5900 and 5600 heatspreader removal worthwhile?

[ragejg]

I'm contemplating removal of the heatspreader on my 5900 and 5600U gpu's...

I would be replacing the factory HSF on the XFX 5600U rev2 with a lo-pro socketA setup...


On the 5900, well, it's a european creative with a BIG copper core coverage only heatsink...

http://www.nordichardware.se/recensioner/grafikkort/2003/FX-Mani/Creative/front_thumb.jpg

1. I need to grind the top side flat to make room for ramsinks (stupid creative!)

2. I don't know if this large copper unit would properly cool without the heat spreader... It definitely is thick and big, but *maybe* a lo-pro socketA hsf would work better?

I remember ppl pulling teir heat spreaders off of celerons and attaining higher stable clockspeeds... is this the case with these nv3X's or would the performance increase potential be negligible?

Thanks for any help... :)

[space-ghost]

man... that would be pretty wicked but could result in dead vga :( , any true overclocker would do it >: )


*btw, welcome to xs forums bro :toast:

[KnightElite]

You might gain a couple ºC. You'll probably gain a lot more if you just remove the heatsink, and replace the TIM with arctic silver, or something else that is better than whatever they ship it with.

[ragejg]

So this isn't something that is commonly considered on the newer Flip-Chip designs?

... must not offer that big of an advantage... heck, I thought it would...

I'd like to figure out if these heat spreaders are coated copper or just aluminum... if they're AL, then it's almost obvious that a well fitted Cu unit would certainly do better... or so methinks ;)...

Thanks for the welcome...

[sandman]

it doesn't give that much of an advantage, a few C is all.

It also makes it alot easier to kill the gpu, plus no warranty anymore.

To me, it seems like a lot of risks for not much gain.

But, if you're going all out, I geuss it's a step that "needs" to be taken.

[ragejg]

bah, I'm turned off on the idea now...

I'll just lap and be happy... :p

[berkut]

in the case of my fx 5800: about 90C less temps:

www.berkut.neostrada.pl/FXcoolmod

[amd3001]

i removed mine and only gained about 10mhz more..
but now if you are getting high ide temps it could prevent
damage to your card..

[speedstream5621]

Nice mod berkut.:toast:

Ragejg, I'd go for it.