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

[Vapor]

Nope, but trying to add those would be a good idea! Forgot all about them

[Church]

Vapor: then .. how about adding to test never tested before .. mistery secret .. STOCK AIR COOLER!

[UrbanSmooth]

Stock air...cooler...

::crickets::

[Systemlord]

Nice bulk review of all the VGA water blocks Skinnee, can't wait to read each individual review. While I'm here is it normal for my GTX 480 with EK FC-480GTX water block to bend the cards PCB a little where the SLI connectors are? The card does weigh a ton, but makes me uncomfortable to see it bend like that, do you think perhaps when I connect the CPU block to the GPU block that the tension will offset the bending of the PCB?

-Systemlord

[Vapor]

AFAIK, there will not be individual reviews (it's just too much work to say nothing extra); the book has closed on the GTX480 full-cover block review.

skinnee didn't see any PCB bending with any of the blocks, so maybe you overtightened on the fore-most screws?

[skinnee]

Well, there will be individual pages that cover specs and what not... but not individual full "reviews". As Vapor said, I would just be saying the same thing over and over.

As for the PCB bending, the only ways I could get the PCB to bend was misalignment of the block or over-tightening the screws.

[Systemlord]

Well, there will be individual pages that cover specs and what not... but not individual full "reviews". As Vapor said, I would just be saying the same thing over and over.

As for the PCB bending, the only ways I could get the PCB to bend was misalignment of the block or over-tightening the screws.

There is a misunderstanding here, the PCB only bends slightly when the mobo tray is vertical (you know gravity), while laying flat on the table it's not bent at all or when holding just the graphics card.

[mlee49]

Thats what the PowerJack is for:

http://www.geeks3d.com/20100721/powe...ard-supporter/

lol

[Alexandr0s]

I'd rather see my card hang than use that thing . Take a look at Callen's 09/10 thread, he used an amazingly good looking technique to keep his card from hanging (sorry, too tired to look for pictures ).

[Systemlord]

I'd rather see my card hang than use that thing . Take a look at Callen's 09/10 thread, he used an amazingly good looking technique to keep his card from hanging (sorry, too tired to look for pictures ).

I would rather have my card bend a little to as well, that Power Jack doesn't look to sexy.

[ryan92084]

I've been trying to talk skinnee into doing a non-fullcover edition of the test. MCW80 vs. MCW60 and SW Unisink vs. stock unisink, as well as a mystery product

Hopefully he takes it on and gives himself something to do before the 6870s come out

(not that he doesn't have anything to do of course, he already has all the pump testing on the table as well as wrapping up coolant tests and his second generation of radiator tests.... )

don't forget the d-tek gfx2. that thing has been out for a couple of years and i still haven't seen a decent write up.

[slowfreight]

GTX480 Full Cover Block Roundup

Ah, thank you sir! I truly appreciate your efforts.

[zeroibis]

I am starting to think that I am never actually going to get my waterblock... after waiting for 3 weeks for it to get made DHL says they could not delver it 10 days ago yet no one ever came to make the delivery nor was any message left saying they tried. Contacting DHL support via the contact forum is useless with no response. Now contacting aqua computer and hopefully I can get the dam thing this week sometime.

If I had known it would be this big of a pain in the ass I would have had a relative physically get one and overnight it to me from Germany.

[Systemlord]

I am starting to think that I am never actually going to get my waterblock... after waiting for 3 weeks for it to get made DHL says they could not delver it 10 days ago yet no one ever came to make the delivery nor was any message left saying they tried. Contacting DHL support via the contact forum is useless with no response. Now contacting aqua computer and hopefully I can get the dam thing this week sometime.

If I had known it would be this big of a pain in the ass I would have had a relative physically get one and overnight it to me from Germany.

Sorry to hear that you have been waiting so long, that's enough to drive anyone crazy! I was installing my EK FC-480 GTX water block last week and one of my friends knocked over my nail polish remover causing my acrylic top to crack instantly, contacted Frozen CPU and they placed an order for a new acrylic top. I paid for 1-2 Express Mail ($45) to get it in this decade, I ordered it last Thursday and got it today! BTW the nail polish remover was to remove the Tygon white lettering from my tubing, it work very well and with little effert. It's good practice to pay more for shipping when ordering overseas, the stress of waiting for something to arrive is hellish!

-Systemlord

[skinnee]

I've had nightmares with DHL as well, but I have always received the packages. Sorry to hear your horror story zeroibis.

[mlee49]

Thanks for the cheerful words guys, I just ordered from AQ a 470 block and Gigabyte block. Hope it gets here by October. :/

[zeroibis]

Does anyone have any idea how to actually get a hold of DHL support? Basically it appears that if you want to call them you got to live in Germany or pay $$ for long distance.

I am really considering either placing a second order with rushed shipping and canceling the first or just cut my losses and cancel and order an EK block and get it overnight.

[SovietKitsch]

I am starting to think that I am never actually going to get my waterblock... after waiting for 3 weeks for it to get made DHL says they could not delver it 10 days ago yet no one ever came to make the delivery nor was any message left saying they tried. Contacting DHL support via the contact forum is useless with no response. Now contacting aqua computer and hopefully I can get the dam thing this week sometime.

If I had known it would be this big of a pain in the ass I would have had a relative physically get one and overnight it to me from Germany.

I got mine last week. (Thursday) That's from a June 30th order and an advanced RMA placed August 1st. They had told me the nickle plating had taken longer than they had hoped, but still...I waited quite some time for this block. In the mean time I blew up my PSU, which also now needs to be replaced, and on top of that, still haven't refunded me for the block I did send back.

I love my Aqua blocks...but the service has been horrible.

[skinnee]

DHL Customer Service - 800.722.0081

Good luck!

[zeroibis]

Update, got e-mail response from aqua computer:

I talked to DHL and they do not have any possibility to take control over the further movement of this parcel.

They recommend that you directly contact the post office where your parcels would be normally stored if you are not at home. Otherwise we will have to fill a claim inquiry.

They then actually performed an inquiry at usps and e-mailed me the details which I will not post as they have address info.

So it turns out it was just some confusion as I thought it was coming from DHL as it was being shipped DHL. A quick drive to the post office and I had my package. If I had not placed 3 other usps orders that came in at the same time it probably would have been more clear as they did leave a failed delivery for 1 package while at the same time delivering the other 3. As I thought the block was coming from DHL I just assumed the usps message was an error as I got my 3 orders.

Well finally this weekend I can get some WC on this 480 and take out the ear plugs while cranking the OC

[Systemlord]

Update, got e-mail response from aqua computer:



They then actually performed an inquiry at usps and e-mailed me the details which I will not post as they have address info.

So it turns out it was just some confusion as I thought it was coming from DHL as it was being shipped DHL. A quick drive to the post office and I had my package. If I had not placed 3 other usps orders that came in at the same time it probably would have been more clear as they did leave a failed delivery for 1 package while at the same time delivering the other 3. As I thought the block was coming from DHL I just assumed the usps message was an error as I got my 3 orders.

Well finally this weekend I can get some WC on this 480 and take out the ear plugs while cranking the OC

Glad to hear that you finely received you AQ water block. I had to order a new EK acrylic top for my FC-480 GTX water block and paid $45 dollars for USPS to 1-2 Day Express Mail but was delivered by FedEX, go figure!

-Systemlord

[hlonipha]

Glad to hear that you finely received you AQ water block. I had to order a new EK acrylic top for my FC-480 GTX water block and paid $45 dollars for USPS to 1-2 Day Express Mail but was delivered by FedEX, go figure!

-Systemlord

Sys,
Why did you have to order the acrylic ?

[Systemlord]

Sys,
Why did you have to order the acrylic ?

I spilled nail polish remover onto it, causing it to crack. Cleaning solvents with lots of alcohol content in it will crack acrylic.

-Systemlord

[UrbanSmooth]

DHL Customer Service - 800.722.0081

Good luck!

Isn't DHL going out of business?

[zeroibis]

I finally got my computer rebuilt with the AQ Block! It is running great and I love the temps so far! In fact they are much lower than on my 280 using the EK block (from what I remember)! I hope to get some great performance out of this now. I am clocking <35C on this in 75F coolant temps.