Mini Review: Cooling the beast! - ATi HD4850 + DuOrb cooler.

Punster · 1st July 2008, 1:44 AM

Hey, with so much talk about how hot these little pocket rockets get, I thought it was time to invest in some cooling. So after an order from PCCG, and a prompt delivery I decided to get under way ripping off the stock cooler!

As many are aware, the average idle / desktop temps are around 65c - 75c, with a 80 - 90c load, a little too hot for me and my case which ended up getting very hot at the back....

The coolers.

The cards...

The back...

Removing the stock cooling is a simple process and as with most coolers it requires a smaller philips screw driver.

The replacement thermal compound, the trusty Arctic Silver 5 and the accompanying removal / cleaning fluids.

Had to use an ear bud to get the thermal compound out from the smaller areas around the GPU. Came out pretty good.

The kit comes with the RAM coolers, as can be seen on one card. Note that I later removed the coolers on the very back of the card as they caused 3D corruption - possibly conducting?

The fitting of the cooler is fairly simple, although it comes with two types of screw, the ATi ones are actually not 100% correct in height and the Nvidia ones are like a few mm too big meaning they stop the copper touching the GPU. So after a little trial and error tightening them without it bending the card they were fitted. The instructions are pretty good too.

Now I fitted both cards and damn it was way too loud for my liking, I think it was due to all the fans in my PC fighting for supremacy causing a mini whirlwind with the accompanying noise! So luckily I had an old fan controller that I butchered taking the parts of it I needed making a very effective solution. I put it in a bag and taped it up to stop any conductivity.

I stuck it to the inside of my case using cable ties.

So I now have the fans about 60% speed and its very quiet! The new temps at idle speak for them selves, and 3D adds only 10c to them! (Note: Ambient temps may differ depending on your room temp. Tests were done in roughly 17c ambient)

So anyone with these cards and a little $$ extra, it is worth picking them up, especially for overclocking the GPU.

Well that's my mini review, thanks for taking a look!

Shinanigans · 1st July 2008, 2:08 AM

29c

Quote:

The kit comes with the RAM coolers, as can be seen on one card. Note that I later removed the coolers on the very back of the card as they caused 3D corruption - possibly conducting?

What do you mean by removed the coolers on the very back of the card?

Punster · 1st July 2008, 2:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinanigans

29c

What do you mean by removed the coolers on the very back of the card?

Back as in the GPU side, near the power connector. Shown in GREEN, I now have them bare as the top car is in the same area... The ones that I put on caused issues, been fine with them off.

Shinanigans · 1st July 2008, 2:19 AM

Ah, got ya! Interesting that it was causing issues. Probably not too much worse off without heatsinks, as i'm sure the fan is blowing air across them

oldbugger · 1st July 2008, 6:45 AM

Glad to see ya got the orbs....I have had no such troubles with heatsinks on the VRM modules.

The coolers are pretty effective aren't they...I haven't put any fan controller on yet...maybe old hearing but I don' t think its that bad with them at full speed... although I grew up with the 6000rpm papst screamers on the fop38's and the 70cfm delta fans on the swiftech 462's for the old athlon space heaters.

FearTec · 1st July 2008, 9:16 AM

Temps before and after?

TaroT · 1st July 2008, 9:22 AM

what about overclocked temps say 680

0M39A_1337 · 1st July 2008, 9:32 AM

great review, cheers for that.

I just got a HIS HD4850 and have been thinking about aftermarket cooling.

exactly the same looking card as yours, except yours have the gigabyte logo on the exact same cooler :P

The Sculpturer · 1st July 2008, 9:39 AM

Nice job.

You do realise you only need one bridge for crossfire?

Punster · 1st July 2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sculpturer

Nice job.

You do realise you only need one bridge for crossfire?

Yep, but 2 dont hurt

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaroT

what about overclocked temps say 680

As with temps before and after I was getting around 70c idle, 85c in games. Now its 35c idle and 45c in games (Averages).

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaroT

what about overclocked temps say 680

I can only get 665 core stable without editing Bios voltages so far and they were like 2c hotter...

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 1st July 2008, 10:24 AM

Thanks for the write-up

good results...how for some overclocking?

Punster · 1st July 2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL_MoNkEY

Thanks for the write-up

good results...how for some overclocking?

Yer, If someone can write me a baby guide to Bios flashing these things properly lol

The Sculpturer · 1st July 2008, 10:36 AM

Is there a pencil volt mod for these yet?
Also i read somewhere that removing heatsinc on the 4800 voids warranty, though that might have been manufacturer specific.

Punster · 1st July 2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Sculpturer

Is there a pencil volt mod for these yet?
Also i read somewhere that removing heatsinc on the 4800 voids warranty, though that might have been manufacturer specific.

Probably, but putting it back on as if it was never removed aint too hard to do

The risk is worth it, especially since warranty would likely be needed due to it packing in from heat!

Also did a 675/1000 test, temps remained about the same.

sandwichamwin · 1st July 2008, 11:33 AM

I have two HD4850s and managed to drop temps by about 25 degrees by just placing a 120mm fan on top of the cards.

1st July 2008, 1:44 AM	#1
Punster Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: VIC Posts: 606	Mini Review: Cooling the beast! - ATi HD4850 + DuOrb cooler. Hey, with so much talk about how hot these little pocket rockets get, I thought it was time to invest in some cooling. So after an order from PCCG, and a prompt delivery I decided to get under way ripping off the stock cooler! As many are aware, the average idle / desktop temps are around 65c - 75c, with a 80 - 90c load, a little too hot for me and my case which ended up getting very hot at the back.... The coolers. The cards... The back... Removing the stock cooling is a simple process and as with most coolers it requires a smaller philips screw driver. The replacement thermal compound, the trusty Arctic Silver 5 and the accompanying removal / cleaning fluids. Had to use an ear bud to get the thermal compound out from the smaller areas around the GPU. Came out pretty good. The kit comes with the RAM coolers, as can be seen on one card. Note that I later removed the coolers on the very back of the card as they caused 3D corruption - possibly conducting? The fitting of the cooler is fairly simple, although it comes with two types of screw, the ATi ones are actually not 100% correct in height and the Nvidia ones are like a few mm too big meaning they stop the copper touching the GPU. So after a little trial and error tightening them without it bending the card they were fitted. The instructions are pretty good too. Now I fitted both cards and damn it was way too loud for my liking, I think it was due to all the fans in my PC fighting for supremacy causing a mini whirlwind with the accompanying noise! So luckily I had an old fan controller that I butchered taking the parts of it I needed making a very effective solution. I put it in a bag and taped it up to stop any conductivity. I stuck it to the inside of my case using cable ties. So I now have the fans about 60% speed and its very quiet! The new temps at idle speak for them selves, and 3D adds only 10c to them! (Note: Ambient temps may differ depending on your room temp. Tests were done in roughly 17c ambient) So anyone with these cards and a little $$ extra, it is worth picking them up, especially for overclocking the GPU. Well that's my mini review, thanks for taking a look! __________________ PC: Intel i7 920 with TR Ultra 120E, Gigabyte GA-EX58-Extreme, 6GB G.Skill 1600 9-9-9-24, Powercolor ATI HD5870 1GB, 500GB Samsung & 1TB Seagate HDD, Creative X-Fi, Dell 2408WFP A01 24" LCD, Corsair HX-1000 Watt PSU, Vista 64-bit. Trades: reetzy, Nitrov8, downsys, bluedreamer, GrandmaImp, CD, Willo, Zacros, snashtime5, Jon187, BiggusDickus, TOX, Dent, Benchamp, mr_wrxman, Sebstar, kingz113, filo_yakuza + King Krapp others in lost pm's. Last edited by Punster; 3rd July 2008 at 5:03 PM.

1st July 2008, 2:19 AM	#4
Shinanigans Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Coffs Harbour Posts: 4,584	Ah, got ya! Interesting that it was causing issues. Probably not too much worse off without heatsinks, as i'm sure the fan is blowing air across them __________________ Q9550 @ 3.6GHz w/Tuniq 120 :: EP45-DS3 :: 4GB Tracers @ 850CL5 :: XFX GTX285 Black :: Antec P182 w/HX620 :: X-Fi XtremeGamer :: Samsung 245B+ :: OCZ 60GB SSD/WD640+750GB Win7 Performance \| 4870CF Performcance \| P182 vs 900

1st July 2008, 6:45 AM	#5
oldbugger Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Southern NSW Posts: 201	Glad to see ya got the orbs....I have had no such troubles with heatsinks on the VRM modules. The coolers are pretty effective aren't they...I haven't put any fan controller on yet...maybe old hearing but I don' t think its that bad with them at full speed... although I grew up with the 6000rpm papst screamers on the fop38's and the 70cfm delta fans on the swiftech 462's for the old athlon space heaters. Last edited by oldbugger; 1st July 2008 at 6:57 AM.

1st July 2008, 9:16 AM	#6
FearTec Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: NSW Posts: 2,084	Temps before and after? __________________ Main Rig\|Q6600\|Tuniq Tower120\|Falcon II 128GB SSD\|XFX 8800GTX\|150GB RaptorX\|500GB\|300GB\|4GB Corsair 6400C5 G\|24" 2407FPW\|ST65ZF\|GA965P DS4\|Windows 7 Seen my Stolen Items: Canon 350D (S:0710C007[AB]), Dell D820 (S:6WJKL1S), iPod (engraved: simon.fearby.com)

1st July 2008, 9:22 AM	#7
TaroT Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hazelbrook nsw 2779 Posts: 5,398	what about overclocked temps say 680 __________________ Q6600 @3.29ghz w/ thermalright 120UEX: Gigabyte P35-DS3Pro: 4 gig Geil ultra 4 4 4 12 915: ATI 4870 1Gb 790/925:

1st July 2008, 9:32 AM	#8
0M39A_1337 Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Hobart, TAS Posts: 1,172	great review, cheers for that. I just got a HIS HD4850 and have been thinking about aftermarket cooling. exactly the same looking card as yours, except yours have the gigabyte logo on the exact same cooler :P __________________ 30+ Successful Trades PROUD HOMEBREWER "Give a man a beer, he'll waste an hour. Teach a man to brew, he'll waste a lifetime."

1st July 2008, 9:39 AM	#9
The Sculpturer (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,334	Nice job. You do realise you only need one bridge for crossfire?

1st July 2008, 10:24 AM	#11
DiGiTaL MoNkEY Digitally Disturbed Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 21,308	Thanks for the write-up good results...how for some overclocking? __________________ Join Now! OCAU Steam Groups: Overclockers Australia \| Bad Company 2 \| Modern Warfare 2 \| Borderlands \| Left 4 Dead 2 \| Left 4 Dead \| Team Fortress 2 \|

1st July 2008, 10:36 AM	#13
The Sculpturer (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,334	Is there a pencil volt mod for these yet? Also i read somewhere that removing heatsinc on the 4800 voids warranty, though that might have been manufacturer specific.

1st July 2008, 11:33 AM	#15
sandwichamwin Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,885	I have two HD4850s and managed to drop temps by about 25 degrees by just placing a 120mm fan on top of the cards.