WC Blocks for a evga680i NB ?

[kinghong1970]

i would like some advice based on experience for those who have wc'd their EVGA 680i NB... what blocks they recommend and why...

the 2 i see most common are:


Swiftech MCW30 Chipset Waterblock (http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcchco.html) @ $29.99 from PTS

or

EK-NB eVGA 680i Chipset Waterblock (Acrylic) (http://www.petrastechshop.com/ekev68chwaa.html) @ $39.99 from PTS

thanks!

oh, also, for SB, will EnzoTech CNB-S1L (http://www.petrastechshop.com/encnonfocoso.html) One-Piece Forged Copper Southbridge Cooler be sufficient?

thanks!

[ranker]

i would like some advice based on experience for those who have wc'd their EVGA 680i NB... what blocks they recommend and why...

the 2 i see most common are:


I've purchased both and have used both along with the DD680i block as well.




Swiftech MCW30 Chipset Waterblock (http://www.petrastechshop.com/swmcchco.html) @ $29.99 from PTS

Pros: Universal block that can be reused on other motherboards in the future. Hard mounting kit makes it easily the best mounting solution in the business for AMD style holes. It's cheaper than all other SB blocks and you can occasionally find it for $20.

Cons: Spring mounting for this block is horrid so if you have any intel boards that use the old Intel spring style, you're going to have a lot of trouble. On the NB, it's prone to being torqued by tubing which results in uneven pressure due to its 2 post design. It's ugly.



or

EK-NB eVGA 680i Chipset Waterblock (Acrylic) (http://www.petrastechshop.com/ekev68chwaa.html) @ $39.99 from PTS


Pros: 4 post design means it will always stay level. It's sexy.

Cons: It's expensive.



thanks!

oh, also, for SB, will EnzoTech CNB-S1L (http://www.petrastechshop.com/encnonfocoso.html) One-Piece Forged Copper Southbridge Cooler be sufficient?

thanks!

Cooling the SB usually isn't that important for most boards. However the 680i boards run ridiculously hot all around. If you're going to WC the NB, might as well pay another 20-30$ to cool the SB while you're at it imo.

[NaeKuh]

LOL ranker, you missed his question tho. Which one do you think is better?

Personally the MCW30 is the least restrictive, but as ranker states, its prone to twisting expecially if your running a apogeeGT with barbs horizontal.

I personally like the look and mount of the DD, but its expensive. 41 dollars for a NB block. I havent used the EK, because ive given up on my 680i after owning a P35. No more new hardware is going into my 680i.


But if i had to choose between all you listed, and if budget isnt an issue, id give the EK block a try, because lately, EK's been making some really nice stuff.

[ranker]

LOL ranker, you missed his question tho. Which one do you think is better?


I thought it was apparent since in the other thread, I was showing pics of the EK EVGA 680i NB block on my Horizon build.

I'm using the DD 680i block on my U2-UFO out of sheer necessity as the MCW30 seems to twist and I didn't want to pay another $40 on a NB block when I had one that was sufficient (but sorta prone to cracking).

[Martinm210]

I just bought an MCW30 from Petra's and I must say it is very nice. Mounts really nice and lots of mounting options including a hard mount kit. I'm going to do a flow rate test myself here in the next few days to confirm, but the pressure drop vs. flow rate of this block is the best I've seen anywhere...very low restriction. It's just a flat plate of copper so it's not a whole lot more restrictive than a couple of sharp elbows, but the NB doesn't need that much cooling so the flat copper base is plenty good enough.

[Jedda]

My vote goes to the EK block.
However, I went the black rather than acrylic, for durability reasons.

[Philly_Boy]

Sheesh when i first bought my EVGA 680i board last year i used a DD Maze 4 block originally designed for the DFI LP Expert (my last AMD build) and it worked well. Even tho it only mounted with 2 studs it wasn't prone to rocking from the tubing runs. It kept my NB as low as 28c idle and never more than 33c when the volts were cranked.

I recently replaced it with the Maze 4 680i chipset block and altho it looks more stable....the I get no better performance from it. Same insides produce the same rsults. I had to mod one of the washers or it woulda came in contact with a small IC near one of the mounting studs...but that was no biggie.

I was going to investigate the EK block as I have one on my SB and it performs nicely and looks quite sexy as well. But $40 these days will just about fill my dewar for a day of hard benching.....hmmmmmm......on one hand a new wc block.....on the other hand the means to possibly getting into the 3D Mark Hall of Fame.....the latter wins every time... :D

Hope this helps...........