Thoughts on how to tackle modding a 9800Pro

[GlowStick]

Hi,

After i have had my Radeon for a while now, i get the urge to OC it, might as well : P

I was reading up and the voltage to the core has been upped for the R350 PERFECT for overclocking : D

The only thing i am worried about is frying the card, if i did, i would be compeltely out of luck!

Meanwhile, my thoughts were to use the chromed Zalman heatpipe cooler, ala OCSystems. But even they recomend you find some way to have a fan blowing on it?

I could try to cut a hole in the side of my case, but it seems riskey, espcially for a coolermaser case!

Would anyone have any ideas of how to cool my radeon, my internal temp is actually very high (40c) because its hot in my room, but in the winter its 30c

Id be willing to put a Vantec tornado blowing on the videa card just in case!

[zsynth]

Here's what I've done. It works great for me, I'm running 382\344 all the time, all games played at max detail, with AA and AF.
My comp does not lockup, even if I play very long sessions. I did take off my hsf and lap it, removed the shim, and reinstalled wit AS3.

I have my v\c sandwhiched between 4 80mm fans, 2 on top & 2 on bottom.
On bottom, in slot 1 (not using slot 1, and 2) I have mounted a dual 80mm cooler assy (it normally is mounted on the side of pci slots:
http://www.nxgenstore.com/nxgen/itemdesc.asp?ic=FANCARDL

http://www.ateck.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=453055059

I rigged up a bracket to hold it, using the case rear slot cover clips, no special hardware, just tape and wire ties. The one end is screwed to the pci card holding screw, the other end is resting on top of the pci slot #2. It looks like sort of an "L" bracket. The tab end of the fan card is sticking out the open pci slot hole (I jammed a pencil erasure in the slot to secure it)
On top, I used 2 reg 80mm fans, using wire ties to hold the fans together. Another pci case slot cover clip is used to hold it up (again using tape & wire ties) The only thing I did to the clips was bend the ends straight. One screw is enough to hold it up, the top assy is not that heavy, have had this setup for 2 months, no problems.

The only thing I have left that I want to do is install some heatsinks on the memory chips some day. Right now, without the hs's, it's running great at 344

[GlowStick]

Wow that looks cool, but ive been wanting to reach over 410, i also did want ram heatsinks, but i dont know how i should attach them? thermal glue?

[zsynth]

Yea, thermal glue is the way to go. I've been searching for it locally where I live, but nobody seems to have any. You can try thermal tape. If it don't work well, it's easily removed. Artic Silver thermal glue would probably be the best.

[Woodelf]

I'm just going with the vantec CCK-6040, cause I have one.
Not sure if I'm going to drill it or epoxy it on since I won't be purchasing the card for 2 more days.
I wanted the tweakmonster nickel plated copper ramsinks, to glue on with AS glue, but I may end up fabricating My own dur to the cost of those. I havent seen any volt mods except for the 9700pro mods floating around. I want to find out where the voltages can be read so I can use a pot instead of just resistors (I like the way those are working out on My A7n8x D). For a VPU that small, I'd definitly go with a sink with at least a copper core.:)

[GlowStick]

Ok, ive been talking it over and i think i want to cut a hole in my side panel, and but a 120MM Vantec TORNADO!!!!!


Ill have a rheostat so i can control that beast : )

But i am worried that it will be to thick and it wont fit? Anyone have some ideas?

[zsynth]

Hmm, I didn't know they had a 120mm Tornado fan. I thought they just came in 80 and 92 mm. Oh well, are you aware how loud Tornado fans are? I beleive they can do permanent damage over prolonged periods of time being near to them. Try going to Vantec's site, they usually post the spec's. Then you should be able to figure out if it'll fit or not. I beleive 3D Gameman did a review on Vantec Tornado fans a little while back. Check it out in his video review section. If I remember correctly, he did not recommend using these fans in personal pc's, just servers that are usually in a remote area.
I used to use a 120mm fan at the side of my case (case covers off), but removed it, because I beleive it would ruin the air flow from my 4 80mm's sandwiching my v\c. I used a 120mm 115VAC I bought from Radio Shack. I figured a 120VAC fan would not be putting a strain on my PSU units 12 volt line ( I got a lot of stuff in my comp--4 hd's, a lot of fans, etc., just recently put in a Antec True Power550Watt PSU - WOW, mucho more stable and can o\c higher)

[GlowStick]

Hm, i thought i saw a 120mm tornado someware, i cant rember. Maybe ill just get a 120mm fan that runs slower/silent but still moves alot of air.

I really want to break the 6000mark with 3dmark03!

[Woodelf]

I have the Extremely loud 80mm tornado on My cpu, it's even louder that my kid's 60mm delta. Mistake for me. Biggest one I've seen was the 92mm.
;)

[GlowStick]

Originally posted by Woodelf
I have the Extremely loud 80mm tornado on My cpu, it's even louder that my kid's 60mm delta. Mistake for me. Biggest one I've seen was the 92mm.
;)

Aye, but after doing some measruing i have a bigger problem

My case is to narrow for a fan to fit, it would hit the video card.

I really want something like the Gainward solution, so it has ram sinks and a self contained 5.25 bay (or take up 2)

anyone know of something like that i could peice together?

[Red Dog]

the finest 120mm fan is the panaflo. great flow rate and nearly silent. If youre lucky you can find the aluminum frame version, but i thinks its no longer in production.

Specs:

- Model FBA12G12L-1A
- 12v (operates between 7v and 13.8v)
- .18 amp
- 2.16 watts
- 1700 RPM
- 68.9 cfm
- 30.0 dBa

http://2cooltek.safeshopper.com/25/209.htm?771

[GlowStick]

Originally posted by Red Dog
the finest 120mm fan is the panaflo. great flow rate and nearly silent. If youre lucky you can find the aluminum frame version, but i thinks its no longer in production.

Specs:

- Model FBA12G12L-1A
- 12v (operates between 7v and 13.8v)
- .18 amp
- 2.16 watts
- 1700 RPM
- 68.9 cfm
- 30.0 dBa

http://2cooltek.safeshopper.com/25/209.htm?771

sweet your right, thx for the info.