Suggestions for GTX 260 55nm cooling?

[kingsizeone]

Hello, to anyone interested that is...

I just bought a GTX 260 (216), 55nm video card (EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR). I upgraded from a Vmod'd EVGA 8800gts with a Accelero S1 Rev2 heatsink and a Scythe S-Flex 120mm attached. It was super but I wanted to upgrade and a friend needed a new video card, so I helped him out and gave him mine for a cheap price. I'm a nice guy, I guess.

Anyways, I was wondering if anybody had any knowledge to which cooler would perform better, the...

Artic Cooling Accelero XTREME GTX 280 http://www.arctic-cooling.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2_&mID=237
*Advertised 16-31°C temperature drop form stock cooling at room temps* (Don't know 2 believe it cuz I can't find any reviews 2 back it up)

or...

Thermalright HR-03 GTX http://www.thermalright.com/new_a_page/product_page/vga/hr-03_gtx/product_vga_cooler_hr03gtx.html (plus a 120mm fan or 2x90mm fans attached)
"A total 13-16° C improvement over the stock cooling based on load temperatures..." based on a review found @ http://www.ocia.net/reviews/trhr03gtx/page4.shtml

or...

Any Homebrew or other Commercial Cooling set ups that anybody is willing to mention. *Water cooling is not within my budget*

I plan to seriously Vmod (VOLT MODIFY, which will raise voltages and create more heat), overclock (will reate more heat) and then push this card to its limits, well air cooling limits that is... so i need the best cooler for the job, any suggestions and experience is thanked and welcomed.

P.S. If things go well, with proper feedback, I'll photo document the whole process from stock, to Vmod'd to full out tweaked as a reference for others in the community, I'm that type of dude.

 

[kingsizeone]

lol, I reply to myself.

 

[fruees]

Hey man, I don't know about the gtx260, but im waiting for the ARcticCooling heatsink for the 4870x2 because they have amazing build quality.

Personally I'd go for the AC, but read other reviews first. Take a look at Zalman coolers too. I dont know if you are in the US, but in the UK there are loads of online stores with a load of coolers.

Good job going for air cooling, though. Watercooling on cards is a waste - when it comes to overclocking GPUs, you aren't really limited by the temps, but by the voltage, so going to such excesses of water cooling is unecessary. IMO

With that AC heatsink you will see some monster drops in temps and it will be much quieter aswell.

Man, that would be awesome if you posted some pics of the process - always good so see some modding. Btw, what is Vmod: Videomod?

 

[major53]

fruees have used the thermalright 03 gt on a 8800gts 640.did a very good job.I have the the ARcticCooling heatsink for the 9800gtx and it also has done a great job.with either one you can't go wrong they are both great heatsink and fans for the gpu.hope this helps you out

 

[kingsizeone]

fruees: Thanks for the quick reply. I need a Nvidea based card to aid in Adobe application rendering. Im a design Student in Toronto, Canada and it's pretty much the best Nvidea card I can afford. The 4870x2 is an awesome card, no doubt.

Essentially the Artic Cooling Accelero for the 4870x2 and the GTX 260 are the same but the way the heatpipes are connected to the radiator fins and to the GPU heatsink is different, the 4870x2 model is fitted for a two GPU setup (of course). Otherwise the coolers are the same.
Accelero Xtreme 4870x2 http://www.arctic-cooling.com/catalog/images/gallery/4870X2_01l.jpg
Accelero Xtreme GTX 280 http://www.arctic-cooling.com/catalog/images/gallery/gtx280_05h.png

"Vmod" = "Voltage Modification" and can be done in two ways: through the bios, isn't as effective (a.k.a. soft Vmod) or through the process of identifying the proper voltage relutaors on the graphics card and adding (soldering) variable resisters to attain a new voltage, which is way more effective but SOOOooo much more dangerous, you know?

Through Vmod'n i got my 8800gts, that i mentioned before with the accelero s1 r2, in rivatuner to around CORE: 875mhz, SHADER: 2000mhz, MEMORY: 1225mhz, which is equivelant to a mildly overclock 9800gtx+.

Vmod'n also incorporates the problem of more heat along with the heat created by increased clock rates, that's why i was trying to find what cooler would be best for the GTX 260, should have put that os originall post... hmmmm...

Cheers! and thanks for the forewarning about water cooling. *gives myself a high five in the mirror*

 

[kingsizeone]

major53 Thanks.
From what I've been looking at the Thermalright HR-03 GTX for the GTX260/280 is just a moddified HR-03 GT but does just a good of job.

Did you have the Accelero Xtreme 9800 for your 9800GTX? if so how does it compare to the HR-03 for lowering temperaatures on the 8800gts? Even though its not a direct comparison 8800gts 640mb (G80) to 9800GTX (G92, 55nm) it gives me rough idea.

Thanks major53!

 

[kingsizeone]

Hmmm... I do have an old Thermalright Sonic Tower that I could try to attach to the GTX260... lol!

Oh man, I got to stop smoking CRACK! *twitch* and coming up with whack ideas... *gives himself hi five in mirror*

 

[ron888]

Does anyone know if the AC one is aluminum or cooper fins?
if it is the cooper one, it would make it the better choice

 

[kingsizeone]

The Arctic Cooling Xtreme GTX 280 has aluminum fins.

 

[ron888]

Just ordered the Arctic Cooling Xtreme GTX 280
(it includes 3 fan, while the Thermalright HR-03 GTX dosen't, which means an other 30$AU for a good fan...)
89$ from PCCG
the HR-03 is 89$ as well (fan not included...)

Will post up on how it goes when it delivered...