Diamond 6970 v1 reference: tried two waterblock models, need help!

[leo_bsb]

solved. Thanks

[Frost_Bite]

Are you sure that the VRM areas are being cooled? I have 2 Diamond 6970 reference cards that I purchased from TigerDirect, both are running EK FC6970 blocks (v1) and I haven't had any problems. My temps are great and I can game for hours. I've seen quite a few installs where the pads aren't making great contact the component areas heat up very badly.

[Frost_Bite]

All of those areas definitely need to be cooled, except for the one right below the power connector.. Make sure to put thermal pads on those areas because they should be making contact with the block.

[Elmy]

I got 2 Diamond Reference cards with Koolance waterblocks in this build here and I have zero problems at all with any temps.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6350/pdxlan6.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/231/pdxlan6.png/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)



Since this Pic I have changed it to AMD 6990 + Diamond 6970 with Koolance waterblocks and
temps are still awesome about 44 Degrees all three GPU's playing BF3 at max settings.

[tiborrr]

Hi Leo, can you tell me the PCB number (below the AMD logo on the front side of the PCB)?

Regards,
Niko

[Philwong]

Do these marked chips need cooling? I regard some difference between EK and alphacool instruction.

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m197/leo_bsb/front.jpg

I've an older 5870. Those circled chips do not require cooling. At least not on my card.

Phil

[Philwong]

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6970/images/cooler5.jpg
Why don't you look at the stock heatsink fan instead? Check out your own if you're still confused.

Phil

[Philwong]

Another thing... if you're using thermal pads to cool those redundant components, there might be a high chance that your VRMs will encounter bad contact. Run Furmark and monitor your VRM temp at full load.

Phil

[Philwong]

I did. It seems that the Vregs are air cooled and when you use a full cover block they are watercooled my contact with the block.
There is something going wrong, that is why I tried several mounts. I need to try another mount with oversized width thermal pads for the vregs. I know for sure they are making contact. I checked with some themal paste applied over the thermal pads.

Stay away from those pads for VRMs. My 5870's VRM temp dropped quite substantially after i switched from pads to paste.

Phil

[nuttcase21]

holy smokes, a piece of TIM film on the core?! egad, i understand why you tried it, but that makes me nervous. there are pieces of copper that can be purchased from industrial suppliers like mc master-carr or msg, but it leads me to wonder why there's a gap between the core and block. must obviously have been a change in the mounting dimensions of the core when the v2 boards came out. i'd contact eddie at EK and see if there's a solution. GL

[tiborrr]

@leo:
109-C20047-00 is the reference PCB that is fully supported by EK-FC6970 series water block. There are thousands and thousands of systems with this waterblock running therefore it is hard to tell what's wrong with your card. Yes, I say card since you have mentioned you have also issues with competitors water block.

http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/e/k/ek-fc6970_4.jpg

Can you take a high-res photograph of your PCB (front and back)? Something similiar to: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/Radeon_HD_6970/4.html

Regards,
Niko

[tiborrr]

My condolences on your loss.

Frankly I have never heard of such issues, really. Can you take a picture of your GPU, from the side? Can you accurately measure the height of the GPU?

Regards,
Niko