Removing plastic covering of the X800XT heatsink

[Krisso]

I have a X800XT that looks exactly like this: http://tweaknews.net/reviews/aiwx800xt/img/a2.JPG

What I'm wondering is if the plastic covering with the picture, can it be removed? I'm speculating that the covering is only trapping the warm air and that it would cool better without it. If it can be removed and you have done it, I would very much appreciate some steps on how to do so.

Thanks in advance.

[_33]

It would be a bad idea because it's functionnal, it serve the purpose to force air to cool the graphics memory.

[Krisso]

It would be a bad idea because it's functionnal, it serve the purpose to force air to cool the graphics memory.
I see, so it does help to some respect. Didn't look at it that way.

The plan however was to take off the covering and then have an 80mm blowing on the exposed heatsink. Any ideas on whether or not that would be effective?

Thanks!

[_33]

I see, so it does help to some respect. Didn't look at it that way.

The plan however was to take off the covering and then have an 80mm blowing on the exposed heatsink. I believe that should also cover the memory chips while not having the air trapped in that heatsink casing.

The design is supposed to help push the air on the ram and out on the side, and the reason that works is because the fan rotates in such way that air is pushed to the GPU cooling and then outwards.

I've got the same type of cooling on py car, and it's not the biggest problem. Usually it's the noise of the ATI fan that is irritating. But the card needs to be properly cooled. So, my own solution was to take a 70mm fran from my old AMD K8 HSF (quite efficient) and bolt it on the inside of my case with only 1 screw, but tight. The case has holes all around the area where the cards are. So I got the original ATI cooling + the new fan, and it's way cooler than it used to be.

Ultimately, it's preferable to get IMHO the ATI Silencer.

[Krisso]

The design is supposed to help push the air on the ram and out on the side, and the reason that works is because the fan rotates in such way that air is pushed to the GPU cooling and then outwards.

I've got the same type of cooling on py car, and it's not the biggest problem. Usually it's the noise of the ATI fan that is irritating. But the card needs to be properly cooled. So, my own solution was to take a 70mm fran from my old AMD K8 HSF (quite efficient) and bolt it on the inside of my case with only 1 screw, but tight. The case has holes all around the area where the cards are. So I got the original ATI cooling + the new fan, and it's way cooler than it used to be.

Ultimately, it's preferable to get IMHO the ATI Silencer.
Thanks for all the replies. I am now considering one of these:
http://www.pcsupersite.com/images/ebay/picdh/FB123.jpg

I understand that the ATI Silencer is the best course of action, but I have no plans to take off the stock heatsink until maybe when the warranty runs out.