GT120 new cooler suggestions?

[Darmok N Jalad]

I have a cMP 4,1, and right now I’ve pulled the GT120 because the fan is pretty loud. I’ve tried cleaning and oiling, but it is still noticably buzzy, so I’m looking to replace the cooler with an aftermarket option. Being a non-standard card, I’m having a hard time finding something that I know will work. I know it’s not a high-TDP card, so I’m mainly looking for quiet. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Dr. Stealth]

The PC version of the card is the GeForce 9500 GT. There are lots of them on eBay for very little cost. I'm pretty sure if you pull the cover off your GT 120 the PC version fan would fit.

Another inexpensive option if you really like quiet. The Xserve version of the GT 120 had no fan, just a good size heatsink. You could pull your cover and pop a heatsink on.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

The PC version of the card is the GeForce 9500 GT. There are lots of them on eBay for very little cost. I'm pretty sure if you pull the cover off your GT 120 the PC version fan would fit.

Another inexpensive option if you really like quiet. The Xserve version of the GT 120 had no fan, just a good size heatsink. You could pull your cover and pop a heatsink on.

Yeah, the heat sink on the fan version is already pretty substantial for a 50W card. It dawned on me last night that I may just be able to put a slow 80mm fan on top, or maybe try to duct some of the cMP’s intake fan over the card. I’m guessing the GPU fan doesn’t need to be detected for the card to function properly as long as I keep it cool.

I will check out the Xserve version. Maybe I’ll get a feel for how big it is to see how much cooling is needed.

 

[Dr. Stealth]

Yeah, the heat sink on the fan version is already pretty substantial for a 50W card. It dawned on me last night that I may just be able to put a slow 80mm fan on top, or maybe try to duct some of the cMP’s intake fan over the card. I’m guessing the GPU fan doesn’t need to be detected for the card to function properly as long as I keep it cool.

I will check out the Xserve version. Maybe I’ll get a feel for how big it is to see how much cooling is needed.

Xserve version....

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Xserve version....

View attachment 750998

Doesn’t look like much for cooling. I’m guessing there was decent airflow across the card in the server chassis?

 

[Dr. Stealth]

Doesn’t look like much for cooling. I’m guessing there was decent airflow across the card in the server chassis?

Yes... Servers have good airflow, but the cMP does too. It won't take much to keep that little thing cool.

 

[h9826790]

Xserve version....

View attachment 750998

doesn't look like can plug into the cMP's PCIe slot.

 

[cube]

doesn't look like can plug into the cMP's PCIe slot.

Maybe the ones with HDMI would work:

http://www.pcidv.com/en/products.asp?id=628

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

doesn't look like can plug into the cMP's PCIe slot.

No, it won’t. It’s an MXM version, like what you’d get in a notebook with dedicated graphics. It’s mainly just to see how big of a passive cooler I’d need.

Maybe the ones with HDMI would work:

http://www.pcidv.com/en/products.asp?id=628

That product would take the MXM card and allow you to use it in a PCIe slot. A neat idea, but a bit beyond what I’m looking to spend for this project.

 

[Dr. Stealth]

doesn't look like can plug into the cMP's PCIe slot.

No it will not fit.

I was only suggesting the OP could replace his cover and fan assy with a heatsink.... Like the Xserve version GT-120.

 

[cube]

That product would take the MXM card and allow you to use it in a PCIe slot. A neat idea, but a bit beyond what I’m looking to spend for this project.

It might also not be compatible with the card's firmware.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Tried an experiment where I removed the plastic shroud over the GT120 and unplugged the fan. The aluminum cooling frame is actually quite substantial, though not all of it is centered around the GPU die, but there is a set of fins over the GPU itself. Next, I loaded the GPU with Luxmark, which is likely beyond what I would attempt in normal use. Temps slowly rose from the 50s up to 75C before I ran out of time and stopped the experiment, and the heat sink got pretty toasty. NVIDIA lists the max temp of the GT120 at 105C, but I’m not sure if I want to push such an old card. I may look at getting some extra airflow over the existing heat sink.

 

[orph]

temps sound fine, 70c is low 90-100c is when you are to hot.
if you want (and have room) stick it in the second pci slot it's still full speed and the card will run a tad cooler.
if you feel brave swap the thermal past (if you ever remove the heat sink you have to replace the past).
i dont think it's relay worth modding the card, if it works leave it or replace it past cleaning it's not worth spending a lot of time on such a cheep card.

was going to say 'grab a gtx 650/660/670/680 cheep on ebay' but just had a look and the prices have gone up plus there's lots of scam/fake cards from china why bother making a fake gtx 650???
try gum tree in the uk maybe for a low end gtx 6xx card (some of the GT 6xx cards dont need power and ca be passively cooled)

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

temps sound fine, 70c is low 90-100c is when you are to hot.
if you want (and have room) stick it in the second pci slot it's still full speed and the card will run a tad cooler.
if you feel brave swap the thermal past (if you ever remove the heat sink you have to replace the past).
i dont think it's relay worth modding the card, if it works leave it or replace it past cleaning it's not worth spending a lot of time on such a cheep card.

was going to say 'grab a gtx 650/660/670/680 cheep on ebay' but just had a look and the prices have gone up plus there's lots of scam/fake cards from china why bother making a fake gtx 650???
try gum tree in the uk maybe for a low end gtx 6xx card (some of the GT 6xx cards dont need power and ca be passively cooled)

I did move it to the second slot--great minds think alike! I also engineered a shroud to pick up more air from the PCI intake fan. I cut a wedge out of an old plastic mouthwash bottle (recycling). I can use Macs Fan Control to monitor "PCI slot 2," which appears to be the GPU reading straight off the GT120. The GPU appears to idle higher in MacOS than Windows 10, but it hovers around 60C most of the time now. Loading it down pushes it up to about 70C. If I manually turn the PCI fan up to 3000 RPM, I can get the temps down to 53C, but that's pretty loud. If I set the fan range to 58C to 80C, temps seem to manage well for now. So far I can't get it back to 70C for my use. Not anywhere near the 105C thermal limit so far!

I'd say we have success, but we're still in the winter months here. I'll be working against higher ambient temps in 2-3 months. Still, I feel better about the extra air flow over the card to keep the heat from building up.

 

[ActionableMango]

Is something wrong with your 7870? I'd assume that would be a way better card anyway.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Is something wrong with your 7870? I'd assume that would be a way better card anyway.

I’m thinking about selling it. I have it flashed for EFI boot screens, so I can probably fetch a decent sum for it still. I don’t use the graphics card for anything, really. Plus, I like the modding for fun sometimes.

 

[mikeboss]

I do have a GT-120 which runs flaky but the fan is OK. you can have it for free if you want. postage (greece, I assume?) and packing will be about EUR 20 though...

 

[orph]

i dont see a need to mod the card, not relay shore it sounds like it's ruining fine and the temps sound normal.
if you want quiet get a passive cooled low power card or just a low power card gt640 maybe or rx460/560.

id gess the only simple thing that may help it is replace the thermal past but there's a chance you may brake the card so not shore it's worth it unless your confident.

ps the fans are set to only kick in to fast once the card gets to around 80c thats why when stressed it floats around that temp and not a lower one.

 

[ActionableMango]

Plus, I like the modding for fun sometimes.

This should do the trick. And it'll be quiet, too!