Best WB for GTX580?

[Barso]

What would be the best WB for a GTX580 reference?
I am looking at the Watercool HEATKILLER® GPU-X³ GTX580/570 "Hole Edition" but was hoping someone could help me?
I have the watercool heatkiller 3.0 for my sandybridge and love and was hoping their GPU range is just as good.
Thanks.

[coolhandluke41]

good choice ,that block did well in testing
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=262937
if this is just single card solution ..aquagraFX also looks good

[NaeKuh]

koolance.

Has the one of the best customer support out of all the companies.
Has the one of the best nickle plating jobs so far... undisputed.
Has the easiest RMA.
Gives great temps.

But they are one of the most expensive.

[coolhandluke41]

koolance.

Has the one of the best customer support out of all the companies.
Has the one of the best nickle plating jobs so far... undisputed.
Has the easiest RMA.
Gives great temps.

But they are one of the most expensive.

I don't think nickel is on OP's mind but have to admit, koolance and aquagraFX
looks solid in that department

[phill]

Has anyone got any results on what the blocks are like with a screen shot of their temps etc?

I'm currently looking to buy a few 580's (3Gb versions) but I'm a bit stuck on which GPU and block to buy.

I'm looking at the EVGA card which costs £460, but for their water blocked version they are asking £630!! Surely a water block doesnt cost that much does it??

[zeropluszero]

Voting for aquagrafix

[NewBreed]

i have the heatkiller on my gtx570(same as for gtx 580) and it looks great and performs great!the only other option i ever truly considered was aquagrafx because it's just an amazing waterblock with killer looks.The only inconvenience with it was the fact that you have to use thermal paste on the memory when mounting instead of thermalpads.

[Olly_K]

Aquagrafx gets my vote, I love mine :

[phill]

How do you think these after market blocks compare to EVGA's own block guys?

[NewBreed]

From what I remember the EVGA was quite bad on VRM cooling!Gpu wise the temps were similar to the competition(or not very far off)- my bad ...that was on gtx 480!sry again

[voklskier4452]

I would go with the aquagrafx. Only other brand I would consider is heatkiller.

[CedricFP]

Koolance for service, Aquagrafx for looks.

[Utnorris]

XSPC for bang for buck value. I used their FC on mine GTX460's when I had them and they were surprising great and looked pretty good.

[bundymania]

When it comes to the temps, Swiftech/EVGA Block is the best. Followed bei the usual "candidates" : Aquacomputer, Watercool, Koolance and EK with their new filigrane fin structur GTX580+ waterblock

[Church]

bundymania: only temp-wise best, i assume? How are things with flow restriction?

[coolhandluke41]

as for swiftech block ,don't have the data but as far as i know it's one of the more restrictive blocks out there
test results of GTX 480
courtesy of Bundymania and skeenee
NOTE; there are some changes made to EK blocks (micro-fin instead of wave) and swiftech block,this is just rough idea what you can expect from the new 580 blocks

[CedricFP]

If those results from the 480s carry through to the 580s, Koolance looking like best flow/temp tradeoff.

[Church]

coolhandluke41: linked data of yours is for 480 FCs, not 580. IIRC several vendors made few changes/improvements to blocks, don't know if it's right to extrapolate performance from this test. And even if we look at performance of 480 blocks, imho it's better to link skinneelabs's test (p3(flow), p4(temps)), as more thoroughful one and showing temps for VRM as well.

[coolhandluke41]

coolhandluke41: linked data of yours is for 480 FCs, not 580. IIRC several vendors made few changes/improvements to blocks, don't know if it's right to extrapolate performance from this test. And even if we look at performance of 480 blocks, imho it's better to link skinneelabs's test (p3(flow), p4(temps)), as more thoroughful one and showing temps for VRM as well.

I'm not aware of 580 comparison as of right now ,the GTX 480 and 580 blocks are pretty much the same so you can also compare their performance. There should be almost no difference. Test/data is from bundymania review ,i will edit make a note of it
Thank you
P.S. BTW skinneelabs's test looks very similar

[zalbard]

I'm not aware of 580 comparison as of right now ,the GTX 480 and 580 blocks are pretty much the same so you can also compare their performance. There should be almost no difference.

The cooling area design of new EK blocks makes them significantly more restrictive compared to the older blocks.

[coolhandluke41]

The cooling area design of new EK blocks makes them significantly more restrictive compared to the older blocks.

you are correct
see "note" in my post

[Church]

IIRC Naekuh mentioned Koolance changing something too.
With differences that little for some of the blocks, even smaller changes may totally change order of performance in subsequent versions. That's why it's much harder to suggest something based on different version block test.

But in general, they all will show adequate cooling, so it's more upto individual look preferences/likes.

[zalbard]

But in general, they all will show adequate cooling, so it's more upto individual look preferences/likes...

... pricing, and possible issues.
I totally agree.

[phill]

Well since I cant really understand the price difference from that of the standard EVGA card to the one with a pre fixed water block on it, it looks like I'll have to get the AquaComputer block as that does look rather nice I think I might try having a look for the silver one

[Barso]

Thanks for all of the help and advice.
I went ahead and ordered the watercool block after seeing the image posted above.
The watercool stuff has a real weight and quality feel and has never let me down.