Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Closed

Custom Cooling: Deepcool's Dracula And Arctic's Accelero Xtreme

Tags:
  • DeepCool
  • Cooling
  • Arctic
  • Product
Last response: in Reviews comments
Share
October 3, 2012 3:46:03 AM

Overclocking AMD's Radeon HD 7970 requires effective cooling, but the company's design is incompatible with most aftermarket heat sinks. Arctic and Deepcool claim to have solutions able to get the job done, without the reference cooler's loud fan.

Custom Cooling: Deepcool's Dracula And Arctic's Accelero Xtreme : Read more

More about : custom cooling deepcool dracula arctic accelero xtreme

October 3, 2012 4:19:19 AM

Give me one please...

But, would be nice to see the coolers compared to some mainstream solutions. IE the HIS IceQ X2 or Sapphire Toxic, etc. etc.
Score
10
October 3, 2012 5:28:10 AM

One warning to prospective buyers of Arctic products, their fans are really junk. I have/had S1 with turbo module, twin turbo, twin turbo PRO...and the fans failed within 1 year or so. Now I have normal fans zip tied, not pretty
Score
-7
Related resources
October 3, 2012 5:41:36 AM

I've never had a problem with arctic fans, the accelero xtreme for my HD5870 is still running perfect and its just over 2 years old now, same goes for the twin turbo i bought years ago for my HD3850.

btw nice article :D 
Score
6
October 3, 2012 6:00:07 AM

Wait, was really necessary to apply thermal paste to both faces of the shim?
Score
1
October 3, 2012 7:23:27 AM

Guys!

This surely looks impressive (giant graphics card and oversize heat cooler), but is this "eye candy" for the technically inclined PC enthusiast really moving forward, or just another pile of copper pipes sold at a price established out of pure value perception? This article got me thinking... Are we unknowingly creating a market demand for cooling products that make little sense in the grand scheme of things, nor shows little technological advancement? Why do we get so excited when a graphics card becomes so hot during peak operation that it requires cooling beyond standard specification. In engineering terms, any system that transforms such a large amount of electrical energy into heat as a side effect would be considered inefficient. By creating a market for "aftermarket" cooling, we do not only show our tolerance for inefficiency, but also create a booming demand for lackluster "solutions".

Score
19
October 3, 2012 8:18:06 AM

I still love sapphire cooling system. Good for moderate oc and non-oc.
Score
5
October 3, 2012 11:05:08 AM

give me a reference card and cooler any day -- they last a lot longer (fans especially), cool the ram/vrm properly (manufacturers spec) and they help keep the card from bending/warping from the weight, and are less likely to be overclocked aka to spec = rock solid, long lasting card

this applys to all mid-high end nvidia/ati(amd) video cards
Score
-1
October 3, 2012 12:42:20 PM

Why "Dracula?" Because it sucks?
Score
1
October 3, 2012 1:04:15 PM

@theconsolegamer

That's how you transfer heat from the shim to the unmodified Accelero III. I wonder if JB Weld would work better...although that would permanently attach the shim to the Accelero III.

@cilliers

The value is in the noise reduction at load. These processors run hot because they are doing a great deal of work pushing electrons around. Consider that incandescent bulbs work the same way - the friction causes the filament to get so hot that it glows. If you don't want a thermally hot/power hungry card for philosophical reasons, then don't buy one.

@W(h)yKnott

I imagine that "Dracula" is intended to connote sucking the heat away from the 79xx. The fact that these tests show that they are relatively inefficient at doing so makes for a humorous double entendre, like your handle.
Score
1
October 3, 2012 1:09:34 PM

theconsolegamerWait, was really necessary to apply thermal paste to both faces of the shim?


Unless you don't like not burning the GPU, pretty much. You might get away without it, but temps would be far higher. Maybe if you really lapped the cooler and shim you could get away with it, but I'd doubt that using no thermal paste at all would be a good idea even in that situation.
Score
3
October 3, 2012 1:11:16 PM

theconsolegamerWait, was really necessary to apply thermal paste to both faces of the shim?


Absolutely. If you don't, contact wouldn't be uniform and you'd have dead spots.

Thermal paste is important, but the trick is to use as little as necessary, not to slather on gobs.
Score
2
October 3, 2012 1:11:53 PM

For whomever that is wiling to spend 80+ on a 400ish GPU a smarter choice would be a wattercooler block and conections.

Its very unlikely that someone with such card is going to have air cooling "upgrade", since the WC setups are afordable. If that person wants to get better cooling solution, he wouldnt spend money on air cooling, just throwing on it an radiator or connect the GPU block to an existing radiator would be sufficient, better for looks, and better performance.
Score
2
October 3, 2012 1:12:09 PM

cilliersGuys!This surely looks impressive (giant graphics card and oversize heat cooler), but is this "eye candy" for the technically inclined PC enthusiast really moving forward, or just another pile of copper pipes sold at a price established out of pure value perception? This article got me thinking... Are we unknowingly creating a market demand for cooling products that make little sense in the grand scheme of things, nor shows little technological advancement? Why do we get so excited when a graphics card becomes so hot during peak operation that it requires cooling beyond standard specification. In engineering terms, any system that transforms such a large amount of electrical energy into heat as a side effect would be considered inefficient. By creating a market for "aftermarket" cooling, we do not only show our tolerance for inefficiency, but also create a booming demand for lackluster "solutions".


If I had a card that used 1000 watts of power but was ten times faster than the Radeon 7970 in every way, it would still be the most energy efficient graphics card in the world today. I also don't think that after-market VGA cooling is a booming market for lackluster solutions. The after market VGA cooling industry probably isn't booming because even the minority of overclockers in this world tend to not use an aftermarket cooler on their graphics card(s). Even then, just because there are some lackluster solutions doesn't mean that they sell nearly as well as the good solutions.
Score
1
October 3, 2012 3:42:02 PM

cilliersAre we unknowingly creating a market demand for cooling products that make little sense in the grand scheme of things, nor shows little technological advancement? Why do we get so excited when a graphics card becomes so hot during peak operation that it requires cooling beyond standard specification.


I buy aftermarket coolers for noise reduction only, I can't stand a loud computer. Now my machine is so quiet, it's hard to tell whether it's off or on, even when it's under load.
And having more efficient hardware wouldn't help with the noise, the OEMs would just put smaller coolers and smaller/faster fans, so noise output would be similar.
Score
0
Anonymous
October 3, 2012 4:13:26 PM

Bad review is bad.
Review the dracula with two 140mm fans or three 120mm fans as the design was intended, to show optimal performance.
Overclock as far as you can with each design so we can see the value added to the card.
Without that information this entire article is pointless, and leads to dumba$$ comments like 'why dracula, because it sucks?'
How about review the design as it was meant to be used?
*And what kind of a tech journalist doesn't have a few spare 120/140mm fans laying around? WTF!!!
Score
-3
October 3, 2012 5:04:28 PM

Nathanael KaurReview the dracula with two 140mm fans or three 120mm fans as the design was intended, to show optimal performance.


The 7970 doesn't NEED more, temps were awesome. Noise, space, and cost also comes into play.

Nathanael KaurOverclock as far as you can with each design so we can see the value added to the card.


You think a slight temperature difference between the Dracula and Accelero will affect the overclock? That's just silly. Limits will be set by voltage unless temps are astronomical.

Nathanael KaurBad review is bad.


Overdramatic complaint is overdramatic. :) 


Score
5
October 3, 2012 6:58:33 PM

I wish there were comparisons to some of the AIB partner heatsinks that come pre-installed on the GPU. I bet the HIS iceQ would do very well here.
Score
1
October 3, 2012 9:06:01 PM

When the Sandia cooler makes its debut, I have a feeling the third-party GPU cooler market will explode.
Score
0
October 3, 2012 10:52:14 PM

What's the point of blowing an extra 80 on this and voiding your warranty? The Gigabyte versions are usually some of the most affordable versions anyways and come with coolers nearly identical to these...
Score
1
October 3, 2012 11:08:16 PM

cilliersGuys!This surely looks impressive (giant graphics card and oversize heat cooler), but is this "eye candy" for the technically inclined PC enthusiast really moving forward, or just another pile of copper pipes sold at a price established out of pure value perception? This article got me thinking... Are we unknowingly creating a market demand for cooling products that make little sense in the grand scheme of things, nor shows little technological advancement? Why do we get so excited when a graphics card becomes so hot during peak operation that it requires cooling beyond standard specification. In engineering terms, any system that transforms such a large amount of electrical energy into heat as a side effect would be considered inefficient. By creating a market for "aftermarket" cooling, we do not only show our tolerance for inefficiency, but also create a booming demand for lackluster "solutions".


OC most silicon chips, and they will lose efficiency.
Score
0
October 3, 2012 11:32:14 PM

A Bad DayOC most silicon chips, and they will lose efficiency.


It depends on the chips and how you do it. For example, take an FX-4100. Overclock from 3.6GHz to say 3.9GHz and then undervolt a little. You'll be a little more energy efficient. Ivy Bridge is also pretty good at underclocking and then overclocking at voltages under stock voltage.

AMD's Radeon 7xxx graphics cards with GCN GPUs are also good at this. I'm not sure of how good Nvidia's GTX 6xx cards with Kepler GPUs undervolt and won't make claims about it.
Score
2
October 4, 2012 2:38:02 AM

The graphs are pointless if they do not start at a zero point. Yes they are still correct, but as a graph they are not useful because they no longer show graphically how numbers compare but force you to imagine the difference in the same way that looking at raw numbers does. In fact, bad graphs can be worse than looking at numbers.

This graph shows the difference in height between identical twins:
Sam ***************
Bob **

Here is the same information where the graph starts at zero:
Sam *******************************
Bob. ******************************

Which is more helpful as a graph? (By the way, Sam eats a healthier diet)
Score
1
October 4, 2012 3:27:21 AM

huskerThe graphs are pointless if they do not start at a zero point. Yes they are still correct, but as a graph they are not useful because they no longer show graphically how numbers compare but force you to imagine the difference in the same way that looking at raw numbers does. In fact, bad graphs can be worse than looking at numbers.This graph shows the difference in height between identical twins:Sam ***************Bob **Here is the same information where the graph starts at zero:Sam *******************************Bob. ******************************Which is more helpful as a graph? (By the way, Sam eats a healthier diet)


The only graphs that don't start at zero are the noise graphs and only people who are ignorant of how noise measurement works would want them to start at zero because DBa is exponential. Every three DBa doubles in noise volume, so 40DBa is only one half of 43DBa and 46DBa is one half of 49DBa. Starting at zero wouldn't make any sense because DBa is a logarithm of volume.
Score
2
October 4, 2012 4:26:37 AM

I always do a test with stock coolers performance with high quality thermal paste, sometimes that makes a 10+ Celsius difference in temperature at full load. I'm certain that the stock cooler can out preform the antic offering with a simple change in thermal paste.
Score
1
October 4, 2012 4:28:52 AM

NeatOmanI'm certain that the stock cooler can out preform the antic offering with a simple change in thermal paste.


I mean Arctic, sorry.
Score
0
October 4, 2012 5:24:34 AM

huskerThe graphs are pointless if they do not start at a zero point.


95% of the time I'd agree with you, but decibels are their own thing.

The ambient noise in the lab is about 40 to 41 dB, that's very quiet. For all intents and purposes you can consider it zero in this case.
Score
2
October 4, 2012 7:09:09 AM

andle riddumOne warning to prospective buyers of Arctic products, their fans are really junk. I have/had S1 with turbo module, twin turbo, twin turbo PRO...and the fans failed within 1 year or so. Now I have normal fans zip tied, not pretty


Man, come on. I do not believe that all ARCTIC's product are vulnerable. You may unfortunately receive a bad product. My Freezer 7 Pro rev.2 works well for almost 4 years. Besides, ARCTIC offer 6 years warranty for the coolers. If every product from ARCTIC was not working in a short period, ARCTIC might be crash down by the RMA requests. How could this be possible?
Score
3
October 4, 2012 7:15:48 AM

Well, I am considering that whether ARCTIC will release a liquid cooler for CPU. I am using Accelero Hybrid to cooler my Palit GTX570. It works great. The temperature has never pass 65 ℃. I still have a lot of space to overclock further. I will buy a new CPU cooler once a liquid cooler from ARCTIC is available.
Score
2
October 4, 2012 4:08:58 PM

andle riddumOne warning to prospective buyers of Arctic products, their fans are really junk. I have/had S1 with turbo module, twin turbo, twin turbo PRO...and the fans failed within 1 year or so. Now I have normal fans zip tied, not pretty

i have had S1 and S2, i used those aftermarket vantek twin fan slot coolers they've been getting the job done on low to medium speed for over 5 years.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Score
0
October 4, 2012 4:31:49 PM

A Bad DayOC most silicon chips, and they will lose efficiency.

yes and take the heat they produce and blow it back directly at them. these cooling solutions are piss poor.
i'd sooner install a furnace to heat my pc up than use these.
give me fresh cool air intake and external exhaust or don't even bother trying.
Score
-3
October 5, 2012 1:57:49 AM

f-14yes and take the heat they produce and blow it back directly at them. these cooling solutions are piss poor.i'd sooner install a furnace to heat my pc up than use these.give me fresh cool air intake and external exhaust or don't even bother trying.


They pull a lot of heat away from the GPU. Simply having a case with proper ventilation will solve the admittedly bothersome lack of blowing the air outside on its own well enough. I'd prefer that it exhausted the air by itself, but it is still an excellent cooler, albeit one that should be used only in cases that have proper ventilation for it.
Score
3
October 5, 2012 7:30:55 AM

I love AC products. I haven't tried a gpu cooler yet but their cpu coolers have always worked great and been reasonably priced. I'd take AC over Zalman, any day. I don't need to pay extra to impress morons who love over-hyped junk!
Score
1
October 10, 2012 5:00:45 PM

Onihikage said:
When the Sandia cooler makes its debut, I have a feeling the third-party GPU cooler market will explode.

That Sandia seemed pretty awesome but some concerns were voiced out in the forums of a news article about that here that made it seem like it would be unlikely to show up in the consumer market. Let me put it this way, your fingers may explode. Hehe... :p 
Score
2
Anonymous
January 17, 2013 5:41:36 AM

they rotated the chipset part 90 degrees not 45, geez:D 
Score
0
April 26, 2013 8:36:47 PM

sephmeisterWhat's the point of blowing an extra 80 on this and voiding your warranty? The Gigabyte versions are usually some of the most affordable versions anyways and come with coolers nearly identical to these...


BUT the Gigabytes are voltage locked... Yay fail!
Score
0
April 26, 2013 8:39:24 PM

NeatOmanI always do a test with stock coolers performance with high quality thermal paste, sometimes that makes a 10+ Celsius difference in temperature at full load. I'm certain that the stock cooler can out preform the antic offering with a simple change in thermal paste.


Agreed. Got an HD7950 down 7-10C just by changing out the stock paste(that was applied horribly if I might add).
Score
0
!