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Silent Video Card and Motherboard Heatsinks

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So you've got a high specification computer but you'd like to make it quiet too. A difficult combination? Not any more. It is easy enough to install an Ultra-Quiet PSU, SilentDrive and CPU cooler, but the problem with noise elimination in your PC is that you will always hear the loudest noise. The effect of quietness is often spoiled by noises coming from fans installed on the motherboard and/or the video card. Even worse, the smaller fans that are typically used on these devices need to spin very quickly in order to achieve any airflow at all, so guess what? More noise!

Of course the best approach is to avoid products with fans on them. However, this has become more and more difficult as manufacturers produce faster and hotter-running boards. But now, after a long time "in the pipeline", we are at last proud to announce two new products from Zalman which will put an end to the problem of motherboard and video card noise for good. These products won't make your cards quieter - they will make them totally silent! Extremely clever fin designs gives a huge increase in surface area, enabling excellent cooling without the need for any fan whatsoever!

Silent Video Card Heatsink

This beautiful product is designed specifically to replace the cheap heatsink/fan combinations which are commonly provided with high performance graphics cards. Fourteen fins made of pure copper are folded almost flat for maximum space efficiency, and the ends clamped tightly between two aluminium blocks. Two super-strong hex-head bolts are used to compress the fins together in a multiple-layer aluminium/copper "sandwich" and rounded nuts tighten the whole assembly to very high torque level for maximum heat transfer.

Bore holes are cross-drilled through the block for extra airflow, and finally the contact surface of the heatsink is milled completely flat and polished so you can see your face in it! The heatsink is mounted directly to the graphics card in place of the factory HSF using two-part thermally-conductive epoxy (supplied). The design ingenuity and build quality of this product are awesome!

Product features

• Reduces video card noise to zero - operates in absolute silence

• Compatible with virtually all video cards

• No fan vibrations are transmitted into the video card PCB, enhancing long-term reliability

• Reduces power loading through the video card and computer PSU

• Reduces dust build up on the video card for more pleasant servicing and again enhancing reliability

• The graphics processing unit (GPU) on the video card runs cooler and potentially more stable even under extreme 3D processing

• Because of the lower running temperature, video card overclocking becomes easier (overclocking is undertaken at your own risk)

• Detailed installation instructions are available

Installation considerations

Please note that because of space clearance required, you will be unable to insert a PCI card in the one slot adjacent to your video card after installing this heatsink. Other slots are unaffected. Also note that a small amount of discolouration of the copper fins may occur after several years. This is normal and cooling efficiency will not be significantly affected. Finally, please bear in mind that epoxy glue supplied with the product is a permanent fixing solution and the heatsink will subsequently not be easily removable.

Specifications

Compatibility

The product is compatible with the vast majority of graphics cards. However, when it is to be installed on a very high performance video card, we would recommend also using an additional Ultra-Quiet 92mm fan to ensure best possible cooling under extreme conditions. The 92mm fan can be installed over the video card using an Overhead Fan Bracket which is designed to be mounted using the same screws which retain your PCI/AGP cards.

The bracket has slots to allow positional adjustment of the fan so that it is held directly above the video card. The bracket is the same product as is supplied with the Flower CPU cooler, so if you are using a Flower cooler on your processor, then the 92mm video card fan can be mounted on the same bracket as holds the Flower cooler fan, so there is no need to purchase an additional bracket. However, if you are not using a Flower cooler then the bracket is available to order separately.

The 92mm Ultra-Quiet fan runs exceptionally quietly and will not add audible noise to your system. Therefore if you are considering installing the Silent Video Card Heatsink on any of the following video cards, please consider also ordering an Ultra-Quiet 92mm fan and, if you are not using a Flower cooler, an Overhead Fan Bracket.

• GeForce 3 Ti series

• GeForce 4 Ti series

• ATI Radeon 8500

If you are using any video card other than those listed above, then the additional 92mm Ultra-Quiet fan and bracket are not necessary, as the card can be cooled 100% passively with the Silent Video Card heatsink alone. Such cards include any GeForce 2 Ti, GeForce MX series or ATI Radeon (non-8500) cards - these run cool enough not to require the extra 92mm fan.

Click here to read the PC Arena review - "The Zalman beats the Nvidia stock cooler hands down"

Silent Motherboard Heatsink

Many new motherboards are now being supplied with fans on the northbridge chipset in order to give adequate cooling. This Zalman product takes a different but refreshingly simple approach. By using the maximum possible area of the chip surface, and by having an oversize fin design, the motherboard is cooled safely and without any noise whatsoever. In many cases, the chip will run even cooler than with the noisy manufacturer-supplied HSF, enhancing PC stability.

Product features

• Reduces motherboard noise to zero - operates in absolute silence

• Compatible with virtually all motherboards with fan/heatsinks (Northbridge)

• A fan is not required, so no vibrations are transmitted into the PCB, enhancing long-term reliability

• Reduces power loading through the motherboard and computer PSU

• Reduces dust build up for more pleasant servicing and again enhancing reliability

• Easy to install with a choice of two installation methods

• Solid anodised-aluminium top quality construction

• Animated installation instructions are available (requires Flash plugin)

Installation considerations

Depending on your existing heatsink/cooler, two methods are available when you are installing this product. If your existing item is secured using pushpins going into the motherboard, then these can be removed and new ones used to mount the silent model. Sprung pushpins and a tube of thermal compound are provided with the product. Installation is easy, since a clever adjustable mechanism caters for a variety of pushpin locations, and the thermal compound is spread on the mating surfaces for optimum heat transfer.

Some motherboards have the heatsink/cooler glued directly onto the chip and in this case pushpin mounting is not usually an option, since holes are not provided in the motherboard. Instead, the existing heatsink must be prised off and the replacement glued on in the same way. Thermally-conductive epoxy adhesive is provided for this purpose. Please bear in mind that if epoxy glue is used to affix the heatsink, this should be considered a permanent fixing solution.

Specifications

Product Reviews

The Hardwire - "9/10 for excellent noise reduction"

Meet The Geek - "10/10: Go for it; it won't disappoint!"