X-bit labs

Faster than GeForce 9800 GTX, Available Today: Gainward Bliss 8800 GTS 1024MB TV DD GS GLH Review (page 4)

Category: Video

by Alexey Stepin , Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 03/31/2008 | 12:35 PM ]

Cooling System

The cooling system installed on the Bliss 8800 GT 512MB GS GLH and Bliss 8800 GT 1024MB GS was good enough, but Gainward did not install it on the Bliss 8800 GTS 1024MB for some reason. Instead, the card carries the cooler we described in our review of the Gainward Bliss 9600 GT 512MB GS.

It resembles the reference cooler of the GeForce 7900 GTX. Two heat pipes connect the copper base with the heatsink consisting of thin aluminum plates. There is a depression in the center of the heatsink in which an ordinary axial fan is installed. The airflow from the fan goes to both sections of the heatsink as well as to the PCB. Some the hot air is thus exhausted out of the system case.

The copper base contacts with the GPU die only and is fastened to the PCB with four screws. The load-bearing elements of the power circuit are cooled with an individual small heatsink while the memory chips, with two metallic plates. A small figured plate takes heat off the chips on the face side of the PCB and a massive square one cools the reverse-side chips.

The cooling system is covered from above with a black plastic casing with numerous slits. It conceals the entire PCB except for the PCI Express connector. There are no colorful pictures on the cooler, only a manufacturer’s logo. As a result, the card has an ascetic and reserved appearance, resembling professional products that usually lack any kind of decorations.

According to our tests of the Gainward Bliss 9600 GT 512MB GS, this cooler is very effective, but the Bliss 8800 GTS 1024MB generates more heat. The GPU temperature is going to be higher unless Gainward has changed the settings of the fan management system to increase its speed.