Some current waterblocks are NOT compatible with new EVGA GTX285 cards!

I did point this out in another post somewhere but I can't remember where and it's such an important point that it deserves its own thread.

I think this is an important point to make before you go out and buy your EVGA GTX 285.

If you look at the product number of your old EVGA GTX285, you'll see it looks like this:

01G-P3-128x-ER or 01G-P3-128x-AR

The newer cards have this model number:

0xG-P3-118x-ER or 0xG-P3-118x-AR

ER = European, AR = American -> This isn't important though.

The part to look at is the 4 numbers near the end. Anything starting with 118 is the newer PCB which features faster memory by 1ns = neglible.

The important point to make is that these newer cards break compatibility with the current waterblocks as they have a revised PCB layout that was done to simplify the manufacturing processes.

Koolance have stated in an e-mail that they may or may not make a new block for this card and are still evaluating the product.

I just thought you guys should have a heads up before you go out buying an EVGA card and a waterblock :) My advice would be to try and get a hold of an older 128x model (which is easy in the UK as they are all this older model at the moment).

Could be useful to have a sticky for this sort of thing. I've had plenty of incompatibilities in the past mainly with GPU blocks and supposedly reference cards. While some are listed in the manufacturers websites eg 'not compatible with Sapphire 3850' there are plenty of others they don't list. Some are totally incompatible while others just require a few mm to be dremelled out to avoid that capacitor!

Evga does not produce their own cards. So this is going to be an issue with ALL new 285s.

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Originally Posted by veedubfreak

Evga does not produce their own cards. So this is going to be an issue with ALL new 285s.

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Where did you get that from?

EVGA currently are the only ones that have made this new card :S

Can you link me to where you found this information as it could be very helpful?

EVGA uses reference design, no? If so, they are using a new reference design, then it is only a matter of time before everyone else is too.

Any tips on where to get one of the older ones? Like a particular seller?

There's a big post about this with a guide over at the (forum that shall remain nameless) with pics and everything.

The real problem with this is that EVGA is shipping out new pcb revisions with old part numbers, so even if you order one of the 128X part numbers you could get a 118x revision pcb.

I don't post here much so I'm not sure of the rules about posting links to other forums, but I did start a thread about it at evga and they ended up taking care of me so I have two matching cards now:

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=100651290

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Originally Posted by zlojack

There's a big post about this with a guide over at the (forum that shall remain nameless) with pics and everything.

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PM linky to me possibly?

is this goona matter if in a month or so i wanna order 2 gtx 285's ek blocks or will a revision for the blocks be out by then ?
im goona order 2 gtx 285's in a week or so

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Originally Posted by pingpong1455

is this goona matter if in a month or so i wanna order 2 gtx 285's ek blocks or will a revision for the blocks be out by then ?
im goona order 2 gtx 285's in a week or so

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No I don't think so. Every company was encouraged to make their own pcb so it's quite a mess.

well thats great well either way im goona have to get the 2 gpus and hope for the older model

amazon sells the older models

Argh i have a EVGA 285 on the way from the usa via step up and a koolance block sitting here that i specially ordered.. I wont be happy if it dont fit.

EVGA is pissing me off because they are selling the new PCB with both the new and old part numbers.

An EVGA customer service rep told me on the phone that the FTW model shouldn't be affected - is that fact or phooey?

No idea, hit their forums or fire off an email.

wow.... that sucks, at least its only EVGA

I've brought this up before, but it looks like nobody cares unless it's in its own thread. Oh well. It seems like the "new" GTX 285 PCB is based for the most part off of the GTX 275 PCB, but I have no idea how much it may or may not have changed; maybe with minor tweaks a GTX 275 block could be made to fit on a "new" GTX 285.

I also think it's not just EVGA, as Newegg images showed the cheapest XFX 285 also used a 275 PCB, based on images of the backsides of that and the reference 285/275.

Zotac is adopting the same PCB design for its newer GTX285's as well.

Pictures courtesy of EK Waterblocks:

http://site.petrastechshop.com/other...e-versions.jpg

I read somewhere that all gtx285s have changed.

please read: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=225652

Thank you for the info, Gabe - Let me know when you get a list of model numbers for the GTX285 hybrid block you guys have.

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Originally Posted by paul_

Thank you for the info, Gabe - Let me know when you get a list of model numbers for the GTX285 hybrid block you guys have.

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with that info, you don't need the vendor model number. simply inspect the board.

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Originally Posted by gabe

with that info, you don't need the vendor model number. simply inspect the board.

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I guess you order the card first and hope you can watercool it second?