X1900XT, cools roughly the same on idle (VF900 better by ~2 degrees) but on load it's cooler around 10 degrees. And at 2500rpm it's much quieter than stock cooler, at 2000rpm it's silent.
 
hm what temps were u getting with the stock cooler at 45% fan speed? (thats the speed when i hear nothing from the fan)..
and at 2000rpm on the zalman, what temps are u getting?

thanks
 
wdEvA said:
hm what temps were u getting with the stock cooler at 45% fan speed? (thats the speed when i hear nothing from the fan)..
and at 2000rpm on the zalman, what temps are u getting?

thanks
Click to expand...

During Windows idle with stock ATI cooler around 41-43 degrees. With the Zalman at 2000rpm 38-39 degrees.

The stock ATI cooler does still produce some noise at idle, it's a slight droaning sound (I used a ATI X1800XT with the case open)
 
Hard to measure really, as you play a game then drop back to desktop so can't compare easily. Unless there's a 3d test that runs in a windowed box. Seems to run cooler though, playing FEAR then switching back to Windows showed 85 degrees (stock) can't get it above 70-75.
 
The one issue with the Zalman (and similar) VF900-CU, is that the heat does not get chucked out of the case so easily.

I tried a couple of VF900-CUs on my Crossfire'd x1900s, and - although there is no doubt they kept the cards much cooler (especially under load) and a fair amount quieter - the ambient temps in the case went up a fair few degrees, even in my 'well-airflowed' P180 :(

So.....for me.....I took 'em off and sold them on - I guess it is down to preference, lower ambient and more noise or higher ambient and lots less noise :)
 
hmm the possible on increase of case temp wont really bother me, as i've 2 120mm fans facing the card at the side..
 
Been running WoW for around 2 hours and just dropped it down, temps are 38c... fan speed is controlled by the card and at that temp will be about 1500rpm. Card is a 7800GT clocked to 460 core.

Edit: Thats the VF900 (duh ;)), stock was about 55-60c load and a LOT louder.
 
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:/

Over at XS the VF-900 was shunned because it was so rubbish at keeping X1900 cards cool, esp X1900 :confused:

Seems that the IceQ cooler is still better by the results in this thread, but the VF-900 is better than the stock cooler. What happens when its overclocked?


IceQ @ 709/845 @ 1.45V = 60C load
 
hm is there anything that i should take note while removing the stock cooler and mounting the zalman?
 
hmm i dun need the stock screws to mount the zalman right?

but i would need the stock coooler if i needa RMA the card,
am i right?
thanks..
 
No you don't need the screws from the stock cooler to fit the zalman, the VF900 comes with all parts. If I recall correctly it's just four thumbscrews and plastic washers needed to fit it (plus ram sinks and paste of course) I plug the VF900 into chassis fan # 2 on my motherboard, I can control the fan speed from BIOS. I don't use the fanmate.

If your card fails just fit the stock cooler back on and send it back.
 
Been having the same dilemma myself, awaiting the arrival of my x1900xtx and don't fancy the noise of the stock cooler. Currently running a vf900 on my x800xtpe and very happy with that but haven't been impressed with reviews of the same cooler when attached to the x1900.

Anyway, just ordered the Thermalright HR-03 this morning, will fit a Zalman 92mm fan with fanmate 2. Will let you know how I get on (if you are interested).
 
MeddlE said:
Anyway, just ordered the Thermalright HR-03 this morning, will fit a Zalman 92mm fan with fanmate 2.
Click to expand...


That thing could cool a core 2 duo with ease :D (Now I want one after only just buying a vf900... damn you)
 
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