MSI to Make Graphics Cards with Passive Cooling

Dom · Sep 12, 2003, 06:45 AM

I still remember the times when my EGA graphics card supporting 16 colors in 640x350 resolution did not require any cooling at all while still giving me a chance to play without lags, slowdowns and graphical artifacts in a lot of games, including the massive “Digger” and the thrilling “Dangerous Dave”. Later VGA graphics cards emerged allowing me to play “Wolfenstein” and “Doom”, such devices were not too fast for 3D, but also did their job very-well even without eating 200W of power and dissipating so much heat that special air-pumping monster were required. During EGA and VGA times our computers were quiet and blazingly fast for their times.

In the late nineties graphics cards manufacturer began to equip their products with passive and sometimes even with active coolers. By the end of the year 2000 the vast majority of faming graphics cards required an active cooler. By the end of 2004 most of the powerful graphics processors will require a FlowFX-like system to cool the power down. That is why our computers may be too loud. But will we stick to those noisy monsters for ages? Well, looks like we will not, as more and more companies utilize passive cooling systems using heat-pipe technology and even water-cooling solutions!

Sapphire Technology produces graphics cards based on ATI Technologies’ VPUs with passive cooling systems; Gainward recently unveiled its GeForce FX 5900 Ultra with water-cooling solution; Zalman makes passive cooliers for even the most-advanced graphics cards. But that is not over! MSI is preparing the launch of its GeForce FX 5600-based graphics card featuring the so-called Aeronautical Cooling Technology, a passive cooling solution from Micro Star International!

<div align="center"><img src="http://www.hardwareheaven.com/dom/news/msi/msi_passive.jpg" width="250" height="201"></div>

Tom’s Hardware Guide web-site has even published a picture of the product, though, did not provide any of its technical specifications. Information about pricing and availability is also absent.

In case the Aeronautical Cooling Technology proves its efficiency on the GeForce FX 5600-based graphics cards, MSI will be very likely to release more powerful graphics cards with quiet passive cooling systems. Will the "EGA and VGA times" return?

______________________
Source: X-BitLabs

nForcer · Sep 12, 2003, 06:46 AM

Size does matter!

Matth · Sep 12, 2003, 09:35 PM

Not that bothered about going fanless on the Graphics (though my current 2MX is both fanless and heatsinkless), so long as it's no worse than the CPU heatsink.

Fully passive coolers tend to be large and heavy, while circulating liquid systems are cumbersome and expensive.

A lot could be achieved with ducted air cooling, and relatively low fan speeds and flows, just so long as either cool air is fetched directly in, or the major heat producers are exhausted directly out.

~~craig588~~ · Sep 12, 2003, 09:39 PM

whoa, put at least a passive HS on that thing, your core clock should be able to go ALOT higher after that.

It doesn't even need to be one of those high end passive sinks. You could just use the NB cooler from an old mobo.

tek · Sep 12, 2003, 09:48 PM

Looks pretty frickin cool.

DriveEuro · Sep 12, 2003, 10:55 PM

Looks too bulky and just obtrusive

FuNsTeR · Sep 12, 2003, 11:07 PM

looks like they are going backwards to move forwards

nForcer · Sep 13, 2003, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DriveEuro
Looks too bulky and just obtrusive

It sits in a case - most of the time a non-window'd case. Who's gonna care?
Just thinking outloud

~~craig588~~ · Sep 13, 2003, 05:02 AM

I'm thinking of adding a fan to it. LOL it defeats it point, but it should be a great overclocker that that point.

Thats why I'm looking into buying a zalman cooler for my r9800. I'll have one fan on the back, one on the front, and one blowing on it lengthwise.

Sep 12, 2003, 06:45 AM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	MSI to Make Graphics Cards with Passive Cooling I still remember the times when my EGA graphics card supporting 16 colors in 640x350 resolution did not require any cooling at all while still giving me a chance to play without lags, slowdowns and graphical artifacts in a lot of games, including the massive “Digger” and the thrilling “Dangerous Dave”. Later VGA graphics cards emerged allowing me to play “Wolfenstein” and “Doom”, such devices were not too fast for 3D, but also did their job very-well even without eating 200W of power and dissipating so much heat that special air-pumping monster were required. During EGA and VGA times our computers were quiet and blazingly fast for their times. In the late nineties graphics cards manufacturer began to equip their products with passive and sometimes even with active coolers. By the end of the year 2000 the vast majority of faming graphics cards required an active cooler. By the end of 2004 most of the powerful graphics processors will require a FlowFX-like system to cool the power down. That is why our computers may be too loud. But will we stick to those noisy monsters for ages? Well, looks like we will not, as more and more companies utilize passive cooling systems using heat-pipe technology and even water-cooling solutions! Sapphire Technology produces graphics cards based on ATI Technologies’ VPUs with passive cooling systems; Gainward recently unveiled its GeForce FX 5900 Ultra with water-cooling solution; Zalman makes passive cooliers for even the most-advanced graphics cards. But that is not over! MSI is preparing the launch of its GeForce FX 5600-based graphics card featuring the so-called Aeronautical Cooling Technology, a passive cooling solution from Micro Star International! <div align="center"><img src="http://www.hardwareheaven.com/dom/news/msi/msi_passive.jpg" width="250" height="201"></div> Tom’s Hardware Guide web-site has even published a picture of the product, though, did not provide any of its technical specifications. Information about pricing and availability is also absent. In case the Aeronautical Cooling Technology proves its efficiency on the GeForce FX 5600-based graphics cards, MSI will be very likely to release more powerful graphics cards with quiet passive cooling systems. Will the "EGA and VGA times" return? ______________________ Source: X-BitLabs

Sep 12, 2003, 09:48 PM	#5
tek DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Boston, US Posts: 2,103 Rep Power: 0	Looks pretty frickin cool. __________________ [COLOR=White][/COLOR]

Sep 12, 2003, 10:55 PM	#6
DriveEuro HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gurnee Illinois Posts: 4,677 Rep Power: 0	Looks too bulky and just obtrusive __________________ [color=orange]ASUS P4P800 Deluxe [color=black]-[/color] 2.4C --> 3300mhz [color=black]-[/color] Mushkin PC3200 at 220 5-2-2-2 (cpu limited) [color=black]-[/color] BBAti 9800Pro at 430/375 [/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]01[/color] [color=black]3[/color][color=gray]D[/color]M[color=black]a[/color][color=gray]r[/color]k[color=yellow]03[/color] 16001200 12801024

Sep 12, 2003, 11:07 PM	#7
FuNsTeR Caledonian and Proud Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Darkest Ayrshire Posts: 1,268 Rep Power: 76 System Specs	looks like they are going backwards to move forwards __________________ "They say when you play a Microsoft CD backwards you can hear satanic messages ..... but that's nothing, if you play it forward it will install Windows"

Sep 12, 2003, 06:46 AM	#2
nForcer Twice the fun! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 0	Size does matter!

Sep 12, 2003, 09:35 PM	#3
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,411 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	Not that bothered about going fanless on the Graphics (though my current 2MX is both fanless and heatsinkless), so long as it's no worse than the CPU heatsink. Fully passive coolers tend to be large and heavy, while circulating liquid systems are cumbersome and expensive. A lot could be achieved with ducted air cooling, and relatively low fan speeds and flows, just so long as either cool air is fetched directly in, or the major heat producers are exhausted directly out.

Sep 12, 2003, 09:39 PM	#4
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	whoa, put at least a passive HS on that thing, your core clock should be able to go ALOT higher after that. It doesn't even need to be one of those high end passive sinks. You could just use the NB cooler from an old mobo.

Sep 13, 2003, 05:02 AM	#9
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	I'm thinking of adding a fan to it. LOL it defeats it point, but it should be a great overclocker that that point. Thats why I'm looking into buying a zalman cooler for my r9800. I'll have one fan on the back, one on the front, and one blowing on it lengthwise.