Skinnee Labs - GTX480 Block Round-Up (working thread)

[Lancelot]

Nevermind, I just bought the GTX 580.....

[Systemlord]

I'm most interested in the EK and Danger Den water blocks, the price difference between them if you buy two is $120 dollars!

[Conumdrum]

I put my 470's under Koolance. Good temps.

[Soulwind]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger on my new system last night.....went with all EK blocks.

EK Supreme HF (Nickel/Acetal) for CPU, EK FC480 (Nickel/Acetal) + EK Backplate for VGA,
and EK FC RE3 (Nickel/Acetal) for the Rampage III MB.

Here's hoping the EK block holds it's own during the testing.

[gmat]

Here's hoping the EK block holds it's own during the testing.

If it holds its own in your system, then it fills its purpose...

[Systemlord]

Well, I finally pulled the trigger on my new system last night.....went with all EK blocks.

EK Supreme HF (Nickel/Acetal) for CPU, EK FC480 (Nickel/Acetal) + EK Backplate for VGA,
and EK FC RE3 (Nickel/Acetal) for the Rampage III MB.

Here's hoping the EK block holds it's own during the testing.

Well if the EK Supreme HF is any indication EK's GPU water blocks should do quite well!

[pwolfe]

My ek 470 blocks exceeded my own expectations

[0xdeadbeef]

I purchased two EK 480 for SLI and one EK 285 for PhysX. Everything on a quad radiator and the temps never go over 50C (900/1800/2100, 1150mV).

[Systemlord]

I purchased two EK 480 for SLI and one EK 285 for PhysX. Everything on a quad radiator and the temps never go over 50C (900/1800/2100, 1150mV).

You just became my best friend, what quad radiator are you using? You got 50C or lower for two GTX480's overclocked to 900/1800/2100, 1150mV, amazing!! What pump are you running? I purchased HWLab's GTX480 quad radiator for GPU only loop and am planning on getting the DCC 3.25 18 Watt with EK X-Top V2, still have more to buy before I actually get it flowing. I'm very impressed with what I've been hearing about EK's 480 water blocks, looks like I'm not buying the Danger Den's expensive ($159.95 each) water blocks, that's a huge saving considering the savings when buying two of them! Since when could you run a dedicated PhysX videocard that doesn't match the 480 cards?

[0xdeadbeef]

You just became my best friend, what quad radiator are you using? You got 50C or lower for two GTX480's overclocked to 900/1800/2100, 1150mV, amazing!! What pump are you running? I purchased HWLab's GTX480 quad radiator for GPU only loop and am planning on getting the DCC 3.25 18 Watt with EK X-Top V2, still have more to buy before I actually get it flowing. I'm very impressed with what I've been hearing about EK's 480 water blocks, looks like I'm not buying the Danger Den's expensive ($159.95 each) water blocks, that's a huge saving considering the savings when buying two of them! Since when could you run a dedicated PhysX videocard that doesn't match the 480 cards?

I'm running everything with an HW Lab GTX480 with Sanyo Deny San Aces and and a laing 325 pump. The temps are with 20-22C ambient approximately.

[skinnee]

The Hindenburg just flew over my house (okay, a FedEx truck pulled up) and discarded a package...

[Section8]

Nice Skinnee. Can't wait to see some results...

[Systemlord]

I'm running everything with an HW Lab GTX480 with Sanyo Deny San Aces and and a laing 325 pump. The temps are with 20-22C ambient approximately.

What fans and at what RPM are they running at?

[blazarcher]

The Hindenburg just flew over my house (okay, a FedEx truck pulled up) and discarded a package...

A bit ugly in my opinion. And the internals seem almost identical to the Aquagrafx 480 =)

Yeah well I've changed my mind on the EK (that's including the backplate), I think I'm gonna go with the Aquagrafx 480. Seriously, it's exactly the kind of color contrast that my build requires. Although a gold edition would be EVEN better xD

BTW Viper, I don't mind seeing you post "irrelevant" relative performance scores. Doesn't matter if it includes/excludes performance or w.e, but at least label it xD Are you seriously trying to get us all mad?!?!?

[blazarcher]

Come to think of it, the two blocks (Aquacomputer and Heatkiller) are very similar. I mean just look at what they use for letting water in and out.

The AC,

And the Heatkiller,

WOW, really hard to tell the two apart! - Notice the shape of the contact area. Same shaped GPU area, same opening for the capacitor, and even the SAME DESIGN (look at the MEM contact points)


Here's the Aquacomputer, I think xD

And the HeatKiller,

See the resemblance? Yeah very similar indeed, take a look at where the water enters and exits, wow same shape too I'd say.

Both look the same when you look at the VRM's too. Although here we see some difference. First the Heatkiller has different way of cooling the VRM's with several different paths for water to go through. So as water enters the VRM area, it splits, and when it's moving to the GPU, it also splits.


As for the Aquacomputer block, a bit more "plain". Though the water seems to "stay longer" in the VRM area.



Take note of the grooves effectively forcing water to travel through several paths just like the Heatkiller to cool the VRM's more effectively. But see how the two differ. And here's another look:



My money's on the AC, it definitely looks better and should perform about the same.





**Switched to the Regular AC block, can't find it anywhere + It's a more fair comparison**

[blazarcher]

Not to deter people from buying one of these beautiful blocks but apparently the GTX 485 is in the works...



Though this could all be a rumour, I seriously doubt it. I mean one core is already disabled on the GTX 480 for goodness sakes, this should be expected!

Best of all new revision (B1), so much cooler running = MORE OVERCLOCKING POTENTIAL!!

Now I wonder if one of these beautiful blocks will support the GTX 485, hopefully nothing drastic changes and we will be (hopefully) able to use the same block, though the thermal paste will be a lil' longer (for the new core).

*sigh, This is why I shouldn't wait 8 months for a GPU to upgrade to*

If I buy now, I'll regret it. If I buy later, I'll regret getting Ati's Southern Island cards...

**Source** http://www.kitguru.net/components/gr...y-in-the-sack/

[blazarcher]

Here's an interesting review that came out from bit-tech regarding the Inno3D GeForce GTX 480 iChill Black Series (BP Waterblock).

Apparently BP's got the worst performance in cooling the GTX 480!

"Graphics card (reference) TEMP C

GTX 480 LCS Danger Den 49
GTX 480 LCS Inno3D iChill 57
GeForce GTX 480 95"

So yeah, danger den is probably somewhere up there on Vapor's chart. I'm certain that the BP is down below. WOW, I was actually thinking of getting the BP block for all it's bling (Mirror Finish).



Got to admit though, it sure looks nice though! Check out that reflection.

[ScottALot]

Not to deter people from buying one of these beautiful blocks but apparently the GTX 485 is in the works...



Though this could all be a rumour, I seriously doubt it. I mean one core is already disabled on the GTX 480 for goodness sakes, this should be expected!

Best of all new revision (B1), so much cooler running = MORE OVERCLOCKING POTENTIAL!!

Now I wonder if one of these beautiful blocks will support the GTX 485, hopefully nothing drastic changes and we will be (hopefully) able to use the same block, though the thermal paste will be a lil' longer (for the new core).

*sigh, This is why I shouldn't wait 8 months for a GPU to upgrade to*

If I buy now, I'll regret it. If I buy later, I'll regret getting Ati's Southern Island cards...

**Source** http://www.kitguru.net/components/gr...y-in-the-sack/

Because the 480 wasn't pricy enough!

[Systemlord]

Not to deter people from buying one of these beautiful blocks but apparently the GTX 485 is in the works...



Though this could all be a rumour, I seriously doubt it. I mean one core is already disabled on the GTX 480 for goodness sakes, this should be expected!

Best of all new revision (B1), so much cooler running = MORE OVERCLOCKING POTENTIAL!!

Now I wonder if one of these beautiful blocks will support the GTX 485, hopefully nothing drastic changes and we will be (hopefully) able to use the same block, though the thermal paste will be a lil' longer (for the new core).

*sigh, This is why I shouldn't wait 8 months for a GPU to upgrade to*

If I buy now, I'll regret it. If I buy later, I'll regret getting Ati's Southern Island cards...

**Source** http://www.kitguru.net/components/gr...y-in-the-sack/

You act surprised, Nvidia's R&D department is always ahead of what's being offered. I wouldn't be surprised if the 512SP Fermi model was offered in 1 1/2 to two years from now, but a 1 1/2 to two years from then there will be the 1024SP Fermi!

[skinnee]

Isn't that a picture of stock slot cover vs. EVGA's high flow slot cover?

[Nickel020]

Yes it is.

Also, concerning the AC vs. WC topic, take a look at their 5870 and earlier blocks and you'll see that AC is just plain out copying WC's design, something I wouldn't have expected of them...

[cx-ray]

Not to deter people from buying one of these beautiful blocks but apparently the GTX 485 is in the works...

Yes pic is probably the EVGA GTX 470 SuperClocked+ w/ High Flow Bracket and Backplate.

http://www.evga.com/PRODUCTS/enlarge...P3-1475-AR&I=5

[ell]

Not to deter people from buying one of these beautiful blocks but apparently the GTX 485 is in the works...



Though this could all be a rumour, I seriously doubt it. I mean one core is already disabled on the GTX 480 for goodness sakes, this should be expected!

Best of all new revision (B1), so much cooler running = MORE OVERCLOCKING POTENTIAL!!

Now I wonder if one of these beautiful blocks will support the GTX 485, hopefully nothing drastic changes and we will be (hopefully) able to use the same block, though the thermal paste will be a lil' longer (for the new core).

*sigh, This is why I shouldn't wait 8 months for a GPU to upgrade to*

If I buy now, I'll regret it. If I buy later, I'll regret getting Ati's Southern Island cards...

**Source** http://www.kitguru.net/components/gr...y-in-the-sack/

LOL thats a high flow bracket you can fit to any 470/480. and there might be a 485, but i reckon a 490 is more likely (dual 470 card) that will distract the public from there terrible tmsc yield. 512sp wouldn't be an incredible difference, a die shrink to reach 1ghz under water would be more useful.

[cstkl1]

also judging from past
newer revision
bye bye volterra ..

heck ati also doing the same

[blazarcher]

LOL thats a high flow bracket you can fit to any 470/480. and there might be a 485, but i reckon a 490 is more likely (dual 470 card) that will distract the public from there terrible tmsc yield. 512sp wouldn't be an incredible difference, a die shrink to reach 1ghz under water would be more useful.

Yeah like I said "though this could all be a rumour". I've been doing some research on kitguru and it seems that they are very unreliable. But a 512SP model will come out for sure. Maybe in the form of a Dual GPU solution?