mounting issuses powercolor 4870x2 xspc fc block

Hi all, I recently set up my new watercooling loop of a gtz on an i7 920 and a xpsc full cover block on a power color 4870x2

I had every thing set up and ready to go, but no joy as the pc failed to start with a flashing led on my card telling me it was over heating.

After taking the loop apart i noticed that the paste was spread out very well on the memory chips and there was barely any contact on the chipset at all.

Ive tried remounting the block a number of times, with more and less pressure, tightening from the outer screws to the inside and vice versa but im still getting seemingly poor contact.

Here is a few pics

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/...58385179_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/...6ef99ab4_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/...aa0cca.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/...297d9f.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/...9cf9eb.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/...b15fcc.jpg?v=0


I've taken the delrin top off the copper part and both (the delrin part more so) are bowed so the outer parts of the block are further away from the card surface than the inner, but this doesnt take in to account the fact the chipset block is touching either.


This is the first full cover block I've used so I might just be doing it wrong does anyone have any words of wisdom?

oh dayam i thought XSPC used standoffs..

you seem to have the problem people had with EK blocks, and the fact the card is warping so even contact is almost impossible..

Remount but first do the cores.. and then the ends, and finally the middle.. Dont tighten right away... make it kinda loose so you can do a final adjustment... and then tighten lightly..

this is why standoff's are so important...

So does the 4870 x2 danger den block or the swiftech block use standoffs? cos the more i struggle with this block the more likely i am to f up and break my card :S

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Originally Posted by Pootank

So does the 4870 x2 danger den block or the swiftech block use standoffs? cos the more i struggle with this block the more likely i am to f up and break my card :S

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yes they both do..

Here is the DD block:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/IMG_0008.jpg

U can see what i mean about standoff's by looking at the block from the side..

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/IMG_0010.jpg

I havent heard of anyone having problems mounting a koolance or DD block on a HD4870X2.

Koolance uses standoffs like this:
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/IMG_0070.jpg

Think whats causing youre problem is the gfx manufactures not holding very tight tolerences on component instalation height. I think Gabe ran into the same issue with yhe swiftech block on the 280.

The XSPC does have standoffs at least in all the pics on various sites.

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Originally Posted by Utnorris

The XSPC does have standoffs at least in all the pics on various sites.

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his pics dont look like it tho.. :X

i also remember EddieK commenting about it... looks like he was correct.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Utnorris

The XSPC does have standoffs at least in all the pics on various sites.

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Sort of if you look at the photos the standoffs aren't any higher than the memory pads.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by _G_

Think whats causing youre problem is the gfx manufactures not holding very tight tolerences on component instalation height. I think Gabe ran into the same issue with yhe swiftech block on the 280.

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It is a problem, that's why we use thermal tape on the vregs and memory. We ship our blocks with two sizes .5mm and 1mm since we made that change I haven't seen any problems.

Don't get me started on gfx card mfgs and tolerances... :lol2:

Had the same problem with my original 8800GTX and the DD FC block.

First one I owned was one of those "Zotac" ones. Couldn't achieve proper contact in all elements without bowing noticeably the card towards the middle and towards the rear end...

Then I sold it and bought two BFG 8800GTX OC2 and I was able to achieve proper contact with no bow whatsoever...

And pertaining the 4870 x2, I have the same block as the OP and a Sapphire card, and I had to add nylon washers here and there and different thermal tapes to achieve a proper mount with no bow...

Can't blame XSPC at all for it. I'm certain their design would work perfectly with the card they used as reference. In fact it probably works most of the time with most of the cards. Can't really ask the WB manufacturers to be precognitive.

Bad for you. I`m waiting for my xspc block for my 4870x2... We will se how it will fitt.... Can`t u use a thermal pad on the chip that dont have contact?

would you be able to add in additional washers to fix this? is it just a clearance issue?

I had the same issues so i went out an got some thermal pads for the memory and the bridge chip and that solved my problem.

Yeah it looks like it has standoffs in pictures but it doesn't its a shame cause that is one of the reasons i bought it.

*wrong thread*

Got my xspc block yesterday and mounted it with paste on the cores and mem, stock pad on chip and the xspc pads on the other chips.

I have tightend the screws around the cores really hard and i have no contact issue. The cores idle at 31/34c load at ~55c.

So to all of you out there that is scared of this block i can say that it`s nothing to be worried about. I downloaded the pdf manual and followed it.

http://www.techsweden.org/galleri/bi...scn3225_t.jpeg

http://www.techsweden.org/galleri/bi...scn3227_t.jpeg

http://www.techsweden.org/galleri/bi...scn3229_t.jpeg

xspc mounting guide

I would like to confirm that there is no mounting problems. Just use the included thermal pads, grease, and just follow the manual.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheMan89

Got my xspc block yesterday and mounted it with paste on the cores and mem, stock pad on chip and the xspc pads on the other chips.

I have tightend the screws around the cores really hard and i have no contact issue. The cores idle at 31/34c load at ~55c.

So to all of you out there that is scared of this block i can say that it`s nothing to be worried about. I downloaded the pdf manual and followed it.

]http://www.techsweden.org/galleri/bilder/fpRZ/t/dscn3225_t.jpeg[/img]

[]http://www.techsweden.org/galleri/bilder/fpRZ/t/dscn3227_t.jpeg[g]

[img]http://www.techsweden.org/galleri/bilder/fpRZ/t/dscn3229_t.jpeg[/]

xspc mounting guide

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Excellent post very informative. XSPC has the best written instructions I've seen.

I had some problems installing this block aswell. Got the red led lighting up on the middle ( thermal problem ) I mounted my block using the thermal pads that were on the stock air cooler..apparently they were too thick and the cores got a very bad contact. Remounted using the supplied pads "duh" and used Arctic ceramic on the memory chips & Arctic silver on the cores. It's now idling at 37c compared to the mid 70's on the stock cooler.

So it was an user error, lol

U learn the most of your own mistakes :) For the chip between the cores i think its best to use the stock thermal pad.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TheMan89

Got my xspc block yesterday and mounted it with paste on the cores and mem, stock pad on chip and the xspc pads on the other chips.

I have tightend the screws around the cores really hard and i have no contact issue. The cores idle at 31/34c load at ~55c.

So to all of you out there that is scared of this block i can say that it`s nothing to be worried about. I downloaded the pdf manual and followed it.

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I do not mean to be rude, but those temps are terrible. I use the DangerDen 4870x2 block and my voltmodded 4870x2 running @ 900mhz on the cores loads at only 40C....

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Originally Posted by SNiiPE_DoGG

I do not mean to be rude, but those temps are terrible. I use the DangerDen 4870x2 block and my voltmodded 4870x2 running @ 900mhz on the cores loads at only 40C....

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I don't mean to be rude either...but you have to remember ppl are using different setups. You are packing some serious radiators on your build hence awesome temps. I for example am running an el cheapo MCR 320 QP with 3 Ultra kazes at 900rpm, in a loop with a Q6600 @ 3.6ghz + the 4870X2 and im getting similar load temps as he is. still a good 50c lower than the stock air :p:

i have an E8400 (@1.37v) and a 4870 in a single loop being cooled by a PA120.3. with an ambient temp of ~22°C and my fans running at a mere 400rpm my 4870 does not go past 38°C load.

aside from a very annoying WD2500KS hard drive, my system is whisper quiet.


as for the standoffs, i bought some nylon ones at ace hardware. it took 3 for each bolt on my EK-FC4870 (nickel plated) to make a perfect mate with the card. there is only one thread that didnt have the clearance around it to use the washers.

other than that, with the solid and unwarped mount of my 4870 block my temps went down about 4°C from when i didnt have the standoffs. might be something to really consider

http://www.techsweden.org/galleri/fp...reme/dscn3225/

Looks like it has standoffs to me, they dont look as high as they should be, but it definitely has them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hewi

I don't mean to be rude either...but you have to remember ppl are using different setups. You are packing some serious radiators on your build hence awesome temps. I for example am running an el cheapo MCR 320 QP with 3 Ultra kazes at 900rpm, in a loop with a Q6600 @ 3.6ghz + the 4870X2 and im getting similar load temps as he is. still a good 50c lower than the stock air :p:

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he has 3 rads totaling 8 fans, the temps shouldn't be that high at all

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SNiiPE_DoGG

he has 3 rads totaling 8 fans, the temps shouldn't be that high at all

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Ahh...didn't catch what kinda radiators he was runnign, that is on the highside then. Probably due to the bad contact on the cores he showed earlier. Im hovering at 35-37 idle, haven't really tested my load temps...such a different ballgame this liquid stuff compared to air. Gotta test if i can keep stuff under 40C with my trusty MCR320 :p: