Zalman VF900-Cu Results on a X1800XL

[Oversized Rooster]

Hey guys, I just wanted to report in the results from swapping out the stock cooler on my X1800XL with Zalman's VF900-Cu.

Stock Cooler GPU Temp Idle: 65*C
Zalman Cooler GPU Idle: 48*C
Improvement of 17*C

Stock Cooler GPU Temp Load: 74*C
Zalman Cooler GPU Load: 54*C
Improvement of 20*C

Stock Cooler GPU Ambient Idle: 45*C
Zalman Cooler GPU Ambient Idle: 38*C
Improvement of 7*C

Stock Cooler GPU Ambient Load: 48*C
Zalman Cooler GPU Ambient Load: 41*C
Improvement of 7*C

Stock Cooler GPU VRM Idle: 64*C
Zalman Cooler GPU VRM Idle: 55*C
Improvement of 9*C

Stock Cooler GPU VRM Load: 79*C
Zalman Cooler GPU VRM Load: 60*C
Improvement of 19*C

All of these measurements were taken when the VF900-Cu is running in silent mode (1800rpm). At performance mode, the improvement will be even greater, but I'm into silence. :)

As you can see there is a massive improvement over the stock cooler in every category and sense. I've used AS5 instead of Zalman's supplied thermal paste also...

[deep]

Damn, those are some big numbers, Roo. Nice work.

[MrDisco]

i wonder how the fatality version would compare as I believe it uses a faster fan.

[jm20]

Post your Case temp before and after. The VF900 isnt a exhuast cooler so not only will case temps rise, but so will cpu, hdd, NB, and PSU. Post some more numbers please ;)

[Oversized Rooster]

Post your Case temp before and after. The VF900 isnt a exhuast cooler so not only will case temps rise, but so will cpu, hdd, NB, and PSU. Post some more numbers please ;)

In my case, my HDD and PSU temps cannot change because in my case (Antec P180B) my HDs and PSU are located in a separate bottom compartment of the case which is NOT connected to the top where the mobo, CPU and VGA are.

The CPU is still operating at the exact same temperatures, as is the motherboard. The CPU uses the Zalman CNPS9500 cooler by the way.

I've equipped my case with 5 120mm fans. One is located in the bottom compartment between in front of the HDs, but behind the PSU.

Then I have a case fan at the ceiling of the case right above the CPU heatsink. I also have a case fan at the rear right exhausting the air from the CPU heatsink as well.

Then I have a case fan at the very front of the case in front of the second hard drive cage in the upper chamber, and one behind the same cage.

So I've got some nice airflow. :)

http://www.antec.com/images/400/p180b_i.jpg

[tdotcbc84]

i have the EXACT same two coolers as you !!
all i gotta say is that the coolers are SILENT and COOL !


the 9500 can be a lil better @ cooling.. but in silent mode.. it is SILENT !


oops sorry, i got the VF-700cu !!

numbers are about the same as yours! give ur two 1-2 degrees up and down!

[Amourek]

My temps decreased by 6C idle and 24C load when I put the VF900CU on my X850XT. If you want even better results, do a fan-mod. I put on a quieter, thicker fan.
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=33902&highlight=


http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/4599/039es5.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/6840/resultsjv0.jpg

[tdotcbc84]

i see that the videocard memory is not cooled....

does it matter ??

when i bought the VF-700.. it came with ram-sinks!

[Oversized Rooster]

Nice install Amourek! :) My previous card was the X850XT PE, and I had a VF700-Cu on it. These Zalman coolers really do a great job. The X850 series were the hottest of that generation by the way, so they defintely needed cooling help beyond the stock heatsink. :)

Here's some eye-candy of my install earlier today...

X1800XL with Stock Cooler:
http://www.gergin.net/posts/VF900%20Install/01.jpg

The stock cooler is off:
http://www.gergin.net/posts/VF900%20Install/02.jpg

Awesome VF900 core surface reflection:
http://www.gergin.net/posts/VF900%20Install/03.jpg

R520 Core and Samsung chips cleaned with Smirnoff vodka:
http://www.gergin.net/posts/VF900%20Install/04.jpg

VF900 ready to mate with X1800XL:
http://www.gergin.net/posts/VF900%20Install/05.jpg

The final product with RAM heatsinks:
http://www.gergin.net/posts/VF900%20Install/06.jpg

[jm20]

I'm into silence

I've equipped my case with 5 120mm fans. One is located in the bottom compartment between in front of the HDs, but behind the PSU.

5 fans is not what I'd personally call silence, but to each his own. Congrats on the case, kinda nice but im a CM Stacker fanboy myself.

[MrDisco]

Then I have a case fan at the very front of the case in front of the second hard drive cage in the upper chamber, and one behind the same cage.


i have the same case. what i cant figure out is how to install the a fan in the front bottom compartment in front of the removeable hard drive cage (my top cage is in use so that fan bay becomes unuseable).

edit: are you using a non-stock heatsink?

[Composter]

nice temps but I too believe Fans= noise

water all the way for me, have had water for almost three years. loudest part of my systems is the monitor...lol

[Amourek]

nice temps but I too believe Fans= noise

water all the way for me, have had water for almost three years. loudest part of my systems is the monitor...lol

Not necessarily. I have 5 x 120mm fans (all Coolermaster 22DBA running at 5V), and my system is inaudible. The loudest thing in my system is the refrigerator outside my room in the kitchen.

[Oversized Rooster]

i have the same case. what i cant figure out is how to install the a fan in the front bottom compartment in front of the removeable hard drive cage (my top cage is in use so that fan bay becomes unuseable).

edit: are you using a non-stock heatsink?

If you are trying to install a fan in the bottom chamber right against the front panel of the case, it's not meant to have one there. If you mean installing a fan in the MIDDLE of the bottom chamber (between the PSU and HD cage), then that's possible. Can you clarify please?

As for having 5 fans and not being silent. I AM being silent. See I run each one at low speed - we're talking around 40CFM out of each at low 20s dBa. I prefer to have more low-speed fans rather than just 1 or 2 high-speed fans.

But each person decides how they like their airflow being handled, so to each his own. :)

To the person asking about heatsinks, both my video card and CPU use aftermarket Zalman heatsinks/fans.

[MrDisco]

If you are trying to install a fan in the bottom chamber right against the front panel of the case, it's not meant to have one there. If you mean installing a fan in the MIDDLE of the bottom chamber (between the PSU and HD cage), then that's possible. Can you clarify please?


yes thats where i meant..right against the front panel. ok if its not possible where is your 5th fan? you've got the two in the upper left hand corner, the one in front of the psu, and the one in front of the upper drive bay cage...#5?

[jm20]

If you want silence you might as well go water if you are wasting... er investing money for 5 fans, (if applicable, an aftermarket HSF), and an aftermarket GPU HSF. Thats alot of money right there.

That being said I dont mind my x1900XTX reference cooler at all when in 2D ;)

[Oversized Rooster]

yes thats where i meant..right against the front panel. ok if its not possible where is your 5th fan? you've got the two in the upper left hand corner, the one in front of the psu, and the one in front of the upper drive bay cage...#5?

The 5th fan is around the top hard drive cage. As you know, if you can attach a fan to the front of the top hard drive cage if you don't have any HDs in there. Well on the other side, you can also place a fan (right against the front face of the case).

The case only comes with 3 fans (rear, top and bottom chamber). But I had too many Antec TriCool matching fans from my old Sonata 2, so I added them in the other two optional spots.

This is a pretty dim, bad picture I found online, but take a look at the upper hard drive cage. So on the left AND on the RIGHT you can put a fan. To install the fan on the right is a little complex though. The cage has to be removed first.

http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/antec_p180b/DSC00542.JPG