8800 GT with fan control - what should I buy?

[lars_el]

I've read that some 8800 GT 512MB cards don't have the ability to control the fan speed, and is set to run at full speed per default. I wanna be able to control the fan speed myself, because a fan running at 100% is TOO noisy for my taste. I've searched the web, but I can't find any info on, which cards support this, and which cards that don't.

I'm gonna use it in SLI-mode with a Inno3D 8800 GT 512MB with standard clock speed. Sadly these are all out of stock in Denmark where I live, so I have to get one from another manufacturer. But I don't know which one to buy.

So if you have a 8800 GT which allows you to control the fan speed (not a Inno3D), then please write the name of it here (and maybe a product number or a link to be really helpful!) - all suggestions are highly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[pauldh]

Most 8800GT have 4 wire fans and do have fan voltage/rpm control. Avoid models with only a 2-wire GPU fan header as those will run 100% all the time.

Examples:
Biostar 2-wire : http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=14-141-074-05.jpg&Image=14-141-074-03.jpg%2c14-141-074-04.jpg%2c14-141-074-05.jpg%2c14-141-074-06.jpg%2c14-141-074-07.jpg%2c14-141-074-08.jpg%2c14-141-074-09.jpg%2c14-141-074-02.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16814141074&Depa=0&Description=BIOSTAR%20GeForce%208800%20GT%20V8803GT52%20Video%20Card

BFG 4-wire: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=14-143-136-S03&ISList=14-143-136-S01%2c14-143-136-S02%2c14-143-136-S03%2c14-143-136-S04%2c14-143-136-S05%2c14-143-136-S06&S7ImageFlag=1&Item=N82E16814143136&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=BFG%20Tech%20GeForce%208800%20GT%20BFGE88512GTOCXFE%20Video%20Card%20-%20Retail

There were talks that XFX had some reference design cooled models with 2 wire fans, otherwise the reference coolers are 4-wire.

 

[lars_el]

Ok, thanks. Sadly the only BFG card I can buy in Denmark is overclocked, and I'm gonna use it in SLI with another standard clocked card.

Anybody who knows, which of the following graphic cards have a 4-wired fan with fan control?

1. ASUS EN8800GT/G/HTDP (512 MB) (Product # 90-C3CFZ0-J0UAY00T)
2. Club 3D 8800GT (512 MB) (Product # CGNX-G882DDC)
3. Club 3D 8800GT (512 MB) (Product # CGNX-G882DD)
4. EVGA e-GeForce 8800 GT AKIMBO (512 MB) (Product # 512-P3-E807-AR)
5. Gigabyte GV NX88T512HP (512 MB) (Product # NX88T512HP)
6. XFX GeForce 8800 GT Alpha Dog Edition (512 MB) (Product # PV-T88P-YHF4)

I've read some reviews on the XFX, and apparently it runs 100% fanspeed (like you said pauldh).

 

[gogeta]

i've got xfx geforce 8800gt alpha dog edition it doest allow you to control fan speed i am not sure abt the no. of wires but in my case the fan run at a very low speed instead of 100% making the card really hot while playing and it is not overclocked yet its temp while idealing is around 56-60 plz give some solutions for cooling the card and increasing the fan speed..........

 

[pauldh]

Ok, thanks. Sadly the only BFG card I can buy in Denmark is overclocked, and I'm gonna use it in SLI with another standard clocked card.

Anybody who knows, which of the following graphic cards have a 4-wired fan with fan control?

1. ASUS EN8800GT/G/HTDP (512 MB) (Product # 90-C3CFZ0-J0UAY00T)
2. Club 3D 8800GT (512 MB) (Product # CGNX-G882DDC)
3. Club 3D 8800GT (512 MB) (Product # CGNX-G882DD)
4. EVGA e-GeForce 8800 GT AKIMBO (512 MB) (Product # 512-P3-E807-AR)
5. Gigabyte GV NX88T512HP (512 MB) (Product # NX88T512HP)
6. XFX GeForce 8800 GT Alpha Dog Edition (512 MB) (Product # PV-T88P-YHF4)

I've read some reviews on the XFX, and apparently it runs 100% fanspeed (like you said pauldh).

You can use a factory overclocked card along with a reference clocked card in SLI.
http://www.slizone.com/page/slizone_faq.html#c10

The EVGA Akimbo is a nice option if not priced high. It's a dual slot, rear venting cooler. The cooler can also be purchased by itself and installed on a different 8800GT .
http://www.evga.com/articles/393.asp

As far as the XFX, it depends on the exact model and heatsink design. If possible read user reviews and make sure the card you order doesn't have complaints about running 100% fan speed.

 

[pauldh]

i've got xfx geforce 8800gt alpha dog edition it doest allow you to control fan speed i am not sure abt the no. of wires but in my case the fan run at a very low speed instead of 100% making the card really hot while playing and it is not overclocked yet its temp while idealing is around 56-60 plz give some solutions for cooling the card and increasing the fan speed..........

50-60 degrees idle isn't the bad thing, if it's going 90 degrees + and/or unstable, then it's an issue. What are your load temps? Yours may be running 29-30% and not kick up until temps hit 70 or even 80 degrees.

The initial batch of 8800GT reference cards had a tiny fan on the reference cooler. Many seemed to have a problem where they would stay at 29% fan speed. (MY BFG's were this way). (edit: BFG later released a bios update that raised the fan speed and noise vs the orignal settings).
In SLI, my top card would hit 88-90 gaming, which I wasn't too fond of. Worse yet was I had lockups gaming this way. My options were to bump them higher to a fixed higher RPM in NTune, set up fan speed profiles in RivaTuner, or replace the cooler. I did all three in that order and am thrilled with the Zalman VF900 coolers I ended up using(much cooler and much quieter).

But, now if buying a card new, the cost may not pay off to consider adding a different cooler. You could just look for a model with a better cooler attached. Or if not adding a second card, then grab a better card altogether for the money such as this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770

My 8800GT upgrade (11 months ago) went like this:


Most companies reference design cards soon adopted the newer larger fan that is actually quite a bit better. If yours has the larger fan, it should be fine at stock clock speeds just to leave it be. See fan diameters here of old reference vs newer reference size. (sorry about the glare)