First glimpse at the EK-FC7970

[tiborrr]

You have received 3x 52x16x0.5mm & 1x ~ 16x16x1.0mm thermal pad. One should use small chunk of thermal pad on the small VRM on the right side, next to crossfire connectors and 0.5mm thermal pads everywhere else (RAM, main VRM section).

Phase regulator is the shiny metal thingy next to the inductor coils (gray boxes).

Nice looking system! What's your best overclock?

[Levesque]

A)- All thermal pads supplied were 0.5mm but the documentation referred to using the 1mm strips on the VRM's.
B)- The term Phase regulator is used to described which pads need thermal paste adding to them - but there is no mention of this anywhere else so can get a bit confuzzling!
[URL]

There is a small white thicker pad for the VRMs near the connectors end of the card. The grey pads are for all the rest.

And I always put a small drop of thermal paste under every pads. Easier to install the block since nothing while slide while moving the card or the block.

[zoomee]

You have received 3x 52x16x0.5mm & 1x ~ 16x16x1.0mm thermal pad. One should use small chunk of thermal pad on the small VRM on the right side, next to crossfire connectors and 0.5mm thermal pads everywhere else (RAM, main VRM section).

Phase regulator is the shiny metal thingy next to the inductor coils (gray boxes).

Nice looking system! What's your best overclock?

Excellent, thats how I did it.

so the Phase regulators are different to the VRM's? - pooo, that means I didn't apply any paste to it. I only applied thermal paste to everything I put a thermal pad on.

Got a pic of the Phase regulator?

PS - Not really a GPU overclocker mate - I got it for the noise reduction

[tiborrr]

VRM = whole section including MOSFETs, IC drivers and inductors. Okay, on the HD 7970 the board uses integrated driver-mosfet (so called drmos).

If you have applied thermal paste everywhere you put your thermal pad then that's correct procedure!

[Arctunual]

Does it necessary to put thermal paste on all the thermal pad?

[tiborrr]

It's not necassery, it's more of a recommendation. Works fine without too!

[Arctunual]

One more question tiborrr, is there any EK FC Link/Bridge available(soon?) which's compatible with EK-FC7970?

[Levesque]

Arctunual.

I use the Quad-GPU bridge with the ''old'' 5870 FC links without any problems with my 4X 7970.

[Roadhog]

Just ordered 3 from frozencpu.

[tiborrr]

Guys, please start reading product descriptions. Information there is actually useful

e.g.: http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/bl...ek-fc7970.html

EK-FC7970 is a high performance full-cover water block for AMD reference design Radeon HD 7970 and -7950 graphics card. Please check our Cooling Configurator online compatibility system for detailed compatibility list!

This water block directly cools the GPU, RAM as well as VRM (voltage regulation module) as water flows directly over these critical areas thus allowing the graphics card and it's VRM to remain stable under high overclocks. EK-FC7970 water block also features a very high flow design therefore it can be easily used in liquid cooling systems using weaker water pumps.

Base is made of electrolytic copper while the top is made of quality cast acrylic material. The sealing is performed by quality rubber washers. Screw-in brass standoffs are pre-installed and allow for safe, painless installation procedure. Block is mounted with enclosed M3x4 DIN7985 screws.

EKWB recommends the purchase of aesthetic retention backplate (EK-FC7970 Backplate - Black) which improves the looks of your graphics cards and also provide some passive cooling to the VRM section.

EKWB also offers a single-slot I/O bracket which frees adjacent PCI/PCIe expansion slot. The bracket is available as an optional add-on and can be purchased through EKWB webshop.

G1/4" threaded fittings can be used on both side of the water block (on copper and plastic) and 2 plugs (EK-Plug G1/4) are enclosed!

Up to four EK-FC7970 series water block can be interconnected with EK-FC Bridge & Link system. The correct connection link for this water block is EK-FC Link R48x0/58x0.

Enclosed:
- EK-FC7970 series water block
- mounting mechanism with screw-in brass standoffs
- thermal pads

Please note: Thermal paste is not included and needs to be purchased separately. EKWB recommends Arctic Cooling MX-4 for best performance.

Made in Slovenia - Europe!

Thanks in advance

[zoomee]

VRM = whole section including MOSFETs, IC drivers and inductors. Okay, on the HD 7970 the board uses integrated driver-mosfet (so called drmos).

If you have applied thermal paste everywhere you put your thermal pad then that's correct procedure!

Must have done it right because the temperatures are bloomin amazing!
I was getting:

On air:
@ Stock settings: 45Degrees C Idle - 69Degrees C Load after just 15minutes of BF3
@ 1Ghz Core /1.5Ghz mem - 37Degrees C Idle, 79 Degrees C Load

I was never able to overclock memory more than 1500Mhz on stock air cooler (using AMD overdrive)

With EK block:
@ 1125/1575: 29 Degrres C Idle - 42 Degrees Load after 2 hours of BF3!!!! - Now thats amazing!.

Worth every penny these blocks :>

[jadeskye]

I'm in the UK, whats my best way of getting one of these? preferably this week. I'm having trouble locating one.

[tiborrr]

Scan Computers, OCUK, EK Webshop?

[zoomee]

I'm in the UK, whats my best way of getting one of these? preferably this week. I'm having trouble locating one.

OCuk have got stock coming and going. I think specialtech are due some stock this week too scan aint got any so far - not even listed for pre-order

[Shadow0001]

I guess i'll have to bite the bullet and order from EK's shop directly, even though the exchange rate, shipping charges and duty charges are going to be brutal coming from slovenia to eastern canada on 4 blocks + parallel bridge and adapters....

[tiborrr]

New low-cost PCB 109-C38137-00B full cover water block already in the works:
http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/s...t?gpu_gpus=593

Also the work is nearing completion with FC waterblock for ASUS HD7970 DCII:
http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/s...t?gpu_gpus=586

I'm exhaused, gotta go to sleep

[bill_d]

New low-cost PCB 109-C38137-00B full cover water block already in the works:
http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/s...t?gpu_gpus=593

Also the work is nearing completion with FC waterblock for ASUS HD7970 DCII:
http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/s...t?gpu_gpus=586

I'm exhaused, gotta go to sleep

oh good the cards out
http://rog.asus.com/70892012/news/as...u-ii-launches/
need pics

[Levesque]

I guess i'll have to bite the bullet and order from EK's shop directly, even though the exchange rate, shipping charges and duty charges are going to be brutal coming from slovenia to eastern canada on 4 blocks + parallel bridge and adapters....

Dazmode.com in Canada has some. And he receive new blocks regularly. Got my 4 EK-7970 + 4 backplate + 4 I/O brackets from him.

Send Daz an e-mail!

[coldcase]

Dazmode.com in Canada has some. And he receive new blocks regularly. Got my 4 EK-7970 + 4 backplate + 4 I/O brackets from him.

Send Daz an e-mail!

Yep. I second that if you are in Canada. That's what I did. The blocks weren't even on the site yet since he just got them and he shipped it immediately. Nice guy.

[The Jesus]

When are more of these getting to the U.S.? Gonna need one for 7950, but don't want the ugly plexi :P

[Shadow0001]

Still nothing on the EK blocks from Dazmode.....He stated that EK simply underestimated the demand for these and aren't able to make enough of them at least for the time being...

[zoomee]

I wonder if consumer production is low due to the demand from manufacturers. Saw a pic last week of powercolor cards pre-fitted with EK Blocks......

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[bill_d]

I wonder if consumer production is low due to the demand from manufacturers. Saw a pic last week of powercolor cards pre-fitted with EK Blocks......

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

saw that to
to bad it's a stock card and not one like the asus DirectCU II
http://en.expreview.com/2012/02/05/p...ted/20805.html

[tiborrr]

I wonder if consumer production is low due to the demand from manufacturers. Saw a pic last week of powercolor cards pre-fitted with EK Blocks......

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

You are talking about Powercolor LCS 7970, right?
http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/25...cooled-hd-7970

[wolvers69]

tiborr, are you able to quantify how much cooling effect the backplate has on VRM temps?