Quiet VGA cooler that doesn't eat up PCI slot?

tempoct · Post by **tempoct** » Tue Aug 30, 2005 4:22 pm

My first post

I'm building HTPC. Got this card;
http://evga.com/products/moreinfo.asp?pn=128-P2-N366-TX

and this mainboard;
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=20931

And I need to use both PCI slot (one for PVR, another one for 802.11g). The VGA fan is on the louder side.

Any good solution that wouldn't break the bank?

datapappan · Post by **datapappan** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:17 am

Free up a PCI by buying a USB wireless adapter. $30 approx.

/ datapappan

haelduksf · Post by **haelduksf** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:39 am

You could try the Thermalright V-1...but then you probably lose your PCIe slot. The V-1 might even be able to run that card passively, if Legion's results with the x800XL are any indication.

rei · Post by **rei** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:39 am

re: usb dongles

i can't explain it but despite getting a better signal (flexible usb extension) usb wifi adapters piss me off. file transfers stall on it for no reason

i have both the dlink 802.11b dwl-122 and 802.11g dwl.132 usb adapters and they both exhibit this problem.

(off-topic, don't buy the dwl-g520, it has random freezing problems, conflicts with pci sound cards etc. documented in dslreports.com. i bought it to match the '108mbps' extreme g dlink router i have and it's caused nothing but troubles...go linksys)

the signal isn't lost, just the file transfers stall, timeout lots.

it possibly relates to the pisspoor usb of the ati southbridge on my msi rs480m2-il mobo, which also prevents my iogear usb kvm from working on this mobo with my mac mini.

IsaacKuo · Post by **IsaacKuo** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 6:50 am

Better yet, get a cheap low end nVidia or Ati Radeon. One without a fan, or course. You'll reduce heat generation and power consumption, as well.

tempoct · Post by **tempoct** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:51 am

I wouldn't go for USB card coz I have one for my laptop which the signal isn't good. Plus, it would be neater to use internal card for HTPC.

I saw this low profile card, which basically make more room for the heatsink...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833194001

Maybe just a fan replacement for the stock sink? Doesn't need to be total quiet but reasonably quiet.

jib · Post by **jib** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:50 am

Saying USB wireless is no good is like saying my server can't be good because its not in a Dell rack.

Try some of the other USB wireless models before blaming the interface. You need to experiment with AP / client combinations unless you know the charactheristics of all wireless chipsets by memory. Which I don't.

One particular combination that works very well is Asus WL500G or Linksys WRT54G together with the Linksys USB adapter WUSB54G. Don't bother with the Speedbooster models.

Good luck with that

Another possible benefit of going this route would be the added negative pressure inside the case you would get if you chose an AC type cooler which exhausts through the back of the pci slot.

rei · Post by **rei** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:20 am

the linksys wmp45g pci wireless nic is actually quite small, half-sized.

i'm going to see if it'll fit in the slow directly below my zalman vf700-equipped x800xl tonight.

tempoct · Post by **tempoct** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:36 pm

Why can't I blame the interface?

Having something attached to HTPC make it doesn't look neat

Most of the USB Wifi are donkie type which use internal antenna and that has limited range. There are several other models that has external antenna which should be equivalent range with the full size card, but it's not so pretty. The look is quite important for my use (HTPC).

Thanks for your input. The WUSB54G does look smaller in person.

jib wrote:Saying USB wireless is no good is like saying my server can't be good because its not in a Dell rack.

Try some of the other USB wireless models before blaming the interface. You need to experiment with AP / client combinations unless you know the charactheristics of all wireless chipsets by memory. Which I don't.

One particular combination that works very well is Asus WL500G or Linksys WRT54G together with the Linksys USB adapter WUSB54G. Don't bother with the Speedbooster models.

Good luck with that

Another possible benefit of going this route would be the added negative pressure inside the case you would get if you chose an AC type cooler which exhausts through the back of the pci slot.

tempoct · Post by **tempoct** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:36 pm

Thanks rei. Please let us know.

rei wrote:the linksys wmp45g pci wireless nic is actually quite small, half-sized.

i'm going to see if it'll fit in the slow directly below my zalman vf700-equipped x800xl tonight.

Bluefront · Post by **Bluefront** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:32 pm

Here's a DIY solution that cools two video cards, two harddrives and the NB. Uses two 80mm Yate Loons temp controlled by a LIS2 fan controller. The air enters from under the case (filtered of course

)

rei · Post by **rei** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 4:11 pm

i misjudged it, the vf700 does completely cover the pci slot below it.

len509 · Post by **len509** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 5:33 pm

I don't think you are going to find a VGA cooler that will not use up a PCI slot. Especially one for a 6600. How much do you like your card? You could sell it and get a fanless Gigabyte or XFX card.

rei · Post by **rei** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:15 pm

get one of these:

http://anitec.ca/default.aspx?mode=prod ... l&pid=4201

tempoct · Post by **tempoct** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:09 am

Hi rei,
Have you considered replace the stock fan with the quieter one? I'm also thinking about duct/vent to bring cool air in directly to the GPU sink. Thinking about single low RPM 120mm from bottom to supply air for both GPU and NB chip.

rei wrote:get one of these:

http://anitec.ca/default.aspx?mode=prod ... l&pid=4201

IsaacKuo · Post by **IsaacKuo** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:49 am

Why not just get a cheap $30-$40 Radeon or nVidia? Plenty of them have fanless heat sinks, won't interfere with any PCI slot, and will generate less heat in the case and PSU (a PSU generates more heat the more load there is on it).

For an HTPC, a cheap video card is all that's needed.

rei · Post by **rei** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:07 am

i've replaced my x800xl stock hsf with a zalman vf700-alcu. it runs whisper quiet at 5v and is 49c idle.

nici · Post by **nici** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:21 am

rei wrote:i've replaced my x800xl stock hsf with a zalman vf700-alcu. it runs whisper quiet at 5v and is 49c idle.

What´s your load temps with that? can it run at 5V on full load? My x800XL becomes unstable over 80c.

rei · Post by **rei** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:25 am

i run at 70-80c.

i am quite happy to run at this since my gigabyte silentpipe ran at 60 idle, 110 load. i still have it sitting here with another zalman on it, i should try to sell it. not sure if there's been any heat damage but gigabyte tells me that's normal temp range.

tempoct · Post by **tempoct** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:19 pm

Needs encode/decode power for TVs too... Cheapo card won't suitable. This is the GPU everyone recommended from HTPCnews forum;

http://htpcnews.com/forums/index.php?showforum=7

I also plan to have some "light" gaming on this one too

IsaacKuo wrote:Why not just get a cheap $30-$40 Radeon or nVidia? Plenty of them have fanless heat sinks, won't interfere with any PCI slot, and will generate less heat in the case and PSU (a PSU generates more heat the more load there is on it).

For an HTPC, a cheap video card is all that's needed.

tempoct · Post by **tempoct** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:22 pm

I meant, just replace the fan in original HSF.

rei wrote:i've replaced my x800xl stock hsf with a zalman vf700-alcu. it runs whisper quiet at 5v and is 49c idle.

rei · Post by **rei** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:58 pm

the msi one uses an all copper thing that i can't easily just replace the fan out of.

you pointed to the htpc forum in general--*which* cpu do they recommend?

i recommend 6600/6600gt for light gaming + video decoding power. any more is overkill for 'light gaming.'

tempoct · Post by **tempoct** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 6:55 pm

rei wrote:the msi one uses an all copper thing that i can't easily just replace the fan out of.

you pointed to the htpc forum in general--*which* cpu do they recommend?

i recommend 6600/6600gt for light gaming + video decoding power. any more is overkill for 'light gaming.'

I see. I have to check out my card on fan replacement. I'm thinking more of making fan vent from outside the case.

Most people recommend Athlon 64 Venice core. The 3000+ should be plenty for my need. Many people use A64 to use the AMD Cool n' Quiet thing. HTPC case mostly don't have good ventulation (mostly just have the looks

). So, something run cooler should be good and make it possible to run the fan at lower speed.

rei · Post by **rei** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:16 pm

uh, we're talking about video cards. why bring in the cpu?

tempoct · Post by **tempoct** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:42 pm

mmmm.... I thought you asked about it in your previous reply....
So you meant the GPU, not CPU, right?

For that, they recommend the 6600 non-GT version. Should be plenty for my use.

rei wrote:uh, we're talking about video cards. why bring in the cpu?

rei · Post by **rei** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 6:12 pm

Ah, that's right. One typo leads to a completely different tangent.

I meant to ask about the GPU. Then you answered my typo, which I didn't realize I made, thereby throwing me further into confusion.