Is the MCW60 compatible with the 4870X2 ?

[pika198]

Like this?

oh my my....

[Sylv]

Ah welcome news Gabe! I have my 2 MCW60's on my 3850's and I was looking to upgrade to a 4870X2, glad I don't have to upgrade to a Fullcover waterblock now . Will be interesting to see how much of a difference the new base plate will make, but I think I'll just stick with my current blocks. I await the arrival of these screws in Aus .

[Utnorris]

just curious about the screws Gabe, are the ones that came with it too long or too short?

thanks,

Utnorris

[Thomas FJ]

I am pleased to announce that the MCW60 will be directly compatible with the 4870X2 thanks to a custom set of screws that will be available shortly.

We'll have pictures soon.

I am also taking this oportunity to announce the release of the MCW60 Rev2.

As many had guessed before, we upgraded from the 1mm pin matrix to the Stealth 0.6mm pin matrix. This is long overdue some will say, and I answer your'e right! The Stealth proved to be the best performing block on the market last year, and I expect Rev 2 of the MCW60 to follow suit.

We are shipping Rev 2 now, and the price remains the same.

Hi Gabe,


Sounds awesome

Why MCW60 V2 and not MCW70, which IMO would be more naturally?
/Thomas

[eXa]

Maybe because it aint a new block, like going from mcw50 to mcw60. Its still the same top on it, and the internals are just the same only with smaller finer pins. Like apogee->apogee GT...

Edit: Maybe it should be named mcw60 GT instead...?

[Eternalightwith]

Gabe,

Come out with a 4slot 120 fan rad too.
And make it so we can buy it neekid.

P.S. I dream at night of a BIX rad w/chrome borders, with neekid "magicool" copper fins, at swiftek prices...

Why? The current MCR's are great, especially when you consider the price...

[pika198]

Gabe,

Come out with a 4slot 120 fan rad too.
And make it so we can buy it neekid.

P.S. I dream at night of a BIX rad w/chrome borders, with neekid "magicool" copper fins, at swiftek prices...

hahha yes another believer on another rad. I agree

[gxavier]

I'd be a happy buyer of a 4x120 swiftech rad too! Swiftech ftw!

That chipset block is gorgeous btw... why did I get a mcw30 instead of that? Is it even for sale?

[lyl]

I'd be a happy buyer of a 4x120 swiftech rad too! Swiftech ftw!

That chipset block is gorgeous btw... why did I get a mcw30 instead of that? Is it even for sale?

Nope

[Aldy402]

wait so correct me if im wrong..

the new mcw60 rev2 is essentially the same block with a different internal plate?
if so, it would be fantastic to also release the internal plate for rev1 users...

and are we gonna see the same decrease in pin matrix on the new chipset block as well?

[roofsniper]

wait so correct me if im wrong..

the new mcw60 rev2 is essentially the same block with a different internal plate?
if so, it would be fantastic to also release the internal plate for rev1 users...

and are we gonna see the same decrease in pin matrix on the new chipset block as well?

as to selling the MCW60-R2 base plate alone, its a real PITA to match up inventory of plate & housings if we do, but WTH, if it makes our customers happy, I guess we'll have no choice but to accomodate!

EDIT: I didn't anticipate that, so it may take us time to make another production of just base plates. so hang in there upgraders, be patient, OK?

seems like they will make just the new plates so people can upgrade.

[Eternalightwith]

Probably by end of next week beginning next.

Are we talking about the MCW60 Rev. 2 and new chipset block?

[roofsniper]

im not sure about the chipset block but he said the new mcw-60 would be out at the end of next week

[_G_]

I would be all over a 3x120 (or a 4x120)if it had a rez top and filport like the 2x120 has

[LinusTech]

This is great news, Gabe. I know I've got a couple of MCW60s that could use a new base plate.

[jonny_ftm]

Hi Gabe

Great news, but I have one question:

You followed a while the HD4870 cooling thread. It was well stated and proved now, that a GPU only WB, like the MCW60 won't do it with those cards unless you have very high RPM fans blowing on VRM parts

Some people are also having trouble with GPU only WB with the 4850
It looks also like the GTX200 series are the same issue

So how such a WB could pretend to be compatible with the 4870X2 Physically maybe, but I doubt they'll ever run stable

Why don't you come with something like Bitspower universal/specific GDDR/VRM plates to match the WB that would cool the hole card that was, yet being a GPU only WB

[roofsniper]

Why don't you come with something like Bitspower universal/specific GDDR/VRM plates to match the WB that would cool the hole card that was, yet being a GPU only WB

a unisink?

[jonny_ftm]

a unisink?

Sorta like a unisink but that contacts the WB so it can dissipate the heat from other components. Bitspower new VGA blocks use that design. There's really no point in buying a GPU only WB when all new VGA cards won't work with such a cooling

[eXa]

wait so correct me if im wrong..

the new mcw60 rev2 is essentially the same block with a different internal plate?
if so, it would be fantastic to also release the internal plate for rev1 users...

and are we gonna see the same decrease in pin matrix on the new chipset block as well?

U need to look at the swiftech blocks abit more. The mcw60 is basically just 2 parts. The delrin top and the copper bottom. It is the copper bottom that gets an refresh.

And the mcw30 chipset block is just a flat base, no pins at all. Dont know about the internals of the new chipset block tho. My guess is a diamond grid just as the apogee GT\GTX and mcw60 rev2

[gxavier]

It was well stated and proved now, that a GPU only WB, like the MCW60 won't do it with those cards unless you have very high RPM fans blowing on VRM parts

A large heatsink with mini-kaze won't cut it?

[gabe]

I've had time to play with the 60 some more.

The mount is possible because the spacing of the holes that fasten the MCW60 housing to the base plate is exactly the same as the 4870x2 mounting holes. note that this does not apply to the 3870X2 unfortunately, as the card mounting holes are 1mm less center to center distance than those of the 4870X2. so I'd say we really lucked out on that one since the 4870 is expected to have much more success than the 3870 (sorry 3870 owners).

For testing purposes, we found it possible to buy off-the-shelf hardware to install the 60 (original or rev 2 doesn't matter) on the 4870X2. the final hardware that we will release will be customized to ease the assembly for the average user, but for those of you who cannot wait until we come out with this mounting pack, here is the shopping list.

(4) 2-56 x 7/8" socket head cap screws
(4) 2-56 nuts
(4) #2 x 3/16 OD washer
(4) 2-56 thumb nuts
(4) pcs 0.250" long of insulation stripped from 12 AWG electrical wire

note1: 2-56 screws are necessary to be able to re-use the ATI GPU braces (highly recomended)
note 2: insulation is needed to center the screw in the water-block holes

all the hardware is available at www.mcmaster.com


Re. memory and mosfet cooling
I could have peppered the card with MC14's, MC21's and what have you, but it occured to me that since I was re-using the GPU braces, I could also re-use the back-plate, and why not, the front plate. The back-plate required no mods whatsoever, but the front plate required a little bit of machining to provide clearance for the two 60's. I did that on the CNC, but I think that this is also easily feasible with a dremel tool.

The above solution is also interesting from a testing standpoint, since it will demonstrate that the stock "heatsinks" (if you can call them that), actually let's call them plates, that the stock plates allow the card to run flawlessly without even the fan plugged in (and without the cover). In effect, I decided to test the unit without the fan, which is worse case scenario, and let it run under furry cube for hours to see what would happen.

Here is the modified assembly without the 60's, and the card with the 60's installed. Note that I have two different sizes of fittings on that pic because I wanted to show that it is possible to install 1/2" fittings by recutting the pins directly underneath the fittings and the card was getting ready to go to the bench, which uses 3/8" tubing.

Finally here is a screen shot of the temps under furry cube load (37C) . Also note that as usual on our bench, the coolant temperature is kept at a 30C constant.

Altogether, this looks pretty good. Now we have to design a true aftermarket heatsink for the card, which we'll begin to do next week.

This information concludes my participation to this thread for the time being, as I now have to get busy with engineering, among other things. Please be patient, and don't PM me with questions, as I won't be able to answer until we advance further into this project.

One last thing to the modders out there: I haven't done it yet, but I think it is ALSO possible to re-use the stock cover by grinding the upper portion of the lips of the 60 inlet/outlet (about 2mm interference), as well as cutting four holes to allow passage for the fittings/tubing. I'll try that if I find enough time to have some fun..

[Bojamijams]

Hah.. gabe's a modder... very cool info

[roofsniper]

nice as soon as the mcw60 rev2 comes out i will be buying my wc system. its also cool to see that a unisink is being designed for the card. swiftech has really been working hard lately

[iandh]

Sorta like a unisink but that contacts the WB so it can dissipate the heat from other components. Bitspower new VGA blocks use that design. There's really no point in buying a GPU only WB when all new VGA cards won't work with such a cooling

Honestly I never had any problems running my ramsink set on the 4870. It didn't get all that much hotter than any other card I've designed them for... not even the VRM section. I have only light airflow in my case.

I also ran my 4870 for some time using the stock baseplate with the fan off as Gabe has done here and had no problems.

That said, I'll probably let Gabe take this one because I do better on my other products such as the radgrilles anyways... I've really only continued to make them as a favor to the community; the original 8800GT set I made was never intended for anything other than personal use. They've actually become more of a nuisance than anything for my production shop as they've taken on some very high volume jobs in the last few weeks.

Either way, I've been too busy playing with my new 65" Mitsubishi DLP TV and PS3 to spend much time on the computer business.

[jonny_ftm]

Re. memory and mosfet cooling
I could have peppered the card with MC14's, MC21's and what have you, but it occured to me that since I was re-using the GPU braces, I could also re-use the back-plate, and why not, the front plate. The back-plate required no mods whatsoever, but the front plate required a little bit of machining to provide clearance for the two 60's. I did that on the CNC, but I think that this is also easily feasible with a dremel tool.

The above solution is also interesting from a testing standpoint, since it will demonstrate that the stock "heatsinks" (if you can call them that), actually let's call them plates, that the stock plates allow the card to run flawlessly without even the fan plugged in (and without the cover). In effect, I decided to test the unit without the fan, which is worse case scenario, and let it run under furry cube for hours to see what would happen.

Here is the modified assembly without the 60's, and the card with the 60's installed. Note that I have two different sizes of fittings on that pic because I wanted to show that it is possible to install 1/2" fittings by recutting the pins directly underneath the fittings and the card was getting ready to go to the bench, which uses 3/8" tubing.

Finally here is a screen shot of the temps under furry cube load (37C) . Also note that as usual on our bench, the coolant temperature is kept at a 30C constant.

Altogether, this looks pretty good. Now we have to design a true aftermarket heatsink for the card, which we'll begin to do next week.

This information concludes my participation to this thread for the time being, as I now have to get busy with engineering, among other things. Please be patient, and don't PM me with questions, as I won't be able to answer until we advance further into this project.

One last thing to the modders out there: I haven't done it yet, but I think it is ALSO possible to re-use the stock cover by grinding the upper portion of the lips of the 60 inlet/outlet (about 2mm interference), as well as cutting four holes to allow passage for the fittings/tubing. I'll try that if I find enough time to have some fun..

Many thanks for clarifying it. So, you think it is possible to run it with only GPU blocks? That would be great indeed. The only thing is that modding the stock late voids the expensive card warranty

A Unisink would be a great addition