No way can these cards run on air. You can smell the heat in the room after a couple of hours gaming.
Anyway, I considered the swiftech option but it works out more than an EK block. For the first time ever though I got sucked in a bit with the bling. I couldve just gone for the plain acetal and copper version for £54.75. Instead I went for the Acetal + Nickel version with the Nickel backplate. Worked out at £89 delivered.
Yes I know I couldve bought a GTX480 for the price of the 470+block, but then id only have to watercool that too, so it makes no difference really. The plan is to sell the 2 x 260s and ebay their waterblocks. That should hopefully get me close to a second GTX470.
The plan was to keep a 260 for physx, but the ports dont line up with the 470 block. Theyre about 3-4mm closer to the side panel.
Anyway, on with the pics....
The victim...
As you can see its pretty cramped. Dropped the second 260 out to use the 470 while I waited for the block to arrive. Horrified by temps, 89c stock with peaks up to 95c in furmark. Could get gaming stable at 800/1600/1900 1087mv max temp 85c. No chance of furmark tho.
So, whipped the heatsink off - a mere 16 screws all with threadlock on them. Stripped one despite having precision screwdrivers and being ultra careful. Easiest way to get it free from the gpu TIM is to lift the rear of the heatsink by 2-3mm then gently wiggle it from side to side. Disappointed with EK and the thermal pads, there is barely enough there and I had to cut it differently to how EK recommended or I wouldnt have had enough. Could do with a separate strip for the VRM's really rather than using leftovers. Took around 20 minutes to remove heatsink, prep, cut the pads and take the pic. 5 mins of that was wasted on that bloody stripped screwhead.
Block went on really easily, although I did find it easier to put the pads and standoffs on the card and lower the block onto it. The standoffs moved around too much if you put them on the block and lower the card onto it as EK's instructions say to do. Takes two mins this way. Just rotated the card with the side i was screwing in hanging off the edge of the desk and screwed the block in from below. I made a boo boo and forgot to screw the gpu reinforcer in before putting the thermal pads on which meant I had to do it from below with the block on but not screwed down tight. Precarious but possible - lol. Quick note - reinforcement brace washer required cutting with scissors to clear the resistor and capacitor just at the lower right corner of the gpu spreader. Total time to fit block and reinforment brace - 5 mins.
Now to the backplate... It shares one screw hole with the waterblock and uses up the others leftover after installing the waterblock with allen head M3 screws and nuts. You can see these bolted on in the picture above. Very easy and very secure with no bending of the card at all, its a really good solid heavy structure. Simple to fit and looks amazing. Time to fit less than 5 mins. Note - Can be fitted with waterblock in situ, no need to remove.
Not sure its worth £17, but still im glad ive got it so perhaps it is.
And the rebuilt rig with the 470 at home in the loop. Disappointed the 260 block doesnt have the ports in the same position to allow SLI fittings. Still, that means i'll have to get 470 SLi. Damn.
The temps are simply awesome.
Stock clocks and stock volts (1050mv) GPU: 26c idle 29c load / PCB: 26c / 27c.
800/1600/1674 stock volts GPU: 27c idle 36c load / PCB: 26c / 29c (needed 1087mv before, hit 85c gaming and not stress stable)
850/1700/2050 @ 1137mv GPU: 29c idle 42c load / PCB: 29c / 32c.
Memory would never go over 1900mhz stable before and tbh i had a couple of crashes at that speed.
Just to underline the results above, my XFX GTX260 @ 1.06v using the EK FC-GT200b idled at 33c and full load was 44c @ 712/1512/1200. That card produces far less heat so it goes to show what an excellent block EK have made here.
Great job Eddy, superb block.
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Originally Posted by PiLsY
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