Aquacomputer 290x cooler problem

[msimax]

Just installed and been testing 2blocks in crossfire noticed random lock apps and blue screen GPU Temps are fine but will throttle I took everything apart and found a severe lack of contact with memory and vrms I used supplied pads and instructions said to use thermal grease on a memory should I use stock pads from original cooler?




?

[Shoggy]

I am pretty sure the card is the problem since it is also not a reference card. Easy to spot because of the missing AMD imprint above the PCIe contacts. I had a customer with the same problem in the area of the voltage regulators a few days ago or maybe you are also the one (dont' know). The capacitors there also look different.

The RAM does not look that unusual to me. You should use some more thermal grease on the RAM since due to the different positions of the screws the contact pressure slightly bends the card so the pressure contact is not even throughout this area. You can also see that the chips next to the screws have a better contact.

Why is there thermal grease on the right voltage regulators? A pad should be used here.

[msimax]

Its a powercolor reference heatsink card. pad is on the water block barely any indentations

[msimax]

This is a msi card I cant spot the difference except the color of the caps

[msimax]

...

[stren]

I wouldn't use the stock pads from the air cooler, they fall apart pretty easily in my experience. In my testing the AC made good contact and indentation with the thermal pad on a reference card (and the pcb had the amd logo). Yes yours looks similar but it doesn't have the amd logo which is a cause for concern. I would try mounting again. Evenly screw in the 4 screws around the gpu core, then the ones across the VRM, and then the others. If you still have issues then maybe try a thicker after market thermal pad e.g. 1.5mm maybe and watch out for PCB warp after installation! If the PCB is warping your thermal pad is too thick.

[Shoggy]

No idea if the MSI card is from someone else or if it is yours. If you have access to it you should compare the height of the caps and the molded coils left to it (these black boxes with the "C"). One thing that also looks a bit strange is the glue around the coils.

[tiborrr]

I am pretty sure the card is the problem since it is also not a reference card. Easy to spot because of the missing AMD imprint above the PCIe contacts. I had a customer with the same problem in the area of the voltage regulators a few days ago or maybe you are also the one (dont' know). The capacitors there also look different.

Hey Shoggy! Long time no see.

The R29F is exactly the same as AMD reference, only with different silkscreen. The upcoming R29FA is however completely non-reference. I have this information directly from the manufacturer I work with.

[msimax]

No idea if the MSI card is from someone else or if it is yours. If you have access to it you should compare the height of the caps and the molded coils left to it (these black boxes with the "C"). One thing that also looks a bit strange is the glue around the coils.

i own 5 and they're identical

[msimax]

thanks

i just dont want to use a mountain of grease on the memory to make up for the gap, last time i water cooled video cards was with 4870x2's and they came with pads for the memory so i thought these were machined exact to fit being they came with no pads..

[Shoggy]

So, if you own so many 290 cards you could also use the MSI card for the water block. So far I can only say that every time we had any kind of problems with a 290 card it were always cards that had no AMD imprint.

[msimax]

i have two blocks in cfx ill try remounting then ill just return no biggie

[msimax]

Also both powercolor cards have glue on the chokes probably cuts down on coil whine this is from another card with the prized amd logo on It notice the gap

[Shoggy]

Do you own a sliding caliper? If so, could you please take the height from the PCB to the top of the blue colored caps on the left and right. When I am back in the office I can check what the maximum height in this area can be. The caps are the only clearly visible difference between both cards.

[Shoggy]

Small update. I have the numbers now.

The caps on the left can have 6.75mm in height while the row on the right can have 10.5mm.

[tiborrr]

Small update. I have the numbers now.

The caps on the left can have 6.75mm in height while the row on the right can have 10.5mm.

R92F caps on main VRM are 9.00-9.05mm

[msimax]

I use the thermal pad for my reference cards and folded it in half since it is so pliable now vrm temps are in the 50c range overclocked
If only I can find the backplates in stock lol

[msimax]