Do not buy Zalman FS-V7 for x1900 cards!

[Daveb2012]

I am so un happy with this cooler on my xtx. Im emailing the company I bought it from to see If I can return it. Im actually scared to keep it on here because of how hot it runs.

Here are some photos:
before:
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/3695/stock4tl.jpg
after:
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/500/aft13le.jpg
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/2435/af23jk.jpg

Ok with the stock cooler and fan at 100% I can get to around 37* idle. as soon as I booted the FS-V7 it was at 45* after 2 minutes of idle it went up to 53*. I already knew it was worthless at this point but decided to run 3d05, and look how hot it got, almost 90C, I have never seen my card over 80* ever with stock even with hours of gaming. and this is hundreds of MHz under clocked then I have ran in the past with the stock cooler
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8140/hot2dj.jpg

I also have a extra 92mm fan blowing directly over the whole card/cooler/mem which I didn't have with the stock cooler. I even added some swiftec copper sinks over the mem that I sanded down and bent to fit. Then I applied a fresh coat of AS5 over the core, spread evenly. When I mounted the heat sink I made sure to it didn't come off the core at all, and gave it a firm twist to spread the AS5.

The fact is it just cannot handle the card. The fan is way to weak like most of zalmans coolers, and I doubt the vf900 will be any different. I bet the memory is cooler but It's obvious the core is frying. Hopefully no one else will learn the hard way like my self. Do not buy this HS! Im not even willing to gamble with the VF-900 when it comes out months from now. Im going back to stock cooler for now, then maybe giving Accelero X2 a try. Zalman is rediculous for not releasing the VF900 now considered they have nothing out at the moment that can cool the latest video cards. What are they waiting for?

[k0nsl]

Strange. I used a VF700-cu on both my X1800XL and X1800XT and it definitively made a good job keeping the cards cool, even at 5V.

Is there really such a massive difference on the new X1900 series?

-k0nsl

[jrw]

Must be bad contact.

The VF700Cu is one of the best air-solutions around.

So, no matter what, your new sink SHOULD cool better than many other solutions...

You need not a "coat" of AS5, but rather 1/4-½ grain of rice in the middle of the chip.

[TinTin]

It will overheat, I'm sure, I used that before for my 1900XTX ;)

[wwwww]

damn right - had one of them too - couldn't keep it under 70C load - heatsink went to the high 60s.

[Kunaak]

try removing the tiny fan that comes with the VF700 and putting some sort of fan directly to the heatsink.
that way, the little fan isn't in the way.
also, definatly give another shot to reapplying your thermal paste.

I do however agree... the VF700 should not be used with the X1900's.
my card is hot as hell, and I just would not trust such a tiny cooler on it.

[OBR]

Dont buy Accelero X2 too! Is silent but cooling is very very BAD, we must wait for some better collers for that very HOT cards!

[Daveb2012]

Dont buy Accelero X2 too! Is silent but cooling is very very BAD, we must wait for some better collers for that very HOT cards!

You know so far I think ATI's stock cooler is the best out? I don't want a cooler that has a plate for all the mem chips though. thats why I gave the zalman a try. I don't think it would be even that hard to create a new HS right now for these x1900's that would be very effecive. it would just need a super powerfull 92mm fan on it. atleast 100+CFM, its such a huge factor with the cooling of these cards. You can honestly shift within 15-20c just by changing fan speed. I think a few of us are willing to sacrafice silence for better cooling at times. I will run my fan at 80-100% when I game I could care less about the noise I have head phones on. They should make some thing similar to the Big typhoon for GPUS. Their really isn't any thing extreme for them yet, it would make a load of $ if some one could do it.



You need not a "coat" of AS5, but rather 1/4-½ grain of rice in the middle of the chip.

"coat" was just a way of saying I applied it. I have about 1 grain of rice size spread.

[ken]

slap an 7000CU on it then you will be fine :D

[Daveb2012]

slap an 7000CU on it then you will be fine :D
probably still wouldn't be much better then stock if it even fit. Im debating on going to a WC setup since no one can seem to make an effective cooler for these new cards.

[Kasparz]

Yes, remount HS. FS-V7 ar even better than 700Cu and imo its the best air VGa cooler for now. Ofcourse mooded CPU cooler are even better.

[003]

I have about 1 grain of rice size spread.
You did it wrong. For video cards like the X1900, there is no heatspreader, just the bare core. When working with the bare core, you must cover the whole core with a thin layer of AS5. How thin it should be depends on how well lapped the heatsink is.

[ken]

probably still wouldn't be much better then stock if it even fit. Im debating on going to a WC setup since no one can seem to make an effective cooler for these new cards.

it is better than stock from what Ive seen (on the X1800XT though), there a huge thread few weeks back about fitting an Zalman 7000CU onto gfx, you will need to cut it off abit and it will fit nicely :D

Yes, remount HS. FS-V7 ar even better than 700Cu and imo its the best air VGa cooler for now. Ofcourse mooded CPU cooler are even better.

I meant the Zalman 7000CU or AlCu which is an CPU cooler, not the vf700

[Daveb2012]

You did it wrong. For video cards like the X1900, there is no heatspreader, just the bare core. When working with the bare core, you must cover the whole core with a thin layer of AS5. How thin it should be depends on how well lapped the heatsink is.

I did cover the whole core the grain of rice anaology which AS5 created, is meaning the initial squirt not spread. I am in the double digits of applying TIM. I did it perfect im sure of this.

[zentrad]

i believe that about bad contact, have take of the tiny ramsink and try applied it once again?
I have used the VF 700-CU, once i took off the heatsink after take off everything icluding the fan to wash it with water, when i re-assemble the cooling i make a mistake (left-right, intentionaly BTW) that resulted a bad contact that only half of the VGA core made a contact with the heatsink that made the same disaster as yours

In your case i believe the tiny ramsink preventing the heatsink from making a good contact with the core...and if you are reaaaly want to put the ramsink that bad you can use the one from vantec and thermaltake

[v0dka]

Since you think you done everything right the conclusion is that the stock HS is just a better solution... :stick:

BTW this is with fan at topspeed?

[cadaveca]

x1900xt...63c load, 35 idle. you have fallen victim to my post here:

Pics of the Fatal1ty FS-V7 on X1900XT:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=43844&stc=1&d=1140676392
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=43845&stc=1&d=1140676392

stock cooler, default fan speeds, stock clocks:

IDLE: 45c
LOAD: 86c

FS-V7, plugged directly into 12v 690gpu/747mem:

IDLE: 35c
LOAD: 61c


Not too bad, if you ask me.


I've been running this card since...well...just look at the dust on the heatsink!


and still, right now, max load is 60c, now that the AS5 has settled.


the problem is:


i suspect "more than meets the eye" with bad temps reported using these coolers...pretty sure it's just the standard ones that are not enough, due to the lower-speed fan. And yes, i had one of those too, when i first got this one, and on the xl load temps increased 4c and idle 1c. Minor niggles.


One thing to note, however...mounting it right on the large die area of the x1900's can be a trifle difficult. I found the best way to mount was by holding the heatsink off the gpu while attaching one screw, lining it up, seating it, and then attaching the second screw. Simply allowing the heatsink to rest on top of the gpu while attaching the screw allows too much lateral movement that will affect how you have coated the gpu with TIM, at least in my experience.


something is seriously wrong here, Dave.

[Hicks]

No shock there, there crap, they can't handle X1800, let alone X1900.

[cadaveca]

works well for both my x1800's as well as my x1900...

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=44043&d=1140970266

I call bull:banana::banana::banana::banana:.

here's my temps, fan @ 5v:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=44044&d=1140970409

[ken]

said it once now again :D
this should do the trick ^^

http://www.overclex.net/data/images/articles/overclocking/refroidisseurs/2006-02-05/concl3.jpg
http://www.overclex.net/data/images/articles/overclocking/refroidisseurs/2006-02-05/turbo3.jpg


wow..wat the name of that monster? :slobber:

[cantankerous]

I found the FS-V7 crap on the X1800XT too. No clue how or why the results vary so much.

[cadaveca]

maybe this has something to do with it

I gave it a firm twist to spread the AS5.

:stick:


the instructions for AS5 say to NOT TWIST THE HEATSINK. (creates air-bubbles which of course, don't transfer heat well)

Guess you weren't aware of that.

3 cards it worked for me...you guys are doing something wrong. It's not like i had just one card here...

[STEvil]

I have a feeling this one with some slight modification would be better than those: http://www.overclex.net/overclocking/189/6/refroidisseurs/Comparatif-de-8-refroidisseurs

[arcane613]

well, my card (connect3d x1900xtx) hit 50-70°C on the stock cooler and at stock clocks/volts (could hardly leave an oc running).... edit ** prolly cus i didnt take it off and lap + apply as5

my fs-v7 maxes at 75°C @ 725/860 (1.45v/2.136v) after running source for 2-3 hours...

comp room is an addon to the house tho, so not on central air system.... ambient is ~15°C.

ram sinks r never hot to touch, and i'm only using those cheap little ones that came in the kit for now...

dunno if i'd trust this cooler for a lanparty, or any major game sess tho.

[madgamer]

I have read a review or 2 that showed the fs-v7 running hotter than the stock cooler on the x1900's, so its evidently not just you.

[Daveb2012]

i believe that about bad contact, have take of the tiny ramsink and try applied it once again?
I have used the VF 700-CU, once i took off the heatsink after take off everything icluding the fan to wash it with water, when i re-assemble the cooling i make a mistake (left-right, intentionaly BTW) that resulted a bad contact that only half of the VGA core made a contact with the heatsink that made the same disaster as yours

In your case i believe the tiny ramsink preventing the heatsink from making a good contact with the core...and if you are reaaaly want to put the ramsink that bad you can use the one from vantec and thermaltake

This is also not the case I sanded about 1/10th" off each of them none of them are touching the HS I made sure of it and I held the card up against a bright light to see if I could see any touch of light between the core/sink. it has perfect contact.

I have read a review or 2 that showed the fs-v7 running hotter than the stock cooler on the x1900's, so its evidently not just you.
Thanks I since this thread I have removed it and reaplied AS5. I got no improvement im at 51* idle right now with stock settings.

[mnewxcv]

is the hsf hot to the touch?

[Ator]

I'm having the same problem with an FS-V7 as well on my X1800XT. I overclocked it and it LOCKED UP the computer @ 81*C! It's too bad, because it looks really nice on there, when compared to the stock cooler. I put the stock one back on since it works so much better.

[d94]

looks like you guys need to mod 9500s to your cards :D

[cadaveca]

INtersting....those that it worked for don't have "high clocking" cards....


those that it worked for well, myself included, had cards that didn't clock bad, but don't clock like those that have issues with these heatsinks...

[zakelwe]

Without any air flow ( for testing ) the heatsink should get hot to the touch, this would be the first test to make to see if it is a contact problem or not. If the heatsink only gets slightly warm then I'd say there is a contact problem. If the heatsink does get hot then there seems to be either not enough air flow or there is not enough mass in the heatsink to absorb the heat.

Regards

Andy

[ahmad]

I prefer the exhaust design of the x1900 coolers. Besides, ATI has invested some money into cooling these cards so I am pretty sure their air cooling solution would probably be one of the most effective air solutions in a closed case (if not THE most effective).

[zentrad]

This is also not the case I sanded about 1/10th" off each of them none of them are touching the HS I made sure of it and I held the card up against a bright light to see if I could see any touch of light between the core/sink. it has perfect contact.


Thanks I since this thread I have removed it and reaplied AS5. I got no improvement im at 51* idle right now with stock settings.
If that happens, it means the ati stock cooler are better zalman then...:slapass:

[Diverge]

I know i don't have an 1900, but my 1800 XL was getting the following w/ a zalman: (691.88/702.00)(1.325V,2.102V,2.001V) 51°C/78.8°C

So i can see why it wouldn't work too good for 1900 overclocking... might be good at stock settings for someone that doesn't want a noisy setup. But for overclocking, i think it starts to fall off at high clocks and voltages.

[WesM63]

This is interesting, i was planning on putting one on a x1900xt. Maybe i'll have to re-think that.

The VF7 works wonders on my x800gto2.

[Mongoose420]

When i first put my zalman zf700cu on my x800xtpe it didnt seem to work that well, i used as5. so instead of running the old aluminum junker i had rigged i made up a sk7+ to fit.

Now that ive got my x1900xtx its in my back up box with the zf700cu running stock on my x800xtpe and it seems to be doing better than before. This time i used the zalman white paste.

Still dont think i would try it on my x1900 as its just not beefy enough and my stock coolers working pretty good. only hits 78c full load at stock.

[HousERaT]

For the folks voting in favor of the Zalman what kind of volts are you running with the card? I'm thinking 1.475 on the core would kill a Zalman.

[bestmancajun]

Never spread arctic silver with the bag/plastic-wrap on finger technique. It eats away the plastic leaving residue that will throw off temps.

[STEvil]

Never spread arctic silver with the bag/plastic-wrap on finger technique. It eats away the plastic leaving residue that will throw off temps.

if its that acidic I wouldnt let it near copper/aluminum :stick:

[Daveb2012]

Never spread arctic silver with the bag/plastic-wrap on finger technique. It eats away the plastic leaving residue that will throw off temps.
This technique makes a mess any way, doesn't go on good especially when you pull your finger off. I just use a clean finger.

For the folks voting in favor of the Zalman what kind of volts are you running with the card? I'm thinking 1.475 on the core would kill a Zalman.

I wouldn't even think of going past 1.4, 1.5 I had no problems with the stock cooler. Im not going to return it just yet, I think im going to get one of those sun beam PCI any where brackets with a 120mm blowing directly all over the card.

This is interesting, i was planning on putting one on a x1900xt. Maybe i'll have to re-think that.

The VF7 works wonders on my x800gto2.
if any thing wait for the vf900 I think just the copper design of it is a big improvement from the FS-V7, it actually has radiator/heat pipes. so with a 2nd 120mm fan over the whole thing it just might work.