Water-cooled 9800XT

[Frost_Bite]

I just ordered a Maze4 WB for my 9800XT, but I didn't order any of the RAMsinks to go with it. Will I need the RAMsinks in order to push my mem clocks up higher? I've heard they only provide a 20MHz increase, is this true? I don't mind ordering them, but I wanna be smart in what I buy.

BTW: What's you guys favorite thermal compound for the GPU and RAmsinks? 've got AS5 for the GPU, but I'm not sure of what to get for the ram if I get the sinks.

EDIT: I'd like to get as close to 500/430-440 as I can, is this possible on water?

[LikwidKool]

as far as ramsinks 20mghz would be unreal! I would say more like 5mghz at the most IMO. I figure though they are decent insurance. I personally like having them on my card.

As far as GPU paste I guess that could be personal opinion. I have used pcm+, ceramique, and AS5. Out of the 3 there was not much of a temp difference, so I stuck with the Ceramique.

As far as the ram sinks, a good thermal adhesive, or some ceramique/as5 and crazy glue on the corners would be your best bet. I use thermal tape a lot, but it is really cause I am cheap and like to recycle the ramsinks to the next card I buy. I may be wrong but I don't think there is that much of a difference.

As far as those clocks you won't know till you try. If you have a good card it is possible, but I think a vmod will be in order to atleast get those ram clocks.

Good Luck.

**EDIT** As far as me saying "as far as" at the beginning of each sentence, I have no explanation:( :rolleyes: :p:

[faruquehabib]

yeah, 20mhz would kill!!

[Frost_Bite]

Thanks guys, I went ahead and ordered 8 TweakMonster Ramsinks and some adhesive just to be safe.

what would be a realistic OC for the card? I've tried searching, but most threads are about stock-cooling.

[LikwidKool]

Originally posted by Frost_Bite
Thanks guys, I went ahead and ordered 8 TweakMonster Ramsinks and some adhesive just to be safe.

what would be a realistic OC for the card? I've tried searching, but most threads are about stock-cooling.

I am not going to guess, as I am sure someone more qualified to answer that will come along!

I do know with my 9800pro while my core clocks were horrible, my ram clocked at 398 stock with ram sinks. They were Samsung 8E chips and I was using 8/29 bios which helps 8E ram clocks dramatically. I know the XT uses better ram so maybe 430 is possible without a vmod.

[Frost_Bite]

the card right now on stock cooling will do 459/420. I'm hoping for 500 on the GPU, and maybe 425-430 in the mem.

[Blind_GI]

With my 9800Pro I can hit 405 in Nature and 505 GPU with a VGA Silencer and no VMods yet. Whats that about certain BIOS that help the RAM out though?

[skate2snow]

Frsot_Bite: You already have some good clock for all stock. And people are saying that a WC instead of air bring +50MHz. But for RAMs i dont at all;)

[LikwidKool]

Originally posted by Blind_GI
Whats that about certain BIOS that help the RAM out though?

If your ram chips have an 8E on them like mine are: K40263238E-GC2A

normally the shipping bios that comes with it is 4/29 I believe, if you use the 8/29 bios it should help raise your ram clocks a bit. Like mine stock with shipping bios were around 370's but with the 8/29 bios I was up to 398. That is with a totally clean picture no artifacts. I was able to so 405 but after a few hours I would get slight artifacting which obviously with better airflow over the ram or ram sinks I am sure it could go even a tad higher.

http://www.ocfaq.com/softmod/bios/Gigacube.9800PRO.128.Samsung.bin

That link should give you the bios. It changes the clocks to 400/350 though. If you want I could always mod it for stock clocks and email it to you.

[PyroTeknik]

my 9800pro must suck all i can get out of it is 425max (just for short periods of time) and 375 on the mem its got this heatpipe thing that came with...

[Blind_GI]

Ok im probally asking a stupid question but would I check on the actual RAM to see which type of RAM it is?

I got it back in July (but I got it from a friend who bought it in June new), and I can reach 405 memory (with artifacts in nature).

[PyroTeknik]

just look on the cips and it should say... if you have ramsinks though you are sol