PCMech Forums - View Single Post - Removing video card coolers and replacing them

brgrabs · 01-15-2008, 01:40 PM

Thanks for the tips so far, and to answer Cricket's question: a little while back I ordered the DuOrb coolers from Tigerdirect.ca, not knowing (which is my own fault, I didn't do the research I should have) that they have a tendency to actually *raise* the temps of the 8800 GTX's under load; idle they lower it by a couple degrees, but nothing to make a significant difference.

So, I wasted $70 on a DuOrb that I will never use, and I also semi-removed my stock cooler from my video card (before I read about the DuOrbs being best for the GT and GTS) when I first got my DuOrb with the intention of installing it right away. So, I unscrewed all 12 or 13 screws on the top of my 8800 GTX and started trying to pull and maneuver the stock cooler off. Meanwhile of course in the back of my head I am thinking "Oh man, I am not supposed to touch that part of the card" and "uh oh, is it supposed to be on this tight?"

That is about the time that I stopped trying to remove the stock cooler and just screwed it back on. Then I went online and tried to find information about installing the DuOrb, which is when I learned that it was not very well suited for the GTX and Ultras. So now, although my stock cooler works fine (I have decent airflow, and keep the side of my case open with a house fan blowing in), I can't help but think during my attempts to remove the stock cooler, and twisting it, etc, that the thermal paste must be everywhere... Paranoid, but that is the whole long, boring story.

I am really new with computers, basically I built my own rig with no idea what I was doing, and it happens to work perfectly - but I don't know much.. and I am eager to learn! On a side note, I have applied to Digi Pen for the semester starting next Fall, so hopefully I get in - I love this stuff. Anyway, thanks again!

PS. Has anybody tried out the HR-03 Plus coolers for an 8800 GTX? After reading about the DuOrb, I immediately began searching for something that I *could* use on my card, and basically the best one I found was the HR-03 Plus.

01-15-2008, 01:40 PM	#4
brgrabs Member (6 bit) Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 33	Thanks for the tips so far, and to answer Cricket's question: a little while back I ordered the DuOrb coolers from Tigerdirect.ca, not knowing (which is my own fault, I didn't do the research I should have) that they have a tendency to actually raise the temps of the 8800 GTX's under load; idle they lower it by a couple degrees, but nothing to make a significant difference. So, I wasted $70 on a DuOrb that I will never use, and I also semi-removed my stock cooler from my video card (before I read about the DuOrbs being best for the GT and GTS) when I first got my DuOrb with the intention of installing it right away. So, I unscrewed all 12 or 13 screws on the top of my 8800 GTX and started trying to pull and maneuver the stock cooler off. Meanwhile of course in the back of my head I am thinking "Oh man, I am not supposed to touch that part of the card" and "uh oh, is it supposed to be on this tight?" That is about the time that I stopped trying to remove the stock cooler and just screwed it back on. Then I went online and tried to find information about installing the DuOrb, which is when I learned that it was not very well suited for the GTX and Ultras. So now, although my stock cooler works fine (I have decent airflow, and keep the side of my case open with a house fan blowing in), I can't help but think during my attempts to remove the stock cooler, and twisting it, etc, that the thermal paste must be everywhere... Paranoid, but that is the whole long, boring story. I am really new with computers, basically I built my own rig with no idea what I was doing, and it happens to work perfectly - but I don't know much.. and I am eager to learn! On a side note, I have applied to Digi Pen for the semester starting next Fall, so hopefully I get in - I love this stuff. Anyway, thanks again! PS. Has anybody tried out the HR-03 Plus coolers for an 8800 GTX? After reading about the DuOrb, I immediately began searching for something that I could use on my card, and basically the best one I found was the HR-03 Plus.