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X1800XT cooler

vlad_Swe

Weaksauce
Joined
Sep 23, 2004
Messages
79
So I'm -really- happy with my X1800XT, besides the noise the stock cooler makes. My airflow is a bit limited (Sonata II, 1x120 mm fan exhaust), but I'm still looking for a replacement cooler for my card.

Do you have any suggestions? My card now idles at around 55 deg C. Mainly trying to get the noise levels down a bit.
 
I started a thread with a similar question here

basically It's narrowed down to the Arctic Cooling Accelero and the Sytrin VF1-Plus. I was going to consider Zalman, but I've heard reports that it just can't keep up with the heat output of the x1800's and x1900's.

They both expell the hot air back into your case (very poor design on Arctic Cooling's part especially since their previous series expelled the hot air AND cooled the cards very well) so you may wan't to look at upgrading your case cooling a little as well. Looks like you may already have a "hot" case since your idle temp is mid 50's. Any fan grills you can lose to improve airflow? cable management, any intake fan you can add???
 
I'm stuck with a Sonata II case, which means there are limited options for extra fans. The single 120 mm fan exhaust. I don't use the heatduct, as it doesn't seem to do my temps any good. Should I plug up the intake holes where the duct is supposed to go to help airflow? A bit OT, I know :)

So none of the current available fans expel air.. Well, might have to wait a bit then.
 
One thing you CAN do and is relatively cheap to do is lap the stock heatsink on the x1800xt. I did that and it dropped my load temps by about 10c and my idle temps dropped about 5c. I spent about 2 hours or so lapping it smooth (I don't care how reflective the surface is as long as it's smooth and flat) with sandpaper in the range of 220 to start, 2000 to finish and wetsanded with 600-2000. That combined with some AS Ceramique and my temps fell quite a bit. I used to hit 90c with stock settings and stock clocks, but now I can overclock to 730core and it hovers around 80c. quite the difference there as there were tons of machine marks on the base.

as for exhausting air from your case, have you considered any of those "pci slot" exhaust blowers? Is there no place up behind the front bezel to mount another 120mm fan? I have An Antec 3700AMB that looks very similar to that case with a 120 in the back, but also a 120 in the front. It's a tight squeeze between the drive cage and the case, but one fits. Maybe you could mount one half inside/half outside behind that front bezel. Some more experienced case modders could help out there.

Or even a fan port on the door. Done right it would look quite nice on that case.
 
If you want it *real" quiet they do make water cooling blocks for the 1800XT. ;)
 
yes...you could watercool...but then again you'll still need fans and such for the radiator/s and it doesn't look like there's much room INSIDE that case for an entire WC setup...so it'd prolly have to sit outside.

I've kicked around WC'ing my x1800xt...but money is the problem right now. I saw the Thermaltake Tidewater setup and it got "OK" reviews, but most people shoot it down (and for logical reasons)
 
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