W1zzard
05-16-2004, 11:51 AM
[PAGE=Introduction, Packaging & Installation]
Introduction
Last month we tested the Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer Rev.1 (see review here (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer)) and were really surprised by its quietness and performance. Today we bring you the review of the brand-new Revision 3, which has added support for all Radeon 9600 and All-In-Wonder cards.
I would like to thank Arctic Cooling for supplying me with the unit for review.
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
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_Rev3/images/package1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/package1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/package2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/package2.jpg)
Box contents:
VGA cooler
PCI Slot cover with Switch
Plastic mounting clip
Syringe of Thermal Paste
Arctic Cooling case sticker
Installation Instructions (these were still the Rev.1 instructions - but it's very easy to figure out which steps you have to skip) .
As you can see in the next two images, the surface of the cooler that makes contact with the core is very flat and has a nice almost mirror-like finish now, although a few concentric circles left behind by the milling tool are visible.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/flatness1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/flatness1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/flatness2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/flatness2.jpg)
If you are familiar with the Rev.1 Silencer you probably have already spotted the milled out area on the backside. This is where Rev.1 and 2 didn't fit on 9600 cards. The sloped area has also been modified on both sides to make space for parts on the All-In-Wonder cards.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/back1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/back1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/back2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/back2.jpg)
Installation
Arctic Cooling recommends the following installation procedure which takes about 10-15 minutes:
Remove the power connection to the stock cooler
Remove the stock cooler
Clean GPU core
Put thermal paste on GPU core
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.
Make sure 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 6.
Overall, the installation is even easier now and you will no longer have to remove the slot bracket from your video card as was needed in previous revisions.
The backside mounting clip which makes it virtually impossible to crush your core, or bend the card by overtightening the screws is still there, and I like it.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation5.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation6_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation6.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation7_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation7.jpg)
The small 7mm gap between the slot cover and the end of the heatsink is still present, I wonder why Arctic hasn't fixed that. 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_Rev3/images/ramsink2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/ramsink2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/ramsink1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/ramsink1.jpg)
Space for ramsinks is still 17mm - no changes here either.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/nb_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/nb.jpg)
The backside space is unchanged (3-4 mm on my Abit IC7) but there is not much Arctic can do to fix this.
[PAGE=Performance & Conclusion]
Performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/contact1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/contact1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/contact2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/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, although not as good as with the Rev.1 cooler it seems.
On some forums there are reports of problems with Radeon 9500/9700 cards where the metal shim is a bit higher than the core - this is not the case with the tested 9800 Pro.
[hr]
For the overclocking tests I used my ATITool overclocking utility version 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>413 Mhz</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>43°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_Rev3/images/graph1.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/graph2.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/graph3.gif
Performance has essentially remained the same between Revision 1 and 3. As in the Revision 1 review, I'm still impressed by the sound levels of the VGA Silencer - it is REALLY quiet. I would say it is unnoticable, even at the high setting in most air cooled cases.
However, when you are really getting into it with voltmods and extreme overclocking, a watercooling solution will come out as the clear winner - but not at the price of the VGA Silencer.
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>9.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Even easier to install. Good instructions. Compatibility greatly enhanced.</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.</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">The Bottom Line</th>
<td><strong>9.2</strong></td>
</tr>
</table>
Introduction
Last month we tested the Arctic Cooling VGA Silencer Rev.1 (see review here (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer)) and were really surprised by its quietness and performance. Today we bring you the review of the brand-new Revision 3, which has added support for all Radeon 9600 and All-In-Wonder cards.
I would like to thank Arctic Cooling for supplying me with the unit for review.
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
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_Rev3/images/package1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/package1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/package2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/package2.jpg)
Box contents:
VGA cooler
PCI Slot cover with Switch
Plastic mounting clip
Syringe of Thermal Paste
Arctic Cooling case sticker
Installation Instructions (these were still the Rev.1 instructions - but it's very easy to figure out which steps you have to skip) .
As you can see in the next two images, the surface of the cooler that makes contact with the core is very flat and has a nice almost mirror-like finish now, although a few concentric circles left behind by the milling tool are visible.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/flatness1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/flatness1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/flatness2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/flatness2.jpg)
If you are familiar with the Rev.1 Silencer you probably have already spotted the milled out area on the backside. This is where Rev.1 and 2 didn't fit on 9600 cards. The sloped area has also been modified on both sides to make space for parts on the All-In-Wonder cards.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/back1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/back1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/back2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/back2.jpg)
Installation
Arctic Cooling recommends the following installation procedure which takes about 10-15 minutes:
Remove the power connection to the stock cooler
Remove the stock cooler
Clean GPU core
Put thermal paste on GPU core
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.
Make sure 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 6.
Overall, the installation is even easier now and you will no longer have to remove the slot bracket from your video card as was needed in previous revisions.
The backside mounting clip which makes it virtually impossible to crush your core, or bend the card by overtightening the screws is still there, and I like it.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation3_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation3.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation4_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation4.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation5_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation5.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation6_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation6.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation7_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/installation7.jpg)
The small 7mm gap between the slot cover and the end of the heatsink is still present, I wonder why Arctic hasn't fixed that. 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_Rev3/images/ramsink2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/ramsink2.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/ramsink1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/ramsink1.jpg)
Space for ramsinks is still 17mm - no changes here either.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/nb_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/nb.jpg)
The backside space is unchanged (3-4 mm on my Abit IC7) but there is not much Arctic can do to fix this.
[PAGE=Performance & Conclusion]
Performance
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/contact1_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/contact1.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/contact2_small.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/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, although not as good as with the Rev.1 cooler it seems.
On some forums there are reports of problems with Radeon 9500/9700 cards where the metal shim is a bit higher than the core - this is not the case with the tested 9800 Pro.
[hr]
For the overclocking tests I used my ATITool overclocking utility version 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>413 Mhz</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>43°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_Rev3/images/graph1.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/graph2.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ArcticCooling/VGASilencer_Rev3/images/graph3.gif
Performance has essentially remained the same between Revision 1 and 3. As in the Revision 1 review, I'm still impressed by the sound levels of the VGA Silencer - it is REALLY quiet. I would say it is unnoticable, even at the high setting in most air cooled cases.
However, when you are really getting into it with voltmods and extreme overclocking, a watercooling solution will come out as the clear winner - but not at the price of the VGA Silencer.
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>9.5</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Even easier to install. Good instructions. Compatibility greatly enhanced.</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.</td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">The Bottom Line</th>
<td><strong>9.2</strong></td>
</tr>
</table>