Skinnee Labs - GTX480 Block Round-Up (working thread)

**blazarcher** · 05-19-2010, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by skinnee

blazarcher, just calm down a bit... people are just placing their bets as to how everything is gonna turn out. They are not telling you which block you need to get or which leg you need to put in your pants first when putting them on. And resize that giant photo please, I hate the sideways scrolling.

I am calm xD Sorry about the pic, I'll get that resized.
And it's not really the fact that "they are telling which block you need to get" it's a personal preference. I was just a bit skeptical about what you said concerning the EK blocks (not having micropins = not THAT great performance).

I just want to see which one performs the best that's all.

**blazarcher** · 05-19-2010, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Koolance

As Vapor pointed out, our original VID-AR587 didn't use microfins. The VID-AR587T2 (for later HD 5870's) does, though.

There are certainly other factors, like quality of contact, cold plate thickness, etc. But all things being equal, I will be surprised if the microfin coolers don't top out the list. ... And the Koolance 480 block uses microfins on both the GPU *and* VRM area.

Tim

Speaking of prior blocks.... What happened to making blocks that were gold plated? Like the one's you did for the 2900XT/3850/3870, Koolance VID 290, 385, and 387 respectively?

Working on a build right now and am having trouble picking which waterblock to go with. First I was going towards EK's Nickelplated waterblock (w/ backplate) then hearing that the Aquacomputer version performs better, I then thought why not go with Aquacomputer... Finally hearing that Koolance is doing very well with their micropin design, I'm thinking now either Danger Den or Koolance (or AquaComputer).

Now if you were to release some gold plated waterblocks, now that would be the deciding factor.

----

If that doesn't work, I came across this site http://www.goldplating.com/Products/...-brushgold.htm

They supposedly offer solutions that allow you to "gold plate" bare copper. And I was thinking of doing this on one of EK's waterblocks. Does this seem like a viable option or should I just forget about the gold (bling) and just go with a nickel plated waterblock instead?

**converge** · 05-19-2010, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by eternal_fantasy

Thanks for the link!! Just put down an order with help from Google Translate.

Hope the site is reputable... Somehow got a 15% discount code already entered, so it came out to be around 100 euro sent to the UK.

Thanks for the reply.

No worries. Yeah the store is great, Jochen is a pretty nice guy and sorted the order out for my hk 5870 blocks a while back

Originally Posted by skinnee

edit: That EK backplate looks good. I was surprised to see only AquaComputer supplied a backplate. To me backplates are like standoffs (especially for the longer cards)... they should be the norm and not the exception.

Yeah I agree, backplates are a must. I heard watercool are bundling backplates with their hk blocks as well, whenever they appear...

**blazarcher** · 05-19-2010, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by converge

Yeah I agree, backplates are a must. I heard watercool are bundling backplates with their hk blocks as well, whenever they appear...

Yeah if they ever appear lol. Seriously, they are taking way too long. Might as well go for AquaComputer or Koolance instead.

**converge** · 05-20-2010, 12:33 AM

I got my 480s today and noticed the ek backplates were now in stock so I decided to bite the bullet and ordered the last 2 ek nickel plexi blocks and 2 nickel backplates

If/when I change the theme of my build, I'll most likely try out the aquacomputer blocks. The microhannels on the koolance block looks nice but the block is just too flashy for me and is missing a backplate. I'm sure you could make the ek one fit though.

**eternal_fantasy** · 05-20-2010, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by converge

No worries. Yeah the store is great, Jochen is a pretty nice guy and sorted the order out for my hk 5870 blocks a while back

Just received order dispatch confirmation from a-c-shop.de for my Nickel plated aquagraFX GTX480!!!! The ETA on the site for the nickel plated version is for the 26th, was not expecting it to be dispatched so soon! Had to change my order, added a MIPS RAM block which came out much cheaper then anywhere else with their 15% off everything before end of May. Great service and awesome shop.

Will post some shots of the plated block when it arrives hopefully early next week.

**Armitage** · 05-20-2010, 04:46 AM

Skinee. I read that you are not using a flow meter in testing. But as I look at these blocks, I can definitely see which ones will perform better, but at the same time restrict more flow. To me the deciding factor is more than just the best temps, it's also how much flow the block will restrict. I thought this was an important aspect of all water blocks - maybe I am wrong.

I guess the pressure monitor will tell us how good the flow is? (Sorry if thats a stupid question)

**Philwong** · 05-20-2010, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by Boulard83

Forgot something ... you NEED to use the right fittings in the pic as teh INLET.

Let the test results do the talking instead.

Phil

**skinnee** · 05-20-2010, 05:45 AM

Armitage, you read my mind. Vapor and I had been talking about restriction and flow rates and we came to the conclusion that I have to monitor and capture flow rate of the loop regardless of my "issues". So, a King 7520 was looped up.

not the best pic, but you get the idea.

Edit: Philwong... what is that quote from, I can't seem to find the OP from Boulard?

**Boulard83** · 05-20-2010, 08:08 AM

I was refering to this block :

In order to have flow in the VRM section you need to used the right hole as inlet.

**Philwong** · 05-20-2010, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Boulard83

I was refering to this block :

In order to have flow in the VRM section you need to used the right hole as inlet.

I know..

Phil

**prava** · 05-20-2010, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Boulard83

I was refering to this block :

In order to have flow in the VRM section you need to used the right hole as inlet.

Shouldn't it be on the contrary? If you use the right as inlet then water goes through both entries of the VRM channel and, as such, there will be no waterflow. Instead, if you use the left one as inlet, once the water has gone through the GPU it will enter the VRM channel and then leave (provided the outlet part of the VRM channel is closed so that no water can get in).

At least this is the way I see it...

**Waterlogged** · 05-20-2010, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by prava

Shouldn't it be on the contrary? If you use the right as inlet then water goes through both entries of the VRM channel and, as such, there will be no waterflow. Instead, if you use the left one as inlet, once the water has gone through the GPU it will enter the VRM channel and then leave (provided the outlet part of the VRM channel is closed so that no water can get in).

At least this is the way I see it...

You would think that would be the case but there would be a siphon effect from the rest of the water going past the little piece of copper acting as a diverter.

**Boulard83** · 05-20-2010, 10:57 AM

@Prave
I really doubt your right. really !

As Waterlogged told, if you use the left one, you need the outled water to cause a syphon in order to "pump" water in the VRM area.

**Waterlogged** · 05-20-2010, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Boulard83

@Prave
I really doubt your right. really !

As Waterlogged told, if you use the left one, you need the outled water to cause a syphon in order to "pump" water in the VRM area.

Actually, it looks like it could work the same with the water flowing in either direction.

**Boulard83** · 05-20-2010, 11:07 AM

Still think the best is the right one as inlet.

Skinnee should test this with this particular block.

**eternal_fantasy** · 05-20-2010, 11:17 AM

What we need is a plexi side, drop of colour dye and a web cam.

**Armitage** · 05-20-2010, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by skinnee

Armitage, you read my mind. Vapor and I had been talking about restriction and flow rates and we came to the conclusion that I have to monitor and capture flow rate of the loop regardless of my "issues". So, a King 7520 was looped up.

not the best pic, but you get the idea.

Edit: Philwong... what is that quote from, I can't seem to find the OP from Boulard?

Excellent ! Looking forward to the reviews. I particularly love the look of the EK blocks, enough sometimes to pick them over a slight loss in performance

**DarthBeavis** · 05-20-2010, 11:53 AM

I am waiting for independent testing from phatty labs myself.

**Coldon** · 05-20-2010, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Boulard83

Still think the best is the right one as inlet.
Skinnee should test this with this particular block.

Originally Posted by eternal_fantasy

What we need is a plexi side, drop of colour dye and a web cam.

+1 on both counts!

**Vapor** · 05-20-2010, 01:07 PM

The XSPC approach to cooling the VRMs should work just fine, IMO. This barb will ensure that flow goes over the VRMs. "Path of least resistance" dictates it will take all paths, which means over the VRMs (if that barb is aligned properly). I doubt that inlet vs. outlet will make much of a difference in end performance unless flowrates are so extraordinarily low that the heat from the VRMs increases the water temp noticeably before it gets to the core.

EDIT: and in case it's unclear, I don't think it matters much if that port is inlet or outlet when it comes to flow distribution (i.e., no observable thermal difference)--I skip that logical explanatory step above.

**blazarcher** · 05-20-2010, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Waterlogged

Actually, it looks like it could work the same with the water flowing in either direction.

Yeah lol, either way the water in the VRM section HAS to go somewhere. So either will do. Seriously, don't you think XSPC already thought about this?

**Boulard83** · 05-20-2010, 01:56 PM

Ill wait for real testing.

Skinnee, i want you to test the XSPC in/out importance.

**cx-ray** · 05-20-2010, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by skinnee

Armitage, you read my mind. Vapor and I had been talking about restriction and flow rates and we came to the conclusion that I have to monitor and capture flow rate of the loop regardless of my "issues". So, a King 7520 was looped up

Nice, because I just saw this on Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/trubrita.../0/yFQRorMZb4k