Swiftech upcoming heatsinks for GTX470 & 480

[gabe]

Hi All:

The heatsinks for nVidida GeForce GTX470 and 480 are now in production; ETA is ~3 weeks.

They will be compatible with the MCW60 and the MCW80 waterblocks.

The sinks cover most of the PCB in both models.

A notable innovation with this generation is the addition of mounting holes for 80mm fans (in both models).

The following test results show such setups. We tested with SilenX 80x15mm fans (11dbA model for the 470, and 14 dbA model for the 480). These fans will be offered in option.

With these 15mm high fans, the setup is SLI compatible, and there is plenty of room for the upper card fan to breathe with a 10mm spacing between the fan and the lower card.

Here are the test results. Note that these tests are performed under maximum stable overclock. In other words, the cards have also been tested at the posted frequencies and voltages under other benchmarks, such as 3D Marks Vantage, and Unigine.

The GTX470 was overvolted to its maximum, and performed extremely well with a stable max GPU frequency slighthly higher than that of the 480. Memory however could not pushed beyond 850Mhz.



Not surprisingly, the GTX480 test results are consistent with those published earlier here. For this test, we also measured one mosfet with a Type T thermocouple epoxied to the side of the component. We found the temp to reach 74C after one hour, evidencing that the heatsink is doing its job very nicely given the extreme voltage, and stress of this particular test.

[Blacky]

The pics are not loading for some reason gabe.

[gabe]

The pics are not loading for some reason gabe.

They are now.

[Boulard83]

I wish we could monitor VRM's !

Nice heatsink there. Like it.

[mlee49]

Got two MCW80's sitting right here. Cant use them till I get the G80 kit I ordered today from Michelle. They'll be here Friday.

How do you think these 80's will work with the stock heatsink from Evga? Does the memory stay cool enough?

[Waterlogged]

Gabe, I know you say they are an option but. . .SilenX?. . .really? Was that really the "best" option?

[Hondacity]

gabe, i know you say they are an option but. . .silenx?. . .really? Was that really the "best" option?

+1

[ascl]

Whats it like without a fan? I know some air flow is recommended.... but I'd rather not strap an 2000 rpm fan to it, even if it is 80mm.

[ohms]

Can you fit BP 1/2" ID x 3/4" OD compression fittings on the MCW-80?

I was thinking about tossing one on my Geforce GT 240 which is my PPU.

[Cleatus]

Hi All:

The heatsinks for nVidida GeForce GTX470 and 480 are now in production; ETA is ~3 weeks.

They will be compatible with the MCW60 and the MCW80 waterblocks.

The sinks cover most of the PCB in both models.

A notable innovation with this generation is the addition of mounting holes for 80mm fans (in both models).

The following test results show such setups. We tested with SilenX 80x15mm fans (11dbA model for the 470, and 14 dbA model for the 480). These fans will be offered in option.

With these 15mm high fans, the setup is SLI compatible, and there is plenty of room for the upper card fan to breathe with a 10mm spacing between the fan and the lower card.

Here are the test results. Note that these tests are performed under maximum stable overclock. In other words, the cards have also been tested at the posted frequencies and voltages under other benchmarks, such as 3D Marks Vantage, and Unigine.

The GTX470 was overvolted to its maximum, and performed extremely well with a stable max GPU frequency slighthly higher than that of the 480. Memory however could not pushed beyond 850Mhz.



Not surprisingly, the GTX480 test results are consistent with those published earlier here. For this test, we also measured one mosfet with a Type T thermocouple epoxied to the side of the component. We found the temp to reach 74C after one hour, evidencing that the heatsink is doing its job very nicely given the extreme voltage, and stress of this particular test.

You stated b4 that cooling the VRM's was not important, now there are fans added to cool the VRM's....
So are they required or are they just an option for thoes who want maximum cooling and peice of mind, and how loud are the fans, isnt this kind of defeating the purpose of watercooling by adding fans to the waterblock???

[LostInRehab]

You stated b4 that cooling the VRM's was not important, now there are fans added to cool the VRM's....
So are they required or are they just an option for thoes who want maximum cooling and peice of mind, and how loud are the fans, isnt this kind of defeating the purpose of watercooling by adding fans to the waterblock???

If you read what you quoted you'd see that the fans were 11 dbA for the gtx 470 and 14 dbA for the gtx 480 also they are optional.

[coolfris]

If you read what you quoted you'd see that the fans were 11 dbA for the gtx 470 and 14 dbA for the gtx 480 also they are optional.

Don't always believe what you read. Those dbA numbers come from silentx.

[gabe]

Got two MCW80's sitting right here. Cant use them till I get the G80 kit I ordered today from Michelle. They'll be here Friday.

How do you think these 80's will work with the stock heatsink from Evga? Does the memory stay cool enough?

Please read here

Gabe, I know you say they are an option but. . .SilenX?. . .really? Was that really the "best" option?

TBH I was unaware that this brand was anathema here. I was looking for quiet 80x15's and they fit the bill nicely at least on paper, and to my ear. Now, if these particular fans are no good (I'll obviously do more research on the subject matter now that you alerted me -thank you), all it means is that we'll either not sell these particular fans, find another more suitable offering, or not sell fans at all and present this as a convenient feature of the product. It's not cast in stone ATM.

When I designed these heatsinks, I found that adding mounting holes for 80mm fans was a nominal cost, and it added a convenient feature not available before. So why not do it? There also was a concern with the unusual thermal output of the GTX480. I could see some people installing this card in cramped unventilated quarters, and felt that this offered them an alternative to F/C block with several benefits: reducing the load in the loop, thus allowing for the use of smaller heat exchangers, maintaining low noise levels, low cost, upgradability, etc..

Whats it like without a fan? I know some air flow is recommended.... but I'd rather not strap an 2000 rpm fan to it, even if it is 80mm.

I haven't tested without, as I wanted to present this new option for the introduction of the heatsinks. I can certainly test without them, and use my standard 120mm blowing from the side.

Can you fit BP 1/2" ID x 3/4" OD compression fittings on the MCW-80?
I was thinking about tossing one on my Geforce GT 240 which is my PPU.

No. There is not enough clearance available between inlet and outlet.

You stated b4 that cooling the VRM's was not important, now there are fans added to cool the VRM's....
So are they required or are they just an option for thoes who want maximum cooling and peice of mind, and how loud are the fans, isnt this kind of defeating the purpose of watercooling by adding fans to the waterblock???

I never said nor wrote that cooling VRM's was not important, and frankly I wish you took this back, as it could not be farther from the truth.

I advocate adequacy and good engineering. These components need to be cooled. The level at which they need to be cooled is what I have been discussing.

I already mentionned in my initial post that these fans are optional.
Are they needed (required)? It truly all depends on your operating conditions.

How loud? to my ear, these particular fans are barely audible.

Defeating the purpose of watercooling: why? For any cooling solution there is a feature set that matches a certain set of needs.

[One_Hertz]

Gabe, I know you say they are an option but. . .SilenX?. . .really? Was that really the "best" option?

I thought that the dba ratings are underrated and the fans are somewhat overpriced, but the quality is decent nonetheless?

[Waterlogged]

TBH I was unaware that this brand was anathema here. I was looking for quiet 80x15's and they fit the bill nicely at least on paper, and to my ear. Now, if these particular fans are no good (I'll obviously do more research on the subject matter now that you alerted me -thank you), all it means is that we'll either not sell these particular fans, find another more suitable offering, or not sell fans at all and present this as a convenient feature of the product. It's not cast in stone ATM.

When I designed these heatsinks, I found that adding mounting holes for 80mm fans was a nominal cost, and it added a convenient feature not available before. So why not do it? There also was a concern with the unusual thermal output of the GTX480. I could see some people installing this card in cramped unventilated quarters, and felt that this offered them an alternative to F/C block with several benefits: reducing the load in the loop, thus allowing for the use of smaller heat exchangers, maintaining low noise levels, low cost, upgradability, etc..

Not here, SPCR. . .I think they expunged all references over there. The staff there (SilenX) is almost as bad as those clowns over at Fester. . .almost. I think there were 3 of them, they all opened accounts as themselves (SilenX reps) and then each of them opened other accounts that then proceeded to shill their own products saying how great they were. Well, they got caught and it didn't go over very well at all. IIRC, they all got banned and, all ref to the company got deleted. See below for actual product related details.

Personally, I really like the fan mount idea. . .wondering why it took so long to come about.

I thought that the dba ratings are underrated and the fans are somewhat overpriced, but the quality is decent nonetheless?

dbA under rated, CFM over rated and a certain lack of quality make them even more over priced than Noiseblockers. I have a couple of 92mm that leaked/burned off oil from the bearings and there were tons of other reports about it happening to the 120's as well. I also have a 14db 80x15 that's mentioned in the OP and even my ears that spent 12 years in a machine shop can hear it from ~4' away, makes a faint rubbing noise, like the magnet is hitting the motor. Initial quality wasn't bad but it dropped rather quickly.

[MpG]

Yeah, quite a few threads like this one, regarding the Silenx stuff. Undersized hubs, overstated noise/performance figures, and some questionable practices.

Still, nice looking sinks, Gabe. Been looking hard at the GTX480, and I already have an MCW60, so I'll be looking really hard at this heatsink.

[gabe]

Personally, I really like the fan mount idea. . .wondering why it took so long to come about.

yeah,

[JoeBar]

At last no ghetto fan mountings...

[millertime359]

Personally, I really like the fan mount idea. . .wondering why it took so long to come about.

+1 Great job there Gabe. It is nice to have that option.

It would also be nice if you could offer these as a kit, where the heatsink, MCW80, and bracket are all included in one box. I seen a reseller doing that and I purchased my GTX260 setup from them for that reason.

[Onoff312]

Yeah the fan mounting idea is actually genious because as it is i have to rig up a fan in my case and get something to hold it there to blow over vrms/memory but this stops that problem hopefully it will be implemented in future designs for these hs units

[gabe]

+1 Great job there Gabe. It is nice to have that option.

It would also be nice if you could offer these as a kit, where the heatsink, MCW80, and bracket are all included in one box. I seen a reseller doing that and I purchased my GTX260 setup from them for that reason.

thanks..

kits: are you kidding? I've been planning on releasing kits like this for ever, but it seems that I can never get around doing it for one reason or another! Here again

Yeah the fan mounting idea is actually genious because as it is i have to rig up a fan in my case and get something to hold it there to blow over vrms/memory but this stops that problem hopefully it will be implemented in future designs for these hs units

thanks.. that's precisely why I did it

[ascl]

I haven't tested without, as I wanted to present this new option for the introduction of the heatsinks. I can certainly test without them, and use my standard 120mm blowing from the side.

I personally would appreciate this test. The option to have a fan mounted is awesome, don't get me wrong, but I'd like to know how much difference it makes. Ideally it would be great if normal case air flow was enough.

Thanks!

[Camaroz06]

Hello Gabe,

I am not sure how thick the sink is so this might sound like a dumb question, but with a fan thicker than 15mm installed is there room for SLI'ed cards?

Thanks,
Eddie

[gabe]

Hello Gabe,

I am not sure how thick the sink is so this might sound like a dumb question, but with a fan thicker than 15mm installed is there room for SLI'ed cards?

Thanks,
Eddie

read the OP, line 7.

[Camaroz06]

read the OP, line 7.

Thanks, dont know how I didnt notice that, ETA still on track? These have me pretty interested.