Which GPU cooler style is best for a Mac Pro: fan-blower or open fan?

[PowerMac G4 MDD]

Hello,

I am trying to decide between these two ASUS GTX 1060 6GB cards. One has a fan-blower cooler, and the other has an open-fan cooler. (I am aware how each one operates: the fan-blower draws air out the back, and the open-fan one spews it into the case.)

Basically, I want the quietest experience possible, but I also don't want to heat up my machine and cause the PCI fan to go crazy. I was thinking about the fan-blower type of cooler, given that it draws the heat out the back (and that's probably the type of card that a Mac Pro is supposed to be using); however, they are apparently much louder.

Also, I currently have a an ASUS GTX 660, with ASUS open-fan cooler, and I don't have heat issues. The PCI fan goes up a little bit, but not THAT much. I basically don't hear the card itself. If the GTX 1060 outputs the same amount of heat or LESS than the 660 does, then I'll just get the open-fan type, since I have had no heat issues. BUT, if the 1060 does output more heat, maybe I just accept the possibly higher noise levels and get the fan-blower cooler. Any ideas?

Thanks,
MDD

EDIT: I realize that I asked this about two years ago, and, from within, MacVidCards mentioned that there is still a good amount of area from which air can escape out of the Mac Pro. I think an open-fan-style card wouldn't be such a bad idea, even though it means more hot air entering the PCI lane. That intake fan keeps that hot air moving anyway, so it's not as though it's sitting there and being allowed to rise. So, open-fan ASUS GTX 1060? I think it will be cool enough and definitely quieter than a fan-blower-style 1060. Would others agree?

 

[mavericks7913]

For mac pro? fan blower is way more effective because there is no other fan to blow hot airs out if you use open fan.

 

[PowerMac G4 MDD]

For mac pro? fan blower is way more effective because there is no other fan to blow hot airs out if you use open fan.

Well, in my experience, the PCI intake fan has done the job. If the 1060 has the same heat output as my current 660 (which is open-fan and has done fine), I am assuming that an open-fan 1060 would do just fine... but I gotta make sure that it doesn't have any higher heat output.

 

[pastrychef]

In my opinion, if you are using dual 130W CPUs, blower is better. In my experience, even though the PCI-e slots are in a separate "compartment" in the case, a hot video card can contribute to heat in the CPU compartment. Having blower style cooler to help push the hot air out of the case is preferable.

It matters less if you are using 95W CPUs, but it can still help keep temps down and keep the Mac Pro fans from having to work harder.

 

[TzunamiOSX]

In my opinion, if you are using dual 130W CPUs, blower is better. In my experience, even though the PCI-e slots are in a separate "compartment" in the case, a hot video card can contribute to heat in the CPU compartment. Having blower style cooler to help push the hot air out of the case is preferable.

It matters less if you are 95W CPUs, but it can still help keep temps down and keep the Mac Pro fans from having to work harder.

With a blower the PCIe-Area is around 3° cooler, but with a open-fan the GPU is cooler and more silent.

Without a dual GPU-Setup, you can use what you want. With a dual GPU-Setup blowers are much better.

Experience: EVGA 980 ACX 2.0 and Titan X standard cooler

 

[Filin]

Open system have zero-fan mode, when fan not running at system idle, until GPU get 60 degrees C

 

[mavericks7913]

Well, in my experience, the PCI intake fan has done the job. If the 1060 has the same heat output as my current 660 (which is open-fan and has done fine), I am assuming that an open-fan 1060 would do just fine... but I gotta make sure that it doesn't have any higher heat output.

Yeah open fan cooler is more effective and silent but like I said, Mac Pro case can not blow those airs out by itself. Open blower is effective if the computer case has proper fans to take out hot airs. If not, then it will be overheating very easily.

 

[pastrychef]

With a blower the PCIe-Area is around 3° cooler, but with a open-fan the GPU is cooler and more silent.

Without a dual GPU-Setup, you can use what you want. With a dual GPU-Setup blowers are much better.

Experience: EVGA 980 ACX 2.0 and Titan X standard cooler

Obviously, the open style coolers will keep the GPU cooler. But if you are running dual 130W CPUs, you should be more concerned with the CPU temps. With stock profiles, the fans have difficulty keeping the CPUs cool under full load.

Of course, GPU TDP also plays a role. For example, a GTX 1060 will itself generate much less heat than a GTX 1080 Ti and would itself require less elaborate cooling.

 

[ActionableMango]

I have had both styles in my MP and both operate perfectly fine. Open coolers are really bad in tight cases with no room and little ventilation. But the cheesegrater is huge and is literally made of holes.

In my experience, the blower (on a 5770 and GTX 680) were a little bit louder than the open cooler (a GTX 980). This makes sense because one smaller fan is going to have to operate at a higher RPM than multiple larger fans over a huge open heat sink. On the other hand, these are all different model cards so it's not a 1-to-1 comparison and there may have been other factors.

I would be perfectly fine with either one, but have a very slight preference for open. If I had adjacent PCIe cards, I'd probably prefer blower because at that point I'd put up with a louder fan in order to extract the heat instead of warming up all the other cards.

 

[irked]

My blower-style 7950 was significantly quieter than my open-cooler triple-fan GTX 980.

The nvidia card runs circles around it, though, so I got over the noise pretty fast.

 

[flowrider]

My Last three GPUs have been Gigabyte Windforce triple fan cards. I luv the concept in my 5,1 cMP. The first card, a GTX 570 was fist used in a 3,1 then transferred to my current machine when I bought it in 2013, brand new. Second one was a GTX 780 and my current card is a GTX 1080. All were flashed for boot screens by MVC.

They actually run pretty cool in the Cmp chassis. It's not called the cheese grater for nothing! I have the G1 Gaming, and this model of the GTX 1080 has "Fan Stop" technology and usually runs with the fans off. There's an indicator light that is visible through the front grill that indicates when the fans are not running.

The reviews, that I have read, That tested the Founders Edition, all mention the poor cooling it has. The reviews on the Gigabyte talk about it's excellent cooling.

I am very vary pleased with Gigabyte's Windforce design.

Lou

 

[yurc]

I'm run my 2012 tower in hot environment (no AC or such), so using i'm prefer blower style for cheese grater. My card is reference RX 480 and that cards perfectly kick out hot air from ventilated hole on back slot.

But today custom cards is also very good, mostly implement semi-passive cooling and they quieter. I have GTX960 with semi-passive cooling fan which is behave very good. Rarely spin.

Protip : just to play safely, increase PCIe fans speed manually when using cards with open-multiple fans to avoid heat pile up. Naturally open fans are need nice airflow to operate efficiently. They design for gaming case which is have pretty great airflow by default. Blower style are still preferable for tight-spaced workstation. That explain why mostly Quadro / Radeon Pro (R.I.P FirePro) tends to using single blower style .

 

[TzunamiOSX]

Obviously, the open style coolers will keep the GPU cooler. But if you are running dual 130W CPUs, you should be more concerned with the CPU temps. With stock profiles, the fans have difficulty keeping the CPUs cool under full load.

Of course, GPU TDP also plays a role. For example, a GTX 1060 will itself generate much less heat than a GTX 1080 Ti and would itself require less elaborate cooling.

I have 2x 130 Watt CPUs and there is no different in the CPU section. Same CPU temperature with blower and open fan.

This is logical, because hot air is going up, not down. But important: The hard drives are much cooler with a blower. 34-36°C with blower, 39-40°C with open fan.

 

[pastrychef]

My experiences were very different. An open style cooler contributed to more heat. The aluminum under the video card became noticeably hotter.

 

[TzunamiOSX]

All my cards has a metal backplate.

 

[pastrychef]

Mine too.

 

[flowrider]

I also have a metal backplate, Just stuck my fingers inside and felt the aluminum in front and under the card. When I say under I mean the underside of the aluminum over the RAM. Warm to the touch in front and cool under the card.

Lou

 

[TzunamiOSX]

If you dont know it, test it:

For every card the same, 15 min Heaven, side door closed (only open for a short measurement)

Titan X blower

980 ACX open fan

Booster speed was a little bit higher at this moment, but temps are nearly the same.

 

[h9826790]

If you dont know it, test it:

For every card the same, 15 min Heaven, side door closed (only open for a short measurement)

Titan X blower
View attachment 697498 View attachment 697499

980 ACX open fan
View attachment 697500
View attachment 697501

Booster speed was a little bit higher at this moment, but temps are nearly the same.

TitanX vs 980? 250W vs 165W?

 

[pastrychef]

Other than 250W vs 165W, the booster fans are already working harder with the open cooler.

 

[TzunamiOSX]

Other than 250W vs 165W, the booster fans are already working harder with the open cooler.

PCI cooler was working harder (+400 rpm), but the booster fans are nearly identical. +/- 100 rpm

TitanX vs 980? 250W vs 165W?

Titan is using around 187 Watt at testing. You are right the Titan has a higher TDP, but the test shows blower or open fan has nearly no effekt to lower areas of the case. The PCI-Area fans a spinning faster but only really small changes in CPU-Area.

Perhaps 15 min is to short. I will test it again for an hour to get more heat to the case. But not today (i need a powercable first)

 

[AidenShaw]

Note that most of the "blower style" cards do in fact circulate case air.

Look at these Titan X Pascal "Founder's Edition" cards:

On the closer side, the blower is pushing air over the heatsink into the interior of the case. On the far side, the blower is pushing air over the far side of the heat sink out through the bulkhead.

If you want to keep the GPU heat out of the interior of the case, get a fanless card.