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

[Conumdrum]

Ill wait for real testing.

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

I want you to?

[Boulard83]

Yes i want !

or at least ..

i hope !

[Waterlogged]

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.

That fitting is my biggest concern with the XSPC block. I'd really like to know what size those holes are as that could pose as a really big restriction point if they're too small.

Yeah I saw that too. But honestly, I don't care much about flow rate. All I care about is looks and cooling performance xD

Cooling performance is end result of flow rate, more flow=better performance, to a certain point anyways .

[gmat]

shouldnt the 8 screws around the GPU area be sufficient to prevent a bad mount due to bending? I can totally understand why it's nice to have the option of the back plate but while I personally feel like it may be unnecessary, skinnees testing will ultimately tell...

The screws around GPU area combined with the pressure from the block around these screws (and over the VRMs and such) will make the card bend. I really wish i had one for my 285 GTX blocks.

[cx-ray]

Yeah I saw that too. But honestly, I don't care much about flow rate. All I care about is looks and cooling performance xD

I'm interested in what the end result will bring if you for instance have two Swiftech GTX 480 blocks in the same loop with your CPU and mobo. Considering that GPU temp is rather secondary (with water cooling it's already 40-50c below the stock coolers), I'm prepared to sacrifice a few degrees there in favor for better CPU temps.

[skinnee]

Video for stock HSF removal... First one is a little rough, but I'll get better as I progress.

[Circaflex]

Video wasnt too bad for your first. Im weary though on using goo gone on PC Components

[Nickel020]

I saw Skinnee's nose

Nice video, got a few suggestions though:
- edit in some close-up pictures, e.g. highlighting the screws (I think Shane did this as well), showing the pad at the back and how far you need to remove it etc.
- talk more about other options besides the cleaning stuff you used, i.e. isopropyl alcohol, acetone etc.
- explain why you're doing what you're doing; I've been doing this kind of stuff for ~8 years now, but I've never used a coffee filter, do you use it because it's lint free? I usually use paper towels and then a lint-free lens cleaning cloth...

[skinnee]

Had no problems with GooGone what so ever and have been using it for quite a while.

Good feedback, thanks Nickel!

And yes, the coffee filter is for lint free, cheap and with the amount of coffee I consume daily they are guaranteed to be available in the house.

[Major]

Video for stock HSF removal... First one is a little rough, but I'll get better as I progress.

Do you know any "hot" chicks that could assist you during your videos?

[skinnee]

If I did do you think you would've seen me on camera?

Progressing along here, since nVidia did not give us VRM sensors we had to come up with our own.


And yes, I need to clean up those hot glue whiskers yet.

[Conumdrum]

I saw Skinnee's nose

Nice video, got a few suggestions though:
- edit in some close-up pictures, e.g. highlighting the screws (I think Shane did this as well), showing the pad at the back and how far you need to remove it etc.
- talk more about other options besides the cleaning stuff you used, i.e. isopropyl alcohol, acetone etc.
- explain why you're doing what you're doing; I've been doing this kind of stuff for ~8 years now, but I've never used a coffee filter, do you use it because it's lint free? I usually use paper towels and then a lint-free lens cleaning cloth...

I agree on some points Nickle, but this isn't a watercooling 101 class. Be nice to have one. Skinnee does the deep work and I'd rather him focus on the test than why he uses GOO GONE to pre wipe a CPU for TIM application. We all know that, or ones watching the vid really should know before they get to this level.

And he's very economical with that coffee filter, but doing this all the time, costs add up, even coffee filters!

I have paper towel bits scattered everywhere, and depending on my mood, the same with coffee filters.

[Conumdrum]

For the fun of it, this is a pic of Skinnee at the 2010 XS party at the go cart track next to the Palms Casino. We's just chatting. Nice guy!

His nose is perfectly normal.



Hope you don't mind Skinnee, and there were no crazy women at this party, was typical geek stuff. I live in Vegas, the wild women only hang with the folks with mo' money that any of us have.

[skinnee]

LOL, you didn't have to blur out my face... its all good. I do have a big snoz though.

A couple weeks back in Detroit...


In GTX480 block testing news: Bitspower block was mounted up (video coming), running the first stock clocks/stock voltage run and the system hard locked. Power-cycled, instant FF. Been troubleshooting for the past few hours, and will try the board again tomorrow.

However, we have 2 options if the Classified is dead...
1. Wait for RMA
2. Run with the Rampage II Extreme

I presume you folks would like results rather than wait for RMA, so I'm switching over to the R2E now.

[Hondacity]

can you move the sensors a mm nearer the vregs? hehehe

[skinnee]

can you move the sensors a mm nearer the vregs? hehehe

They are as close as they can get and still maintain clearance of the chokes. Sensors are reading 30C+ at idle as I get the system changed over the R2E.

[Marvin54]

WoooW

look goods

[ell]

LOL, you didn't have to blur out my face..

What a legend such a class act!

I've literally a pair of msi 480 gtxs sitting here I refuse to touch until skinnee has finished his testing, do you have any idea what so ever on an ETA for the results?

& I know it goes without saying but your effort, hours and hard work is very much appreciated

[Nickel020]

I agree on some points Nickle, but this isn't a watercooling 101 class. Be nice to have one. Skinnee does the deep work and I'd rather him focus on the test than why he uses GOO GONE to pre wipe a CPU for TIM application. We all know that, or ones watching the vid really should know before they get to this level.

Well I disagree. The video is/should be a WC 101 since the people who don't need to hear all the details don't even need the video anyway. The point of it is to teach people who have never done this... And yes, Skinnee's time is best spent testing, so making videos you can only understand if you know how to install blocks is a way bigger waste than making 101 videos. As nice as bling videos are, Skinnee making entertainment videos for enthusiasts is really a waste of his testing time.

can you move the sensors a mm nearer the vregs? hehehe

They are as close as they can get and still maintain clearance of the chokes. Sensors are reading 30C+ at idle as I get the system changed over the R2E.

Would it not be better to use calibrated thermocouple sensors here? With the Dallas sensors you can't get close enough to the mosfets, which is what you want to be actually be measuring. Sacrifice some accuracy in order to get closer to the action^^

[bundymania]

Rico sent me some pics today, which i would like to share with you:







As you can see: Backplate not shown on the pics

[Nickel020]

Looks great, as always!

I wonder if there are any changes to the internals compared to the 58x0 block...

[Petra]

Video for stock HSF removal... First one is a little rough, but I'll get better as I progress.

I would be very leery of using and/or recommending others use localized cold shock via liquid CO2 to loosen up the adhesive on that foam strip... the components and board are designed to handle the gradual heating of the reflow process, making a hairdryer or heat gun the ideal choice for the job. The liquid CO2, if not used very carefully, could cause all sorts of damage (think of it along the same lines as why you don't want to spill LN2 on a board... sure, the liquid CO2 isn't as bad, but it's still not a good idea).

[skinnee]

Would it not be better to use calibrated thermocouple sensors here? With the Dallas sensors you can't get close enough to the mosfets, which is what you want to be actually be measuring. Sacrifice some accuracy in order to get closer to the action^^

That was my initial idea... use the UEI DT302 I have for LN2, but that was going to be more hassle for very little gain. From the runs last night on the BP block, the sensors are working very, very well. Keep in mind, if NV would've just done the proper design and provided VRM sensors we wouldn't be having this discussion in the first place.

[skinnee]

Just checking back after a weekend full of testing...

Bitspower installation video is in editing, max testable OC found and saved (found OCP for my PSU in the process, and I swear you can burn your fingers off on the GTX480 PCB at the VRM's using Afterburner Extreme for voltage control), 3 mounts and 6 runs completed. The rest of the blocks will be tested in the order received, but I plan on having install videos released along the way. Oh yeah, the VRM sensors are working extremely well!

Also, I did hear back from Rico @ Watercool and they will be sending a block for the round-up this week. I'll post again on that topic once the card has shipped... I am not counting on it until I know the block is en route. I have a busy work week ahead of me, but there will be progress made on block testing guaranteed!

[Boulard83]

Nice skinnee !

We appreciate your work