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My Copper Parhelia Modding!
Last update 31 Mar 2003
The Parhelia is very good card indeed. One problem with it, however, is that it runs extremely hot. I didn't measure the temperature, but I suspect it is in the range of 50-60 celsius.
Before the modding, I managed to get it to 238 core 596 memory relatively stable (default 217/542). The max I've gotten from the card was 241 core 640 memory, but that was on an extremely cold day and I had my window wide open... the room temperature was like 10 celsius and I had to leave the room while benchmarking.
This implies that HEAT is the very bottleneck of my overclocking advanture.
So, to get better results, I had to mod it.
My objectives as to the mods are:
1. to be able to remove all the mods are restore it back to the original state in case I need to RMA it in the near future;
2. all copper;
3. look cool (subjectively...);
4. not only core HSF, but also ram sinks;
5. and, apparently, good cooling.
I searched for a while looking for the best 1U copper HSF on the market.
A list of the candidate and details here:
While the CoolJag (Dynatron) one is obviously the best, it is a bit too expensive.
Moreover, the ThermalTake one is immediately dropped out of competition
For the rest, I needed to choose between Fin and Pin HSF design...
At the end I chose the Akasa Iccile 350 because available, in good size and the Pin design gives me a bit of flexibility (see later).
Okay then I need some ram sinks.
The infamous TweakMonster ones were apparently very good, until I saw the price tag... 11 pounds for only 4 of them? I don't think so
Later then I saw the CoolerMaster ramsinks and I immediately said to myself, this thing is cheap!! (relatively, comparing to TweakMonster ones)
The Aluminium ones are just... what? 2 pounds! But the Copper ones are a bit more expensive, but it is still cheaper than TweakMonster ones.
The cooling is not going to be as good as the TweakMonster ones due to the height, but I don't have much choice.
Actually, I do. I have cut some P3 HSF into pieces that just fit. They are black anodised Aluminium. But, they don't look as cool! I do know that Copper and Aluminium are not much different in this situation... but... I really want some Copper
There is one problem though. The BGA ram chips on the Parhelia are about 12x12mm, while the base of the CoolerMaster ram sinks is 22x8mm... it is not going to cover the entire area, and it would be too long too!
After consulting with some knowledgeable geeks, they said that it would be okay. Let's see how it goes.
Oh by the way, the ram sinks come with thermal tape so I don't have to use Arctic Silver epoxy, hence I am able to take them off at any time.
My Copper Parhelia Modding!
Last update 31 Mar 2003
The Parhelia is very good card indeed. One problem with it, however, is that it runs extremely hot. I didn't measure the temperature, but I suspect it is in the range of 50-60 celsius.
Before the modding, I managed to get it to 238 core 596 memory relatively stable (default 217/542). The max I've gotten from the card was 241 core 640 memory, but that was on an extremely cold day and I had my window wide open... the room temperature was like 10 celsius and I had to leave the room while benchmarking.
This implies that HEAT is the very bottleneck of my overclocking advanture.
So, to get better results, I had to mod it.
My objectives as to the mods are:
1. to be able to remove all the mods are restore it back to the original state in case I need to RMA it in the near future;
2. all copper;
3. look cool (subjectively...);
4. not only core HSF, but also ram sinks;
5. and, apparently, good cooling.
I searched for a while looking for the best 1U copper HSF on the market.
A list of the candidate and details here:
While the CoolJag (Dynatron) one is obviously the best, it is a bit too expensive.
Moreover, the ThermalTake one is immediately dropped out of competition
For the rest, I needed to choose between Fin and Pin HSF design...
At the end I chose the Akasa Iccile 350 because available, in good size and the Pin design gives me a bit of flexibility (see later).
Okay then I need some ram sinks.
The infamous TweakMonster ones were apparently very good, until I saw the price tag... 11 pounds for only 4 of them? I don't think so
Later then I saw the CoolerMaster ramsinks and I immediately said to myself, this thing is cheap!! (relatively, comparing to TweakMonster ones)
The Aluminium ones are just... what? 2 pounds! But the Copper ones are a bit more expensive, but it is still cheaper than TweakMonster ones.
The cooling is not going to be as good as the TweakMonster ones due to the height, but I don't have much choice.
Actually, I do. I have cut some P3 HSF into pieces that just fit. They are black anodised Aluminium. But, they don't look as cool! I do know that Copper and Aluminium are not much different in this situation... but... I really want some Copper
There is one problem though. The BGA ram chips on the Parhelia are about 12x12mm, while the base of the CoolerMaster ram sinks is 22x8mm... it is not going to cover the entire area, and it would be too long too!
After consulting with some knowledgeable geeks, they said that it would be okay. Let's see how it goes.
Oh by the way, the ram sinks come with thermal tape so I don't have to use Arctic Silver epoxy, hence I am able to take them off at any time.
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