:: :: Product Review: VGA Silencer by arctic-cooling (Graphics card cooler, used for cooling/silencing a ATi Radeon 9800 Pro, Mac Edition Retail card in a Mac G4 Graphite Tower, Digital Audio system)

"VGA Silencer" video card cooler works great although with some noted caveats

arctic-cooling card, cools and quiets ATi Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition Retail card but takes a PCI and RAM slot, in a G4 Digital Audio tower, to do it.

UPGRADED POWERHOUSE
After numerous upgrades to my workhorse computing system, a Mac G4 Tower Digital Audio flavor, I have been incorporating different ways to cool and quiet down this upgraded beast. As I have said before I live in the desert, my G4 is upstairs, in the summer my room can push up to 90 degrees fahrenheit! So I'm always on the lookout to find ways of cooling and quieting my G4 system.

NEW VIDEO CARD AND A NEW COOLER ACCESSORY
I recently bought an ATi Radeon 9800 Pro Mac Edition Video Card Retail edition for increased gaming speed and overall graphics acceleration. There have been some complaints of the fan noise on the Radeon 9800 card being compared to that of a hair dryer, mostly the OEM edition, not the Retail version which I bought. While I was in the process of purchasing the 9800 Radeon video card I also investigated my after market cooling solutions which were available for it. FYI, I purchased the ATi 9800 Radeon Mac Edition card at buy.com for the low low price of $293.95 minus $15 for first time customer instant rebate which equaled $278.95, not too shabby. For you bleeding edge types out there they also have the 256MB SE version for $363.99 ;-)

Click on images for large view and caption

COOLING OPTIONS AVAILABLE
There are about a zillion after-market PC CPU coolers out there (trust me on that one), but not many after-market video graphics card or GPU coolers. I read on AccelerateYourMac.com of one Mac/Radeon 9800 solution using a Verax G03 Cooler but at $60 I thought about looking elsewhere. I swear, sometimes the computing god(s) smile on you, no more than five minutes later I received and e-mail from svc.com, where I buy most of my puter modding paraphernalia, of a VGA card cooler and I quote, "The best performing VGA cooler," at a special online price of $9.99!!! Regular price is $21.99, which still is a great deal compared to what's available.

BOUGHT IT
The VGA Silencer cooler by arctic-cooling I purchased is the Rev. 2 edition, which adds compatibility for ATi All-In-Wonder cards. From what I have recently read the Rev. 3 should be/is already out. The VGA cooler arrived in 2 days from svc.com.

Click on images for large view and caption

INSTALLING IT
Basic steps I took installing the VGA cooler: Tools used/needed are a philips screwdriver, needle nose pliers and nerves of steel. First I removed the OEM Radeon 9800 heatsink/fan from the card: unplug the on-card fan power cable then carefully squeezing/smashing the plastic plugs on the backside of the card to pop off the heatsink, very very carefully of course. Then the side port plate/bracket needs to come off which consisted of removing 4 screws and then attached the new coolers' port bracket back on.

Click on images for large view and caption

Next removed the Radeon 9800 GPU old thermal paste, used a simple tissue for cleaning and achieved a mirror like finish in about a minute. I then applied some arctic silver thermal compound to GPU and cooler. I plugged the cooler fan cable onto the card and

Click on images for large view and caption

I fastened the cooler onto the Radeon card, tighten the 2 screws on the back plate until I achieved a nice snug fit.

UH-OH . . .
I then proceeded to install the Radeon card with the new cooler attached in my G4 case AGP slot and noticed two big very caveats: 1. The cooler takes the space of a PCI slot next to AGP slot and D. Also takes the space of one of three RAM slots next to AGP slot. Note: These were not huge problems for me since I only use 2 out of 4 PCI slots and I use 2 sticks of 512MB for RAM. Another slight concern is the next available PCI slot was paper thin tight when I slid my M-Audio Revolution 7.1 sound card next to the Radeon card with attached cooler.

Click on images for large view and caption

USING IT - RESULTS
The Radeon card, (and case), cooler is working great. I have used the on-board cooler switch changing the cooler fan from low to high speed and cannot audibly tell the difference in noise/loudness. The high setting does seem to push out a little more air.

My case seems to be running a little cooler now, no exact temperature measurements, just feeling the air coming out the back of the case and it doesn't seem to be as warm and maybe leaning towards room temperature to almost, gasp, cool now.

Looks like I'm ready for summer computing now, bring it on!

Click on images for large view and caption

WHAT I LIKE
First, it does what it says, cools the Radeon 9800 card and computer case to boot, as well as quiets down a beast of a video card. The cooler has two speed settings, low and high, which I couldn't audibly tell the difference in loudness in fact the fan is essentially inaudible. VGA Silencer is well made, includes decent color installation documentation of the steps you will need to take. And at $9.99 it's a cooler that simply can't be beat!

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Was a little tricky to install, not for the faint of heart or non-tinkerer type. A decent chance of zapping your video card if your not careful or comfortable fiddling with it. AND the two BIGGIES: Takes the space of one adjacent PCI slot AND RAM slot, in a G4 Digital Audio tower, your alternate G4/G5 flavor system might not have this RAM problem. I only use two 512MB RAM sticks so this was not a huge issue for me, but still a possible important consideration.

	arctic-cooling "VGA SILENCER" FEATURES & SPECS • Selectable cooling and noise level • Unique mounting clip • DHES technology, (Direct Heat Exhaust System) lowers case temperature additionally • Dimensions: 185x84x34mm • Rated fan speeds: 1200/2400RPM • Weight:278 g • Thermal compound included • Compatible with boards based on ATI 9500 [pro], 9600 [pro], 9700 [pro], 9800 [pro] & Nvidia Geforce 3GTS
	RISCX.COM RATING 4 out of 5 • Price: $21.99, $19.99 on sale at SVC and if you use the special e-mail coupon code "svcdotcom" it's only $9.99!!! • More Info/Buy: www.svc.com

OVERALL/SUGGESTIONS
If you want to quiet & cool down your Radeon 9800 flavored video card as well as cooling down inside your case then this card does so admirably at a price which can't be beat. Even though the cooler takes one PCI and RAM slot it was not an issue with me, but you might think otherwise. Also check out a fellow modder's guide for cooling a OEM Radeon 9800 card in a G5

LAST WORD
Do you hate the deafening noise your computer makes with all your screaming case fans, is your PC slowly melting into a dropping pile of plastic goop? Fear not and take heart! Announcing - The ultimate cooling solution for your PC is now available.

Comments/Questions? E-mail Riscx