Accelero Xtreme GTX 280 mini review and support

[vincedea]

hmm ok i will try that out hopefully it has saved those sertings fo rmy card that i messed up. if there are other suggestiosn please let me know. also i plan on getting the evga gtx 260 core 216 55nm does anyone know if it comes witha back plate

 

[killswitch]

You can also blind-flash the original BIOS if you have it. If not, its very likely in techpowerup's database. If you don't know how to blind-flash let me know and I'll try to explain.

 

[xmas2]

You can also blind-flash the original BIOS if you have it. If not, its very likely in techpowerup's database. If you don't know how to blind-flash let me know and I'll try to explain.

explain it to me - maybe i'll need it sometime always repairing PCs here, so maybe such thing will happen to any of my customers

 

[vincedea]

yeah killswitch what is blind flashing please explain lol.

 

[killswitch]

Ok, here we go then...

Firstly, you have to prepare a bootable flash drive. To do so, download and install HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool and Windows 98 boot disk source files. Extract boot disk files to a folder and run HP tool. Tick the "Create a DOS startup disk" checkbox and select "using DOS system files located at" and browse for the folder, where you have extracted the bootdisk files. Click start. Once finished formatting, you have a bootable USB flash drive. Now download the latest version of nvflash. Extract the archive onto your flash drive. Place the *.rom or *.bin BIOS file onto the flash drive. Now plug the flash drive into to the PC with dead card and attempt a blind boot from it. If you don't know the key sequence/shortcut to do so, MB manual might come in handy. Once you think the PC had finished booting (usually takes about 1 minute), type "nvflash -i1 -4 -5 -6 gt200.rom" (without quotes) where gt200.rom is the name of your BIOS file. If you don't have any other nVidia hardware, such as second graphics card (guess not, in that case you wouldn't be needing to blind flash anything), or nforce chipset, leave out the "-i1" parameter. Wait about 3-5 minutes, or more if you want to be sure the flashing is finished, or until you hear a beep (not 100% sure if it beeps ATM, gotta try when I'll be home). Restart your PC and voi-la, if you did everything right, your card is alive again

yeah killswitch what is blind flashing please explain lol.

Its the process of trying to flash your card without seeing what the f*** are you doing, cause the card is dead lol
Or you can give a blind person a flashlight and ask him to press ON/OFF button repeatedly.

 

[vincedea]

i dont get it really. how does doing this fix my issue lol. ,my pc boots into desktop but i just cant see anything. how would i be able to run the program? im a bit confused sorry. although iv just ordered the evga gtx260 card 55nm. ut i will try that blind flash out. and if i do it wrong will any of my windows files get messed up or is this just the video card bios?

 

[vincedea]

ok guys since i problly broke my card i just got myself the evga gtx260 core 216 55nm. now since this card doesnt have a back plate. would is till need to add thermal pads to the back of the card since ther is no ram spots to put it on. here is a picture of the back:

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/14-130-434-06.jpg

if im suppose to use them i would need to get some more thermal pads what are some good ones. and also ill be using enxotech sinks on this card. but rite now im just curious ont eh back sid eof the card since ther is no back plate and not sure if i need to use thermal pads ont eh back of the card. let me know. thanks and kill switch ill let you know how it goes withteh blind flash

 

[killswitch]

i dont get it really. how does doing this fix my issue lol. ,my pc boots into desktop but i just cant see anything. how would i be able to run the program? im a bit confused sorry. although iv just ordered the evga gtx260 card 55nm. ut i will try that blind flash out. and if i do it wrong will any of my windows files get messed up or is this just the video card bios?

Looks like I didn't understand you, mea culpa. I thought you can't see even the POST screen. If the memory overclock was on software basis, like through RivaTuner or EVGA Precision, try booting to safe mode by pressing F8 while the OS is booting up and try to revert the overclock or uninstall RivaTuner/Precision. This should fix your problem.

The procedure I was describing would fix a card with BIOS overclock. Don't even think about flashing or even blind-flashing your card, if you don't know what you are doing!

ok guys since i problly broke my card i just got myself the evga gtx260 core 216 55nm. now since this card doesnt have a back plate. would is till need to add thermal pads to the back of the card since ther is no ram spots to put it on. here is a picture of the back:

No need for pads/ramsinks here

 

[OnBoard]

also i plan on getting the evga gtx 260 core 216 55nm does anyone know if it comes witha back plate

No backplates on 55nm cards, as they all have memory chips just on front.

Looks like I didn't understand you, mea culpa. I thought you can't see even the POST screen. If the memory overclock was on software basis, like through RivaTuner or EVGA Precision, try booting to safe mode by pressing F8 while the OS is booting up and try to revert the overclock or uninstall RivaTuner/Precision. This should fix your problem.

Yep, that should do it. Seems the program you used to OC the memory applies (the not stable) setting on Windows start. And stay away from the bios flashing for now

anyways iv installed the cooler on my card (took like 3 hrs since i could get teh heatsinks to stick so i not using them until i can get the enzotech stuff)...

...and also ill be using enxotech sinks on this card.

Be sure to rub the VRMs thoroughly this time with an eraser. You'll have a hard time getting the enzotechs to stick too, if they are not completely clean.

 

[vincedea]

sorry killswitch actually the computer can boot all the way to windows. the only problem is i cant see anything. like i dont see the post screen, the windows logo with the loading bar. bascailly it feels as if the the card isnt working or turned on thats the problem but it actually boots to windows just i cant see it happen. but this morning when i turned on the pc to see if it works i was able to see the post screen except it would crash again as if the accidental oc on the memory clock is unstable.

 

[vincedea]

yea onboard i actually cleaned it very well the first time but for some reason the accleero ones would not stick what so ever im just hoping that the enxotech ones will stick with out a problem.

 

[killswitch]

The adhesion of the tape Arctic uses for their sinks is actually pretty poor. You can clean the chips as long as you want an still they won't hold. I always peel the stock tape off and use this Akasa instead.

 

[vincedea]

hey guys i got the pc work i got picture. i downclocked the card, but still crashes now i think i have fucked this card up frome installing the cooler. lol so now i might be afraid to install this card on the new card. sigh

 

[mudkip]

hey guys i got the pc work i got picture. i downclocked the card, but still crashes now i think i have fucked this card up frome installing the cooler. lol so now i might be afraid to install this card on the new card. sigh

I think your flash has gone wrong?

 

[OnBoard]

yea onboard i actually cleaned it very well the first time but for some reason the accleero ones would not stick what so ever im just hoping that the enxotech ones will stick with out a problem.

The adhesion of the tape Arctic uses for their sinks is actually pretty poor. You can clean the chips as long as you want an still they won't hold. I always peel the stock tape off and use this Akasa instead.

They just take time (and a bit of heat) to stick properly. Agreed it's not the best thermal tape on the bottom, but it gets the job done, if you are patient.

I could lift the whole card up on the Accelero VRM sink, once it had been on there couple days. Had to use force to even get it off.

Those long ramsinks didn't stick to the middle ram chip at first, but now they are not going anywhere. I did hold them pressed for couple minutes and then they stayed in place 15min before putting in case. I did a twist test on ramsinks, when you can't easily turn them anymore they will stay on.

Compared to the Zalman blue sinks that you can pretty much just press on and they stay there, these don't feel so great. Might have something to do with how thin the thermal tape is (it doesn't mold to the surface it tries to grab hold) until it heats up.

I do remember when VF900 was the hottest thing out, people complained about how those blue Zalman ramsinks didn't stick either

 

[vincedea]

thanks onboard so ig uess when i add the cooler to the 55nm 260 ill make sure i clean it a lot better and hold the heatsinks down a lot longer. but should i go with the enzotech for the memory sinks cause 15 bucks is expensive vs the zalman ones. i know for sure that i have ot go with enzotech for the vrm cooling.. but what do you think save a few bucks or get the expensvie stuff

 

[vincedea]

or do you think these will work fine ont eh memory chips

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185083

 

[xmas2]

Just for information - before applying thermap paste or sticking thermalpads - always clean the surface (CPU, GPU, RAM, e.t.c.) with "isopropyl alcohol aerosol" - it's the best you can find for removing old paste, oils, e.t.c.

 

[vincedea]

yea i always use isoproply alcohol to clean the old paste off

 

[dr emulator (madmax)]

i think the vrm temps problem is probably to do with them not having contact with the cooler above ,if it was mine i'd have probably modded it so they did

:edit:

whoa i thought this was a new thread didn't realise it was 20 pages long
still another point here is it doesn't vent the hot air out the back of the case so personaly i'd give that cooler a miss sorry OnBoard

 

[OnBoard]

thanks onboard so ig uess when i add the cooler to the 55nm 260 ill make sure i clean it a lot better and hold the heatsinks down a lot longer. but should i go with the enzotech for the memory sinks cause 15 bucks is expensive vs the zalman ones. i know for sure that i have ot go with enzotech for the vrm cooling.. but what do you think save a few bucks or get the expensvie stuff

You don't need enzotech on a 55nm card, they have (totally different) cooler running VRMs.

or do you think these will work fine ont eh memory chips

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185083

That will work on everthing on the 55nm 260 card, memory, VRMs and other possible need. Only the NVIO chip needs something creative (solutions on post #270).

Just for information - before applying thermap paste or sticking thermalpads - always clean the surface (CPU, GPU, RAM, e.t.c.) with "isopropyl alcohol aerosol" - it's the best you can find for removing old paste, oils, e.t.c.

yea i always use isoproply alcohol to clean the old paste off

Yep same here. Erased them clean of goop first, then some gue tips & Sinol (90%+ ethanol 5% isopropyl alcohol and some stuff that will make you sick, if you try to drink it )

http://www.phpbbserver.com/mameuifx/images/smiles/a_chuckle.gif whoa i thought this was a new thread didn't realise it was 20 pages long
still another point here is it doesn't vent the hot air out the back of the case so personaly i'd give that cooler a miss sorry OnBoard

If you have a stock GTX 280 in your case, the heat won't magically come out just from the rear (one heatsink on top and backplate on rear) GTX 295 stock cooler even has holes to push some of the air inside the case.

People make too much of an issue about graphics card coolers that don't went the air out from the back. It's more of an problem with the case, not the cooler I'll take couple degrees warmer case any day for 20C cooler GPU

 

[mudkip]

from 0.825v to 0.775v

 

[Retro*]

If you have a stock GTX 280 in your case, the heat won't magically come out just from the rear (one heatsink on top and backplate on rear) GTX 295 stock cooler even has holes to push some of the air inside the case.

People make too much of an issue about graphics card coolers that don't went the air out from the back. It's more of an problem with the case, not the cooler I'll take couple degrees warmer case any day for 20C cooler GPU

Well said
I see this comment about the heat not being vented out the back a lot. Those who think that all the heat should just be magically blown out the back of the case, do not understand that, for a good aftermarket heatsink, such a design that would actually vent all of the heat completely out of the case has never been made and likely never will, as it is totally impractical from a cost/design standpoint.
Just imagine trying to make a custom shroud that totally encloses and seals your Accelero and video card so all the air has to go out the back of the case

Most modern cases have more than sufficient airflow to take care of the heat produced inside the case from the video card.
As you mentioned about the 20C GPU temperature reduction, I have found that is typical for a good aftermarket cooler.
Which further shows how inefficient the typical stock video card heatsink, that "vents the hot air out of the back of the case", is

 

[killswitch]

from 0.825v to 0.775v

That's sick dude But it seems there is no VRM temperature drop against 0.825V so I would keep something little over 0.8V, just to be sure

 

[darkseph]

I might be crazy...

And I sure am crazy, but... I want to mount the Xtreme to my Nvidia Quadro FX 5800. Now before you scream "Are you retarded!?" and "Warranty!" let me tell you that I bought the card as an OEM without any Quadro like guarantee, and as such didn't pay a quadro like price (mind you, still the price of 3 GTX 280 cards, but not of 10...). So I read up on the entire thread, getting more and more worried about the different layouts of all the different 200er boards. It took me a while to find a dismantled quadro FX 4800 (which is basically the same as the fx 5800 but with 4 GB Ram instead of 1.5, a different placement of the connection panel and a second PCI power connector at the back). To be seen here:

http://www.quadro.net.cn/uploads/FX4800/Quadro_FX4800_5.jpg

http://www.quadro.net.cn/uploads/FX4800/Quadro_FX4800_4.jpg

http://www.quadro.net.cn/uploads/FX4800/Quadro_FX4800_7.jpg

(More images here: http://www.quadro.net.cn/Pro_DocumentReading.aspx?id=1465)

Now seeing that, it appears to be quite alot like the original GTX 280 (though the quadros are 55nm), yet there are a few minor differences as far as I can tell. In addition to the Accelero, what sinks would be absolutely the best for this particular layout, in your opinion? For ramsinks, I see noone mentioned the low profile copper ones by Enzotech - the BCC9 - would they be good? (http://www.enzotechnology.com/bcc9.htm). I can get most of the other Enzos too, if needed. I want to make this mod as perfect as possible, as this card is really dear to me - hence the upgrade at all. My temperatures are kind of too high for my liking, Idling at about 67 one the core (I set the fanspeed to 50 percent minimum to get at least 58 degrees on idle) and hitting abut 86 degrees max in Furmark.

The stock cooler really is worse than the standard GTX 28X ones, as the addition of the Video out on top really shrinked the exhaust holes to a minimum.

http://www.inet.sk/images/user/tomsik/grafika3.png

Which brings me to the biggest problem, probably. As can be seen, the video out port is actually a seperate mini board attached to the stock cooler and connected to the main board through a cable - I would somehow have to mod the Accelero to fit that miniature board in there and probably also damage the stock cooler in the process in which case I could just as well hack some portions of the heatsink off.

Anyways, I would welcome any suggestions and will surely take lots of pictures of the mod (and the first dismantled FX 5800 pictures on the net, probably...)

Sorry for the long post and thank you for the guide and everything in this thread, it really got me to believe that this was possible ..

All the best!

darkseph