Replacing the Video Card cooler on Sapphire 9700np...

So I'm pretty sure I can't RMA this thing, and I'm sure it is overheating. It is really interesting, I can tell when it is overheating b/c the FPS will remain consistant but the video will be MUCH more choppy than the FPS imply. There will be long pauses in video every other second or so. So anyway....

1. Is replacing the video card cooler about as difficult as installing a CPU cooler?

2. Has anyone done this on a Sapphire 9700np???

3. What do I buy? If you can pick a decent cooler off of this website I can do it this weekend:
http://www.microcenter.com/search_re...ate_group=D4H4

Let me know if there is something decent on there and if this is difficult to do. Thanks!

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0110878

Something like this would work. However, at $25 that's a ripoff. You would just need to take the clips off and get some sort of glue/adhesive to drop on there. This procedure takes no time at all. If you want the absolute best cooling mix, you should mix some artic alumina adhesive with artic ceramique or something. This guy Tekime who browses the forums has a nice guide on his site for you to follow. CHECK IT OUT, IT IS VERY GOOD. :)

edit: Hell you can even drop this legend on there http://www.svc.com/thersk6soca3.html With enough stickage workin you can pretty much strap any HS on there (within reason). This would be pretty extreme, but at that price, they are giving it away. :cool:

wow that's cheap! So i guess the only tricky part is pulling the retail heatsink off of there? Is it glued on as well? Do you apply the adhesive in the same manner as the CPU cooling goop (same thickness etc..)??

http://www.fury-tech.com/modules.php...d1c560d790183b

That's on Tekime's site. I checked it out, and it is a very good guide. However, the SK-6 really is overkill unless you are going for the ultra air OC. I would just look for any low profile HS that is copper. Taking off the stock HS is easy, and Tekime goes through the process of taking that off as well in this article. I just put a HS/F on my crappy video card so I can OC it further, and I just dropped a little krazyglue on there. The thing is though if you put stuff like that on there your heatsink might not ever come off. However, in the guide above with a low profile HS you probably wont need krazyglue or anything like that. Anyways, in this mess of a post, the conclusion is just follow the guide. :cool:

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Originally posted by Royal Oaks
http://www.fury-tech.com/modules.php...d1c560d790183b

That's on Tekime's site. I checked it out, and it is a very good guide. However, the SK-6 really is overkill unless you are going for the ultra air OC. I would just look for any low profile HS that is copper. Taking off the stock HS is easy, and Tekime goes through the process of taking that off as well in this article. I just put a HS/F on my crappy video card so I can OC it further, and I just dropped a little krazyglue on there. The thing is though if you put stuff like that on there your heatsink might not ever come off. However, in the guide above with a low profile HS you probably wont need krazyglue or anything like that. Anyways, in this mess of a post, the conclusion is just follow the guide. :cool:

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Sweet dude, you and tekime have been of great help :). Too bad we don't have the post rating system here at sharky :-P.

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Originally posted by Paladyr


Sweet dude, you and tekime have been of great help :). Too bad we don't have the post rating system here at sharky :-P.

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Ohh, I'm sure I would have failed. I think I've offended too many people here. :cool:

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Originally posted by Royal Oaks


Ohh, I'm sure I would have failed. I think I've offended too many people here. :cool:

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hehe, me too.

I think I'm going the route of something designed for a GPU. I'm going to buy a Vantec Iceburg cooler assuming they ship soon or I can find one somewhere. They seem to be all out everywhere.