wonderful but difficult dilema

[gmastra100]

Hi I have an XFX HD6950 2GB graphics card, for which I have just ordered an accelero 7970 cooler. So far so good, but now the problem.
I have just won a brand new Sapphire HD7870 for an obscene low price ( £55) of a well known auction site.
My dilemma, do I fit the cooler on the Very noisy 6950 or do I put it on the 7870 which apparently is much quiter.

Any one have a comparison on the relative noise levels. ?

 

[drdeathx]

Let me get this straight. Your trying to put a 7970 cooler on a 6950?

 

[gmastra100]

No , I have purchased the accelero 7970 cooler initially to replace the noisy 6950 stock cooler

http://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/zardon/arctic-accelero-xtreme-7970-cooler-review/2/

 

[AlienIsGOD]

i would put it on the 6950, 7870s are quiet and run at very good temps on their own.

 

[brandonwh64]

Let me get this straight. Your trying to put a 7970 cooler on a 6950?

No , I have purchased the accelero 7970 cooler initially to replace the noisy 6950 stock cooler

http://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/zardon/arctic-accelero-xtreme-7970-cooler-review/2/

Im confused cause a 7970 cooler will not fit a 6950.

 

[erocker]

Im confused cause a 7970 cooler will not fit a 6950.

That is correct. The copper mounting area of the 7970 version is taller than the regular version. I don't think it will work on the 7870 either... Unless it is the LE version. The normal 7870's GPU position is square. The 7970's cooler has a diamond position.

Hmmm... Then again: http://www.arctic.ac/en/p/detail/index/sArticle/502/sCategory/2182

It does say that they are compatible.

 

[Grnfinger]

i would put it on the 6950, 7870s are quiet and run at very good temps on their own.

Would agree, I have 2 that idle at 35c right now.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

It does say that they are compatible.

as long as its a reference version of listed cards

 

[gmastra100]

Am thinking of the 6950 as well, because I just read the following statement from Sapphire

http://www.sapphireforum.com/showth...rding-7870-and-quot-Black-Screen-quot-issues&

Will need to see what serial number I have. don't want to void any warrenty

 

[Nordic]

Um... I had the artic accellero 7970 installed on my 6950 before I got a 7970. It fit and did a great job. It wasn't even a reference 6950. I have a thread about it somewhere. I got like 65c core on the 6950.

I say put it on the 6950 because it is loud, but maybe you would rather put it on the 7870 because you want really good temps on it.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

Would agree, I have 2 that idle at 35c right now.

mhm my 7870 is idling @ 31C

 

[brandonwh64]

That is correct. The copper mounting area of the 7970 version is taller than the regular version. I don't think it will work on the 7870 either... Unless it is the LE version. The normal 7870's GPU position is square. The 7970's cooler has a diamond position.

Hmmm... Then again: http://www.arctic.ac/en/p/detail/index/sArticle/502/sCategory/2182

It does say that they are compatible.

Ahhh well the name will confuse some people LOL thanks rockstar!

 

[gmastra100]

well didnt get the HD 7870 ( thought it was too good to be true.) So I went and changed the XFX 6950 cooler.
It was a lot easier than I thought, The cooler comes with a tube of adhesive rather than the mix type and the setting time was only 1 Hr though I left it over night.
The most difficult part was the pesky spacers. You needed to secure spacers to the cooler with fiddly double sided tape. which was useless. Ended up cutting some heatsink tape then it became a breeze.
What amazed me was the size of the 6950 cooler. so small. no wonder the fan had to go at a high rate. My stock temps have gone from 42 idle to 32 idel and with fans at 26%.
will try load tests later.

 

[Nordic]

At least for me, I could not really detect a difference up to the fan being at ~60% or higher. It was as loud as my twin frozr III was at idle when the artic was at 85% fan. Curious to hear your experience.

 

[gmastra100]

Hi James,
I am not sure what you are saying
What are you referring to when you say that you could not detect a difference up to the fan up to 60% ?
Are you talking about the 6950 stock cooler and are we referring to the temp or noise.
My post was referiing to keep the 6950 below 70 when playing far cry 3 the fan had to be on high setting ~70% which was noisy. With the new arctic 7970 with the fan at 26% the temperature is 32
I ran unigene heaven and temp was below 40 , I could hear the fan but no way as obtrusive as the stock cooler

 

[erocker]

well didnt get the HD 7870 ( thought it was too good to be true.) So I went and changed the XFX 6950 cooler.
It was a lot easier than I thought, The cooler comes with a tube of adhesive rather than the mix type and the setting time was only 1 Hr though I left it over night.
The most difficult part was the pesky spacers. You needed to secure spacers to the cooler with fiddly double sided tape. which was useless. Ended up cutting some heatsink tape then it became a breeze.
What amazed me was the size of the 6950 cooler. so small. no wonder the fan had to go at a high rate. My stock temps have gone from 42 idle to 32 idel and with fans at 26%.
will try load tests later.

You'll find that the Accelero Xtreme is bar none the best air cooler there is. I still have one put away for when/if I get a card that is compatible.

 

[Nordic]

Hi James,
I am not sure what you are saying
What are you referring to when you say that you could not detect a difference up to the fan up to 60% ?
Are you talking about the 6950 stock cooler and are we referring to the temp or noise.
My post was referiing to keep the 6950 below 70 when playing far cry 3 the fan had to be on high setting ~70% which was noisy. With the new arctic 7970 with the fan at 26% the temperature is 32
I ran unigene heaven and temp was below 40 , I could hear the fan but no way as obtrusive as the stock cooler

I was speaking purely about noise only. My wording can be funny sometimes but it makes sense to me, which is the problem. To try and be more clear, I could not really hear a difference in the artics fan speed to about 60%. The artic at 85% was as quiet as my 6950 twin frozr III was at idle. I am curious as to if your experience is similar.

 

[gmastra100]

Hi James,
I see where we may be getting mixed up. My 6950 was the single fan version ( I uploaded some photos) . Its almost certain that the frozr is a lot quiter than the single fan edition. As for the arctic fan, I took the fan up to 100% and it was audable but not distracting, in most cases I have it at 26% and its quite. ( well I have fitted more case fans and they are louder), not even noticable when watching a dvd with the wife.