Accelero Xtreme GTX 280 mini review and support

[trt740]

The area you have the heat sinks on I believe are the chokes and really don't need cooling. The area highlighted by me does not have to be cooled but gives off more heat, if your going to heat sink something it should be this area.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

What seems to be the best way to cool the Volterra vrms on the GTX280? I see that this thread has gone on quite a bit and I've read through everything but I'm not sure if I missed anything. I'm currently using some Enzotech MOS-C1 sinks but could stand to see some lower temps. Also I'm using an HR-03 so I don't really have to worry about headroom.

Thanks guys.

 

[trt740]

What seems to be the best way to cool the Volterra vrms on the GTX280? I see that this thread has gone on quite a bit and I've read through everything but I'm not sure if I missed anything. I'm currently using some Enzotech MOS-C1 sinks but could stand to see some lower temps. Also I'm using an HR-03 so I don't really have to worry about headroom.

Thanks guys.

What are your temps under load? Normally Thermalright makes great coolers but in that ones case it really doesn't send much air over the VRM area. It cools the GPU great but, not the VRM due to a lack of air flow. The A/C 280 gtx extreme has a fan right over the VRMS , it's problem is different. The thermal pads are so thick over the VRMS, that instead of transferring heat to the included heat sink, the thermal pads retain allot of the heat causing high temps. I might put a slot cooler under you card blowing on the VRMs. Something like these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835888112, this http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=ODA= or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835114024

Read this article and notice how far the main heat sink is from the VRMs thats the problem, not enough air flow to that area.

http://www.geeks3d.com/20090226/thermalright-does-not-like-furmark/

 

[undetermined]

WOW!VERY NICE!!!
I have to admit though that ati makes cooling and ocing much easier by using simpler PCBs...
I lost count of how many small chips u have to cool...LOL!
Nice research though!Well done!!

Yeah, that's not true. Simpler PCBs maybe, but higher temps overall. Before the 4890s their cards didn't have a lot of OC overhead and they still have the VRM issues we're discussing here. VRMs have just not that been that big of a deal until the past few generations of cards.

Depending on who you listen to the VRMs can get ridiculously (like 150C) hot and still be fine.

 

[undetermined]

I don't think it's cooled by anything but air, and that enzo heatsink does need another hole and I think the hole would need to be throught a few of the pins in the corner. What i would do is glue it to the chip then glue the front of it to the base of the big middle post. that would give it two contact points. Also these would be great little coolers for the mosfits /VRM /on a 280 gtx , they are smaller than they look but cool really well , way better than Zalman and are smaller but better made. I used them on several 4870 cards. http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/misimi.html and here are the tweak monster ram heatsinks used before http://www.jab-tech.com/Tweakmonster-BGA-Ramsinks-pr-1526.html

Those sidewinder sinks look good, but the problem is that the extra 1mm on each side might be a bit too much. I don't remember completely clearly but I think even one or two of those enzos were pushing it as far as being close to other components that were taller than the VRMS. It WOULD save the hassle of having to dremel though. I might pull the card later and try to measure. They look like they'd be a lot more effective if they fit. I'm tempted to order a set and try them out. Do you think it'd be worth the $11US?

Also, if I replace the AS5 I put on the card the first time does anyone know the proper amount to put back on it? I don't want to over do it, but I don't want to under do it either.

 

[OnBoard]

So, if I want I should just cut out a bit of the first 3 fins to get it to fit the Svideo.
Also, I did order that Copper heatsink....
I get it on Monday, I guess I'm going to be drilling holes, eh, on the 275 GTX?

Great... there goes the warranty.... It's getting worse and worse each day for me....

False advertisement as far as I'm concerned...

Don't worry, I'll send pics your way come monday...

DON't DRILL YOUR CARD

The copper heatsink needs closer holes of course, but I guess you were being sarcastic Can't be too careful though, people do strange things. Yep, on the corner of first 3 fins.

 

[OnBoard]

Here's a couple photos from my 275 project.

View attachment 26784

The area you have the heat sinks on I believe are the chokes and really don't need cooling.

I put the suggestion picture for heatsink based on what the stock cooler on GTX 275 cools. Some have thermaltape on the chokes to make contact with the stock cooler base. Don't know if it's just because of the limited airflow they get with the stock cooler and they don't really need sinks.

I would probably too sink just the VRMs and leave the chokes to be (if you want, you can twist of the sinks on the chokes and reuse them on the VRM area). But unless someone infrared thermoes that area or W1zzard pops in this thread saying they are fine, I don't know

Shielded chokes don't have cooling however, as can be seen here:
http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2009/04/palit-geforce-gtx-275-review/6.jpg

 

[OnBoard]

Added possible capacitor clearance issues to post #270 and also memory chip cleaning instructions + modified one big picture to smaller one. It's turning out to be one epic post

What seems to be the best way to cool the Volterra vrms on the GTX280? I see that this thread has gone on quite a bit and I've read through everything but I'm not sure if I missed anything. I'm currently using some Enzotech MOS-C1 sinks but could stand to see some lower temps. Also I'm using an HR-03 so I don't really have to worry about headroom.

Thanks guys.

Don't think there is anything better, until someone makes a custom heatsink. That hasn't happened, so doubt it will, although Zalman did make one for HD4800 series. They do have a GPU coolers for it as well, but not for GT200, so not going to happen.

What you could do is lower 3D voltage, has minimal/no effect on OC, but reduces VRM temps.

 

[trt740]

Added possible capacitor clearance issues to post #270 and also memory chip cleaning instructions + modified one big picture to smaller one. It's turning out to be one epic post



Don't think there is anything better, until someone makes a custom heatsink. That hasn't happened, so doubt it will, although Zalman did make one for HD4800 series. They do have a GPU coolers for it as well, but not for GT200, so not going to happen.

What you could do is lower 3D voltage, has minimal/no effect on OC, but reduces VRM temps.

or use a spot cooler under it.

 

[trt740]

Guys here something to add to our modders tool belt this is supposed to be very good

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7..._x_80_mm_Square_AK-TT12-80.html?tl=g8c127s255 I haven't ever found any decent thermal tape before on sale but according to reviews this is good maybe it's just the arctic cooler thermal pads are no good and theses could be used as a replacement ? it is expensive
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=58&products_id=22558


There are several more listed on frozencpu.coms site but I cannot get a direct link to them working for some odd reason.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

What are your temps under load? Normally Thermalright makes great coolers but in that ones case it really doesn't send much air over the VRM area. It cools the GPU great but, not the VRM due to a lack of air flow. The A/C 280 gtx extreme has a fan right over the VRMS , it's problem is different. The thermal pads are so thick over the VRMS, that instead of transferring heat to the included heat sink, the thermal pads retain allot of the heat causing high temps. I might put a slot cooler under you card blowing on the VRMs. Something like these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835888112, this http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=ODA= or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835114024

Read this article and notice how far the main heat sink is from the VRMs thats the problem, not enough air flow to that area.

http://www.geeks3d.com/20090226/thermalright-does-not-like-furmark/

I have an Antec 1200 and I replaced all of the stock fans with Scythe 1900rpm fans and mounted one on the drive bays across from the vrm area on the video card. So I don't really think airflow is an issue. The vrms don't even hit 100c (they probably do now in the summer) during Furmark. I could probably get them to hit 90c on a hot day with a heavy overclock in Crysis.

Added possible capacitor clearance issues to post #270 and also memory chip cleaning instructions + modified one big picture to smaller one. It's turning out to be one epic post



Don't think there is anything better, until someone makes a custom heatsink. That hasn't happened, so doubt it will, although Zalman did make one for HD4800 series. They do have a GPU coolers for it as well, but not for GT200, so not going to happen.

What you could do is lower 3D voltage, has minimal/no effect on OC, but reduces VRM temps.

I may give that a shot, I'm not too concerned with the temps to be honest but I would be happy to never see them over 70c. Did you see the HR-09 for the 4870 and 4890 vrm area that they showed at Computex (I think)? Now that would be great for the GTX280. I really wish that they layed out the vrm area a bit better so I could fit some bigger sinks.

 

[trt740]

I have an Antec 1200 and I replaced all of the stock fans with Scythe 1900rpm fans and mounted one on the drive bays across from the vrm area on the video card. So I don't really think airflow is an issue. The vrms don't even hit 100c (they probably do now in the summer) during Furmark. I could probably get them to hit 90c on a hot day with a heavy overclock in Crysis.



I may give that a shot, I'm not too concerned with the temps to be honest but I would be happy to never see them over 70c. Did you see the HR-09 for the 4870 and 4890 vrm area that they showed at Computex (I think)? Now that would be great for the GTX280. I really wish that they layed out the vrm area a bit better so I could fit some bigger sinks.

yes that would be good

 

[OnBoard]

The vrms don't even hit 100c (they probably do now in the summer) during Furmark. I could probably get them to hit 90c on a hot day with a heavy overclock in Crysis.

I may give that a shot, I'm not too concerned with the temps to be honest but I would be happy to never see them over 70c. Did you see the HR-09 for the 4870 and 4890 vrm area that they showed at Computex (I think)? Now that would be great for the GTX280. I really wish that they layed out the vrm area a bit better so I could fit some bigger sinks.

Don't think you have anything to worry with the temps, they are just fine.

Under 70c would need a NB heatpipe cooler, taking the base off and soldering it to the stock cooler VRM part. Mounting the whole thing on and possibly using a small fan on there Could be quite fun, but lot of work. edit: this would work great, if you could get it mounted well: http://www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/product_page/vga/hr11/product_vga_cooler_hr11.htm

The did fix the VRM are with GTX 285 and following GTX 275.

Nope haven't seen it, is the VRM cooler similar to these?
http://www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/product_page/product_mosfet_cooler.html

The probably stole the idea from this guy:
http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/user-reviews/8855-thermalright-hr03-gt-ati-hd-4870-a.html

Same thing came to mind instantly for me too, when you mentioned HR-09 and VRM cooling in same sentence. HD4800 series just has sooo much simpler layout than GTX 280.

 

[trt740]

here it is http://en.expreview.com/2009/06/05/thermalright-48704890-vrm-cooler-pixellized.html.

I wonder on the thermalright cooler if this wouldn't work for a 285 gtx since the VRMS are straight , inline and height isn't a issue http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835708018 maby two of them modded and thermal taped or ahesive could be used. You couldn't use the pins but and heat sink would work if it is the right size or modded. With that many chips to stick to breakage wouldn't be a issue.

 

[OnBoard]

here it is http://en.expreview.com/2009/06/05/thermalright-48704890-vrm-cooler-pixellized.html

Wow, that's sexy. Just the thing that would be great for GTX280 too. Pretty much also what I descried on earlier post to mod. Good heat transfer to the pipe would be just hard with making your own.

 

[trt740]

Wow, that's sexy. Just the thing that would be great for GTX280 too. Pretty much also what I descried on earlier post to mod. Good heat transfer to the pipe would be just hard with making your own.

Well the 280 gtx VRMs are not in a line that would making modding one of these a major problem but for a 285 it wouldn't be an issue at all.

like in the blocked in area, using these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835708018 , http://www.jab-tech.com/Thermalright-HR-03-GTX-GTX260-280-GPU-Cooler-pr-4336.html I realize that's off topic but it would sure help with that VRM temp problem with those cooler kits.

 

[OnBoard]

Well the 280 gtx VRMs are not in a line that would making modding one of these a major problem but for a 285 it wouldn't be an issue at all.

I realize that's off topic but it would sure help with that VRM temp problem with those cooler kits.

285 also runs cooler with it's multiple VRMs compared to 280. They are easy to sink with ramsinks and similar products.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zaward/TwinTowers/3.html

These things are on -60% sale on quietpc, they have no solder, so taking it apart would be easy. What's left is straightening the pipe and soldering it to the stock VRM plate.

I'm seriously tempted to try something that crazy There's just the but of no straight surface on the stock cooler VRM plate and I don't want to ruin it. For the HR-03 GTX VRM plate, attaching half of that heatpipe cooler would be a breeze.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

Thats not a bad idea. I was thinking of just soldering some of those Enzo MOS C-1 sinks onto the HR-03 vrm plate but its just so awkwardly designed. That little indent on the plate that touches the vrm barley makes contact with the rest of the plate. Mabey if I fill up that little niche with silver solder, then the chokes would be in the way of a bigger heatsink. I may just pick up a couple of packages of those enzo sinks and some silver solder and see what happens.

 

[OnBoard]

Thats not a bad idea. I was thinking of just soldering some of those Enzo MOS C-1 sinks onto the HR-03 vrm plate but its just so awkwardly designed. That little indent on the plate that touches the vrm barley makes contact with the rest of the plate. Mabey if I fill up that little niche with silver solder, then the chokes would be in the way of a bigger heatsink. I may just pick up a couple of packages of those enzo sinks and some silver solder and see what happens.

So the bunched out "holes" that make contact with VRM only connect to the rest of the plate with just as minimal material like it looks here:
http://www.mygarage.ro/attachments/...pentru-placi-video-nvidia-gtx-260-280-3-1.jpg

Is silver solder good, never used it? But sounds good, do post pictures, if you happen to do it.

Sorry for half off topic talk, might not interest anyone without GTX 280. Skip the last page in that case

 

[trt740]

285 also runs cooler with it's multiple VRMs compared to 280. They are easy to sink with ramsinks and similar products.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zaward/TwinTowers/3.html

These things are on -60% sale on quietpc, they have no solder, so taking it apart would be easy. What's left is straightening the pipe and soldering it to the stock VRM plate.

I'm seriously tempted to try something that crazy There's just the but of no straight surface on the stock cooler VRM plate and I don't want to ruin it. For the HR-03 GTX VRM plate, attaching half of that heatpipe cooler would be a breeze.

Thats not a bad idea. I was thinking of just soldering some of those Enzo MOS C-1 sinks onto the HR-03 vrm plate but its just so awkwardly designed. That little indent on the plate that touches the vrm barley makes contact with the rest of the plate. Mabey if I fill up that little niche with silver solder, then the chokes would be in the way of a bigger heatsink. I may just pick up a couple of packages of those enzo sinks and some silver solder and see what happens.

So the bunched out "holes" that make contact with VRM only connect to the rest of the plate with just as minimal material like it looks here:
http://www.mygarage.ro/attachments/...pentru-placi-video-nvidia-gtx-260-280-3-1.jpg

Is silver solder good, never used it? But sounds good, do post pictures, if you happen to do it.

Sorry for half off topic talk, might not interest anyone without GTX 280. Skip the last page in that case

No need to solder it use thermal adhesive , it mixes with thermal past and should transfer heat very well , just like a direct touch cooler. It would be a lot easier to deal with and trust me it will never come off. This is what I would use to bond it with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100005 or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100013 and there would be no air pockets in the bond.

 

[Drewsillac]

DON't DRILL YOUR CARD

The copper heatsink needs closer holes of course, but I guess you were being sarcastic Can't be too careful though, people do strange things. Yep, on the corner of first 3 fins.

I wasn't being sarcastic...
I got the fins cut/bent, looking like crap... but the card will go on.

I got my copper heatsink in, I dremeled a hole in the heatsink....no worries, connected no worries...

 

[Drewsillac]

OK, here it is...
Scythe 1000
Enzotech Low Profile Copper Heatsink (took the fan off and dremeled a hole in the bottom right of the sink)
I used only 2 Ram sinks from the Accelero.

 

[trt740]

OK, here it is...
Scythe 1000
Enzotech Low Profile Copper Heatsink (took the fan off and dremeled a hole in the bottom right of the sink)
I used only 2 Ram sinks from the Accelero.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b63/drewsillac/gtx275-1.jpg

that looks great

 

[Drewsillac]

that looks great

Does that mean I passed...??



I got the Accelero on with no problems, I did trim back a few fins (3 of them)...
Do you think, judging by the picture, my VRM's are probably good?

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

So the bunched out "holes" that make contact with VRM only connect to the rest of the plate with just as minimal material like it looks here:
http://www.mygarage.ro/attachments/...pentru-placi-video-nvidia-gtx-260-280-3-1.jpg

Is silver solder good, never used it? But sounds good, do post pictures, if you happen to do it.

Sorry for half off topic talk, might not interest anyone without GTX 280. Skip the last page in that case

Thats exactly it, but I had an idea. If I cut those "pads" where the sink makes contact with the vrms off, the hole is bigger than the pins on the Enzo mos c1s but not the base and use a little thermal epoxy as trt740 mentioned then obviously stick a few more on and after the epoxy dries up a quick coat of black spray paint for looks and I think that I would be in buisness.

The silver solder is mostly tin and according to this chart tin is not very thermally conductive. I just saw Mussles say in a post that he "glued" two coins together with thermal epoxy years ago and they are still stuck together. So trt740's idea is the way to go, thanks.