Looking to replace GPU Cooler, need advice

[LiVam]

Since I purchased my PNY Verto Geforce 8600GT a year and a half ago, it's been getting just a little bit hotter over time.

It idles at around 60-64C, and will go up to more than 80C during heavy load (gaming etc).

I've never replaced nor even removed a cooler before, and I'm very uncertain about where to start. I'm willing to spend around $40 at the most, preferably less. Any suggestions are very welcome :thup:

 

[Samael88]

I don't now much about fans, and thus can't give any advice, but there is one thing I just have to say.

80C that is really hot for electronic device. The condensators usually can only take temperatures up to about 70C, so I think you get what I mean when I say that it is just luck that the card still works

 

[Prometheus]

Most components can survive temps of over 100C.
I would suggest getting some high-quality heat-sink paste, like Arctic Silver 5 or some other well researched product and reseating the videocards fan and such.

http://www.overclock.net/nvidia/344600-guide-cleaning-reseating-your-graphics-card.html
^something I found w/ a google search "reseat video card guide"

 

[LiVam]

I don't now much about fans, and thus can't give any advice, but there is one thing I just have to say.

80C that is really hot for electronic device. The condensators usually can only take temperatures up to about 70C, so I think you get what I mean when I say that it is just luck that the card still works

Well, the card itself appears to be able to handle over 100C, but I can tell the machine is getting worried when it tops 70C. And when I'm playing a demanding game at 80C on the GPU you can really hear the fans going crazy.

Most components can survive temps of over 100C.
I would suggest getting some high-quality heat-sink paste, like Arctic Silver 5 or some other well researched product and reseating the videocards fan and such.

http://www.overclock.net/nvidia/344600-guide-cleaning-reseating-your-graphics-card.html
^something I found w/ a google search "reseat video card guide"

Survive; yes. But it seems to be an issue, and is definately slowing down the entire machine when reaching certain temperatures and making the fans go off - LOUD -.


As things are now, my machine is crashing occasionaly. Not due to spyware/viruses either (checked by reformatting with a clean version of both XP and Vista ).

Things I know that aren't causing this:
RAM - Replaced but still crashes
HDD - Same as RAM

The machine will just freeze and loop whatever sound was played last. Example: I'm listening to a song, a guitar chord is played for 10 milliseconds, machine crashes and loops those 10 milliseconds over and over. Very annoying.

 

[kingkingyyk3]

My Asus 8600GT Magic 512MB DDR2 has 50C at idle and 55C at full load(Original fan). Thermaltake cooler is quite good as I know.