EK 3870 gpu block and fitment problems with different brands of 3870 video cards..

OK, first some background. I've begun expanding my cooling loop......it's now up to this:

Swiftech Micro-res > DDC2 w/XSPC top > TC 120.3 > D-Tek cpu block on Q6600 @ 3.6GHz @ 1.35V > Swiftech MCR120 > EK S-Max NB block > EK 3870 gpu block on Asus HD3870 > res (All run with 3/8" tubing.)


The recent additions to the loop were the EK gpu block and the MCR120. And as for the EK gpu block working, it is doing VERY well. The Asus card it's on is Asus' HD3870 TOP card....a factory OC'd card w/core clock of 851 (up from stock of 775) and memory clock of 2280 (up from stock of 2250.)

With the TOP's stock heatsink, seen below, and fan at 100%, the card idled at 50C.....too hot for my tastes, which is why I WC'd it. And the EK block worked wonders, too.....dropped the idle temp down to 33C....a nice 17C drop. Full load temps showed an equally dramatic drop.

But, I have a fitment issue with the EK block and my video card.

First, a couple of pics:

My video card:

http://jamayer.org/pics/asus3870.jpg




And the EK gpu block, viewed from the bottom:

http://jamayer.org/pics/FC3870a_02.jpg



Notice the red arrows in both pictures.......they point out the fitment issue. The EK block has a stepped aluminum addon section for cooling the VRM's on the card. But, the middle step, pointed out with red arrows in the card's pic above, is too "tall" and hits the arrowed black block things on the card (don't know what they are....maybe coils or something?)....and keeps the VRM's from touching the aluminum plate on the video card.

So, I did mount the EK block without the alu. addon plate (I reused the stock VRM heatsink that was there). Now, has this been an issue with anyone else's 3870 video cards who are using EK blocks? How'd you address this....or did you just leave off the plate like I did? Or are there any other brands of 3870 gpu WC blocks that won't have this issue?

Hi there. I had an issue with my EK block but this was with a capacitor on a Sapphire 3850 and despite me telling EK and my retailer, they still haven't added Sapphire to the "might not fit" list so this doesn't come as a huge suprise. As far as I know the Asus is a reference card and the chips that you're refering too shouldn't be any different. It might be worth emailing EK to see if they can shed some light. It's usually only Powercolour and Triplex cards that have issues. Can you post a horizontal/side-on pic of the card by itself and with the block showing the foul?

You could try filing it down yourself.

The asus card does not look like my reference saphire card. I can't get a good look at it, but it does seem different.

I had problems with my MCW60 not making contact with the core on my sapphire 3870. I had to drill out the legs from the mounting plate and use a bolt thru setup

Hmm. I have a MCW60 on a Sapphire 3870. I did't have that problem.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lu523

Hmm. I have a MCW60 on a Sapphire 3870. I did't have that problem.

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Same here on both of my referene cards.

IIRC there are more non-reference cards floating around like there used to be years ago during the radeon 9700 and GF4 days. Makes it hard :(

its not the GPU itself thats causing the problems, hence no problems with the MCW-60's, however the EK is a Full Cover block that covers the mosfets, vram, etc.