Hey guys so I need some help deciding. I was thinking about getting an aftermarket GPU Cooler but I have a few questions about them. I am planning on purchasing one for my XFX 8800GT which i got for chirstmas last year. When I lived at my apartment my idle temps were around 45c and at full load it only went up to 58-65c. But since i moved to a new place with not so good air conditioning, my idle temps are now at 51c and full load at 75c(with gpu fans set at 100% w/ rivatuner). I know the max safe temp of todays cards are around 85-90c but i dont want to burn out my card before the year is out. Now I would like to know: 1. Which cooler would you recommend that is cheap, not too big and reliable (preferably something that can drop temps by 5-10 degrees)? 2. Are coolers easy to install? 3. When newer cards are released, will it be possible to reuse the heatsink on the new one? in other words "future proof"? 4. Can I use the same thermal compound that I use for my CPU Heatsink (Arctic silver)? I've heard a lot of praise about the Zalman VF900 but thats the only one i heard anything about. What other good alternatives are out there? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118001 Also, does afterdawn think I should just wait and get a new videocard later, or spend 30-60 bucks on a cooler? i read the reviews for the zalman vf900, and they are compatible with the 8800gt's right? do they also fit the 9 series? also can i still use Rivatuner to adjust fan speeds if i install the zalman vf900?
i would get the thermaltake but my case is only a mid size, and already has less room. So ive decided to go with the zalman vf900. Now my last questions are, should i buy it for my 8800? or should i just wait a year or so to upgrade my card again? Also do the designs in videocards change much? because if i buy it now, i would like to reuse the zalman vf900 on my new card. (i know id have to buy new heatsinks for the ram on the card) And finally is there any way to make the zalman vf900 work with rivatuner? or am i stuck using the fanmate to adjust fan speeds?
The Thermalright doesn't occupy any extra space and is a much better cooler, but suit yourself. The fans on coolers like these are standard, so can be hooked to your motherboard for use with speedfan/auto config, or to a front panel fan controller for manual adjustment.
