Zalman people... 8800GT vs. 3870?

~El~Jefe~ · Post by **~El~Jefe~** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:50 pm

Hey there,

I was going to purchase the 8800gt and use zalman's custome 8800gts block on it. I thought it would be necessary.

Is it?

Also, I have been wondering about the new 3870. I think it's a better option for someone like me who plans on watching blu-rays on his pc. (UVD is a win).

I currently am using the ZM-GWB2 waterblock on my x1900 all-in-wonder pro. It cools is so easily on load its nuts.

my deepest concern is the ram sinks. I just havent heard about how they are setup on the 3870 and if they even need separate cooling besides for glue-on heatsinks that I normally use for such things.

hm?

SebRad · Post by **SebRad** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:02 am

From what I've read the 8800GT is a bit faster but also more expensive (and less available at the moment) than the HD3870. At load it's not clear which is the more power hungry, possibly not a lot to choose. At idle (ie most of the time) the HD3870 is significantly cooler. This matters as load is likely to be 3D game with sound effect/music so some noise from graphics cooling isn't a big deal, at idle may not have other noise to mask any cooling noise being made.
I'm not sure the extra video decode options that ATI has over Nvidia are very significant, with either card any dual core (or good single core) CPU is going to be fine and not overloaded - see SPCR review of the Asus 8600 card for CPU usage during video playback for example.
I think RAM sinks on video cards are usually for cosmetic effect! My understanding is unless over-clocking then they aren't really needed. Any sort of small stick on ones, eg like come with Zalman flower coolers, are going to be enough.
If your current waterblock will fit the HD3870 then I'd think it's very likely got enough cooling capacity, the HD3870 isn't a really hot card.
If you already have water cooling then makes sense to keep the gfx card in the loop. If not then Zalman VF-900/VF-1000 should be quiet option. Or Thermalright HR-03 either passive or with quiet fan should cool about any card, niether of these are cheap solutions but if you want quiet you usually have to pay.
Regards, Seb

ultrachrome · Post by **ultrachrome** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:56 am

~El~Jefe~ wrote:Hey there,

I was going to purchase the 8800gt and use zalman's custome 8800gts block on it. I thought it would be necessary.

Is it?

Also, I have been wondering about the new 3870. I think it's a better option for someone like me who plans on watching blu-rays on his pc. (UVD is a win).

I currently am using the ZM-GWB2 waterblock on my x1900 all-in-wonder pro. It cools is so easily on load its nuts.

my deepest concern is the ram sinks. I just havent heard about how they are setup on the 3870 and if they even need separate cooling besides for glue-on heatsinks that I normally use for such things.

hm?

If you are referring to the RHS88, it won't fit.

~El~Jefe~ · Post by **~El~Jefe~** » Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:32 am

nah, just the waterblock I mentioned. Maybe it will be a quick swap. I will have to call zalman

hate calling people

WR304 · Post by **WR304** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 1:26 pm

You can't use the full cover Zalman 8800GTS waterblock (ZM-GWB8800 GTS) with the 8800GT.

The card layout is different.

You can use your original ZM-GWB3 VGA waterblock (the one that comes with Reserator 1 and 2) with the 8800GT or HD 3870 though.

The mounting holes on the 8800GT are the same as the older Nvidia Geforce 7 cards.

For the RAM you can use a Zalman ZM-RWB1 waterblock

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/vie ... 0&code=021

Apparently you get good temperatures using a pair of 8800GT cards in SLI with those waterblocks and a Reserator.

~El~Jefe~ · Post by **~El~Jefe~** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:15 pm

I mentioned I only have version 2

will that fit?

It isnt as adjustable as 3 of course. just wondering though.... would save a lot of time.

WR304 · Post by **WR304** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 11:52 am

The ZM-GWB2 fits on Nvidia Geforce 6 & 7 cards. It ought to fit on the 8800GT without any problems too.

The mounting holes around the CPU are the same.

http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/vie ... 8&code=021

~El~Jefe~ · Post by **~El~Jefe~** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:50 pm

what about a 3870?

WR304 · Post by **WR304** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:52 am

There are some pics of Thermalright HR-03 coolers mounted on a ATI HD 3870 card here:

viewtopic.php?t=44747

Those are the standard four heatpipe "HR-03", rather than the six heatpipe "HR-03 R600" coolers intended for the HD2900XT and 2900Pro cards.

That standard HR-03 fits on the ATI X19x0 series cards too. If that fits it looks like the Zalman ZM-GWB2 waterblock should fit on the HD3870 as well.

http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main ... a2_MCL.htm

~El~Jefe~ · Post by **~El~Jefe~** » Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:41 pm

yup. looks like i dont need to go air just yet. if i had to remove the water block on the zalman, I would just end that whole thing. I really do not have the time to redo a water system. it can take all day to do that.

~El~Jefe~ · Post by **~El~Jefe~** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:22 am

dude at zalman said it would not fit my in transit 3870

true or false?

zm-gwb2

Zalman people... 8800GT vs. 3870?

Zalman people... 8800GT vs. 3870?

Re: Zalman people... 8800GT vs. 3870?