passively cooled FX6800

[vhew]

i am not sure if it has been mentioned, but:
Gigabyte GeForce 6800, 128MB DDR.
"GV-N68128DH"

it appears to be passively cooled from all pictures i've seen.
this is a non-GT, non-ultra 6800.

it's is available on newegg
and if you are in Melbourne (Australia)
it is also available from www.msy.com.au

[anthonysimilion]

Well I'll be:

http://www.gigabyte.fr/produits/cartes_ ... grande.jpg

Looks like it is.

[hvengel]

The 6800 model line has lower power consumption than the corresponding 5900 models with way higher levels of performance. So it seems reasonable that the low end model could be passively cooled.

[azanon]

That one only has 8 pipes enabled though, compared to the normal 12 pipes that other geforces have.

[MercenaryForHire]

That one only has 8 pipes enabled though, compared to the normal 12 pipes that other geforces have.

Perhaps you're thinking of the 6600 series, which are 8-pipe.

6800 = 12-pipe
6800GT/Ultra = 16-pipe

Either way, a passive 6800 sounds bitchin'

- M4H

[PhilgB]

Those short 'over the top' heat pipes look like they would be a little more effective than the long side ones that Zalman uses. Anyone know who makes that heatsink?

[Storm]

This card only has 8 pipes

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/akiba/ho ... nr682.html

[meglamaniac]

So does the Radeon 9800Pro.
That doesn't make it a rubbish card imo.

[Storm]

it makes it an expensive 6600GT though

[NSParadox]

Judging from this thread, it sounds like it's 12 pipe. Sounds like people have also had limited success enabling ALL 16! I checked, and it appears that Newegg has this card in stock...

http://forums.sudhian.com/messageview.a ... erthread=y

[frosty]

Deos is generate less heat than a 9800 pro ultra card?

[Talz]

I believe the heat output would be similiar to a radeon 9800 pro, not hugely more or less at stock speeds, probably less than the 9800 XT if that is what you meant by ultra.

And 6800's are definately 12 pipe cards, if you look around you can find info on enabling the extra 4 pipes but it's quite hit and miss from what I've seen.

[Storm]

Thanks for this information.

I thought I was left with the option of a noisy stock cooler or the lottery of wether a silencer NV5 will be quiet enough, pre-installed or otherwise.

If you read the sudhain thread carefully you will see that these ARE 8 pipe cards until you update the VGA bios to F2.

I wonder if nvidia didnt like gigabyte selling a 6800 with 6600GT/6800LE performance, yet branding it as a full 6800.

This looks like being my next card.

[killerfish]

Wow, looks like I'll have to have another parts yard sale to save up for this baby!

[cyates]

Aerocool makes a similar cooler:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDe ... 101&depa=0

I am currently using this on a PNY Geforce 6800 with a little arctic silver 5. It works like a champ. the heatskink hangs over on the back side of the card so it is oriented almost directly in front of the 120mm exhaust fan in my Sonata case - warm air gets sucked straight out.

[killerfish]

Newegg.com has them in stock for $290... Already scooped mine up. They also carry the GT's that have the fan on the back...

[davidstone28]

I've ordered one and the guy at the shop says that its definitely passively cooled. It's defintely 12 pipes as well.

Fromt the Gigabyte website:-

GV-N68128DH (NVIDIA GeForce 6800)
More Powered by NVIDIA GeForce latest 6800 GPU
Supports AGP 8X standard
With 128MB DDR memory
Supports the latest Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0C
12 parallel rendering pipelines
Latest 256-bit memory interface
Features DVI-I, TV-Out and D-Sub connectors.
Supports exclusive Gigabyte ''V-TUNER 2 Plus'' with unprecedented OC(overclocking) application and with Hardware monitor to ensure best performance
Bundles three games(Thief/ Joint Operation/ Spell Force)and PowerDVD 5.0
Unique Fanless Heatpipe Heatsink Design with breathe-taking golden outlook


Only place in UK that seems to sell them is Dabs @ £205 which for a passively cooled graphics card isn't too bad compared to the cheapest fanned 6800 @ £175 (from Evesham).

[dan23]

I think i'll get one as well.

[NSParadox]

I've ordered mine and will be sure to share my experience with the card.

I'm somewhat concerned that my Nexus 120mm fan won't push out enough heat since it only runs around 1000rpm, but we shall find out.

[davidstone28]

Article on modding a 6800 to Ultra speeds.

http://www.pcunleash.com/bbs/zboard.php ... view&no=39

Not sure a passive HS would be able to handle it, but it still worth a go.

Reference to the passive Gigabyte being modded can be found here:-
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthr ... ge=4&pp=15