VF900 vs Accelero X2

[topaimz]

For those people considering the purchase of the most recent aftermarket
coolers for their VGA cards, here is a comparison article I found, plotting the

VF900 vs VF700 vs Accelero X2 vs ATi stock
http://www.sudhian.com/showdocs.cfm?aid=743

Summary:
VF900 is overall the best product, with best cooling abilities
and the least amount of sound in low fan setting, and still
lower amount of noise produced in comparison to the stock
cooler at its highest settings.

Accelero is a dissapointment accept the noise level production.
It is moderately quiet (quieter then VF900 in highest fan setting
but not low fan setting VF900) However, the performance is
on par with the old VF700.

VF700 on the other hand, dissapoints with its highest fan
setting creating as much if not more noise then the stock
cooler! But is the cheapest

IMHO,
VF900 > VF700 > Accelero
considering price, performance, versatility and pricing.

[C_B]

interesting article

[Uncle_Mojo]

I would have to agree. I've never been very impressed with the AC coolers (other than the attractive price point). Admittedly, I haven't used any of the later coolers since I had such bad luck with some of thier earlier offerings.
I've been cosistently impressed with the vast majority of Zalman products, and the VF900-Cu is no exception. It is expensive (or will be< when released ~ April) but it's performance, light weight and compact size offset this somewhat. Just my 2 cents.

[cantankerous]

Well let me be the first to put down this parade with my non agreeance to this article. I have both the stock and X2 installed on my card and let me tell you my results are not what they are getting especially on idle temps.

To start, in a 25c ambient temp my stock cooler at 27% fan speed wasn't hitting 57c idle. More like 52-53 so they are clearly running the fan slower or in a much hotter ambient temperatured room. With the Accelero X2 I am getting 40-42c idle. Where are they getting 52? A whole 12c difference? I think something is definately up there. They have the load temps of the X2 at 70c. I don't even hit late 60's most of the time on my X2 so again it is doing better in my setup then theirs. To top it all off I am running an X1900XTX, not an X1800XT. The X1900XTX runs hotter than the X1800XT as I used to have one of those too and my current temps are more than that card ever was. I am VERY skeptical on a 55c load temp with this VF900. I am dying to see some real world user experiences with that cooler as it seems just way to low for a full load temp. Better yet try that on a hotter running X1900XTX and tell me what you get. I think this review should be taken with a grain of salt until more reviews come out, hopefully from real world users and on the hotter running X1900XTX which is what most of us are going to be putting the cooler on. I appreciate all reviews and the time taken to put them together but I think sharing my findings on similar testing should help even things out a bit. I am not saying the VF900 is a bad product as I don't have one but I can say the X2 is better than they are presenting it to be.

[topaimz]

interesting.... ^^^^^ hmmm, but never liked arctic cooling's
designs too bulky and plastic for my liking.

Plus the fact that it fried my 6800GT card
Alotta people back when 6series was out had trouble with the
silencer cause there was a contact problem with the heatsink
and the mem or sometimes even the gpu
That was when I left AC for good, and stuck with Zalman

[cantankerous]

Well I have never had such a problem but then again I use ATI cards and always have. I had a Silencer on my X800XT and my X800XL with no problems.

Another thing I don't like about that review is lack of details. No mention of room temps, fan speeds etc. This is all crucial information that should be in a review to eliminate any 'what if's or wonders' that the reader may be having while skimming through the review.

[s e t h]

hell i'm going to put the 900cu on my cold running xtx. even at idle this thing seems noisy to me

edit: i jusp plugged the zalman in to hear what it sounds like. that review is completely misleading as far as noise goes.
the stock xtx cooler even on idle has a distinct and always audable rumble to it which seems to be common on these type of fans as well as fans like the old 80x80x25mm thermatlakes (only this ati is worse)

the zalman has a smoothe swishing sound to it which can be heard in the open near your head. at half speed or below it is inaudable over the idling stock xtx cooler. the stock cooler when at full :o - well we all know that can be heard from about two rooms away easily.

i would characterise the situation like this: the zalman creates no noise at idle and an audable 'white noise' at full. it seems most of the noise is created by moving air over the fins. a short of swiiiiiiisssssssssshhhhhhhhhh.
the ati cooler on the other hand sounds like a car idling a few meters away and like a revving motorbike around the corner at full.

they are not even anywhere near the same class.
i had to put the zalman right up to my ear before i could hear a slight whine from the motor.
this subjective test was conducted in the presence of an idling ati cooler so it was hard to hear what the zalman was really up to

screw this i'm installing the zalman now and i'll get back

[Uncle_Mojo]

Well I have never had such a problem but then again I use ATI cards and always have. I had a Silencer on my X800XT and my X800XL with no problems.

Another thing I don't like about that review is lack of details. No mention of room temps, fan speeds etc. This is all crucial information that should be in a review to eliminate any 'what if's or wonders' that the reader may be having while skimming through the review.

These are all good points and reviewers should take care to clarify ambient temps and fan speeds in order to compare products on a level playing field. The last AC cooler I owned was on a ATI 9800 AIW. I chose it because it would fit and for the price. It worked fine. However, I helped a friend who was having temp problems after installing an AC cooler on his 6800GT and, after removing the cooler, we found that there was only ~50% contact with the GPU. While this may be an isolated incident, I haven't had much confidence in AC products since. I may have to give them another look, but it's going to be very difficult to convince me to remove the VF900-Cu from my 7800GT.

[cantankerous]

well it was noted above that there was issues with the 6800 variant of the AC coolers. I would say this is a bad thing but infact an isolated incident as the ones prior and after those have been find as have all ATI's variants.

You are very lucky to actually own a VF900 so I too would not rid of it too soon. As mentioned above I am sure it is a very good cooler. I just wanted to prove the point that it doesn't put the others to shame like they noted. The X2 can more than hold its own.

Just for curiosities sake however, what were your temps idle and load with the stock 7800GT cooler and what are you getting now idle and load with the VF900?

[vengance_01]

Here is another example of a new GPU. Its for X1900XT/7800/7900 cards. It just poped up on newegg. Best of all its a blower fan, here is the link. I will have my today and I give you guys results when I can.

MASSCOOL/SYTRIN KuFormula VF1-PLUS VGA Cooling Fan/Heatsink, 36$ in stock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835150072

I don't think anything will beat this cooler. I let you guys know today.

[topaimz]

@vengance_01

It just looks like a heatsink (composed of aluminum+copper, which is not
a good combo) with a crossflow fan attached to it...
Not very attractive, but I guess it performs... But did you consider how much
noise that crossflow fan would make?
Crossflow fans tend to be a tad loud in comparison to how much air they push (cfm)...

[Uncle_Mojo]

well it was noted above that there was issues with the 6800 variant of the AC coolers. I would say this is a bad thing but infact an isolated incident as the ones prior and after those have been find as have all ATI's variants.

You are very lucky to actually own a VF900 so I too would not rid of it too soon. As mentioned above I am sure it is a very good cooler. I just wanted to prove the point that it doesn't put the others to shame like they noted. The X2 can more than hold its own.

Just for curiosities sake however, what were your temps idle and load with the stock 7800GT cooler and what are you getting now idle and load with the VF900?

At a constant ambient temp of 21C:
Stock copper cooler (eVGA 7800GT CO)
Idle - 40C
Load - 55C

Zalman VF900-Cu
Min. Fan Speed (FanMate2)
Idle - 35C
Load - 46C
Max. Fan Speed (FanMate2)
Idle - 33C
Load - 41C

There is no comparison in noise. The stocker was just plain LOUD! This Zalman is virtually silent.

[vengance_01]

@vengance_01

It just looks like a heatsink (composed of aluminum+copper, which is not
a good combo) with a crossflow fan attached to it...
Not very attractive, but I guess it performs... But did you consider how much
noise that crossflow fan would make?
Crossflow fans tend to be a tad loud in comparison to how much air they push (cfm)...

few reviews put in ahead of everything tested with. I know its not pretty, but its cheaper, and also is avabile now to the market.

[Capt_Caveman]

few reviews put in ahead of everything tested with. I know its not pretty, but its cheaper, and also is avabile now to the market.

Here is the main page of that product - if you scroll down to the bottom, two reviews have already been performed and they're pretty impressive.

http://www.sytrin.com/3B-II-2-b.html

I'm planning on purchasing a X1900XTX and was going to pair it up w/ a Thermalright V-1 Ultra but I may try this first.

[Uncle_Mojo]

It's kind of ugly and complicated, but seems to have good performance. Doesn't look like it's SLI friendly, though. LOL

[s e t h]

open bench results:

stock ATI cooler
idle 52'
load 85' after 5minutes - i figured i'm not even comfortable gaming on this card at this temp and it was still rising

zalman vf900cu
slow idle 40'
slow load 70' these seemed to range between 68'-72' so i took an average
full idle 38'
full load 60'

ambient 26'

so there you have it. even on minimum the zalman is a far better cooler for the card.
the DFI chipset cooler is louder than the zalman on low and about equal when the zalman is on high.
this is with the dfi cooler idling.

the ATI cooler is not in the same legue noise wise or cooling performance wise.
i agree that this is a must have upgrade for all high end ATI cards.
especially for silence minded people.
actually i think most ppl would feel well satisfied with at least 15' drop in load temps

[topaimz]

open bench results:

stock ATI cooler
idle 52'
load 85' after 5minutes - i figured i'm not even comfortable gaming on this card at this temp and it was still rising

zalman vf900cu
slow idle 40'
slow load 70' these seemed to range between 68'-72' so i took an average
full idle 38'
full load 60'

ambient 26'

so there you have it. even on minimum the zalman is a far better cooler for the card.
the DFI chipset cooler is louder than the zalman on low and about equal when the zalman is on high.
this is with the dfi cooler idling.

the ATI cooler is not in the same legue noise wise or cooling performance wise.
i agree that this is a must have upgrade for all high end ATI cards.
especially for silence minded people.
actually i think most ppl would feel well satisfied with at least 15' drop in load temps

Thats right~

Common, support the Korean economy, common, you can do it!
Let us consume the Japanese and Chinese economy! muhahahaha
They already live off our media culture, now let us take over their economy!

[s e t h]

get a grip man ^

all this tek stuff comes from the east anyway.
what's your problem again?

edit: oh wait let me guess - you think these cards are made in america or canada :P

[topaimz]

lol, naw, Im just a Korean trying to promote his economy

Buy Samsung! Buy Zalman! Buy Koolance! etc. etc. lol

[s e t h]

oh good - glad your happy

[topaimz]

Im always happy
Why shouldn't one be
Happy
As long as they are living and breathing

Only time Im 'unhappy' is when someone mentions
'good things' about a prebuilt Dell... eeeeewh
jks

[Uncle_Mojo]

open bench results:

stock ATI cooler
idle 52'
load 85' after 5minutes - i figured i'm not even comfortable gaming on this card at this temp and it was still rising

zalman vf900cu
slow idle 40'
slow load 70' these seemed to range between 68'-72' so i took an average
full idle 38'
full load 60'

ambient 26'

so there you have it. even on minimum the zalman is a far better cooler for the card.
the DFI chipset cooler is louder than the zalman on low and about equal when the zalman is on high.
this is with the dfi cooler idling.

the ATI cooler is not in the same legue noise wise or cooling performance wise.
i agree that this is a must have upgrade for all high end ATI cards.
especially for silence minded people.
actually i think most ppl would feel well satisfied with at least 15' drop in load temps

Uhhh......I assume when you state "DFI" you really mean "ATI".
Who are you agreeing with when you say "...this is a must have upgrade..."?
I'm only saying that, in my testing, the VF900-Cu performed very well, was lightweight and quiet. There are quite a few coolers on the market and I like this one very much. Only the individual consumer can decide what is a "must have upgrade" for their particular situation.

[nn_step]

The VF-900 is the NEW GPU king...

[Weee]

http://www.heatsinkfactory.com/shop/...8&cat=0&page=1

Showed 5 in stock when I ordered.

Obviously picture doesn't match spec, but I'm hoping I get lucky.

Edit: Shows 19 in stock now!

[s e t h]

Uncle_Mojo - no i meant the DFi chipset fan at idle is noisier than the ZAlman on low and equal to the zalman on high - as a noise comparison.
comparing the ATI cooler to the zalman on a noise level just didn't seem fair

and yes this is a must have upgrade In My Opinion < left that out soz :P