Which manufacturer is going to be ready with 5850/5870 blocks?

[Vapor]

In regards to the performance increase....I think if a company came out with a new version of a product and didn't upgrade the performance (when they could), it would be met with unhappiness.

Imagine if Swiftech came out with an MCW65 with the same base as the current one, I think a lot of people would whine about it, regardless of the other aspects/improvements of the block. If D-tek came out with a Fuzion GFX 3 with zero performance improvements, people would yawn about it and complain "what's the point?".

That said, I'm not sure if we want a metal topped 2 slot GPU block. What if it touches an adjacent PCI/PCIe card? One fried card, coming right up!

[Hondacity]

i would put some tape on it

but seriously lack of competition (gpu only block) is not good.

[GX-BadAngeL]

I use MCW-60 with zalman heatsinks, temps are 40C on GPU 55-65C on VRM's peak. The card has blown by 140mm stock case fan.
Clocks 1000/5000 1.2V on GPU

[JoeBar]

I was a very big fan of gpu only blocks but right now if i ever have to stick another ramsink again, i'll shoot myself...

[Mazlov]

HAs anyone tried to use a GPU only block while keeping the baseplate in place? It is what I did on my old HD4890 and I was wondering if it would work on the HD5870 as well. Just fix the fan at 20% and VRMs are good to go.

[Chumbucket843]

My guess is the VRMs are sending the kill/throttle signal intermittently. Unlike with previous gens, throttling isn't done in software any more, it's done in hardware.

FurMark and OCCT make recent ATi cards pretty angry

thats strange considering this guy made a 3d wave similar that overheats his 5870. i wonder why the throttling would not be working here or maybe it isnt throttling enough.
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showthread.php?t=55448

[Vapor]

thats strange considering this guy made a 3d wave similar that overheats his 5870. i wonder why the throttling would not be working here or maybe it isnt throttling enough.
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showthread.php?t=55448

Seems like a different situation there....sounds like the cooler on the core just isn't doing its job, maybe poor contact or a very restricted intake at the fan?

[Utnorris]

HAs anyone tried to use a GPU only block while keeping the baseplate in place? It is what I did on my old HD4890 and I was wondering if it would work on the HD5870 as well. Just fix the fan at 20% and VRMs are good to go.

On the HD5870 the GPU copper heatsink is soldered to the backplate/sink on the original stock cooling, so if you took it out you would probably be voiding your warranty since you could not put it back to factory. The HD5850 however does have a GPU heat sink that can be separated from the remaining backplate/sink, so you could do it there and not worry about voiding your warranty.

[ChielScape]

On the HD5870 the GPU copper heatsink is soldered to the backplate/sink on the original stock cooling, so if you took it out you would probably be voiding your warranty since you could not put it back to factory. The HD5850 however does have a GPU heat sink that can be separated from the remaining backplate/sink, so you could do it there and not worry about anyone finding about you voiding your warranty.

fixed

[Mazlov]

Hmm, that's a downer. I hate messing around with those RAMsinks that won't stick, so it looks like this might be my first attempt at a FC block :'(

[leo_bsb]

news on my koolance block:
- Dean and koolance had great support and send a new block for me to try. Remember I'm in Brazil. Thanks Dean!

- the new version, the 5850/5870 block, looks the same with just 2 little differences on the corner (sorry, no pics). Now it includes 2 types of thermal pads: the gray and thinner one (old koolance blocks used to came with it). It is frangible and harder to apply. And the white/pink one, thicker and easier to apply.

I tried the thinner one first. Temperatures were terrible at the VDDC chips, they went to 80º and higher at first test.
My second try was with the white/pink but I cut little pieces of the pad and applied directly to the chips on the card, instead of cut a large piece and apply it to block. Temperatures now are much better. It seems that the chips are in contact with the block. VDDC temperatures under furmark are on the 70sº. Under game are 60º tops. They seem to be in touch because when I crank up the speed on my SanAces fans the temperatures get 4º lower.
Core temperatures stays under 50º all the time. The card didn't throttle, even under furmark. Frequencies were 900 Core and 1300 memory.

I can't compare the temperatures with Gabe's block since my card reaches 60A load under furmark and his stays on the 50A, even with a higher voltage.

[WaterFlex]

Haha guys ! My EK 5870 block will come to me in 3-4 days, but I still have not got the videcard itself, not enough money

[JoeBar]

Now that's weird. Having the block and not the card...

[WaterFlex]

JoeBar
Yeah!
There is a signutare of one forum mate: Girl is the most expensive hobby

[Blkout]

I'm using two EK Nickel/Acetal blocks on my 5850's and temps are great. Idle temps are about 30c on both GPU's, VDDC's are about 34-35c at idle on both GPU's, both clocked at 850/1250 at 1.112v.

10 loops of Crysis Warhead bench Frost at 1920x1200, 4xAA, Enthusiast settings, GPU temps reach 38c, VDDC's reach 48c.

[kimosabi]

I think that the only necesary thing to rebuild from the mcw60 is the top. Something like the gtz se.

Agreed. The "regular" plastic threads are oval on both my MCW60's. Plastic = Not sturdy enough for threading. The base should have been POM, or even brass, with angled barbs included.

[Helix354]

Watercool has released pics of their new 5870/5850 waterblock.

Das Kürzel GPU-X³ verrät es bereits, beim Kühler für die ATI HD 5850 / 5870 handelt es sich um den Nachfolger der erfolgreichen GPU-X² Serie. Dabei wurden bewährte Features des GPU-X² übernommen bzw. verbessert und neue hinzugefügt. Das enge Korsett des nun schon zweijährigen GPU-X² Baukastens ist in einigen Belangen nicht optimal, viele Kunden wünschen sich im Bereich der Spannungswandler eine bessere Kühlperformance, wir haben diese Wünsche umgesetzt. Die GPU-X² Serie wird von uns noch weiter unterstützt, ein Umrüstkit für die 5870 ist ebenfalls geplant.
Der neue Kühler wurde in allen Belangen optimiert, die Kühlstruktur wurde weiter verfeinert, die Kanalführung ist auf einen geringen Strömungswiderstand ausgelegt. Ein besonderes Feature des Kühlers steckt im Inneren, der Kunde hat dabei die Wahl zwischen maximaler GPU-Kühlleistung oder einem äußerst geringem Strömungswiderstand. Mittels weniger Handgriffe ist dieses erledigt.
Damit das Einbinden des Kühlers in den Kühlkreislauf problemlos vonstatten geht, wird dieser gleich mit einem 4-Fach Anschlussadapter ausgeliefert. Auch dieser wurde überarbeitet und besitzt einen geringeren Strömungswiderstand als der Vorgänger. Ein weiteres Highlight ist die vollständige Kompatibilität zu allen Anschlussadaptern und Dual/Triple-Links der GPU-X² Serie. Der Aufbau eines Crossfire-Systems ist über die bereits erhältlichen Dual- und Triplelinks sehr einfach möglich.
Im Bereich der Spannungswandler sind isolierende Abstandshalter eingelassen, diese erleichtern die Montage und verhindern ein Durchbiegen der Karte. Natürlich ist der Kühler komplett CNC-bearbeitet, als Material kommt nur hochreines Elektrolytkupfer, geschliffenes Edelstahl (für die Kenner unter uns, 1.4301) sowie POM-Kunststoff zum Einsatz.

Der GPU-X³ 58X0 ist kompatibel zu 5850 und 5870-Karten, der Preis beträgt 84,95€. Die Produktion ist angelaufen, die Auslieferung beginnt ab kommender Woche.

Aber nun zu den Bildern, der Kühler im Bild besitzt noch den "alten" 4-fach Anschlussadapter, ausgeliefert wird der Kühler ausschließlich mit der leistungstechnisch und optisch überarbeiteten Version.

Price seems pretty high compared to EK ~$130-140 wanna see how well it performs.

[WaterFlex]

Nice block. Must perform very well.

[Blkout]

Nice block. Must perform very well.

All of the waterblocks perform within a few degrees of each other, it just comes down to fit and finish and cosmetic preference.

[EvilClocker]

I just got my Bitpower block intalled on my 5870. and the results SUCK! this is stock card. and my water stays at 20C .. Here the real kick.. I just took out my GTX 295 with Gabes Full cover block and my temps where only 45-50C so I know Gabe makes Awesome Full Cover blocks. I should have waited!

[WaterFlex]

Wow... really, Bitpower sucks...
Maybe you don`t installed the block properly?

[EvilClocker]

There is no way to install it wrong, It has a Hard Mount option and Spring Mount, Ive tried both,, Only 6 screws u use to mount it.. tried 6 mounts..

I took the block apart. Its basically a Flat Piece of cooper with some Drops in the cooper where the GPU is.. like little trenches

I dont even see how it is absorbing heat!

[Manicdan]

if you add pressure to the center of the block, can you see the temps change? it could be they just do a really bad job with estimating pressure.

if that is the case, you can "try" to fix it by taking a copper fin off an old heatsink and use it to raise up the center where the core is. or sand down any standoffs that might be holding it too high off. id have to see a picture to give a better idea.

[ChielScape]

Watercool has released pics of their new 5870/5850 waterblock.




Price seems pretty high compared to EK ~$130-140 wanna see how well it performs.

"der Preis beträgt 84,95€"

euros cant be just converted to dollars...

[EvilClocker]

Here are the pics of the inside of the Bitpower block