4870 VRM Cooling

[DangerIsGo]

So, Im watercooling my Asus 4870 and I found that the VRMs are getting EXTREMELY hot. I need something very good to cool them. Any suggestions? I tried putting some small sinks on them but they just burn up.

[Waymon3X6]

Put a 80mm fan in front of it... Works really well. Or just buy some aftermarket copper heatsinks.

[DangerIsGo]

Well I connected a small 40mm fan and attached it to the top of some RAM sinks on each VRM and even though I was able to play crysis without a problem afterwards, SC: Double Agent is giving me the same trouble. The fans are on, I guess I'm going to have to go back to stock until I can find a more permanent solution. Unless I go with a FC block from DD for the 4870. Thoughts?

[MomijiTMO]

They get very hot so don't worry too much. A fc block would certainly 'cure' the temp issue but it would increase your loop temps by a lot.

[_G_]

You can get after market ones but they still need airflow
http://www.petrastechshop.com/cuhdcokitbyi.html

I just robed a vrm heatsinc off a 1900 series card and redrilled and tapped one end
http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/6743/img0009vn4.th.jpg (http://img366.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0009vn4.jpg)

[BossBorot]

What water block are you using?

Most blocks work just fine with the stock plate which does quite well with ram and vrm cooling due to such a massive surface area for heat dissipation.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/2987/withblockga9.jpg

[Rattle]

thats exactly what I will be doing when my gear arrives

[cyberspyder]

An easier method (HR-09 on VRMs):

http://www.clunk.org.uk/forums/user-reviews/8855-thermalright-hr03-gt-ati-hd-4870-a.html

[_G_]

Think i might try the stock backplate with my maze4
With an AC S1 i was getting core temps of 41c but vrm temps where in the 90's
and that was with an 89cfm fan

[GameGuru]

What water block are you using?

Most blocks work just fine with the stock plate which does quite well with ram and vrm cooling due to such a massive surface area for heat dissipation.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/2987/withblockga9.jpg

Boss, what sort of temps are you getting with using the stock backplate? I just ordered the iandh sinks from Petras and wondering how much of a difference there is between the two.

Thanks!

[BossBorot]

actually thats not my card mine is under a s1 with 2x 1k rpm 120mm fans zip tied to it. However I am using the red plate with it and get 61 c max on the vregs

[trouble2000]

Gameguru: I'm using my card exactly like that. What temperatures do you want me to check?

[Caveman787]

Not to sound to stupid but does that part just unscrew from the rest of the stock heatsink so you can put it back together if you need to RMA?

[trouble2000]

Yes Caveman :)

[GameGuru]

Gameguru: I'm using my card exactly like that. What temperatures do you want me to check?

Thanks trouble, I was mainly interested in the VRM temps as it looks like most people seem to be doing ok with the GPU. When I put my system together I'll conduct two different tests. One with the iandh sinks (available from PT) with a 120mm fan blowing on them and the other with the stock fan and backplate. I'll be using an MCW60 water block in both scenarios. It may be a week or so before I get around to getting this done as I'm in the middle of moving but I'll report back here.

[trouble2000]

Which tests do you want me to run?

[BossBorot]

Thanks trouble, I was mainly interested in the VRM temps as it looks like most people seem to be doing ok with the GPU. When I put my system together I'll conduct two different tests. One with the iandh sinks (available from PT) with a 120mm fan blowing on them and the other with the stock fan and backplate. I'll be using an MCW60 water block in both scenarios. It may be a week or so before I get around to getting this done as I'm in the middle of moving but I'll report back here.

Nice, Im looking forward to this as I dont blindly want to recomend one cooling method over the other