Accelero Xtreme GTX 280 mini review and support

[bear2790]

hi OnBoard:

took me over a month to reply but here it is. Keep in mind that with years of component level repair experience working for a company named Hewlett Packard - I'm no ammature. Here's what happened:

- received the GTX 280 cooler
- removed the covers and prepared the card using an anti-static pad with ground strap
- Installed the VRM cheap-O heatsink plate
- Installed the NVIO heatsink and Mem-sinks as well. Decided to take your advise and used the backplate from the cooler that came with this 65nm GPU card
- applied thermal paste to the GPU and installed the GTX280 cooler
- So far, no problems were encountered whatsoever
- installed the card onto the mobo, attached the two PCI-e 6pin power cords, attached the monitor cable and fired 'er up ...

and she wouldn't fly ... just got a blank screen. Fan constantly ran at 100% , but that was all. Kind of gives that funny feeling in the belly

no idea why it stopped working. Maybe one of the contacts connecting the GPU to the PCB separated when I tightened down the cooler mount? Who knows.

I went to the egg this Friday and bought an open box MSI N260GTX Twin FrozR OC. It has a Accelero GTX280 type cooler and comes with, now get this, a VRM/memory heatsink plate

It's a thick aluminum plate and has heat dissipation posts all over the VRM area. I can use any GPU cooler that will fit and not have to worry about loosing the card to VRM thermal meltdown, especially since the GPU is 55nm.

Who knows, maybe MSI has one of those VRM heatsinks laying around on a dead card in one of their repair shops and might be willing to sell it? Can't hurt to email them and ask if you need one.

That's my story { 8^)

 

[trt740]

hi OnBoard:

took me over a month to reply but here it is. Keep in mind that with years of component level repair experience working for a company named Hewlett Packard - I'm no ammature. Here's what happened:

- received the GTX 280 cooler
- removed the covers and prepared the card using an anti-static pad with ground strap
- Installed the VRM cheap-O heatsink plate
- Installed the NVIO heatsink and Mem-sinks as well. Decided to take your advise and used the backplate from the cooler that came with this 65nm GPU card
- applied thermal paste to the GPU and installed the GTX280 cooler
- So far, no problems were encountered whatsoever
- installed the card onto the mobo, attached the two PCI-e 6pin power cords, attached the monitor cable and fired 'er up ...

and she wouldn't fly ... just got a blank screen. Fan constantly ran at 100% , but that was all. Kind of gives that funny feeling in the belly

no idea why it stopped working. Maybe one of the contacts connecting the GPU to the PCB separated when I tightened down the cooler mount? Who knows.

I went to the egg this Friday and bought an open box MSI N260GTX Twin FrozR OC. It has a Accelero GTX280 type cooler and comes with, now get this, a VRM/memory heatsink plate

It's a thick aluminum plate and has heat dissipation posts all over the VRM area. I can use any GPU cooler that will fit and not have to worry about loosing the card to VRM thermal meltdown, especially since the GPU is 55nm.

Who knows, maybe MSI has one of those VRM heatsinks laying around on a dead card in one of their repair shops and might be willing to sell it? Can't hurt to email them and ask if you need one.

That's my story { 8^)

The 280 gtx was a hard card to get to work with this cooler but hey good luck with your new card.

 

[OnBoard]

I just dropped one of these on my 260 gtx and the new version fits like a glove and is worth every cent. My card doesn't break 55c in games. My 260 gtx 55nm only does 702/1477/2100 because it is the lame ass new PCB design but still it runs chilly.

See how it looks, a mauled 275 gtx pcb. Take a look at the blanked out middle power regulation area near the front of the card dead center. I couldn't believe what I was seeing when I removed the stock heatsink a few days ago.

http://img.techpowerup.org/100701/P7010007.jpg

Well the original 65nm also had 2 phases less than GTX 280. Now they have just used the PCB as in GTX 275, saving money in the process.

This is what the original GTX 260 55nm card looked like, is you compare it to yours, not much difference

That's still a nice overclock and you get supercool silent card

hi OnBoard:

- received the GTX 280 cooler
- installed the card onto the mobo, attached the two PCI-e 6pin power cords, attached the monitor cable and fired 'er up ...

and she wouldn't fly ... just got a blank screen. Fan constantly ran at 100% , but that was all. Kind of gives that funny feeling in the belly

no idea why it stopped working. Maybe one of the contacts connecting the GPU to the PCB separated when I tightened down the cooler mount? Who knows.

I went to the egg this Friday and bought an open box MSI N260GTX Twin FrozR OC. It has a Accelero GTX280 type cooler and comes with, now get this, a VRM/memory heatsink plate

It's a thick aluminum plate and has heat dissipation posts all over the VRM area. I can use any GPU cooler that will fit and not have to worry about loosing the card to VRM thermal meltdown, especially since the GPU is 55nm.

Who knows, maybe MSI has one of those VRM heatsinks laying around on a dead card in one of their repair shops and might be willing to sell it? Can't hurt to email them and ask if you need one.

Sorry to hear about the dead card You could try to untighten the cooler a bit, those Accelero 5970's kill DVI ports if tightened too much. Although I haven't heard anything with these cards, maybe it could help.

Would be weird for it to go compleatly dead so sudden

Anyhow, not needing any VRM sinks anymore, my card is sold few months back. Wouldn't fit even if I'd have it, all the cards that have big VRM sinks stock are 55nm and have regular mosfet rows that are easy to cool. No-one ever came up with a proper VRM sink for the 65nm card, like Thermalright has for ATI. It was just too complicated layout to make one and Accelero came too late with 65nm card being pretty much EOL.

You can use the Accelero on the MSI card if you wish, should be pretty simple with all the sinks ready. Maybe the 280 would still wake up and if not, enjoy the 260

 

[trt740]

Removed my new A/C heatsink from this 260 gtx and am working on a 275 gtx or 285 gtx depending on money. The 260 gtx is about to dissappear with the stock cooler back on ..

 

[1freedude]

@bear...I bought an open box twin frozr and sent it back for the reason you mentioned...i have pics. you may have the card i sent back. look at the backside of the card down near the the interface to the left. i noticed a resistor missing. i'll link my thread so you can get to it easier and edit this...I also have a pic with the serial #. I got my refund, but if you got that card..................

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=124397

 

[overclocking101]

wow the plate that comes with the scythe setchushan or whatever is decent i only get around 85c vrm load but i jb welded aditional sinks to it and peassure moded it to make better contact

 

[catnipkiller]

i am going to try the stock vrm cooler on my gtx 260 216 core

i cant see any diff but cleaning my fans droped 2 deg idel i for got to take a pic of it installed so i will take one later lol

 

[OnBoard]

Hmm, what where the VRM temps to begin with then ?) Ah, but it's the new 55nm version of the 216, it doesn't have volterras any more You shouldn't even get VRM temperature readout with that card

Normal heatsinks are just fine for the regular mosfets. 65nm cards just had those hot and hard to cool tiny scattered all around the card VRMs, where easier cooling methods were impossible.

 

[catnipkiller]

2 of the vrm where not coverd so i did this just so one day my card doesent blow up cuz iv got it clocked 750 core and i dident want anything over heating cuz iv been having weird driver chrashes. does anyone know how to show the vrm temps or is their just no way to show? http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/98xgw/

 

[OnBoard]

does anyone know how to show the vrm temps or is their just no way to show? http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/98xgw/

If you read my post just above yours, it will answer your question too (no way) And sinking anything hot is always good.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

OnBoard, I have to ask. How do you like the GTX460 compared to your old 280? I would love to hear the opinion of someone who has gamed a good amount on both cards.

Sorry for the ot.

Thanks

 

[OnBoard]

OnBoard, I have to ask. How do you like the GTX460 compared to your old 280? I would love to hear the opinion of someone who has gamed a good amount on both cards.

Love it, fast already on stock (well that's an OC), overclocks like mad and keeps cool/silent. So just like 280 with accelero, but without the powerdraw/heat output + DX11 and faster

When you consider I sold OP card with postage for 200€ and I got this without postage almost for same price, very little not to like

If you have a buyer for the 280 and can get a deal on 460, go for it. If you want more performance boost, then wait for the GF104 full version (GTX 475 or what they will call it). Have a feeling NVIDIA is waiting for the HD6xxx series and will release full GF104 and double GF104 card after that. Most likely with info on the cards just around 6000 series release to steal AMDs thunder

 

[Retro*]

Really BababooeyHTJ, it's time to sell off the 280
Just kidding, that's your choice, and I know that card has been good to you for a long time. But I agree with what OnBoard said.

Personally, I think the 460 is Nvidias' best card, looking at the bang for the buck factor.
With a good overclock they are at least as fast as a 470.
And they run at reasonable temperatures, unlike the 480

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

Love it, fast already on stock (well that's an OC), overclocks like mad and keeps cool/silent. So just like 280 with accelero, but without the powerdraw/heat output + DX11 and faster

When you consider I sold OP card with postage for 200€ and I got this without postage almost for same price, very little not to like

If you have a buyer for the 280 and can get a deal on 460, go for it. If you want more performance boost, then wait for the GF104 full version (GTX 475 or what they will call it). Have a feeling NVIDIA is waiting for the HD6xxx series and will release full GF104 and double GF104 card after that. Most likely with info on the cards just around 6000 series release to steal AMDs thunder

I have a feeling that I may skip this gen. Thanks for the input. It looks like 460s main advantage other than the heat and power draw is DX11. DX11 is catching on a lot faster than I would have figured but I was still hoping for a little more performance. That said if I see a 460 1GB for $150 at some point tin the future I'm going to jump on it.

Really BababooeyHTJ, it's time to sell off the 280
Just kidding, that's your choice, and I know that card has been good to you for a long time. But I agree with what OnBoard said.

Personally, I think the 460 is Nvidias' best card, looking at the bang for the buck factor.
With a good overclock they are at least as fast as a 470.
And they run at reasonable temperatures, unlike the 480

or 280

I promised myself that my next card won't be as hot or power hungry as my 280. I do love this card and it is surprisingly still serving me well. I was hoping for that wow factor after popping in a new card and I'm not so sure that other than in DX11 games that I'll see that. Like I said I'm not sure I would have much sefl control if I see a 1GB for around $150.

I just bought a new monitor anyways so I probably should wait on a video card for a little while anyways. We'll see if that happens.

 

[Beertintedgoggles]

hi OnBoard:

took me over a month to reply but here it is. Keep in mind that with years of component level repair experience working for a company named Hewlett Packard - I'm no ammature. Here's what happened:

- received the GTX 280 cooler
- removed the covers and prepared the card using an anti-static pad with ground strap
- Installed the VRM cheap-O heatsink plate
- Installed the NVIO heatsink and Mem-sinks as well. Decided to take your advise and used the backplate from the cooler that came with this 65nm GPU card
- applied thermal paste to the GPU and installed the GTX280 cooler
- So far, no problems were encountered whatsoever
- installed the card onto the mobo, attached the two PCI-e 6pin power cords, attached the monitor cable and fired 'er up ...

and she wouldn't fly ... just got a blank screen. Fan constantly ran at 100% , but that was all. Kind of gives that funny feeling in the belly

no idea why it stopped working. Maybe one of the contacts connecting the GPU to the PCB separated when I tightened down the cooler mount? Who knows.

I went to the egg this Friday and bought an open box MSI N260GTX Twin FrozR OC. It has a Accelero GTX280 type cooler and comes with, now get this, a VRM/memory heatsink plate

It's a thick aluminum plate and has heat dissipation posts all over the VRM area. I can use any GPU cooler that will fit and not have to worry about loosing the card to VRM thermal meltdown, especially since the GPU is 55nm.

Who knows, maybe MSI has one of those VRM heatsinks laying around on a dead card in one of their repair shops and might be willing to sell it? Can't hurt to email them and ask if you need one.

That's my story { 8^)

If your card is still not running it sounds like a good candidate for the oven trick. I know it seems like a gimmick and it couldn't possibly work but it worked first hand to revive an old dead 6800GT for me about a year ago. If ya don't want to try it I'll be more than happy to pay for shipping

 

[Retro*]

I have a feeling that I may skip this gen. Thanks for the input. It looks like 460s main advantage other than the heat and power draw is DX11. DX11 is catching on a lot faster than I would have figured but I was still hoping for a little more performance. That said if I see a 460 1GB for $150 at some point tin the future I'm going to jump on it.



or 280

I promised myself that my next card won't be as hot or power hungry as my 280. I do love this card and it is surprisingly still serving me well. I was hoping for that wow factor after popping in a new card and I'm not so sure that other than in DX11 games that I'll see that. Like I said I'm not sure I would have much sefl control if I see a 1GB for around $150.

I just bought a new monitor anyways so I probably should wait on a video card for a little while anyways. We'll see if that happens.

You have fantastic self-control when it comes to video cards
But the 280 is such a good card, and your cooling mods made it that much better.
Looking at your system specs, you did upgrade to a great platform with the Giga P55 UD3/I7 860, etc. (I'm still on an i5 750, still running great.)
A new monitor is always an excellent upgrade.
As OnBoard said, there are the new upcoming cards from both camps. And they can only get faster. Hopefully they will be more efficient and have less heat issues, particularly the NVIDIA George Foreman Grills
Speaking of that, the new Accelero for the 480 should be out soon. A review I saw on a factory-equipped 480/Accelero is looking very promising for that card:
http://www.guru3d.com/article/kfa2-geforce-gtx-480-ltd-oc-anarchy-review/
Hmmn....................

 

[catnipkiller]

canadian air cooling

i added a new chase fan and this is what i idel at now lol and 20 deg cpu FTW!

 

[cheezburger]

AC fan doesn't take out hot air from surrounding area. it just use brutal force plus high rpm to compress the temps. even so if you don't have good case with better airflow you will still encountering much worse issue than on stock reference cooler.

also....it looks god damn ugly....

 

[OnBoard]

AC fan doesn't take out hot air from surrounding area. it just use brutal force plus high rpm to compress the temps. even so if you don't have good case with better airflow you will still encountering much worse issue than on stock reference cooler.

also....it looks god damn ugly....

Thanks for the totally false comment! Well ugly is in the eye of the beholder, won't dispute that.

Brutal force as in big?, then yes. High rpm You obviously haven't ever owned one. It runs about 1400rpm idle or load silent, what can't be said from stock cooler.

If you really think that the stock cooler takes ALL the hot air these cards produce out of the case, then please do a hand test while running FurMark.. And no I won't take any responsibility of burned fingers

These coolers keep the CARDS cool and that is their function. Would I use this in case with bad airflow, for 55nm why not, with 65nm probably not. But that's not cooler fault, it's user fault if you stick on of the hottest cards ever made to badly ventilated case :shadedshu

Don't know what your much worse issue than on stock reference cooler
is. Every issue you may encounter is plenty well documented in this thread. No need to try and scare owners/potential owners.

I've said it before in this thread, but just a repeat. I'll take 20C cooler GPU over 2C hotter CPU any day.

 

[catnipkiller]

if u saw my pc u would know that the air flow is cooling everything on my pc and all my hot air is being vents nicely my pc sits under my desk so i don't care what it looks like inside anymore
i have the 3400 rpm fan on a fan controller so i only crank it when i'm gaming.