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

[creidiki]

So far ... some very nice block pr0n.

Looking forward to the review.

[Vapor]

Are any of them long enough to cover the ugly fan hole?

The AC and Koolance have very nice fin arrays...

[skinnee]

is mcw-80 included under swiftech?

I never heard from Gabe on that, so I'll pick one up after I finish the full cover blocks and have a go with the MCW80. I've got my hands full with FC blocks and DDC testing among other things presently.

Are any of them long enough to cover the ugly fan hole?

The AC and Koolance have very nice fin arrays...

Thus far I don't think so, but will know for sure as I get mounting blocks to the card this weekend. And yes, I was pleasantly surprised by the fin array when I opened the AC block... I'm very curious to see how all of these perform and whether there is any impact to OC headroom and heat control. I will probably baseline with the Bitspower block for OC and Voltage used for the overclocked runs.

Also, EVGA/Swiftech full cover arrives today. XSPC block shipped (have tracking #) and still waiting to hear back on my reply to Watercool.

[CptDreadFlint]

... I'm very curious to see how all of these perform and whether there is any impact to OC headroom and heat control. I will probably baseline with the Bitspower block for OC and Voltage used for the overclocked runs...

Skinnee: Just wanted to drop a quick line

_______________________________________ ← quick line

thanking you for the great pics and whetting my (and our collective) appetite(s) for the results.

[gabe]

I never heard from Gabe on that

Sorry man, been super busy. + waiting for the specific GT400 mount kit to arrive (the G80- also works, but the GT400 is better for rigidity when NOT using the stock heasink..)

[EnJoY]

Aqua Computer block makes the long swim across the Atlantic...

Yum...micro-channels. Should perform well, very curious to see the results of this one.

[JoeBar]

I'm curious about the restriction of all these similar but yet so different designs...

[skinnee]

I'm curious about the restriction of all these similar but yet so different designs...

Wasn't able to squeeze a flow meter in the loop, pressure drop testing will follow thermals though. I should pick up some FM-17's for this bench.

[Nickel020]

Hm, the Watercool-style fittings connector is a step backwards for AC imho. Pushing the water through those small holes has to hurt flow, which is always bad if it doesn't improve cooling performance. A great looking block otherwise though, I love the stainless steel backplate!

[Helloworld_98]

maybe GPU manufacturers should make blocks with inbuilt pumps

[EnJoY]

maybe GPU manufacturers should make blocks with inbuilt pumps

...or built-in even!

[Waterlogged]

Hm, the Watercool-style fittings connector is a step backwards for AC imho. Pushing the water through those small holes has to hurt flow, which is always bad if it doesn't improve cooling performance. A great looking block otherwise though, I love the stainless steel backplate!

I don't know what size those holes are but, as long as it can still pass the volume of a 1/2" I.D. tube, does it really matter what shape they are?

[DarthBeavis]

I don't know what size those holes are

[Helloworld_98]

This is a good idea, but packaging such a solution could prove difficult to meet flow requirements. The best solution I've seen so far is swiftech building the pump into the radiator.

well I meant that they use built in pumps to help the water through the microchannels which would increase cooling ability

[Coldon]

cant wait for the results as I'm kinda in the market for a block, I have to agree that those BP internals look well um... missing? its pretty much just a flat a block of copper, i thought carving the channels into the copper was meant to increase the water/metal contact area but yeh, we'll see what the results show.

I would love it if i could buy the swiftech full cover block separately, will that be possible in the future Gabe?

[ell]

Im really interested in the aqua computer block but Im trying to confirm a couple things, is it the most restrictive looking block? and will it matter anyway seeing as it will be a pair of them in a loop by them selves with a mcp355 and tfc 480? and also i'd love to know which the lightest block is.
never tried anything else but EK for full cover gpu blocks but the way that gpu area looks has made me curious

[DarthBeavis]

My unobtainium Danger Den blocks are doing a swell job in TRI-SLI.

[skinnee]

EVGA/Swiftech block arrives and spends it's time in the photo tents...

[Alexandr0s]

Although the internals look quite odd, I kinda like EVGA's design .

And really DB, unobtanium ?

[Coldon]

wow that's a really pretty block, really keen to see how the heatpipe stands up to the full cover competitors...

[Boulard83]

@Skinnee

Is the EVGA/Swiftech block lighter ? I think this can be an advantage for the block cause of the way its made.

[Alexandr0s]

@Skinnee

Is the EVGA/Swiftech block lighter ? I think this can be an advantage for the block cause of the way its made.

I definitely think it lighter than most blocks. It almost looks like a single slot block .

[m_jones_]

I definitely think it lighter than most blocks. It almost looks like a single slot block .

It is a single slot block.

[Conumdrum]

Although the internals look quite odd, I kinda like EVGA's design .

And really DB, unobtanium ?

Wiki it, it's pretty interesting how the word was developed.

I hope the 470 blocks will be forthcoming about the same time.

[Coldon]

i still think it should have been called writersblockium...