Iso aftermarket air-cooler for HD 6990(?)

[rabor]

So, are there any HD 6990 air-solutions out there already? Or do you know a manufacturer that is actually working on one? Please drop your info here.

I've already spoken to someone from Arctic cooling, but they were still testing if one of their existing coolers could be compatible without too much engineering, & the others I've contacted (Thermalright, Prolimatech, Alpenföhn, Zalman, etc.) I haven't heard from yet, but if I have, it'll be up here..

[Cory]

I personally wouldn't put too much faith in Arctic Cooling's ability to make a capable dual-gpu heatsink for the 6990. I'm stating this based off of their past attempts (accelero xtreme 4870x2 and 5970) and their next to zero support for them afterwards. Just do a quick google search for either of those two coolers and you'll see what i'm talking about.

You're best bet would be water.

[rabor]

OK, Zalman responded:

"Unfortunately, we don’t have plan to make a HD6990 compatible VGA cooler now."

I personally wouldn't put too much faith in Arctic Cooling's ability to make a capable dual-gpu heatsink for the 6990. I'm stating this based off of their past attempts (accelero xtreme 4870x2 and 5970) and their next to zero support for them afterwards. Just do a quick google search for either of those two coolers and you'll see what i'm talking about.

You're best bet would be water.

I'm pretty sure the Accelero Xtreme's did very well cooling the 5970.. & water-cooling would be an excellent solution, but after 8+ years of replacing blocks etc every couple of months - endlessly draining the system whenever, & finally with the smaller, much cooler architecture of the later core2's I was kinda happy to stop this water-cooling madness gone rogue.. I like to swap & test diff hardware whenever I want & WC just doesn't let you do that.

[BababooeyHTJ]

I'm sure arctic cooling is working on something that will break a few 6990s.

[rabor]

Thermalright not working on it..:

"Thanks for your mail an sorry for the late reply, we are sorry that we don’t have a solution for HD6990 and we have no plan to release a solution for that model."

Great stuff..

I'm sure arctic cooling is working on something that will break a few 6990s.

Well, if it's only a few then it's probably a PICNIC ID-10T error..

[BababooeyHTJ]

Well, if it's only a few then it's probably a PICNIC ID-10T error..

Even Guru3d bricked a 4870x2 with the accelero. There were threads full of people who bricked their cards with that cooler. They released a revised version for a reason. It seemed to me like the 5890 version was just as problematic, maybe worse.

[Ket]

This is why when you buy a graphics card you buy one with a cooler that will do a good job ..or at least a cooler you can mod to do a better job

[Farmer Boe]

I currently run a 5970 with the Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme cooler on it. This thing is almost inaudible at 100% fan speed! I run it at 70% fan speed for everyday use and it cools just as well as any watercooling kit. My only complaint is that the VRM's heat up much more than normal so that is limiting my stable OC to 950/1250. I could probably crack 1000MHz on the core if there was better VRM cooling. Hopefully Arctic Cooling addresses this problem with the 6990 cooler they probably have coming.

[the_dope_chaud]

I currently run a 5970 with the Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme cooler on it. This thing is almost inaudible at 100% fan speed! I run it at 70% fan speed for everyday use and it cools just as well as any watercooling kit. My only complaint is that the VRM's heat up much more than normal so that is limiting my stable OC to 950/1250. I could probably crack 1000MHz on the core if there was better VRM cooling. Hopefully Arctic Cooling addresses this problem with the 6990 cooler they probably have coming.

A fullcover block will cool that vrm area, and any heat producing circuitry., usually allowing a bit more oc headroom.

[rabor]

Alpenföhn's response:

"thank you for your inquiry and interest in our products. I´m sorry. At the moment we don´t plan a heatsink for the ATI 6990 or NVIDIA 590…"

This is why when you buy a graphics card you buy one with a cooler that will do a good job ..or at least a cooler you can mod to do a better job

I wish there were options.. Unfortunately the 6990 only comes in 1 flavor.

[wez]

You'd think most single GPU coolers would fit on the 6990, as the GPU's are so far apart..

[rabor]

You'd think most single GPU coolers would fit on the 6990, as the GPU's are so far apart..

Yea, already considered that, but then I'd have to stick a whole bunch of mini-sinks everywhere & as these don't exactly stick when properly heated I wouldn't feel very comfortable.

The stock-cooler does do a pretty decent job btw; we had a couple of warm days now with room-temps hitting 26C, & at 90-100% load it still maintained mid- to high 70C's with an occasional 80-81C with fan only around 50%. Guess it's a matter of getting used to.. Hadn't seen these kinds of temps in a while tho.

[rabor]

Been playing a little BF3 demo the past few days, but man that game really heats up my card. Never seen it get that hot (88C with open case)... So, I guess not a moment too soon finally there's Arctic's sollution:



http://www.arctic.ac/en/p/detail/ind...sCategory/2182


EDIT.....:

However, the price Arctic set for this cooler is pretty much ridiculous.. To buy it from their site, with S&H, most likely customs & tax (ships from Hong Kong), it will cost me €186,- or $246.- to get this cooler to Amsterdam. So I wrote Arctic to check if their pricing was perhaps an error.

[BababooeyHTJ]

I would be weary about that cooler. Both the 4870x2 and 5890 versions are famous for bricking cards. Even Guru3d bricked a 4870x2 in their review of that model.

[rabor]

I just read that review, & it seems a couple of screws were perhaps too short, which resulted in too much pressure on the PCB, & Hilbert didn't really follow the instructions the first time he said, because the next time he did it went fine. So here's my theory again..: user-error. I've seen many Arctic Coolers being used without any problems. I myself mounted dozens of aftermarket coolers & water-blocks without any problems whatsoever, but you do need a delicate touch.. Plus, the 6990 has a solid backplate so warping the pcb is nearly impossible.

Anyway, I bought my card after I contacted the 'manufacturer' to ask about after-market coolers & warranty, & removing the stock cooler/using an aftermarket solution would NOT void the warranty, as long as there's no physical/visable damage.

But that price..

[jollyjoker]

My brother had no problems with there 4870x2 cooler.

[rabor]

OK, got it..! Temps & dB's are really good..



Furmark stock - 86C/83C


w Accelero - 59C/51C

[Mr. Headshot]

All I really need is a 120mm-to-70mm funnel to strap to the side of that thing and a 120mm fan to blow tons of air in there so that the stock fan won't need to ramp up. Should I make it ghetto out of duct tape, or are ready-made plastic funnels available in the right size?

[Mr. Headshot]

spent $25 at frozencpu.com on a good 92mm fan plus a 92mm to 60mm adapter. That will probably fix it.

[Cisco Kid]

OK, got it..! Temps & dB's are really good..



Furmark stock - 86C/83C


w Accelero - 59C/51C

I realize this is an old thread but what are your thoughts or what were they on this cooler if you no longer have the HD6990 but I am guessing you still have it as it is insanely fast still today, I am plannint to buy one tomorrow it is coming with an xspc razor watrblock which I plan to see as I will not be water cooling