Non-FC blocks on 4870

**fiveprime** · 02-02-2009, 09:12 AM

I have a spare DD Maze 4 and I want to cool my 4870 but it seems that no one is using a non FC block in their loops. I was going to get some Nice copper BGA sinks, and mount the mosfet cooler from a striker 1 extremem mobo on the vrms. Any suggestions?

**SNiiPE_DoGG** · 02-02-2009, 09:16 AM

that sounds like it will work, I did MCW-60's on voltmodded 4870's and it worked great

just make sure you get goo contact and a beefy sink on the vrm's and you will be all set. Also you can chop the stock cooler up if you have a hack saw or dremel and use it with its fan attached only on the VRMs (if your interested in that option lemme know and I can get you pics of mine

)

**Sparky** · 02-02-2009, 09:25 AM

I'm using an MCW60 a set of iandh's sinks and a slow 80mm fan to blow over them. Works ok. Not the most pretty but it works fine and was cheaper than a fullcover (I already had the MCW60 and fan).

**fiveprime** · 02-02-2009, 01:08 PM

So those sinks work? I was looking at them but they didnt strike me as being very effective.

**veedubfreak** · 02-02-2009, 01:24 PM

I ran maze5's on my crossfired 4870s for a few months. Got good temps and as long as you keep a fan blowing on the ramsinks and mosfet sinks temps are fine.

**repsol_23** · 02-02-2009, 01:33 PM

I currently have a DD Maze5 block along with copper vga heat sinks on my HD 4870 and it is running perfectly fine. I don't run my card OC'ed but it can run @ 810/1000 with no problems. Here is a pic of my setup.

edit: I forgot to mention that I do have a 120 mm fan in the bottom of my case blowing air up towards my card.

**fiveprime** · 02-02-2009, 01:35 PM

My card is stock 800/1000, I run 830/1045, the point would be to obtain higher clocks.

**repsol_23** · 02-02-2009, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by fiveprime

My card is stock 800/1000, I run 830/1045, the point would be to obtain higher clocks.

Well, I agree about the higher clocks, but to be honest for me it's pointless as stock (750/900) and oc'ed make too little difference in gaming. I have yet to find a game that I use that needs the oc.

**Sparky** · 02-02-2009, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by fiveprime

So those sinks work? I was looking at them but they didnt strike me as being very effective.

As long as there is some airflow around there yes they work fine. If you have poor airflow around the card then go fullcover otherwise the vregs will get too hot.

**autobot** · 02-02-2009, 08:24 PM

Here is my 4870 512mb with a DangerDen Maze5GPU. For cooling I'm using the stock cooling plate and have the fan set to a VERY silent 24%.

**fiveprime** · 02-03-2009, 09:02 AM

I'd like to run a set up like that, but my card has an aftermarket cooler, what kind of clocks do you run with that?

**cavfire** · 02-03-2009, 04:22 PM

If I'm not mistaken Repsol's card has analog vregs as compared to the digital vregs on the reference pcb, and the analogs aren't as hot. For a reference pcb/cooler I'd go autobot's route. If warranty isn't a concern the plastic shroud could be cut for the tubes to make the stock fan more effective. I've got a HIS reference HD4870 coming tomorrow and will be mounting a maze4 on it with the stock plate like autobot.

**Tom128** · 02-03-2009, 04:36 PM

I was actually pondering this as well. I want to get a block that I can re-use and just get heatsinks for the ram/vreg. The only problem is that due to the way I drilled into my case to mount my pump my bottom 120mm cannot fit into my case, just a side 120mm that is slightly above the video card, and then a weak fan in the front. Thoughts as to whether or not that could bring enough airflow over the heatsinks to go with a DD maze5? That is ultimately what I was eyeballing.

**Blkout** · 02-03-2009, 04:48 PM

Very risky to go with a GPU only block on today's high end cards. The VREG's simply get too hot to simply use passive cooling or even weak air cooling.

**Webby** · 02-03-2009, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by Blkout

Very risky to go with a GPU only block on today's high end cards. The VREG's simply get too hot to simply use passive cooling or even weak air cooling.

I think by the very fact that a large number of people are still doing it that you are probably wrong, yes voltage regs are hotter but they can be tamed easily enough with a suitable heatsink and some airflow.

Fullcover is the more elegent design it has to be said but the universal GPU only block is far from dead.

**repsol_23** · 02-03-2009, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by cavfire

If I'm not mistaken Repsol's card has analog vregs as compared to the digital vregs on the reference pcb, and the analogs aren't as hot. For a reference pcb/cooler I'd go autobot's route. If warranty isn't a concern the plastic shroud could be cut for the tubes to make the stock fan more effective. I've got a HIS reference HD4870 coming tomorrow and will be mounting a maze4 on it with the stock plate like autobot.

I think you are correct. My card is the Sapphire HD4870 1Gb version and since it is a non-reference design I do believe that it is analog. From my understanding the reference cards with the digital vregs do run quite hot and it's probably better to use a FC block on those. As for air flow I have an AVC 120mm that when undervolted @ 6V runs ~1500 rpms and @ 12V ~3100 rpms so I feel my air flow is sufficient to keep it cool.

**cavfire** · 02-04-2009, 12:20 AM

^ ^ ^ ^ I think having the larger one piece heatsink on the vregs is better than using the paltry little mini sinks I've seen used as well. I don't think it would be that hard to adapt a Thermalright HR-09 type 2 or ENZOTECH MST-81 mosfet heatsink on the reference pcb either.

**Blkout** · 02-15-2009, 02:41 AM

Originally Posted by Webby

I think by the very fact that a large number of people are still doing it that you are probably wrong, yes voltage regs are hotter but they can be tamed easily enough with a suitable heatsink and some airflow.

Fullcover is the more elegent design it has to be said but the universal GPU only block is far from dead.

Judging by the number of people that have killed their 4870's trying to cool them with stick-on heatsinks, I would say you're wrong. It takes quite a bit to keep them cool, short of some serious ghetto mods, you would be better off with a FC block on the 4870.

**Bootsy** · 02-15-2009, 03:48 AM

AutoBot nice set-up.

**Splave** · 02-15-2009, 05:39 AM

def use the stock cooler as a uni-sink

I used it on air as the vrm temps where insane with the tiny sinks I had

**~~ILikeCosmosS~~** · 02-15-2009, 06:35 AM

if u ran crossfire there would be problem with airflow
for the 4870 x2 there is good unisink that swiftech makes for it
its caldera uni sink and 2 holes for your mcw60 to go
put fan under it and i think your good to go
but your not going to get x2
i am just saying there are options for a non fc blocks for the 4870x2

**InfinityNX** · 02-15-2009, 06:44 AM

Anyone using the MCW60-4870? is that a good option?

**thehighlander1** · 02-15-2009, 10:28 AM

i have a dtek gfx2 of my 4870 with an 80mm blowing over the vrm covered by enzotech sinks

**Wadkiller** · 04-24-2009, 12:04 AM

Sorry to ressurect this thread, but i don't want to make a new thread if most of the info i need is already in here.

Just to make 100% sure. The DD Maze 4 will work on the newer ATI gpu's? I'm thinking of watercooling 2 4770's when they get released, so i'm wondering if the Maze 4 will fit on them with the stock mounting kit that came with the block. Meaning i don't have to buy anything so that the Maze 4 will work on the newer ATI gpu's.

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