Just wanted to share a little information with you in case you have a video card overheating due to poor engineering like I did.  This is advanced information, so you novices, don't try this at home without someone experienced assisting you. 

My SLI video card configuration of 2x8800GT had a very bad problem over heating when they were under a heavy graphics load like playing COD4 or Crysis. This resulted in a lot of lockup during game play which was really annoying.

 Normal operating temps for the card were as follows:

 Normal temps during idle conditions: 

Normal room temp:	65 to 70 F 18.3 to 21.1 C
GPU1 avg idle temp:	140 F 60 C
GPU2 avg idle temp:	134.6 F 57 C

   
Normal temps during game play of COD4:

Normal room temp:	65 to 70 F 18.3 to 21.1 C
GPU1 avg idle temp:	194 90 C
GPU2 avg idle temp:	183.2 F 84 C

The temp that pushed me over the edge and I finally made my mind up to fix it was 96C/204.8C
So, with out further delay, let's get to it.  A lot of pics and maybe some explaination to help in case anyone out there wants to give it a try. 

So first here's what we're working with.  This is the video card, single slot wide with a metal case and small fan.
The item below it is the excellent Thermaltake CL-G0102 DuOrb VGA Cooler



So, to begin, we have to get the metal side casing off in order to remove the old heat sink.  So, as shown below in the 2 different pics, we find the slots holding the casing in place.


Once the fastening points are located you have to very carefully use a screw driver or similiar type tool to gently pry away the casing from around the metal tabs on holding it in place.
Here's a couple pics as an example.  I can't stress enough how careful you need to be, these cards have surface mount micro components, resistor, capacitors, op-amps, etc, that you could snap off and not even realize it.

NOTE: The case isn't just going to fall off, all your trying to do here is get the slots away from the tabs so you can move it when ready.  The next step is coming.  Be patent and don't rush, knuckle head!


After you done a little losening of the case, it's not going to just fall off I said, stop it.
Now you have to use the screw driver to slowly pry the case away from the heat sink that is still firmly attached with a seal around the fan intake area.  The seal needs to slowly give way as you move the case away from the heat sink.
Here's a pic showing where I started at.


I slowly lifted the casing away from the heat sink.

Now, here it is after I got pryed it away.  You can see the ring where the seal was holding it in place.



Now there are 10 screws you have to remove in order to remove the heat sink from the card. 

Once these screws are removed, you're going to lay the card down and slowly flip the entire, rather large, heat sink assembly over so you can disconnect the fan power cable as shown below.

Notice that high quality thermal coupling they had between the heat sink and components.
I'm joking in case you didn't get it.  This design was terrible!

See the connector, slowly disconnect it and don't force it.

Once the fan power is disconnected,  We can begin the fun part
That would be the cleaning of the memory, GPU and op-amps. 
As shown below, I layed out the following supplies:

1. 91% medical grade alcohol
NOTE: Don't mess with that crappy rubbing stuff.  There is too much water and it leaves residue.  Take my word for it, I know from 22+ years experience.
2. Plenty of que tips
3. A paper plate
4. A shot glass (To put the some alcohol in, don't drink it knuckle head)
5. A couple paper towels(get the whole roll it you like)
6. Some Arctic Silver ASTA-7G (2-PC-SET) Premium Silver Thermal Adhesive (For use on the Memory and op-amp only)
7. Some Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound 
8. The heat sinks and other parts from the Tt coolers(Tt=Thermaltake)


Now that your prepared to clean.  You're going to do the following:

1. Put about 1 inch of alcohol in the shot glass.
2. Use one que tip per memory chip, only wetting one end of the que tip with alcohol so you can use the other end to dry and wipe off the dirt and excess alcohol. 
NOTE: Clean the chips using a circular motion while gently applying a little pressure.  When you think the chip is clean, use the other end of the que tip to dry off the excess alcohol. 
3. Use two que tips to clean the GPU (be careful here, there are 4 rows of micro resistors along each side of the GPU)
4. Use one que tip to clean the op-amps.
Reference the pic below to identify the components:


Now that should have taken you a little while, here are 2 pics, one it should NOT look like and the other what your cleaning should have resulted in.   Yeah right!!!

This is NOT clean!!!!  This IS clean   Notice the mirror look on the GPU.

Ok, folks, now you have a clean card or at least the places your mounting heat sinks should be clean.  Remember you're going to use the adhesive compound on the memory and op-amps and the plain old Artic Silver Thermal compound on the GPU. 

Don't mix the thermal adhesive yet, you still have a little more work to do   I said that already didn't I
Oh well, I said it again

Now, you have to remove the backing from the heat sinks and clean off the sticky gunk they thought for some reason would work.  Well it won't Gomer, so, get to work. 

1. Remove the sticky back
2. Use your thumb or finger to remove the sticky stuff from each and every heat sink your going to use.  It may hurt a little but I'm sure some of you won't have a problem, it's just like rolling a booger off your finger, keep pushing and pushing until you get it off the heat sink, AND DON"T FLICK IT.
3. Once you get all the sticky gunk off the heat sinks, back to the alcohol and que tip method to clean off the rest of the left over residue from the heat sinks.  You want these things really clean and don't use a knife or something to cheat and try and get the sticky stuff off that way.  All you're going to do it scratch the things up, so STOP IT.
4. Now, you have them clean, so you're ready to mount the first one.  Pick one of the memory chips for a guinea pig and apply a little of the thermal adhesive to it.  Not too much, all it has to be is just enough to cover it when you seat the heat sink on it.  Remember, your putting the compound on the component, not the heat sink.
5. Once you have the right amount of thermal adhesive in place, carefully place the heat sink on the guinea pig and apply very light pressure while slowly moving the heatsink in a little circular motion.  This is only to spread the adhesive around and ensure the top of the chip is covered and good thermal contact is made.
NOTE:  If you got thermal adhesive oozing out of everywhere you messed up.  Clean it and do it again, BEFORE it hardens
6. Once you get the first test one mounted, repeat for the rest.
NOTE:  You'll notice in my pic below I used one of the long heat sinks for the bottom op-amps and two square heat sinks for the other 2 sets.  Be careful not to let the heat sinks touch the contacts on any components before them.  Plus be very careful when putting the compound on the tiny little op-amps.  There not much surface space there and it only takes enough to cover them with a very thin coat and not ooze over the sides.

Once you have all the heat sinks mounted it should look like this:

Let them set for 5+ minutes before continuing on to mount the main Fan assembly.

Now once you're ready, follow the instructions for the DuOrbs and be careful when mounting it and ensure to use the right set of screws.  The screws are the dual ended ones and there are 2 sets, one for more space between the fan base and the card, the other set a little shorter.  You have to ensure you use the ones that will allow the fans copper base to come into good thermal contact with the top of the GPU.

When it's mounted it will look like this.

Now I want you to notice something in the pic of the back of the card.  See the nuts and how much they stick out.  Since I run in SLI mode, I had to grind off about 3/4 of the length so it would not contact the other card.  Of course I used a bench grinder and vise grips since otherwise a dremel would have been a real pain to hold onto


Well that's pretty much it.  Once you get the card(s) mounted back in the PC I think you'll enjoy the light show it gives off
Oh, I'm not covering how to mount the card back in the case and hooking up the fan power connector.  I figure if you're doing this and you don't know how to do that, there better be an experience person helping you.

Cheers and enjoy the last few pics below and I put the temp results of the fantastic mod at the bottom, enjoy and have fun.



RESULTS OF MOD, Thank you Thermaltake DuOrbs, you rock.
These cards have NEVER ran this cool when idle and I should note the previous high temp during game play were with the factory fans running at 100%.  These DuOrbs are much quiter and you can't beat the out come

Normal temps during idle conditions: 

Normal room temp:	65 to 70 F  18.3 to 21.1 C
GPU1 avg idle temp:	114.8 F 46 C
GPU2 avg idle temp:	109.4 F 44 C

   
Normal temps during game play of COD4:

Normal room temp:	65 to 70 F 18.3 to 21.1 C
GPU1 avg idle temp:	156.2  69 C
GPU2 avg idle temp:	136.4 F 58 C