W1zzard
05-25-2004, 04:44 PM
[page=Introduction, Packaging & Installation]
Introduction
From the manufacturer arctic cooling (http://www.arctic-cooling.com):
First VGA cooler with selectable cooling and noise level
absolute silence or uncompromising cooling performance
Unique mounting clip
improves the heat transfer of the GPU to the heat sink significantly
DHES (Direct Heat Exhaust System)
carries the warm exhaust air directly outward
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<th scope="row">Overall Dimension</th>
<td>185 x 84 x 34 mm </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Weight</th>
<td>278 g </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Material</th>
<td>Aluminium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Rated Fan Speeds</th>
<td>1200 / 2400 RPM </td>
</tr>
</table>
Compatibility List
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<th>Video Card</th>
<th align="center" nowrap>Silencer Rev. 1</th>
<th align="center" nowrap>Silencer Rev. 2<br />(Feb. 2004)</th>
<th align="center" nowrap>Silencer Rev. 3<br />(March 2004)</th>
<th align="center" nowrap>Silencer XT<br />(March 2004)</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Geforce 3 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Geforce 4 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9000/9200</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9500 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9500 Pro </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9600</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9600 Pro </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9600 XT </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9600 AIW </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9700 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9700 Pro </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9700 AIW </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 Pro </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 Pro 256MB</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 XT </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 AIW </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
</table>
Packaging
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/package1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/package1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/package2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/package2.jpg)
Box contents:
VGA cooler
AGP/PCI Slot cover with Switch
Grounding metal sheet to go between card and slot cover
Plastic mounting clip
Syringe of Thermal Paste
Installation Instructions
As you can see in the next two images, the surface of the cooler that makes contact with the core is quite flat.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/flatness1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/flatness1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/flatness2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/flatness2.jpg)
Installation
Arctic Cooling recommends the following installation procedure which takes about 15-20 minutes:
Remove the power connection to the stock cooler
Remove the stock cooler
Clean GPU core
Put thermal paste on GPU core
Remove old slot bracket
Put grounding metal sheet over connectors
Put AGP/PCI metal bracket over grounding sheet and connectors
Plug the fan power connector into video card
Lay the heatsink on table facing down and put the video card on it, aligning the mounting holes.
Screw mounting clip on backside of card.
My experience is that installation will be much easier if step 4 is performed after step 8. Doing so will not spread thermal paste all around your core if you accidentially touch it while replacing the brackets. Also, ensure that the cable to the switch which allows toggling between high and low fan speed is between your video card and heatsink while performing step 9.
Overall, the installation is very easy, and suitable even for less experienced people.
I really like the blue backside mounting clip, it has a flexible steel clip inside that bends as mounting pressure increases - this makes it virtually impossible to crush your core, or bend the card by overtightening the screws. I killed a Radeon 9500 while mounting a waterblock and overtightening the screws, so you might want to pay attention to this.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation5.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation6_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation6.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation7_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation7.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation8_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation8.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation9_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation9.jpg)
As you can see in the last installation picture there is a small 7mm gap between the slot cover and the end of the heatsink. Unfortunately, this gap allows a little bit of warm air intended for exhaustation to escape into the case. An easy fix is to use duct tape to seal it off.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/ramsink2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/ramsink2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/ramsink1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/ramsink1.jpg)
I had to remove my ramsinks (custom made, 17 mm high) from the card because the available space is only 13 mm. Also, the fan's power cable has to be bent around a bit if you plan to use ramsinks higher than 10 mm because it blocks the space above one memory chip. Tweakmonster BGA Ramsinks will fit fine on this card.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/nb_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/nb.jpg)
Another issue is the really small space (3-4 mm on my Abit IC7) between the backside mounting clip and northbridge cooler. This may result in problems if you are using an aftermarket heatsink on the northbridge.
[page=Performance, Value & Conclusion]
Performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/contact1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/contact1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/contact2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/contact2.jpg)
After the initial installation the heatsink was immediately removed and the contact area was inspected. The above pictures clearly show that the contact is very good. The pressure was enough to make the ATi logo on the core shine through the thin layer of thermal paste that was covering the core prior to mounting.
However, I wonder if contact will be as good when this cooler is used on a Radeon 9500 or 9700 where the metal shim is a bit higher than the core.
[hr]
For the overclocking tests I used my ATITool overclocking utility version 0.0.17 (UPDATE: Everything has been tested again with ATITool 0.0.19). ATITool has the unique ability to detect artifacts, or flaws, in a rendered image. As defined by ATITool, the maximum stable overclock on a card is the speed at which it is able to consistently (15 minutes in this test) produce no errors, or artifacts. ATITool detects ANY artifacts, even ones which will not be visible in game. Using the human eye to detect artifacts introduces subjectivity into the test, so despite the fact that an ATITool tested overclock will be characteristically lower than a human one, I will use this.
Temperature was measured with one case side open by putting a thermal probe on the backside of the Radeon 9800 Pro opposite of where the GPU is. Idle temperature was measured after letting Windows sit one hour at the desktop. Load temperature was measured after running 3DMark2001 looped for one hour. Both at the card's default clock of 380 / 340 Mhz.
Arctic Silver 5 was used as thermal interface material in all installations.
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row"> </th>
<td>Maximum <br />
Core Clock </td>
<td>Sound level </td>
<td>Temperature <br />
Idle </td>
<td>Temperature <br />
Load </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Stock cooler </th>
<td><p>416 Mhz</p></td>
<td>Acceptable</td>
<td>45°C</td>
<td>55°C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">VGA Silencer Low </th>
<td><p>414 Mhz</p> </td>
<td>Almost inaudible</td>
<td>52°C</td>
<td>63°C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">VGA Silencer High </th>
<td>424 Mhz</td>
<td>Very quiet</td>
<td>42°C</td>
<td>53°C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Watercooling (Water ~33°C) </th>
<td>435 Mhz</td>
<td>Inaudible</td>
<td>35°C</td>
<td>37°C</td>
</tr>
</table>
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/graph1.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/graph2.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/graph3.gif
It really surprised me how close the VGA Silencer performs compared to watercooling the card. However, when you are really getting into it with voltmods and extreme overclocking, the waterblock solution will come out as the clear winner.
The quietness of the VGA silencer also impressed me, it is a difference like night and day compared to the stock heatsink. Most people should be comfortable running the Silencer at the "high" setting, especially when the case is closed.
Value & Conclusion
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td></td>
<th>Rating</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Aesthetics</th>
<td>8.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I like the bulky, powerful look of the VGA silencer. </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Ease of use</th>
<td>8.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Very easy to install. Good instructions. Unfortunately, does not fit on AIW cards- yet. </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Performance</th>
<td>9.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Excellent performance while keeping sound levels down. </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Quality</th>
<td>8.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Everything looks well built. Penalty for air gap between heatsink and slot cover. </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Value</th>
<td>9.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The price/performance/quietness ratio is very hard to beat for its price.</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">The Bottom Line</th>
<td><strong>9.0</strong></td>
</tr>
</table>
Introduction
From the manufacturer arctic cooling (http://www.arctic-cooling.com):
First VGA cooler with selectable cooling and noise level
absolute silence or uncompromising cooling performance
Unique mounting clip
improves the heat transfer of the GPU to the heat sink significantly
DHES (Direct Heat Exhaust System)
carries the warm exhaust air directly outward
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<th scope="row">Overall Dimension</th>
<td>185 x 84 x 34 mm </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Weight</th>
<td>278 g </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Material</th>
<td>Aluminium</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Rated Fan Speeds</th>
<td>1200 / 2400 RPM </td>
</tr>
</table>
Compatibility List
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0">
<tr>
<th>Video Card</th>
<th align="center" nowrap>Silencer Rev. 1</th>
<th align="center" nowrap>Silencer Rev. 2<br />(Feb. 2004)</th>
<th align="center" nowrap>Silencer Rev. 3<br />(March 2004)</th>
<th align="center" nowrap>Silencer XT<br />(March 2004)</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Geforce 3 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Geforce 4 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9000/9200</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9500 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9500 Pro </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9600</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9600 Pro </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9600 XT </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9600 AIW </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9700 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9700 Pro </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9700 AIW </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 Pro </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 Pro 256MB</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 XT </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9800 AIW </td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#99FF66">yes</td>
<td align="center" style="background-color:#FF6666">no</td>
</tr>
</table>
Packaging
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/package1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/package1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/package2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/package2.jpg)
Box contents:
VGA cooler
AGP/PCI Slot cover with Switch
Grounding metal sheet to go between card and slot cover
Plastic mounting clip
Syringe of Thermal Paste
Installation Instructions
As you can see in the next two images, the surface of the cooler that makes contact with the core is quite flat.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/flatness1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/flatness1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/flatness2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/flatness2.jpg)
Installation
Arctic Cooling recommends the following installation procedure which takes about 15-20 minutes:
Remove the power connection to the stock cooler
Remove the stock cooler
Clean GPU core
Put thermal paste on GPU core
Remove old slot bracket
Put grounding metal sheet over connectors
Put AGP/PCI metal bracket over grounding sheet and connectors
Plug the fan power connector into video card
Lay the heatsink on table facing down and put the video card on it, aligning the mounting holes.
Screw mounting clip on backside of card.
My experience is that installation will be much easier if step 4 is performed after step 8. Doing so will not spread thermal paste all around your core if you accidentially touch it while replacing the brackets. Also, ensure that the cable to the switch which allows toggling between high and low fan speed is between your video card and heatsink while performing step 9.
Overall, the installation is very easy, and suitable even for less experienced people.
I really like the blue backside mounting clip, it has a flexible steel clip inside that bends as mounting pressure increases - this makes it virtually impossible to crush your core, or bend the card by overtightening the screws. I killed a Radeon 9500 while mounting a waterblock and overtightening the screws, so you might want to pay attention to this.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation5.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation6_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation6.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation7_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation7.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation8_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation8.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation9_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/installation9.jpg)
As you can see in the last installation picture there is a small 7mm gap between the slot cover and the end of the heatsink. Unfortunately, this gap allows a little bit of warm air intended for exhaustation to escape into the case. An easy fix is to use duct tape to seal it off.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/ramsink2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/ramsink2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/ramsink1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/ramsink1.jpg)
I had to remove my ramsinks (custom made, 17 mm high) from the card because the available space is only 13 mm. Also, the fan's power cable has to be bent around a bit if you plan to use ramsinks higher than 10 mm because it blocks the space above one memory chip. Tweakmonster BGA Ramsinks will fit fine on this card.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/nb_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/nb.jpg)
Another issue is the really small space (3-4 mm on my Abit IC7) between the backside mounting clip and northbridge cooler. This may result in problems if you are using an aftermarket heatsink on the northbridge.
[page=Performance, Value & Conclusion]
Performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/contact1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/contact1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/contact2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/contact2.jpg)
After the initial installation the heatsink was immediately removed and the contact area was inspected. The above pictures clearly show that the contact is very good. The pressure was enough to make the ATi logo on the core shine through the thin layer of thermal paste that was covering the core prior to mounting.
However, I wonder if contact will be as good when this cooler is used on a Radeon 9500 or 9700 where the metal shim is a bit higher than the core.
[hr]
For the overclocking tests I used my ATITool overclocking utility version 0.0.17 (UPDATE: Everything has been tested again with ATITool 0.0.19). ATITool has the unique ability to detect artifacts, or flaws, in a rendered image. As defined by ATITool, the maximum stable overclock on a card is the speed at which it is able to consistently (15 minutes in this test) produce no errors, or artifacts. ATITool detects ANY artifacts, even ones which will not be visible in game. Using the human eye to detect artifacts introduces subjectivity into the test, so despite the fact that an ATITool tested overclock will be characteristically lower than a human one, I will use this.
Temperature was measured with one case side open by putting a thermal probe on the backside of the Radeon 9800 Pro opposite of where the GPU is. Idle temperature was measured after letting Windows sit one hour at the desktop. Load temperature was measured after running 3DMark2001 looped for one hour. Both at the card's default clock of 380 / 340 Mhz.
Arctic Silver 5 was used as thermal interface material in all installations.
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row"> </th>
<td>Maximum <br />
Core Clock </td>
<td>Sound level </td>
<td>Temperature <br />
Idle </td>
<td>Temperature <br />
Load </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Stock cooler </th>
<td><p>416 Mhz</p></td>
<td>Acceptable</td>
<td>45°C</td>
<td>55°C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">VGA Silencer Low </th>
<td><p>414 Mhz</p> </td>
<td>Almost inaudible</td>
<td>52°C</td>
<td>63°C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">VGA Silencer High </th>
<td>424 Mhz</td>
<td>Very quiet</td>
<td>42°C</td>
<td>53°C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top" scope="row">Watercooling (Water ~33°C) </th>
<td>435 Mhz</td>
<td>Inaudible</td>
<td>35°C</td>
<td>37°C</td>
</tr>
</table>
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/graph1.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/graph2.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer/images/graph3.gif
It really surprised me how close the VGA Silencer performs compared to watercooling the card. However, when you are really getting into it with voltmods and extreme overclocking, the waterblock solution will come out as the clear winner.
The quietness of the VGA silencer also impressed me, it is a difference like night and day compared to the stock heatsink. Most people should be comfortable running the Silencer at the "high" setting, especially when the case is closed.
Value & Conclusion
<table class="resulttable" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
<tr>
<td></td>
<th>Rating</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Aesthetics</th>
<td>8.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>I like the bulky, powerful look of the VGA silencer. </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Ease of use</th>
<td>8.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Very easy to install. Good instructions. Unfortunately, does not fit on AIW cards- yet. </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Performance</th>
<td>9.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Excellent performance while keeping sound levels down. </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Quality</th>
<td>8.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Everything looks well built. Penalty for air gap between heatsink and slot cover. </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Value</th>
<td>9.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>The price/performance/quietness ratio is very hard to beat for its price.</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">The Bottom Line</th>
<td><strong>9.0</strong></td>
</tr>
</table>