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

[Coldon]

I would definitely use the black thinner pads for the mem and vrm areas... they seem to be better at conducting heat, not just because they are thinner but they are more "gummy" and likely make a better seal on both sides (block and chip). Seems like from all the videos and write-ups I read the dark pads were used... I only used the other pads in 2 spots on each block because some of my chokes were clearly not making contact with the dark pads.. all of the other components made excellent contact with them.

another note on the white/pink pads.. they only have one side that peels off, the side that is pink is like a heat conducting fabric and it does not come off. I put that side against the choke tops and the sticky side on the blocks.

edit: here's a pic showing the two spots I used the other pads on.. the deepest recessed areas on the blocks. this will obviously be different on a 480 block

My setup looks pretty much the same, i noticed that there was poor contact with the one chip so I used a pink pad there and gray everywhere else.

I think the reason my load temps a bit lower is I'm loading the card with furmark and that doesn't stress my CPU too much, so I've got a 360 and a 240 with 10 fans just for the video card and 1 core.

[m_jones_]

I would personally like to thank Skinnee for putting in so much time and testing into gtx 480 waterblocks a top chap!

[Systemlord]

I would personally like to thank Skinnee for putting in so much time and testing into gtx 480 waterblocks a top chap!

While on the topic of Skinnee is anyone else having problems accessing Skinnee Labs website? Last two or three days I have been getting errors, as if Skinnee doesn't have enough of a work load already!

-Systemlord

[snoro]

I would definitely use the black thinner pads for the mem and vrm areas... they seem to be better at conducting heat, not just because they are thinner but they are more "gummy" and likely make a better seal on both sides (block and chip). Seems like from all the videos and write-ups I read the dark pads were used... I only used the other pads in 2 spots on each block because some of my chokes were clearly not making contact with the dark pads.. all of the other components made excellent contact with them.

another note on the white/pink pads.. they only have one side that peels off, the side that is pink is like a heat conducting fabric and it does not come off. I put that side against the choke tops and the sticky side on the blocks.

edit: here's a pic showing the two spots I used the other pads on.. the deepest recessed areas on the blocks. this will obviously be different on a 480 block

actually i dound out that you can use tim with the koolance gtx 470 block just need to use a bit more than you would for the core but it will make contact. The result,max temps for gaming or anything else is 47 for the core and 41c for the pcb temp probe and that is with a gtx 360, a mcr 220, push-pull 1350rpm fans and a i7 875k @1.388 vcore always loaded at 100% by wcg and all that with ambient of 24-29c

[revenant]

actually i dound out that you can use tim with the koolance gtx 470 block just need to use a bit more than you would for the core but it will make contact. The result,max temps for gaming or anything else is 47 for the core and 41c for the pcb temp probe and that is with a gtx 360, a mcr 220, push-pull 1350rpm fans and a i7 875k @1.388 vcore always loaded at 100% by wcg and all that with ambient of 24-29c

oh nice.. I was thinking about that or doubling up the dark pad because the pink one looked funky.. but it seems to work well, as another reported using it for all the chips on his card.

I have my cards on an exos 2.5 and I keep the fans at level 6 or 7 usually.. when I run occt the heat coming out of that unit is damn impressive.. feels like a space heater... this will come in handy in the winter.

[Datektrader]

just chiming in because I got Koolance blocks for my 470s and am very happy with them... getting 30c idle and 40c - 45c (820/1640/1900 w 1.087v) gaming load (dep on the game).. the top card which is a frame buffer for two displays seems to run about 1 or 2c warmer than the bottom on even though it gets the coolant first and I have fans move air around and between them.

OCCT makes the cards hit 60c after a while... never seen even close to that while gaming though.

one thing I noticed about the install with my 470s, I had to use the thicker (pink) thermal pads for the areas over the chokes on my cards otherwise there was a tiny gap I could see with a flashlight between some of the chokes and the pad... I had to take one block off and start over, but only burned about 15 or 20 mins really.. don't know if you guys noticed the same on the 480 or not..

Anyways, on the whole nice looking and good performing blocks from Koolance!

anyway to tell what your VRMs are running at? I have an Asus 470 with the koolance block and with a thermal gun the back of the card where the VRMs are is running at 100c when I have the voltage maxed running furmark.


currently I have the card clocked at 890 on the core and the VRMs get up to about 88c under load with the voltage at 1.025.

[Waterlogged]

If anyone's looking for an ultra sexy DD block, P-PCs just got one.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=28591

[slowfreight]

If anyone's looking for an ultra sexy DD block, P-PCs just got one.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=28591

That thing is sweet man, I may have to reconsider which block to get.

[Erdrick1980]

If anyone's looking for an ultra sexy DD block, P-PCs just got one.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=28591

awsome find man! this is what i get for being inpatient... i'm stuck with a satin copper DD well, time to sell the one i have and try to get that one. Thanks for the find WL.

[StAndrew]

Am I going crazy or did skinee get banned?

[Section8]

Am I going crazy or did skinee get banned?

Yes he is banned for 2 weeks...

[Alexandr0s]

Skinnee seems to be unbanned. Now we wait for his first post after two weeks .

[Biffa]

It snapped clean off. The marks on the standoff were from my pliers holding it in place while I took the screw out. Other than that, it looked like it had never been actually attached.

However, the other block fit on perfectly. You just have to be very, very careful when screwing everything together. I haven't had a chance to put it into my loop yet, although I look to do that soon!

Had a similar situation with the Aquagrafx block, good replacement turnaround they sent it out before I even got a chance to post the old one back.

Bit different in that this was how it came out of the package on mine, looks like it had been overtightened.

[zeroibis]

How long did they take to process your orders guys? I ordered my block on Monday and it still says it is being processed...

[Biffa]

I didn't order direct from them, rather from a dealer that had stock at the time. I've only ordered the twinconnect for 7 graphics cards from them direct and that took a couple of weeks but they had to make some

Where are you ordering from?

[zeroibis]

I was referring to the aqua computer blocks, I ordered direct from their website. I am getting nerviness b/c if the block does not come in by next Friday there is a good chance I will not be able to build the computer before I move back to school and there is no way it is being built up there. Last time something like this happened I had to drive 500mi to school and then back 2 days latter to finish the computer so I could then drive another 500mi back with the dam thing done...

[skinnee]

OP will be updated with the charts so you won't have to go digging through the thread to find them, and two additional charts that present more questions in my head than they give answers... you'll see.

As for the published reviews on the site, I've changed the layout or format of the reviews three times now and I am sick of looking at them. I've finally decided on Specs/Closer look and Installation for individual reviews with the temperature results in the comparison only, I have some stock cooler data, but with the mosfet failure there just isn't enough for proper 'Stock to Brand X Block' comparison. Working on those when time allows, but also moving other tests forward in the lab.

In the end, each block was able to handle the OC settings and the heat that came with... all the different approaches to handling the heat worked just fine.

On the topic of VRM temps... so why in the hell did I go through all of the trouble in the first place? Mosfets get hot by design, they have spec'd operating temperatures as well as a temp ceiling where things just start to go wonky (highly technical term)... as long as cooling keeps the fets within operating temp range, you're fine. However, that heat produced by the VRM's needs to be picked up and dissipated, plus I want as much distance from that temp ceiling as possible even with an OC. I am already strapping a block to the card, have the block do the work and let the primary cooling system (the loop) take care of the heat produced. The VRM cooling is secondary to cooling the core yes, but I want the VRM cooling to be as active as the core.

[UrbanSmooth]

Welcome back, Cam!

[slowfreight]

Skinnee thanks for all the work man. I truly appreciate all of your efforts! And welcome back!!

[SovietKitsch]

Had a similar situation with the Aquagrafx block, good replacement turnaround they sent it out before I even got a chance to post the old one back.

Bit different in that this was how it came out of the package on mine, looks like it had been overtightened.

I was referring to the aqua computer blocks, I ordered direct from their website. I am getting nerviness b/c if the block does not come in by next Friday there is a good chance I will not be able to build the computer before I move back to school and there is no way it is being built up there. Last time something like this happened I had to drive 500mi to school and then back 2 days latter to finish the computer so I could then drive another 500mi back with the dam thing done...

I have an RMA out for my Aqua block. I paid the money to "buy" a new one until the next one shows up. However..they are once again out of stock. (I think they only make .5 of one a batch..) and the response I got was they'll get more within two weeks.

So I ordered it on June 30th...and I'm still without a block for one 480, and according to them it may be September. Just awesome..

[zeroibis]

SEPTEMBER!?!?! Holy I am totally ED! I am just going to half to build it at school! Dam my mom (yes lol) is the only one trained to assist me on large builds. Now I am going to half to train a new assistant and I will need to clear space for all the parts... always something. Well at least this next batch may also have this issue you early adapters had fixed.

[Biffa]

And just think mine was one of the 470 blocks!

Still prefer the solid mounts to the plastic standoffs you have to stick on with TIM

[SovietKitsch]

SEPTEMBER!?!?! Holy I am totally ED! I am just going to half to build it at school! Dam my mom (yes lol) is the only one trained to assist me on large builds. Now I am going to half to train a new assistant and I will need to clear space for all the parts... always something. Well at least this next batch may also have this issue you early adapters had fixed.

Well if you got a copper block you should have it within 6 days if you live in the US. If you bought a nickel one, they'll be in stock within two weeks, and then add 5-7 days onto of that.

[Erdrick1980]

back skinnee!

[zeroibis]

Any word on when the actual review is going to get published!~?