Making It Work.....the Obsidian....56K!

[Naja002]

Hey Everybody,

Got myself into a little bit of a bind that I needed to get out of....so, I though I would share it:

Long Story:

I purchased one of these XSPC WBs for an 8800GT. Well, I also had an 8800GS that it ended up matching up with. Needless to say I trashed that card (GS) with the install because of my Vid Cards WCing noobness. However, from that experience, I made some assumptions that were not quite correct!

The core assumption was that the 8800GS was similar to the GT/GTX in hole layout. Hey, they are all G92s, riiiight? Uh, No--maybe it is, maybe its not.

So, I picked up 2 XFX 8800GS AD to fold with. Then ordered 3 of the newer Swiftech Obsidian WBs in an effort to stay away from the acrylic.

This is what I found:








Ok, so what to do? I've got 2 cards and blocks to go on them. Well, I started by cutting off the unnecessary bolt loops:




But that wasn't quite enough, so I started taking it a part. After looking at a few things, I realized that this isn't anything a Dremel can't fix.....So, I went to work. And after cutting here and cutting there, I wound up with this:





Eventually I got the holes to match up nicely:








The blocks/cards are leak-free and installed. Currently folding away.

Here are some shots of the Obsidian dismantled:

[orclev]

Certainly a creative solution. I wouldn't recommend it myself, but you managed to salvage the build which is the important thing. Congratulations.

[Eddie3dfx]

Perfect solution from swiftech.

[BlueAqua]

Nice pictures of the internals. Good job at figuring out what needed to be done and the balls to carry it out.

[NaeKuh]

aHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

i was thinkn about this.

Then came to the conclusion.

I can sell my both my cards for around 150 for the pair, grab a 9800GTX and pair another one and get real blocks.



But great mod!

[Naja002]

Perfect solution from swiftech.

Not sure if that's sarcastic, but its not Swiftech's fault. The block is only sold for "reference design" GT/GTX. Its not marketed for the GS or anything else. All-n-all I did pretty good though. If you take a long hard look at the card--there is really nothing else that's going to fit--that particular card. With the capacitors and other stuff where they are--I actually lucked out and got it to work.

This will fit my other model GS, because its laid out in GT/GTX reference design. The cards that are in the pix and up and running are not....

Swiftech loses no points with me here. I took the chance, had to do a little battle, but manage to get it worked out.

[hotdun]

Nice work! I love that block....looks evil....

[hotdun]

aHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I can sell my both my cards for around 150 for the pair, grab a 9800GTX and pair another one and get real blocks.

FYI.....a pair of 8800GTS's will beat 2 9800GTX's. That not the block you want to upgrade to if you end up doing so......

[lowfat]

FYI.....a pair of 8800GTS's will beat 2 9800GTX's. That not the block you want to upgrade to if you end up doing so......

No they wouldn't. The 9800GTX is just a higher clocked 8800GTS. It doesn't make any sense to me that a lower clocked card would beat a higher clocked cards.

[NaeKuh]

it wont matter to me on any end cuz its on a HTPC. I want a clean block that will fit on SLI cards, however im not downgrading. :P

[hotdun]

No they wouldn't. The 9800GTX is just a higher clocked 8800GTS. It doesn't make any sense to me that a lower clocked card would beat a higher clocked cards.

Sorry OP for thread-jacking. You're right, the 9800GTX is a higher clocked card but if you're liquid cooling, you'll be able to achieve a higher overclock with the 8800GTS. Both at max potential, the 8800GTS will win 9 outta 10 times.

it wont matter to me on any end cuz its on a HTPC. I want a clean block that will fit on SLI cards, however im not downgrading. :P

Whatcha mean downgrading? You could use onboard graphics for a HTPC and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

[zanzabar]

No they wouldn't. The 9800GTX is just a higher clocked 8800GTS. It doesn't make any sense to me that a lower clocked card would beat a higher clocked cards.

dont most 98gtx use qib and the gts use samsung so the ram atleast should clock higher on the gts

on top,
what about the power regulation dosnt that need cooling too

[RCG_Bex]

Man you got balls! I've just refused a 3870X2 return because it was non-reference and I don't have the patience to get to it fit after 6 months waiting on a new 1. (1st 1 blew and caught fire - the voltage thingy went pop )

~Bex