What are the warning signs?

**al bundy** · 08-30-2003, 10:48 PM

I currently have a non-overclocked Ti4600 card with the Zalman ZM80A-HP cooling it passively (as in the sig). Zalman says this fanless cooler should provide adequate cooling for this card, but they also then say that a slow fan blowing over it "would provide even better cooling".

This cooler gets mighty hot on both sides, especially during a game - but I never see any artifacts or image problems. I have two exhaust fans and one intake fan moving air through the rig.

So, does this mean everything is really OK? What are the warning signs if a non-overclocked card is getting too hot?

I'm hoping that I would see something that would warn me of overheating, instead of the card just suddenly dying(!)

**GB_Cobber** · 08-31-2003, 01:42 AM

When i had my ASUS GF256 a few yrs ago i kinda made up a rule of thumb for checking the temp by firmly holding a finger the the back of the GPU.

The 0.25 micron GF1 was a very hot beast.
I found when the card was overheating(60C+)under its stock cooler, I couldnt hold my finger there for 3 seconds without burning it.
After installing a custom P200+ cooler i could leave my finmger there indefinitly.

Ive done this also with several other cards and they all seemed to start getting unstable at around 3 seconds or less.
Depending on your pain threshold anything over about 10 secs should be fine but the cooler the better obviously.

I think heat was a major cause of GF1 sudden death. the coolers they used back then were slightly better than a wet postage stamp.
Mine runs cool as and its still going today in friends machine.

Its the thermal expasion/contraction that kills them so the temp dif between low and high should be kept to a minimum for max lifespan.
If the temp were kept constant 24/7 these thing would last a long long time.(which is why computer rooms are temp controlled and the PC's left on 24/7).

**al bundy** · 08-31-2003, 02:53 AM

Thanks GB!

This rig gets shut down every night. The card is still fairly new.

So are you saying then that this Ti4600 would probably just suddenly die without any visual warning signs at all?

I'm just hoping that this huge fanless Zalman sink isn't perhaps slowly killing this nice Ti4600 card, or if it is probably safe since there are currently no artifacts or other problems...

**GB_Cobber** · 08-31-2003, 03:10 AM

I cant tell how hot its running from here. But I think the zalman should be fine as long as there's a little airflow around it and the case isnt very hot.

If your case has a front inlet fan it should be enough. Perhaps it has some side vent holes or you could take out one of the bottom PCI covers to allow air to come in, go past the vid on its way out the top exhausts.(only works in negetive pressure system)

Or make a PCI fan out of some old video card or something. Cut/file off all the bits, scrape off or cut the PCI contacs, cut a hole and glue a fan on. Set for life.

If you can find an old or burned out PSU which has a 2 speed fan you can use that fan with the temp sensor/speed control circuit(seperate little PCB thingy). Unsolder the sensor and put longer leads on it so you can place it directly on or near the zalman and have a two speed sensor controled custom made nice and quiet 80mm PCI fan.

That should just about ensure your TI4600 outlasts every other component in that box

**al bundy** · 08-31-2003, 03:33 AM

I agree with you, it *should* be fine as is, and probably will be, without any overhead fan or other special arrangements.

I think I'll just leave everything alone and trust Zalman really means it with their claims about this fanless cooler.

As always, thanks for the advice GB! It's good to see you posting more often around here again too.

**Thunderbird1GHz** · 08-31-2003, 04:13 AM

"I think heat was a major cause of GF1 sudden death."

explains why I see so many dead ones on ebay, I bought a lot of 50 defective geforce sdr's and seller said all have problems but some still work, others can be fixed. If the fan dies, the core would probably soon die. as for that ti4600, if it gets so hot, it wont last long reguardless of stability

**bldegle2** · 08-31-2003, 09:31 AM

I bought a lot of 50 defective geforce sdr's

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

i have a new respect for your shrewd purchasing tactics. were you able to resell them all, or do you adorn your computer room walls with the leftovers???

deco computer art, maybe a new venue for you??? i say we all send on of our old stuffs to Tbirdy.

mabbe i should do a poll, as i am sure mr Tbird would do.

baldy

PS>this is all meant to be tongue in cheek

**Thunderbird1GHz** · 08-31-2003, 07:46 PM

"i have a new respect for your shrewd purchasing tactics. were you able to resell them all, or do you adorn your computer room walls with the leftovers???"

I have not sold any yet and ill see if I can fix or just play around with them. I may overclock a few till they become deader then they already are. also I could save the heatsink, fan and whatever transistors, compatitors, ram chips, etc

**PinchyCM** · 09-01-2003, 01:32 AM

Originally posted by al bundy
Thanks GB!

This rig gets shut down every night. The card is still fairly new.

So are you saying then that this Ti4600 would probably just suddenly die without any visual warning signs at all?

I'm just hoping that this huge fanless Zalman sink isn't perhaps slowly killing this nice Ti4600 card, or if it is probably safe since there are currently no artifacts or other problems...

my ti4400 died without any signs. it just locked up all the time.i dunno why. a replacement cured all those problems.

**GB_Cobber** · 09-01-2003, 02:22 AM

Originally posted by Thunderbird1GHz

I have not sold any yet and ill see if I can fix or just play around with them. I may overclock a few till they become deader then they already are. also I could save the heatsink, fan and whatever transistors, compatitors, ram chips, etc

GF1's do run very hot with their tiny stock cooling even at default 120Mhz.
If the fan stops or even gets too dirty the card will crash constanty.
That may be all thats wrong with some of them.
I dont recomend overclocking any GF1 without upgraded cooling.
With a decent cooler ive managed to get 165Mhz stable but with stock cooler i couldnt push 130 on a cool day.

**al bundy** · 09-01-2003, 04:05 AM

Based on all the input here,

I ended up installing a Zalman FB165 fan adapter over the sink, holding an 80mm fan with those soft blue-foam fan isolator mounts. Hooked the fan to the Rheo and keeping it at a slow and silent speed.

Just in case!

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