EK-FC280GTX Voltage Regulators

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08-16-2008, 05:48 AM
coolmiester

EK-FC280GTX Voltage Regulators

A colleague asked me to check the fit of the EK-FC260GTX blocks to Zotac 260GTX cards as he's had three cards fail on him.

The only thing i can see that might be causing any kind of problem is about a 1mm gap between the block and all seven voltage regulators which seems a little excessive given that the supplied thermal pad as around .6mm thick which means that when the block is fastened down to the card there is no, or little contact.

Just wondering if anyone else noticed this and if it would be enough to make all three cards fail??

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/i34/260gtx_2.jpg
08-16-2008, 06:26 AM
RickCain

Three card failures, one water block = problem. Could be the same problem as the 4870's with non-FC blocks failing.
08-16-2008, 07:18 AM
Bojamijams

Thats definetly an issue. The block is not making contact thus doing nothing to help heat transfer. The voltage regulators work with a lot of volts on the new gens and they definetly get VERY hot.

Failed design IMO.

In the meantime, tell your friends to get some copper plates cut and wedge them in there for contact.
08-16-2008, 08:28 AM
Olly_K

vrm's get really hot and theres no contact what so ever in that pic. Not good tbh !
08-16-2008, 08:49 AM
Pej

I have the same WB and the same card(except it's an XFX) and there's no "gap" beetween the regulators and the WB as it is on your photo..
I only use the EK's pads on the box and that match perfect for me..

Is the PCB card real flat?

Whith no cooling at all on these regulators,i guess it's quite dangerous for the card..
As it was on my HD4870...wich needs a great cooling on the regulators.
08-16-2008, 09:03 AM
Olly_K

it the rest of the block "over-tightened" ? this could cause the card to bend
08-16-2008, 09:48 AM
Eddy_EK

Hi!

This is very strange... 3 cards.
I hope you used thermal pad with the chips.
If there is 1mm gap you haven't applied enough force and the block did not make the contact with the chip.
I see there is thermal grease around that chip... did you use only thermal pad?
Send me e-mail at info@...

Eddy
08-16-2008, 10:03 AM
lyl

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bojamijams

Failed design IMO.

Failed design would mean all 280s w/ this block would be frying... Is that the case? :rolleyes:
08-16-2008, 10:13 AM
coolmiester

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eddy_EK

Hi!

This is very strange... 3 cards.
I hope you used thermal pad with the chips.
If there is 1mm gap you haven't applied enough force and the block did not make the contact with the chip.
I see there is thermal grease around that chip... did you use only thermal pad?
Send me e-mail at info@...

Eddy

Hi Eddy, that is the remains of the original thermal pad but it was originally fitted with the pad supplied with the block.

I've tried tightening it down but it takes quite a bit of force, too much that i'm comfortable with anyway to get it to make contact with the chips.

http://www.coolercases.co.uk/i34/260gtx_3.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyl

Failed design would mean all 280s w/ this block would be frying... Is that the case? :rolleyes:

These are 260 cards so not sure if that would make any difference over the 280's ???
08-16-2008, 10:25 AM
lyl

Oh, the title says 280, sry. Either way, the design wasnt intended like this -- might be the block... it might be bowed?
08-16-2008, 10:30 AM
seba84_2005

You used original mats to the block?

I got thermal mats with the block;)

http://images34.fotosik.pl/347/6fa3f5a993561e76.jpg

I got such leaflet to the block, I had to cut out

http://images27.fotosik.pl/265/643f8ddf34cf2405.jpg
08-16-2008, 10:33 AM
Malik

Not good info for future ek wb gtx2xx owner :(
08-16-2008, 10:41 AM
RickCain

Quote:

Originally Posted by seba84_2005

You used original mats to the block?

I got thermal mats with the block;)

http://images34.fotosik.pl/347/6fa3f5a993561e76.jpg

That looks like the AC 2x0 waterblock!
08-16-2008, 10:45 AM
seba84_2005

I am sorry;)
I did not read through the thread...
08-16-2008, 11:23 AM
freakgeek1337

Reply

That's why you buy core-only blocks. Not matter which company, EK, D-Tek, or Swiftech. Regardless they are the best.:up:
08-17-2008, 12:33 AM
Eddy_EK

Hi!

The PCB is much more flexible than you think.
I have tested the block on 280 and 260 and in both versions I was able to get good contact with the wrm's.
If you don't want to tighten it a little more you should use thicker thermal pad (1mm).
08-17-2008, 02:47 AM
turtletrax

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakgeek1337

That's why you buy core-only blocks. Not matter which company, EK, D-Tek, or Swiftech. Regardless they are the best.:up:

That statement begs an "IMHO" in there somewhere. I have had several EK FC block and never had an issue. Only time I have ever had a fried a vidcard was from using a stupid RAMsink that fell off and toasted it.

IMHO... GPU only blocks suck. if I wanted to blow air at a card I would use a aircooler. Also, vidcards hit a voltage wall before a temp wall on any decent waterblock, so the couple degress more in the temp department for the no fuss FC solution always works for me.

Opinions are like... well you know :)

Back to on topic... I got my EK 280 block a few weeks ago and it fits like a glove and my GTX hits 713/1600/1225 with ease (will be pushing harder when my San Aces arrive) . Finnishing up the loops with my New EK Supreme and 2x Multioption 250's and I will be ready to rock out EK style :)
08-17-2008, 04:48 AM
Garrett

Why thermal pads anyway?
Why not make those pieces on the waterblock 1mm bigger so you don't need a thermal pad :shrug:
08-17-2008, 08:08 AM
Eddy_EK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garrett

Why thermal pads anyway?
Why not make those pieces on the waterblock 1mm bigger so you don't need a thermal pad :shrug:

The wrm chips are too fragile to leave them to unexperienced users on a hard mount...
08-17-2008, 08:52 AM
Garrett

People who buy EK blocks aren't unexperience right? ;) :rolleyes:
Besides, the I/O chip is quite fragile too right?

Not that I'm complaining, the thermal pads function as a "cushion" too, thus preventing crushing the vrm chips :up:
Although I think you'd have to really tighten them really hard to crush right?
08-17-2008, 09:55 AM
Malik

Soo when i use thermal pads there is no problem with that ?
08-17-2008, 10:30 AM
Bojamijams

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malik

Soo when i use thermal pads there is no problem with that ?

Other then the fact that its not as good a conductor as if it was copper that was making contact with a little bit of TIM. But it'll definetly be better then an air gap.
08-17-2008, 12:37 PM
drbhatti

any idea where i can get some more of these tim pads in the uk - no-one has them in stock and im getting a little desperate - i am using mx2 currently with my little chips on the 8800gtx, but i suppose i could do with better contact there.
08-17-2008, 02:01 PM
Garrett

If you really can't find thermal pads it might be smart to find some think aluminum, like 0.5mm thick and put that in between the block and the chips
I did this once, saved me for a couple of days until the pads arrived :)
Like said before it's better than an air gap :p:
08-21-2008, 11:52 PM
Malik

Any new info on this theme ?
08-22-2008, 03:29 AM
holwill

Quote:

Originally Posted by drbhatti

any idea where i can get some more of these tim pads in the uk - no-one has them in stock and im getting a little desperate - i am using mx2 currently with my little chips on the 8800gtx, but i suppose i could do with better contact there.

Don't know if you sorted this, but have you tried tom at Chilled PC?
08-23-2008, 07:40 AM
Vertigo1

Well I've got an EK-FC280 sitting here unused so far as all the threads about card death are scaring me stupid right now :(

Mine is marked as "Version 2. >>SNAIL<<" on the box and does indeed have the "snail head" on the blanking-plate end of the card. Interestingly though, the one prodtruding VRM element at the other end which is being discussed here isn't an integral part of the copper block but rather a black bit attached with a screw - err wtf is this?
08-23-2008, 09:29 AM
Repliquant67

I mount my block on the gtx280 and still have the same gap between the mofset and the waterblock. But it is not a problem like said Eddy before. You tight a little bite and it is ok.
08-23-2008, 09:58 AM
Razor_Blade

Look, I have been running my 280 with Eddy's block for 2 months now. 0 problems. it fit like a glove. I did use the thermal pad, because that is what ii was designed for. Happy customer here.
08-23-2008, 10:04 AM
71 (Bryan)

srry to be offtopic but does these blocks come wiht there own pads or do you have to buy them?
08-23-2008, 10:10 AM
Repliquant67

You receive a pad that you have to cut yourself. Enough for 2 times.
08-23-2008, 12:24 PM
Vertigo1

To those with fitted and working blocks, do you have the "snail" design and do you have a black bit at the end covering the last mosfet or is it all copper?
08-23-2008, 12:40 PM
Razor_Blade

Mine is the all copper one, not a snail.
08-26-2008, 06:24 AM
ppost

I'm now a little bit confused. What is the most adequate TIM at the chip?

EK manual says it should be thermal grease for the chip and the 0.6mm thermal pad is for the voltage regulators.

However, this thread is now saying it should also be thermal pad for the chip same as the voltage regulators. Which is the most actual appropriate ?? I have already installed the WB on card but not yet turn it on ........ :shrug::shrug:

Would like some advices soonest.......
08-26-2008, 06:40 AM
Soulwind

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppost

I'm now a little bit confused. What is the most adequate TIM at the chip?

EK manual says it should be thermal grease for the chip and the 0.6mm thermal pad is for the voltage regulators.

However, this thread is now saying it should also be thermal pad for the chip same as the voltage regulators. Which is the most actual appropriate ?? I have already installed the WB on card but not yet turn it on ........ :shrug::shrug:

Would like some advices soonest.......

You use TIM on the GPU and the Memory. You use the thermal padding on the voltage regulators (mosfets).
08-26-2008, 07:07 AM
ppost

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulwind

You use TIM on the GPU and the Memory. You use the thermal padding on the voltage regulators (mosfets).

Hi, thanks for your lightning advices. I mean the small chip at the other end opposite to the Vreg. Its size is very similar to Vreg.

In EK's manual, it says it should also be thermal grease there so as the GPU and RAM......but apparently, here is recommending thermal pad for small areas like Vreg.....so I would wonder if thermal pad is better for the little chip, same as those small Vreg.
08-26-2008, 10:07 AM
Vertigo1

Do you mean the chip nearest the backplate?

Interestingly, this used to be covered by a small "tab" of copper on the original sinks but the "snail" version has a much bigger protrusion with two further screws to anchor it down, presumably because it wasn't making good enough contact before. Perhaps the pads were advisable on the original version but now, with the better securing of the sink, thermal compound is better? Just a guess.
08-28-2008, 01:27 AM
Malik

Little OT guys:

i have ordered this ek ram block and i have question ... about spacer and orings - are they with this ram block ?

I'm talking about that:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/448/blokrt8.jpg
08-28-2008, 02:27 AM
Repliquant67

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malik

Little OT guys:

i have ordered this ek ram block and i have question ... about spacer and orings - are they with this ram block ?

I'm talking about that:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/448/blokrt8.jpg

:yepp:
08-28-2008, 08:34 AM
Malik

Quote:

Originally Posted by Repliquant67

:yepp:

Thank You for answer ;)
08-28-2008, 10:22 AM
drbhatti

my man at chilledpc doesnt have them in stock, (the tim pads)

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