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mkerr64 · Mar 10, 2008, 09:24 PM

Hi there

I know some of the Mac Pro user have had some problems with the overheating ATI x1900 video card.
I have managed to replace the stock fan with the ThermalTake TMG AT1, which has been a great decision. The ThermalTake cooler comes with a different type of power connector and one must plug it in into the Mac Pro power supply however, i have found a much cleaner and simpler way of connecting it, via the card rather than a cable to power supply.

if anyone wants a tutorial with pictures please leave a comment.

cooler:
TMG AT1 CL-G0076

mr. burns · Mar 11, 2008, 01:43 AM

how well does it work? tried any overclocking in windows? how does this fan's noise compare?

my x1900xt isn't one of the duds but i can barely overclock it at all. it's not even worth it.

mkerr64 · Mar 11, 2008, 10:42 AM

it works very well. one does not notice the hot air blasting out of the back but somehow it manages to cool. the noise level is extremely low at least in comparison to the x1900.

i highly recomend this change

i do not know all too much in terms of overclocking.
what program do you use for it?

mr. burns · Mar 11, 2008, 03:29 PM

i'd recommend the ati tray tools that come with the omega drivers. you can do all sorts of driver tweaks, overclock the gpu and memory, tweak the fan settings etc. i recommend upping the fan strength at it's various heat increments when overclocking.

mkerr64 · Mar 11, 2008, 03:43 PM

i searched for ati tray tools and all i could find was one for microsoft none of mac.
is there one for mac?

mr. burns · Mar 11, 2008, 05:42 PM

i was talking about on windows.

Graphiccelerator is a mac overclocker, but i've never used it.

mkerr64 · 12:31 PM

if i have the time tomorrow i will give that a run and hopefully not destroy my card.
i will also take a picture and post it up here (x1900 + thermaltake)

for some random reason when i use parallels and i download Tray Tools it continuously says it it does not support the card

"no supported video cards were detected in your system.
most functions have been deactivated
scanning for artifacts still works"

can you give me the link where you got yours from?
thanks

Here are the pictures

the following link has a guide from another forum however, they connect it directly to the power supply unlike me
X1900XT and TMG AT1 - Mac Forums

if you are planning to do the mod i can further describe/show how to do all of the cable matching

Abit667 · Mar 14, 2008, 06:38 PM

Boot windows natively through bootcamp, not through parallels. Then the proper drivers and Tray Tools should work.

digiboy · Apr 1, 2008, 01:07 PM

Hi mkerr64 --

I just purchased the same cooler for my loud ATI 1900XT card. You mentioned that you connected via the card instead of the optical bay, could you describe the procedure you used? Thanks.

mkerr64 · 12:27 AM

Ok.
1. remove the old video card cooler cable
2. cut 1.5ish inches of the wire that connects to the card (3 wires white, red, black) so that you have the connector that you can connect to the card.
3. remove the new cooler from the packaging and place the pads on the memory + main chip
4. cut the new wire from the thermaltake (i believe the original is 3 pin) which will not fit in the mac pro power supply. and connect red to red and black to black. the remaining white on i just bent and taped it.
5. heat shrink the red + black together after soldering
6. plug in the new connector with the wire into the x1900 card
7. plug everything up just like the previous one

TIP:
-to remove the old heat transfer substance, dip a Q tip (for ears) into rubbing alcohol and remove it.
-i would also suggest buying a compressed air can to remove the old dust
- Soldering Guide - Learn how to Solder if you dont know how to solder

Black wire is from the cooler not from card.

If you still have some questions ill be checking this thread quite frequently

Good Luck

Any news how the procedure went?

jcolson · Apr 9, 2008, 09:46 PM

Followed your procedure (using electrical tape and wirestrippers only) and when I turned my pro on I seriously thought the fan COULDN'T have been running. I had to open it back up to double check! NIGHT AND DAY!

Thanks!

mkerr64 · Apr 9, 2008, 10:56 PM

Thats good to hear
do i need to further describe a step that was unclear or was it all good?

jcolson · Apr 9, 2008, 11:17 PM

I'd say the only thing I was hesitant on where the number of screws that I was taking out for the old fan and the number of screws I was putting in for the new fan .... :-)

I think I took out 8 and only put in 4 for the new fan (if I remember correctly), other than that everything went swimmingly ;-)

mkerr64 · Apr 10, 2008, 11:42 PM

This weekend i will have to ensure if the card is getting enough power from the power supply

dacosta123 · Jul 5, 2008, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by mkerr64

Ok.
1. remove the old video card cooler cable
2. cut 1.5ish inches of the wire that connects to the card (3 wires white, red, black) so that you have the connector that you can connect to the card.
3. remove the new cooler from the packaging and place the pads on the memory + main chip
4. cut the new wire from the thermaltake (i believe the original is 3 pin) which will not fit in the mac pro power supply. and connect red to red and black to black. the remaining white on i just bent and taped it.
5. heat shrink the red + black together after soldering
6. plug in the new connector with the wire into the x1900 card
7. plug everything up just like the previous one
Any news how the procedure went?

Hi mkerr,

Had to mod my cooling as well so after reading your post i thought it a good idea to do so.nte
Went through the whole cutting thing, replaced the 'hd power plug' with the little white one of the old card and put the card back.
This is where it went in another direction.
Turning on the machine i did get a screen on which i could read that the power cable was not properly connected .. ?

Did you encounter this as well, and if so how did you remedy it .. ?

Tia,

Fermin DCG

mkerr64 · Jul 5, 2008, 10:59 PM

Originally Posted by dacosta123

Hi mkerr,

Had to mod my cooling as well so after reading your post i thought it a good idea to do so.nte
Went through the whole cutting thing, replaced the 'hd power plug' with the little white one of the old card and put the card back.
This is where it went in another direction.
Turning on the machine i did get a screen on which i could read that the power cable was not properly connected .. ?

Did you encounter this as well, and if so how did you remedy it .. ?

Tia,

Fermin DCG

No, Sorry
Hope you figure out the problem

only recommendation is to ensure that your power is securely connected to the card (i.e the white connector plastic box like thing)