First glimpse at the EK-FC7970

[lowfat]

I don't get the metal plate. Will it come into contact with the coolant? Looks like it could be a corrosion problem if one only runs distilled. Also looks like another area for a leak.

Yes it comes in contact with the coolant. Take a look at other manufacturers full cover blocks. Most use steel covers now as it really is the only way to have water flow over the VRMs. And it is stainless steel, it isn't going to cause corrosion.

[zanzabar]

Yes it comes in contact with the coolant. Take a look at other manufacturers full cover blocks. Most use steel covers now as it really is the only way to have water flow over the VRMs. And it is stainless steel, it isn't going to cause corrosion.

+1, SS has the same electronegativity as copper so u wont get a problem until it rusts affter a few years, i would love some industrial chrome on steel that touches water but i think it would cost to much.

[bill_d]

Yes it comes in contact with the coolant. Take a look at other manufacturers full cover blocks. Most use steel covers now as it really is the only way to have water flow over the VRMs. And it is stainless steel, it isn't going to cause corrosion.

i'm more worried about flow rate restrictions, is water over the vrm's that much better than a full copper bridge to them
or is it just that it uses less copper

[Garrett]

How about black powdercoating on the stainless steel?
Powdercoating doesn't cause corrosion, does it? (correct me if I'm wrong)

[Polizei]

Correct... it's akin to glazing pottery. You spray the stuff on as an electrically charged powder and then bake it, melting it into a cohesive coating. I love the stuff, personally.

[zoomee]

Excellent!

Nice one EK hope its out sooner rather than later
Personally I'll be waiting to see what the competition have to offer first before I take the plunge for EK (once bitten twice shy and all that!)
Looks arent as important as performance is tbh, for me.

[tiborrr]

Quick test. This is an older version of the block, newer version (release to manufacturing) has even better performance - flow & cooling wise!

[Manicdan]

^whats the point of that screenshot? we dont see load temps or a max OC (limited by CCC), and weve seen 1125mhz benchmarks from plenty of other sites.

[tiborrr]

The point of this screenshot is to tease you. Don't be so grouchy :P

[TJ Tom]

You can see a 3DMark score and the max temp during that benchmark = 29°C?

[bill_d]

You can see a 3DMark score and the max temp during that benchmark = 29°C?

0 gpu usage thats idle

[Manicdan]

The point of this screenshot is to tease you. Don't be so grouchy :P

well my wallet is feeling a little fat, and my gpu is on its death bed, and something in my pants are blue from all the teasing ive already seen, so naturally rage was the next step

[tiborrr]

A bit off topic but still in relationship with HD 7970. We have manufactured 0.5mm copper spacers for EK-VGA Supreme HF series water block (of for that matter any GPU water block and/or phase change cooling evaporator/LN2/DICE pot). They should be available for sale in about a week. Cheap too!

[tiborrr]

First real test:

Loop:
EK-FC7970 prototype block
360 RAD
3x Yate Loons D12SL
2m 12mm ID tubing (1/2")
D5 Vario + EK X-TOP V2
EK-RES X2 250 Advanced
EK-12mm High Flow fittings

Measuring equipment:
- Greisinger GTH 175/Pt, calibrated
- Voltcraft IR-800 20D
- Digmessa digital flow meter



Furmark ran for almost five hours!
Cards running at stock volts yield the following results:
Tgpumax = 41°C
Th2omax = 30.7°C
---
dTmax = 10.3°C = ~ 10°C

Overclocking the card to 1125/1500MHz (GPU/RAM respectively) @ 1.250V yields:
Tgpumax = 42°C
Th2omax = 31.1°C
---
dTmax = 9.9°C = ~ 10°C

The dT does not increase not even at these circumstances. Cooling engine holds fine!
Also the VRMs are noticably colder than we are used to. The hottest measured temperature was ~ 49°C (behind the MOSFETs, back side of the PCB), highest logged temperature was 50°C after 5 hours of Furmark.



The best thing about the block - flow rate. It surpases our flagship CPU waterblock EK-Supreme HF by a large margin. You can easily run four of these cards out of one mediocre pump!
Attached is the hydraulic curve for EK-FC7970:



Serial production - block in the making. Made in Slovenia - Europe:

[Nigel]

You can sure sign me up for two. Any ETA yet on when they'll be shipping?

[tiborrr]

Hi Nigel,

hehe, great! I think the first batch should be available some time next week, but not later than on friday.

Best Regards,
Niko

[Levesque]

Already ordered 4 from my favorite retailer.

Going Quad-Fire 4X 7970.

[NaeKuh]

tibor any chance of getting a shot of the plate itself?

Id like to see the channels...

Looks like a nice block tho...

[Buckeye]

No need for trolling in this thread. Warning has been sent.

[paulbagz]

Always lol @ milk cannons on CNC machines

-PB

[pinto]

Got my card today, can't wait to order the block 100% stock cooling is very loud!

[Cookiesowns]

Got my card today, can't wait to order the block 100% stock cooling is very loud!

How did you get the cards? I thought they won't be shipped to retailers till the 9th.

But dang..... I'm really looking forward to the 7 series, haven't been this forward to GPU's since the ATI 3 series release.

[nuttcase21]

metal plate looks like crap to me. i don't get plated blocks because i hate the silver bling look. that plate is gonna force me to buy another manufacturers block and i'm a diehard EK fan. FML

[tiborrr]

1300MHz, 1.25Vgpu Furmark stable

Th20max = 32.3°C
Tgpumax = 43°C
---
dTmax = 10.7°C ~ 11°C

[Cookiesowns]

1300MHz, 1.25Vgpu Furmark stable

Th20max = 32.3°C
Tgpumax = 43°C
---
dTmax = 10.7°C ~ 11°C

Loop specs? Rad, fan, etc? Sorry if already mentioned. But that is looking very nice!