I got so sick of my 9800 NP artifacting as soon as the GPU temp hit 56 C.......For reference the GPU was 48-49 C when web surfing......Run 3D2003 and the card would hit 56-60C and crap out. Given that my case temp is not that hot I examined the HSF on the 9800.....Lame is the only way to descibe it. The HSF is .465 of and inch thick and of very light weight Alum. The heatsink has two basic problems...
1)The fan mounts inside the HS and wear it mounts there are no fins. This reduces the surface area in the most important area...right over the GPU.
2) The mounting system is better than my 9700 NP as it does not use plastic push pins but rather brass pins. There is a small spring under each brass pin which provides the clamping force....There is the problem. The HSF is not attached to the GPU firmly enough and the entire HSF unit can be rocked slightly back and forth.
My solution to the problem was to toss the stock HSF and mount a stock K6 style HSF unit. I used a pair of bolts through the cards stock mounting holes and I drilled matching holes on the HS. Applied some thermal paste and torqued it down. I used some nylon washers on the back side of the card to prevent the metal bolts from shorting out the card.
Test results - Aquamark 2003 48.7C
- 3DMark2003 49C (run right after the Aquamark)
Best of all no artifacting!!!!
I urge all ATI 9700 and 9800 users to think of doing this mod if they have artifacting troubles due to high temps.
