Swiftech to release Full Cover for Radeon HD6970

[gabe]

I think that sticker is a great compromise.

Maybe another thought for the next run of water cooling blocks is some sort of plastic cover to cover up the screws instead of a sticker? I know it would add to cost, but maybe people would prefer that as it would be one solid flowing piece.

I decided to do the sticker for two reasons:

1. the great success encountered by the EVGA design (for the record, while the sticker was my suggestion, the graphic design was theirs, and it shows, as they have a team of professional graphic designers..)
2. the perceived necessity to hide screw holes

Even the original sticker looks very good on the block when you see the real thing. It gives it a very clean professional appearance.

TBH, I am also a little tired of the techno look, and the sticker opens up all kind of creative ideas. The key is to do something that will stay in tune with the public taste. It's a challenge, but it's doable if I manage to hook up with some good creative ppl...

Note: removing the sticker is not too difficult and if you are careful, you can even put it back nice and clean.

[millertime359]

I was just offering another thought that you could look into Gabe as it seems there are a few people that don't like the idea of the sticker.

I think that sticker looks pretty nice and it seems to be a good compromise of all the input you got. Everyone has their own thoughts and it hard to please everyone.

Maybe another idea is to post templates to the stickers of each block you produce on your site so if someone wants to make their own custom sticker it would be really easy to do so as they will have the proper template.

[gabe]

I was just offering another thought that you could look into Gabe as it seems there are a few people that don't like the idea of the sticker.

I think that sticker looks pretty nice and it seems to be a good compromise of all the input you got. Everyone has their own thoughts and it hard to please everyone.

Maybe another idea is to post templates to the stickers of each block you produce on your site so if someone wants to make their own custom sticker it would be really easy to do so as they will have the proper template.

template: sure, why not. it's easy enough to do.

thanks for your input.

[miahallen]

Thanks for keeping us involved gabe....I love the way you cater to the community

[nvmc]

All I ask if you do put a sticker on it, is that you use the kind of adhesive that will come off easily. Personally I can't stand the idea of a sticker, although I appreciate that some other people might like it. This seems like a moderate compromise to me :p

[thegcpu]

Here is the final render.

This retains Pado's pin matrix pattern, but in a more subtle fashion.

I want to thank you all for your input, and conclude by a judicious observation made by my 13 year old daugter: "but Dad, what's important is how it works, No? "

Your daughters is correct, but look at Noctua, they would sell so many more fans if they weren’t so ugly. Remember for some guys here the BLING is important.

[Roadhog]

template: sure, why not. it's easy enough to do.

thanks for your input.

And this is why I buy Swiftech stuff.

[penguins]

And this is why I buy Swiftech stuff.

+1
also because of their competitive price, and availability in Microcenter
I had to goto a hypnotherapist to not want to go max my credit card with part :|

[Vetalar]

i just understand that I'll see that sticker only while installing. in "typical" case it will be on the bottom side of a card... since that you may place even a periodic table here...

[gabe]

Great News!

We are now in a position to explain some of the design elements that we couldn't discuss earlier due to Non Disclosure Agreements with AMD.

The 6970 and 6950 series Radeons are coming in 2 flavors. I am not sure I am allowed to use the same terminology as that used by AMD, so let's call the first batch of boards released and available on the market right now the "initial release", and the upcoming revision the "revision".

There are subtle differences between these boards that will prevent a block designed strictly to work with "initial release" to mount on "revision", and I am glad to announce that we designed the Komodo HD6900 water block to work with both by using different VRM plates; this is the reason why we alluded to the possibility of changing VRM plates as a potential for future upgrades in previous posts, without being able to provide much details as we couldn't dislose any.

Let's take a look at this in greater details:

This is the Komodo HD6900 base, compatible with Radeon HD6970 initial release, as well as current HD6950



Now this is the upgraded version, compatible with Radeon HD6970 "revision"; you can see the different VRM plate, the lower left standoff on the main GPU base plate adjusted to the right, and an additional standoff installed by the Northside memory bank.



From a practical standpoint, people who own an intial release board and Komodo waterblock, and want to port their block to a "revision" board will only have to get the separate VRM plate at a moderate cost.

Important Note: We also made sure that the block would line up perfectly in Crossfire, between "intial release" and "revision".

Now for the housing internals - from the pictures below, we can see that the flow from the main GPU cavity circulates to the VRM plate by moving thru a an upper cavity in the housing which is sealed by a top cover. The channels going to the VRM's were carefully designed to minimize pressure drop, reason why we publize that this block has moderate pressure drop. The third picture shows the block with the top cover, one of the considerations that led us to use a sticker to cover the unusual number of screws.

Main cavities side


Upper cavity side




Finally, the Chrome plated C110 copper base plate continues with the Komodo and Epsilon thin pin matrix design, which has proven to provide superior GPU cooling against other solutions.



We are working around the clock in production, and expect to release this block on January 15.

[Church]

I wonder if this block can be pioneer in new generic full cover design trend with exchangeable parts resulting in semi-universal waterblocks standing somewhere in the middle between universal VGA blocks and old unmodular blocks. Imho idea is worth exploring at least. As in - measure common gpu / memory placement, then in some "base block" to route flow arround (but with cutouts in common places with elements of big height in most cards) put different height "inserts" for GPU/two "inserts" for mem, and last one for VRM. Kind of like four waterblocks connected not with tubing but with semi-full-cover-alike "base block" instead. And for any different PCB all that's needed - release apropriate "inserts" or tell which ones from existing ones can be reused. Design can be more universal if since the beginning single slot cooling solution height is given up, then almost for sure "base block" will be above all higher elements on PCB, whatever their placement is.
- imho it would be cheaper to replace one third of block then buying all anew for new GPU
- "inserts" can be upgraded in such design - eg. one for gpu core with different structure/effectiveness/flow resistance with newer, more effective ones.

[MengNa]

The 6970 and 6950 series Radeons are coming in 2 flavors. I am not sure I am allowed to use the same terminology as that used by AMD, so let's call the first batch of boards released and available on the market right now the "initial release", and the upcoming revision the "revision".

While the info about the block is fascinating this is what I'm most interested about.
I'm assuming you can't tell us, but it'd be nice to know what that revision to the cards is, and whether it'll be better then the current revision. And if so should I wait for the new revision instead of buying 2 cards now.

[gabe]

While the info about the block is fascinating this is what I'm most interested about.
I'm assuming you can't tell us, but it'd be nice to know what that revision to the cards is, and whether it'll be better then the current revision. And if so should I wait for the new revision instead of buying 2 cards now.

Sorry, relatively to performance and price, I am unable (I don't have sufficient data) to comment on this.. technically, the power components are different, resulting in physical changes to the geometry of the VRM block, and there are also changes in some mounting holes.

[MengNa]

Sorry, relatively to performance and price, I am unable (I don't have sufficient data) to comment on this.. technically, the power components are different, resulting in physical changes to the geometry of the VRM block, and there are also changes in some mounting holes.

Yeah I thought so... But it never hurts to ask
I really must say your design is very impressive! And that you would go to the trouble of designing an upgradable block for the purpose of saving people money shows just how great Swiftech is
Edit to your edit: Seems weird though... Why didn't they just release the cards with the revision implemented? And what's the revision for? Was there a problem with the original design? Will the new revision improve performance or lower power consumption or something? Just random question but it's putting me off of buying the cards until there's news about what the new revision is for...

[gabe]

Yeah I thought so... But it never hurts to ask
I really must say your design is very impressive! And that you would go to the trouble of designing an upgradable block for the purpose of saving people money shows just how great Swiftech is

Thanks; it literally took me twice (if not more) as long.. so I do appreciate the nod.

[MengNa]

Thanks; it literally took me twice (if not more) as long.. so I do appreciate the nod.

You're welcome

[Brodholm]

Yeah I thought so... But it never hurts to ask
I really must say your design is very impressive! And that you would go to the trouble of designing an upgradable block for the purpose of saving people money shows just how great Swiftech is
Edit to your edit: Seems weird though... Why didn't they just release the cards with the revision implemented? And what's the revision for? Was there a problem with the original design? Will the new revision improve performance or lower power consumption or something? Just random question but it's putting me off of buying the cards until there's news about what the new revision is for...

Thanks; it literally took me twice (if not more) as long.. so I do appreciate the nod.

This is something that companies rarely do, they usually want you to get new stuff all the time.

And I really hope that other companies like EK, Koolance, DD follow in the same footsteps!

So to you guys!

[gabe]

Yeah I thought so... But it never hurts to ask
I really must say your design is very impressive! And that you would go to the trouble of designing an upgradable block for the purpose of saving people money shows just how great Swiftech is
Edit to your edit: Seems weird though... Why didn't they just release the cards with the revision implemented? And what's the revision for? Was there a problem with the original design? Will the new revision improve performance or lower power consumption or something? Just random question but it's putting me off of buying the cards until there's news about what the new revision is for...

Remember that I am the one who called this a "revision", just because I didn't want to use code name terminology, which is proprietary to the Company.

TBH I am not even sure that specific news will come out about the new cards, since the revisions seem minor from a functional standpoint. But from a cooling solution provider standpoint, they are significant enough that the design must be different.

[Utnorris]

Gabe, your a friggin genius. That is one of the most well thought out designs I have seen in a water block. Kudos to you and Swiftech for having some forthsight when making this block. You are probably right that the "revision" will probably rolled out very quietly and it will take word of mouth to figure out which cards need which VRM plate, but beats the hell out of buying a new block. On a side note, love the final design of the sticker, looks great, doesn't overwhelm, just looks great.

[Waterlogged]

Gabe, your a friggin genius. That is one of the most well thought out designs I have seen in a water block. Kudos to you and Swiftech for having some forthsight when making this block. You are probably right that the "revision" will probably rolled out very quietly and it will take word of mouth to figure out which cards need which VRM plate, but beats the hell out of buying a new block. On a side note, love the final design of the sticker, looks great, doesn't overwhelm, just looks great.

Yep but, it's only because they clued him in ahead of time.

With the way some of the companies alter the "reference" PCB, it will be hard to implement a "modular block" for "rouge" PCB designs that have qualities that make them worth buying (ex. good OCing).

[Utnorris]

Yep but, it's only because they clued him in ahead of time.

With the way some of the companies alter the "reference" PCB, it will be hard to implement a "modular block" for "rouge" PCB designs that have qualities that make them worth buying (ex. good OCing).

Yes, but Gabe could have said "F" it and created two blocks for the first and second revisions and no one would have been the wiser. Kudos to him for being a standup guy and not trying to screw the community.

[Waterlogged]

Yes, but Gabe could have said "F" it and created two blocks for the first and second revisions and no one would have been the wiser. Kudos to him for being a standup guy and not trying to screw the community.

Agreed , was more or less a note for the others above talking about modular blocks.

[Vetalar]

modular fullcover waterblock? dreams REALY come true on x-mass! excellent idea!

[Johnny87au]

From a practical standpoint, people who own an intial release board and Komodo waterblock, and want to port their block to a "revision" board will only have to get the separate VRM plate at a moderate cost.

Hell yeah! This is what i call awesome!

[Philwong]

Nice design Gabe

Would be even better if Swiftech can produce a high performance universal GPU FC block.

Maybe you can combine this and CoolIT OMNI's "interposer plate" design.

Phil