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Eight Video Card Coolers Tested and Compared

Cooling/VGA & Other Cooling by jmke @ 2007-07-18

In this article we test and compare 8 different VGA coolers from Zalman, Gigabyte, Vantec, Coolermaster, ZEROTherm, Arctic Cooling and Titan. The models range from completely passive no-noise solutions to multi heat pipes equipped cooling monsters. Read on to find out which one(s) offer the best performance/noise balance.

Vantec IceberQ 6: Closer Look and Install

Vantec IceberQ 6 - Closer Look & Installation

The copper base is connected straight to a series of copper fins, although those are quite low profile.

The copper heatsink weighs quite a bit; it can be removed from its plastic housing in case in needs cleaning if you have the PC running in a dusty environment.

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The fan is disappointingly small compared to the rest of the heatsink, either it won’t spin fast enough to deliver fresh air over the copper heatsink, or it spins too fast and makes too much noise to be comfortable. We’ll find out in testing which is the case. Either way, a larger fan will definitely increase performance/noise balance, maybe an idea for IceberQ 7?

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Installation is easy, after attaching the correct stand-offs to the bottom of the base the heatsink is screwed onto the GPU at 4 mounting points, providing a solid fit.

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The 3-pin fan connector can either be hooked up to fan controller or the mainboard, or you can use the included 4-pin adapter and connect straight to the PSU.

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With the IceberQ 6 installed the VGA card now occupies 2 PCI slots when installed in your system

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No light show here when powered on, a small LED fan might brighten things up, as Vantec already decided to use cool transparent blue plastic for most the design.

Comment from agent #2 @ 2007/07/19

Nice article.

Comment from jmke @ 2007/07/19

Thanks; got a correct comment through email that the 7900 GT is quite cool running compared to some mid-range ATI models like the X1900 series. Our next GPU roundup will most likely feature a next gen HD 29xx or NV 88xx series card

Comment from Spanki @ 2007/07/20

Nice work, as usual jmke. I'd been wondering how some of those stacked up against each other - and now I know

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I have a 7900 GS, but I assume the mounting is the same as the GT, just different chips/clockspeeds.

Comment from jmke @ 2007/07/20

if you can post a PCB shot of the 7900 GS we can found out quickly, but I don't think they'll change around mounting of HSF unless needed (like with AGP version of the 6/7 series)

Comment from Spanki @ 2007/07/20

It's this one. I might have to remove the top plate to attach something like the AC S1.

Comment from jmke @ 2007/07/20

yup, seems like stock NVIDIA 7900 GT design, removing the PCI top plate there is needed, but that's but a little bit of screwing work

Comment from jmke @ 2007/07/21

Mounting holes on 8600GT match those on 7900GT, Zalman VF900 fits with same stand offs as the 7900 GT.

Did a testfit on a Sparkle 8600 GT, using no thermal paste, check out the imprint on the V900 base of the G84 core

and then there is the fact that Galaxy and other companies ship the 8600GT/GTS with Zalman VF900 preinstalled

Comment from Rutar @ 2008/01/23

The S1 completely annihilates the stock cooler on my 8800GT, it doesn't even go over 50° now PASSIVE with 653/1713/1904, even the memory gets cooled better.

Comment from jmke @ 2008/01/23

yup, S1 is really excellent value for money, it will take an innovative design and price point to match/beat it

Comment from Subwoofer @ 2008/01/29

intresting

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