To change my stock heatsink or not? Video card

[m_silkstone]

Just got a new gigabyte HD4850 with Zalman copper cooler. looks like a really nice cooler, do you think it would be worth changing it to a Coolermaster Viva (from my old graphics card)

 

[evongugg]

Try this first:

ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series Fan Hacking Guide Rev. 2.0

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=583

 

[m_silkstone]

Did it anyway, no improvement, i guess the zalman copper fan is pretty good. was idling at 47C before now 47/48c. just a quick swap tho, i didn't clean the old thermal paste off. i'll clean it off and try again. if not back to the zelman.

 

[Onus]

You need to clean / re-apply TIM when changing heatsinks. 91% isopropyll alcohol is good. Usually it is cheap and readily available.

 

[m_silkstone]

Just cleaned it with a cloth
What a pos this hsf is. just re-applied a thin layer of compound and now idling at 59C!need to go down to the shops tomorrow and get some more i think. I'll leave it running for a while see if it 'melts' to a consistent layer. otherwise off with the viva back on with the stock hsf. kind of dissapointing as i got 9c lower with the viva on my last video card.
btw thx evongugg, i just want to see if i can get a lower temp b4 clocking higher than 750 core

 

[Cranky1970]

I would keep the Zalman friend. My 8800 GT came with one and i am very happy with my temps.

 

[trevorvdw]

Try this first:

ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series Fan Hacking Guide Rev. 2.0

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=583

Do you even need to do this anymore? I thought 8.10 had fan control built in?

 

[m_silkstone]

It does, can set the fan from 0-100% in 8.1

 

[m_silkstone]

Crap, idle temp is upto 51C from 47c damn that hsf sux. think i need some more thermal compound too.

 

[enewmen]

Guys.
I'm also getting an Ati 4870-1024MB.
What do you suggest for VGA cooling this, how is this normally done?
I have a Thermaltake 3/8", anyone have experience with the "Universal Ati clip"?
I just want to overclock to ~850/1000 Mhz, however I also live in a hot area (30c ambient). I might also need VRAM cooling (if there is such a thing)
Should VGA cooling be simple enough if I got the CPU cooled well?
Thanks!

One more thing:
Is Riva the most popular (or best) for overclocking the 4800s ?

 

[m_silkstone]

I'd look for watercooling if you can spare the money. (maybe about $60 for a full vga watercooling kit). I'm not sure if about the best heatsink/fan do some research and search for some reviews. E-ven then it can be hit and miss i guess - my hsf got an ok review, but soesn't perform well compared to the stock cooling. The GDRam can bee cooled by little copper heatsinks that you normally get with the cooling kit. I also live in a 30C ambient climate, doesn't affect overclocking much (i've 2Ghz@3.3 Cpu and 625@750 Gpu) all with aircooling.