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

[cstkl1]

does anybody has bootup shorting issue with ek backplate??

[DarthBeavis]

i thought they were attaching 480 blocks to teh PSU to overclock it

[Guapa5000]

Hello everybody!

Great thread, Skinnee!

Could anyone who owns a Koolance VID-NX480 cooler tell me, which screws are used for mounting? M3 x 12, UNC-Screws or something else?

Many thanks in advance.

Nobody an idea?

[skinnee]

Definitely not M3x12mm thats for sure, my guess is M2.5x6mm with the guess part on the M2.5. The screws are 6mm though.

[cstkl1]

so anybody has a working ek gtx480 waterblock with backplate

the first batch came with the wrong screws for the backplate pcb
was given m3x4
now the website manual updated it to m3x6
hence y u see a lot of ppl only screwing the middle portion and the backplate looked bent

so anybody..??
already killed one card trying to solve that

[Guapa5000]

OK, thanks for answering. If anybody hasn't mounted it's Koolance VID-NX480 yet, it's very easy to check up. If a M3-screw doesn't fit to the thread of the waterblock, it has to be a M 2.5 screw.

[skinnee]

Its definitely not M3.

[ell]

Don't even think about getting an Ultra/thermaltake PSU. They are both notorious for breaking down. Honestly, stick with Enermax or Silverstone when it comes to PSU's.

Ultra's 1600W PSU can't really output 1600W BTW and the Thermaltake PSU breaks down all the time.

My TT 1500watt psu has been reliably powering my rigs for almost 2 years 24/7 where do you get these facts? "thermaltake psus break down all the time" thats an incredibly stupid thing to say. it is one of the very few PSU that can power 3 480GTX's and an oc'ed i7 with ease.

so anybody has a working ek gtx480 waterblock with backplate

the first batch came with the wrong screws for the backplate pcb
was given m3x4
now the website manual updated it to m3x6

Isn't that the 4th revision EK have made since release? that really isnt fair on the early adopters.. I do hope there sending out the correct bits to everyone who purchased one.

[blazarcher]

My TT 1500watt psu has been reliably powering my rigs for almost 2 years 24/7 where do you get these facts? "thermaltake psus break down all the time" thats an incredibly stupid thing to say. it is one of the very few PSU that can power 3 480GTX's and an oc'ed i7 with ease.

Not to continue the whole PSU discussion, but "thermaltake psus break down all the time". I wasn't like they ALWAYS, it wasn't to be taken seriously. BTW, what do you guys think about EK vs Aquacomputers. I'm really liking the new nickel plated backplate of the EK way more over the "ugly" AC backplate. Why in the world did they have to bend it????

[P5ym0n]

... Why in the world did they have to bend it????

Not that I suspect it needed particular strength, but that's what that right angle bend will provide.

[ell]

I'm really liking the new nickel plated backplate of the EK way more over the "ugly" AC backplate.

Couldn't agree with you more, and I'd still like to know if there compatible with other blocks (if EK isn't the best performing block in skinnee's results) and to be honest with all these revisions to EKs block im not sure I even want it anymore anyway

[JokerCPoC]

Its definitely not M3.

Hey skinnee, Does the EK block cover the vrm as well as the ram & gpu?

[skinnee]

yes, just doesn't cover the fan hole.

[blazarcher]

Couldn't agree with you more, and I'd still like to know if there compatible with other blocks (if EK isn't the best performing block in skinnee's results) and to be honest with all these revisions to EKs block im not sure I even want it anymore anyway

Wait a sec, EK isn't "one of the best" performing blocks? They might not be first, but shouldn't they be at least 2nd or 3rd? BTW, you shouldn't be thinking much about the new revisions, I believe the only thing they did was include a rubber piece because some customers complained of cards shorting out.

And yeah, I was actually wondering whether the EK backplate would fit with other blocks.

[Systemlord]

For games Yes, But since I don't play too many games, The cards are mainly for crunching Seti WU's(CUDA), they'll be in Parallel of course with Koolance blocks on the P7P55D Pro that's in My sig, I have to buy a bigger psu than the Enermax 1050w Revolution 85+ psu that I have in the case now, But that will until about August, On top of that I want to save up for a larger house in a cooler climate near where I used to live in 2004, As It's 107F(42C) outside and 80F(21.5C) inside, It would be nice If someone would buy the Mobilehome I live in and own, As the market looks pretty flat out here(dismal in fact for the moment), So once I have enough saved up and I can get an offer in writing from the park(I rent the land under My mobilehome), I can then apply for a mortgage with the down payment assistance program from the city I want to move back to and then I can move out of here at long last.

All I've ever bought is Enermax, curently have had their Infinity 720W which keeps the case fans on for up to two minutes after shutdown. The power and stability of the Galaxy series is excellent! I'm looking at the Galaxy Evo 1250W unless people seem to think that's not enough power for future builds... I'm in Southern Orange County (CA) and it's 80+ right now at 3:15pm.

On another note is it important to keep the VRM cool for overclocking? I've heard keeping the VRM cool allows for better higher overclocks, but I tend not to believe everything I hear from just one source.

[DarthBeavis]

Hey guys - this thread is about GPU block testing - please take the PSU discussion the appropriate place.

Shaz is a moderator . . .

[luke997]

so anybody has a working ek gtx480 waterblock with backplate

the first batch came with the wrong screws for the backplate pcb
was given m3x4
now the website manual updated it to m3x6
hence y u see a lot of ppl only screwing the middle portion and the backplate looked bent

so anybody..??
already killed one card trying to solve that

Have you sent an e-mail to Eddy about shorting?

I've just did asking if there's any risk as I have 3 of these backplates in my build which will run first time tomorrow or Wed and wouldn't like to ruing 3x 480s

There was a problem with screws in first batch, I've sent a note & pics on it to Eddy and new screws arrived and manuals/stock have been updated with longer.

[ShadowFox19]

skinnee, I just noticed you're from Minny...me too!

Can't wait to see the results of the round-up!

[cstkl1]

Have you sent an e-mail to Eddy about shorting?

I've just did asking if there's any risk as I have 3 of these backplates in my build which will run first time tomorrow or Wed and wouldn't like to ruing 3x 480s

There was a problem with screws in first batch, I've sent a note & pics on it to Eddy and new screws arrived and manuals/stock have been updated with longer.

well the distro i bought from is dealing with him.
weird actually he met him just a few days back in computex. eddy didnt mention at all to him about the screws.

so waiting for an answer

got another gc and testing with the block is fine.
since my loop is gc - cpu so the cpu and gpu compression barbs+45's with tubing is holding the card in place to prevent any bending etc. with the bottom tube ..the piump is just above it to also to keep it in place.
also those allen keys m3x12 screws.. he needs to caution ppl on how easy it is to stripped it.

the card that died just cant run 3d mode. with nvidia drivers.. when i took off the backplate and tried again.
with the backplate no boot. i didnt screw in the 4 sides for the pcb screws as i havent gotten the replacement for it yet.

[Hondacity]

On another note is it important to keep the VRM cool for overclocking? I've heard keeping the VRM cool allows for better higher overclocks, but I tend not to believe everything I hear from just one source.

mosfets need to be cooled...the drivers don't need cooling...

with home made sinks mosfets are around 55c passive...with fan they're around 35C

[luke997]

well the distro i bought from is dealing with him.
weird actually he met him just a few days back in computex. eddy didnt mention at all to him about the screws.

so waiting for an answer

got another gc and testing with the block is fine.
since my loop is gc - cpu so the cpu and gpu compression barbs+45's with tubing is holding the card in place to prevent any bending etc. with the bottom tube ..the piump is just above it to also to keep it in place.
also those allen keys m3x12 screws.. he needs to caution ppl on how easy it is to stripped it.

the card that died just cant run 3d mode. with nvidia drivers.. when i took off the backplate and tried again.
with the backplate no boot. i didnt screw in the 4 sides for the pcb screws as i havent gotten the replacement for it yet.

So I've had a go at the problem, and it looks like:

1) There is a capacitor on the top of the card, in the middle, which has very long wires coming off the back of PCB.
When I checked my 3 cards, on 2 of them there was contact.
I suspect this could cause shorting so I've bent them

2) The 6 chips near middle 3 screws contact backplate but it would not cause shorting.
According to EK those chips were not on the reference card from nVidia which they used for the design of backplate.
Long term fix is additional channel during the milling
Short term is add PVC washer under each standof of the backplate

I'm very shortly doing the latter, fingers crossed

[cstkl1]

So I've had a go at the problem, and it looks like:

1) There is a capacitor on the top of the card, in the middle, which has very long wires coming off the back of PCB.
When I checked my 3 cards, on 2 of them there was contact.
I suspect this could cause shorting so I've bent them

2) The 6 chips near middle 3 screws contact backplate but it would not cause shorting.
According to EK those chips were not on the reference card from nVidia which they used for the design of backplate.
Long term fix is additional channel during the milling
Short term is add PVC washer under each standof of the backplate

I'm very shortly doing the latter, fingers crossed

hmm he should have gone out and bought a retail reference card.

[xkon]

are all of these single slot waterblocks?

[skinnee]

No, I would consider the XSPC, Danger Den, Aqua Computer and EVGA single slot out of the box. The others are just a little too thick and cross the plane into the next slot. According to my eyes anyway.

[Guapa5000]

No, I would consider the XSPC, Danger Den, Aqua Computer and EVGA single slot out of the box. The others are just a little too thick and cross the plane into the next slot. According to my eyes anyway.

Does that mean, a triple-SLI-system with 3 GTX480 @ Koolance VID-NX480 is not possible/practicable because of the "thickness" of the Koolance-waterblock?

OMG, please tell me that this is not the truth, because I've just ordered 3 Koolance VID-NX480, which I want to mount with 3 EK-Backplates.