EK-FC280GTX Voltage Regulators

[coolmiester]

A colleague asked me to check the fit of the EK-FC260GTX blocks to Zotac 260GTX cards as he's had three cards fail on him.

The only thing i can see that might be causing any kind of problem is about a 1mm gap between the block and all seven voltage regulators which seems a little excessive given that the supplied thermal pad as around .6mm thick which means that when the block is fastened down to the card there is no, or little contact.

Just wondering if anyone else noticed this and if it would be enough to make all three cards fail??

[RickCain]

Three card failures, one water block = problem. Could be the same problem as the 4870's with non-FC blocks failing.

[Bojamijams]

Thats definetly an issue. The block is not making contact thus doing nothing to help heat transfer. The voltage regulators work with a lot of volts on the new gens and they definetly get VERY hot.

Failed design IMO.

In the meantime, tell your friends to get some copper plates cut and wedge them in there for contact.

[Olly_K]

vrm's get really hot and theres no contact what so ever in that pic. Not good tbh !

[Pej]

I have the same WB and the same card(except it's an XFX) and there's no "gap" beetween the regulators and the WB as it is on your photo..
I only use the EK's pads on the box and that match perfect for me..

Is the PCB card real flat?

Whith no cooling at all on these regulators,i guess it's quite dangerous for the card..
As it was on my HD4870...wich needs a great cooling on the regulators.

[Olly_K]

it the rest of the block "over-tightened" ? this could cause the card to bend

[Eddy_EK]

Hi!

This is very strange... 3 cards.
I hope you used thermal pad with the chips.
If there is 1mm gap you haven't applied enough force and the block did not make the contact with the chip.
I see there is thermal grease around that chip... did you use only thermal pad?
Send me e-mail at info@...

Eddy

[lyl]

Failed design IMO.

Failed design would mean all 280s w/ this block would be frying... Is that the case?

[coolmiester]

Hi!

This is very strange... 3 cards.
I hope you used thermal pad with the chips.
If there is 1mm gap you haven't applied enough force and the block did not make the contact with the chip.
I see there is thermal grease around that chip... did you use only thermal pad?
Send me e-mail at info@...

Eddy

Hi Eddy, that is the remains of the original thermal pad but it was originally fitted with the pad supplied with the block.

I've tried tightening it down but it takes quite a bit of force, too much that i'm comfortable with anyway to get it to make contact with the chips.

Failed design would mean all 280s w/ this block would be frying... Is that the case?

These are 260 cards so not sure if that would make any difference over the 280's ???

[lyl]

Oh, the title says 280, sry. Either way, the design wasnt intended like this -- might be the block... it might be bowed?

[seba84_2005]

You used original mats to the block?

I got thermal mats with the block



I got such leaflet to the block, I had to cut out

[Malik]

Not good info for future ek wb gtx2xx owner

[RickCain]

You used original mats to the block?

I got thermal mats with the block

That looks like the AC 2x0 waterblock!

[seba84_2005]

I am sorry
I did not read through the thread...

[freakgeek1337]

That's why you buy core-only blocks. Not matter which company, EK, D-Tek, or Swiftech. Regardless they are the best.

[Eddy_EK]

Hi!

The PCB is much more flexible than you think.
I have tested the block on 280 and 260 and in both versions I was able to get good contact with the wrm's.
If you don't want to tighten it a little more you should use thicker thermal pad (1mm).

[turtletrax]

That's why you buy core-only blocks. Not matter which company, EK, D-Tek, or Swiftech. Regardless they are the best.

That statement begs an "IMHO" in there somewhere. I have had several EK FC block and never had an issue. Only time I have ever had a fried a vidcard was from using a stupid RAMsink that fell off and toasted it.

IMHO... GPU only blocks suck. if I wanted to blow air at a card I would use a aircooler. Also, vidcards hit a voltage wall before a temp wall on any decent waterblock, so the couple degress more in the temp department for the no fuss FC solution always works for me.

Opinions are like... well you know

Back to on topic... I got my EK 280 block a few weeks ago and it fits like a glove and my GTX hits 713/1600/1225 with ease (will be pushing harder when my San Aces arrive) . Finnishing up the loops with my New EK Supreme and 2x Multioption 250's and I will be ready to rock out EK style

[Garrett]

Why thermal pads anyway?
Why not make those pieces on the waterblock 1mm bigger so you don't need a thermal pad

[Eddy_EK]

Why thermal pads anyway?
Why not make those pieces on the waterblock 1mm bigger so you don't need a thermal pad

The wrm chips are too fragile to leave them to unexperienced users on a hard mount...

[Garrett]

People who buy EK blocks aren't unexperience right?
Besides, the I/O chip is quite fragile too right?

Not that I'm complaining, the thermal pads function as a "cushion" too, thus preventing crushing the vrm chips
Although I think you'd have to really tighten them really hard to crush right?

[Malik]

Soo when i use thermal pads there is no problem with that ?

[Bojamijams]

Soo when i use thermal pads there is no problem with that ?

Other then the fact that its not as good a conductor as if it was copper that was making contact with a little bit of TIM. But it'll definetly be better then an air gap.

[drbhatti]

any idea where i can get some more of these tim pads in the uk - no-one has them in stock and im getting a little desperate - i am using mx2 currently with my little chips on the 8800gtx, but i suppose i could do with better contact there.

[Garrett]

If you really can't find thermal pads it might be smart to find some think aluminum, like 0.5mm thick and put that in between the block and the chips
I did this once, saved me for a couple of days until the pads arrived
Like said before it's better than an air gap

[Malik]

Any new info on this theme ?