GPU Coolers..

[Sinister_kid]

Well the fan on my ancient 7950GT HS decided it doesn't want to spin unless given some incentive to spin now so I think that I am going to be looking at getting a new HS all together. I'm not sure what are good as far as coolers but I was looking at this Zalman one, seeing as Zalman seems to be pretty good?

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/6..._VGA_Cooler_ZM-VF1000.html?tl=g40c21s66#blank

Any input on it? Any other better recommendations for roughly the same price?

 

[mannyman]

i suggest the tape and fan ghetto mod, but if you dont want to do that, that seems to be a popular cooler that works well, but the hands down winner for price is the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118001 works with geforce 79xx cards

 

[Shovelware]

Another vote for duct taping another fan on top of the old one. Or using cable ties if your want to get all fancy with it.
Why put $30 to $50 bucks into keepin that card alive when you could move up a heck of a lot and still be out under $100.
A recent article at lifehacker mentioned putting a single drop of a thin oil (like in the 3 in 1 genre) on the fan shaft to squeeze a bit more life out of it. Not much to loose and not much real risk in trying it if you are sensible with the amount of oil you put on it.
Then overclock it to the moon till it fries and go buy your self something nice and new and shiny. You deserve it.

 

[mannyman]

Another vote for duct taping another fan on top of the old one. Or using cable ties if your want to get all fancy with it.
Why put $30 to $50 bucks into keepin that card alive when you could move up a heck of a lot and still be out under $100.
A recent article at lifehacker mentioned putting a single drop of a thin oil (like in the 3 in 1 genre) on the fan shaft to squeeze a bit more life out of it. Not much to loose and not much real risk in trying it if you are sensible with the amount of oil you put on it.
Then overclock it to the moon till it fries and go buy your self something nice and new and shiny. You deserve it.

this is a good point you can get a used gtx 260 wich is a decently powerful card for $90 on the fs threads and it would be a huge improvement, or you can go 5770 for about the same price its the same in terms of power, possibly a little better and consumes less electricity but its more of a ati vs nvidia thing

 

[Sinister_kid]

I was actually in computer sonics today looking at cards and noticed that I can actually get a way better card, brand new, for slightly more than a new gpu cooler. Which is awesome.

So you guys recommend the gtx 260? Any other cards you might recommend?

 

[haadij404]

ATI HD 4870. Those are on par with the GTX 260 but can be had for around $70 used.

 

[Sinister_kid]

Quick question, I am seeing the almost every card these days is requiring TWO PCI-E power leads... on my hiper 580W (Heard hipers were never good any comments on that as well?) it has a dedicated PCI-E lead, then for another PCI-E lead there is a Y adapter you use off of two ol fashion 4 pin (like for an optical drive) leads.

But, on this Y adapter it only has 5/6 pins on the PCI-E does this pose a problem?

Here is a picture of what I am talking about.

 

[mannyman]

idk i think its ok to only have 5 of the 6 pins i have one and its like this
I I I
I O I
O is the one with no wire
but i would splurge for at least a 5770 for the direct x11

 

[samuelmorris]

I think I've seen some like that. As it turns out although my Hiper PSU was fine, their molex splitter cable destroyed two of my hard drives (thankfully empty at the time) due to a rail short. The AC mains cable for the unit also failed spectacularly after a couple of months.
Whatever you say about the units, which attract quite a lot of negative press (but the 580W I had, which I have long since sold to a friend, is still working 4 1/2 years on) I don't trust their cables in the slightest.

 

[Sinister_kid]

idk i think its ok to only have 5 of the 6 pins i have one and its like this
I I I
I O I
O is the one with no wire
but i would splurge for at least a 5770 for the direct x11

That's how the power lead I am talking about is as well..

I think I've seen some like that. As it turns out although my Hiper PSU was fine, their molex splitter cable destroyed two of my hard drives (thankfully empty at the time) due to a rail short. The AC mains cable for the unit also failed spectacularly after a couple of months.
Whatever you say about the units, which attract quite a lot of negative press (but the 580W I had, which I have long since sold to a friend, is still working 4 1/2 years on) I don't trust their cables in the slightest.

That sucks to hear due to the fact that I as well have the 580W... Mine has been treating me well for 3 years, I had to RMA a first one out but that was right after I got it, wouldn't fire up to begin with. This makes me weary of buying a new card as I don't have money for a new GPU and PSU.

 

[mannyman]

mine is about 6 years old and still working good and is very stable

 

[Shovelware]

Here is that article I mentioned earlier on putting a drop of oil on the fan shaft. http://lifehacker.com/#!5761236/temporarily-fix-dying-laptop-fans-by-lubricating-them.

I don't know what to think about the one pin missing on your plug.
My understanding (but not definitive knowledge) is that on the 6 pin plug half of those wires are positive 12V and the other are -12v and the only reason for multiple wires is to carry more juice. So in theory it would be fine on a card that draws only a modest amount of power.

Put a voltmeter on that plug while wiggling it around to make sure it is good go to before putting a new card on it since it seems others have had trouble with the wires on that model of power supply. Even though you have had your PS for a while the 6 pin vid card plug is untested.