12 replies to this topic

[Zizzy]

Hey guys, this is more some thoughts on the card than an actual review.

So I got the Zalman VF3000F from Wolve at a very generous R100 for my GTX 580. I wasn't really looking for a cooler, but when he said I can have it for R100 I thought, why not. The GTX 580 I bough second hand had a very ugly stock cooler anyway, and half of the sticker was loose.

Ok so I wasn't really planning on posting much, so I did not take foto's at all. So here is what the cooler consists of before install:

Only one heatsink included, depends what version you are buying.
 zalman-vf3000f-4.jpg   69.22K   3 downloads

Anyway installment was more than easy enough. Yes it does take time, but installing a VGA aftermarket cooler always does. Usually it's quite fun, especially when there are no hassles. This installment was 100% hassle free. Also, it's a looker. So after the installment you cannot help but smile.

Anyway, so I ran a few tests. It's just 2 games that I tested on and yes it's the only 2 games that I play at the moment. Some information you need to know about the benches:

• 20 - 21 degrees celcius room temp
  
• Stock cooler was running on a profile, Dota 2 reached 76% fan speed and Guild Wars 2 reached 83% (2% off max speed)
  
• Zalman Low Fan = 40ish, Med = 60ish, High = 80ish percent fan speed
  
• Stock cooler had side panel fan sucking air onto the GFX where as the Zalman is running with the fan off (too lazy to plug it in). So the Zalman has a slight disadvantage going into the benchies
  
• Voltage upped from 1 to 1.1, clocks @ 920/1150. So yes, the card is overclocked

 graphDota2.jpg   27.92K   4 downloads

 graphGW2.jpg   28.25K   3 downloads

Anyway the improvement made me more than happy enough. I decided to run the card at med fan speed as it does more than a good enough job and the fans are still soft enough for me not to hear them. At high speeds the cooler was almost as load as the stock cooler at load. Damn the stock cooler was a bit too loud, so glad about not having to hear that fan noise while under load.

All in all I am very happy. No more noise to bother me, a better looking gfx and cool temps. Couldn't have spent the R100 better.



Thanks Wolve!

[VirtualForce]

hehe, speaking of the noise makes me think back years ago, there were those CPU fans, forgot what they were called but damn those things were loud, a friend had one and they sounded like jet engines.

[Razer]

Pity all the images are not showing. Tried editing your post but I see it is either a pcbg or vB problem.

[Zizzy]

Mmm everything is fine here on my side, and I'm currently on my iPhone. See everything perfectly.. Anyone else have this problem?

[Razer]

It is resolved now.

[Zizzy]

Cool.

[VirtualForce]

Thermaltake Orbs, going at around 5000rpm.

[Razer]

VirtualForce, on 09 October 2012 - 07:16 AM, said:

Thermaltake Orbs, going at around 5000rpm.

Ah, rewind back to 2001. I used to lust after those big time.

And Zizzy, instalment is what you pay on your car. Lol!! Thanks for the review, very on topic given VF's current cooling predicament.

[Zizzy]

Lol @ VF, quite the random post!

[VirtualForce]

err, sort of, was referring to the noise levels today but 10 years ago a jet engine in your PC was ok.

[Zizzy]

Lol, makes more sense now. Forgot about your earlier post!

[Wolvebain]

@Zizzy: What thermal paste are you using?  I've migrated from Arctic MX-4 to Gelid GC-Extreme.

[Zizzy]

I used the ones that came with the cooler.

I might change it soon though, got some lying at home. Can't remember the brand name, think it's actually Gelid.