Best VGA Ramsinks?

GV2NIX · November 28th, 2006

I'm wondering what the best VGA ramsinks are these days (or if they're all pretty much the same, like before, so long as they're copper). I used to use these because they were copper and had nice thin fins for good surface area and airflow, but they appear to be discontinued.

Any suggestions? What kind of VGA ramsinks do you use, and why? I'm planning on setting up my X1900XT with an HR-03.

Tyreal · November 28th, 2006

The best ramsinks that I have heard of are the Swiftech sinks.
http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcbgamera.html

If you can't find those OCZ sinks anymore, try these:
http://www.frozencpu.com/ram-19.html

**gvblake22** · November 28th, 2006

The Zalman ZM-RHS1 RAM sinks or the Microcool MOSFET Chipsink are also pretty nice in my opinion. But all the ones mentioned so far are (except the ones you linked to GV2NIX, the link doesn't work and OCZ says their chipsinks are discontinued). If you're using them with the HR-03, I think that cooler actually comes with RAMsinks (but I could be wrong). Otherwise, the Zalman ones might be a good choice since four of them are already cut lower to fit under a full sized VGA cooler.

Quakindude · November 28th, 2006

GV, I changed your thread title and references to VGA. I don't know why OCZ had them listed as BGA, but you'll get more help by referring to them as VGA. Most people know what that means right off the bat.

I've used the Zalman heatsinks on my last 4 video cards. They are a top-notch product. You will need some air moving through the case if you want to overclock your video card. A couple of nice 120mm Antec Tri-Cool fans should do the trick. They come with a 3 position switch for speed settings. Even on low, they move a good bit of air.

GV2NIX · November 28th, 2006

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Quakindude, thanks for changing the subject line. I guess since I'm going to use them on my card, it's more appropriate.

So, Quakindude and gvblake, you don't feel that copper ramsinks are better? I figured that with the limited airflow that copper would be the way to go. But, if you feel otherwise, please, do tell!

Also, since I'm going to be using the HR-03 (probably with a 120mm fan), I'm assuming that I'll be getting pretty good airflow over the card and over the ramsinks.

I'm not sure how much I'm going to overclock my X1900, because it's not a very good overclocker. So, I'm mainly looking for efficient cooling, especially for the RAM chips since I'm going to be doing away with the stock cooler.

Quakindude · November 28th, 2006

Right now, on my 7950GT, I am using a Zalman VF-900 cooler. The Ramsinks it came with look to be made of aluminum. I could be wrong though. At any rate, I have gone from a stock 460/1.3 to a stable 492/1.45 overclock. This is without any artifacts, using the card to play FEAR and BF2142 stable. This is actually a pretty decent overclock for this particular board, which already comes over clocked from the Nvidia reference design.

GV2NIX · November 28th, 2006

Do you think you'd get better results with the RAM if you had copper ramsinks? Or do you think that at that size it really doesn't matter enough?

**gvblake22** · November 29th, 2006

Personally, I don't think copper vs. aluminum is really going to make much (if any) difference in cooling ability with such small heatsinks. Even with full sized CPU coolers there is often little difference between aluminum and copper versions (XP-90's and many previous generation Zalman heatsinks). When the heatsink is that small, I would be primarily concerned with whichever has the most surface area. You could also consider just making some of your own RAMsinks out of other heatsinks or something.

November 28th, 2006	#1
GV2NIX Official HL Legal Counsel Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 136	Best VGA Ramsinks? I'm wondering what the best VGA ramsinks are these days (or if they're all pretty much the same, like before, so long as they're copper). I used to use these because they were copper and had nice thin fins for good surface area and airflow, but they appear to be discontinued. Any suggestions? What kind of VGA ramsinks do you use, and why? I'm planning on setting up my X1900XT with an HR-03. CPU: Opteron 170 @ 2.70GHz (270x10) Vcore=1.425V Mobo: DFI Lanparty UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert RAM: 2x 512 OCZ PC-4800 EL Elite CL2.5-4-4-10 2T (1:1) Video: ATi Radeon X1900XT PSU: FSP Group FX700-GLN 700W My Heatware Last edited by Quakindude; November 28th, 2006 at 09:08. Reason: Changed to VGA from BGA

November 28th, 2006	#2
Tyreal Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 2,557	The best ramsinks that I have heard of are the Swiftech sinks. http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/swmcbgamera.html If you can't find those OCZ sinks anymore, try these: http://www.frozencpu.com/ram-19.html I Like Watercooling. D-Tek Fuzion, MCP655, MCR220

November 28th, 2006	#4
Quakindude I'm Diggin it! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Rucker, AL. Posts: 2,757 Blog Entries: 7	GV, I changed your thread title and references to VGA. I don't know why OCZ had them listed as BGA, but you'll get more help by referring to them as VGA. Most people know what that means right off the bat. I've used the Zalman heatsinks on my last 4 video cards. They are a top-notch product. You will need some air moving through the case if you want to overclock your video card. A couple of nice 120mm Antec Tri-Cool fans should do the trick. They come with a 3 position switch for speed settings. Even on low, they move a good bit of air. Q6600@ 3.2GHz w/ CNPS9700 \| EVGA 780i \| 2Gb Corsair DDR2-800 \| EVGA GTX 280 1Gb Video \| 1x WD 640Gb HDD, 2x Seagate 400Gb HDD, 1x250Gb WD \| 2x Samsung SH-203B Opticals \| Antec 900 \| ABS/Tagan BZ700 700W PSU

November 28th, 2006	#5
GV2NIX Official HL Legal Counsel Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 136	Thanks for the suggestions guys! Quakindude, thanks for changing the subject line. I guess since I'm going to use them on my card, it's more appropriate. So, Quakindude and gvblake, you don't feel that copper ramsinks are better? I figured that with the limited airflow that copper would be the way to go. But, if you feel otherwise, please, do tell! Also, since I'm going to be using the HR-03 (probably with a 120mm fan), I'm assuming that I'll be getting pretty good airflow over the card and over the ramsinks. I'm not sure how much I'm going to overclock my X1900, because it's not a very good overclocker. So, I'm mainly looking for efficient cooling, especially for the RAM chips since I'm going to be doing away with the stock cooler. CPU: Opteron 170 @ 2.70GHz (270x10) Vcore=1.425V Mobo: DFI Lanparty UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert RAM: 2x 512 OCZ PC-4800 EL Elite CL2.5-4-4-10 2T (1:1) Video: ATi Radeon X1900XT PSU: FSP Group FX700-GLN 700W My Heatware

November 28th, 2006	#6
Quakindude I'm Diggin it! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Rucker, AL. Posts: 2,757 Blog Entries: 7	Right now, on my 7950GT, I am using a Zalman VF-900 cooler. The Ramsinks it came with look to be made of aluminum. I could be wrong though. At any rate, I have gone from a stock 460/1.3 to a stable 492/1.45 overclock. This is without any artifacts, using the card to play FEAR and BF2142 stable. This is actually a pretty decent overclock for this particular board, which already comes over clocked from the Nvidia reference design. Q6600@ 3.2GHz w/ CNPS9700 \| EVGA 780i \| 2Gb Corsair DDR2-800 \| EVGA GTX 280 1Gb Video \| 1x WD 640Gb HDD, 2x Seagate 400Gb HDD, 1x250Gb WD \| 2x Samsung SH-203B Opticals \| Antec 900 \| ABS/Tagan BZ700 700W PSU

November 28th, 2006	#3
gvblake22 Modder-ator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tempe Desert Posts: 6,475 Blog Entries: 1	The Zalman ZM-RHS1 RAM sinks or the Microcool MOSFET Chipsink are also pretty nice in my opinion. But all the ones mentioned so far are (except the ones you linked to GV2NIX, the link doesn't work and OCZ says their chipsinks are discontinued). If you're using them with the HR-03, I think that cooler actually comes with RAMsinks (but I could be wrong). Otherwise, the Zalman ones might be a good choice since four of them are already cut lower to fit under a full sized VGA cooler.

November 29th, 2006	#8
gvblake22 Modder-ator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tempe Desert Posts: 6,475 Blog Entries: 1	Personally, I don't think copper vs. aluminum is really going to make much (if any) difference in cooling ability with such small heatsinks. Even with full sized CPU coolers there is often little difference between aluminum and copper versions (XP-90's and many previous generation Zalman heatsinks). When the heatsink is that small, I would be primarily concerned with whichever has the most surface area. You could also consider just making some of your own RAMsinks out of other heatsinks or something.