MSI HD 7970 Lightning water block

[bro20000]

Does anyone know when the ek block is out for this card.

[tiborrr]

Hi,

we believe the block should be ready and available no late than mid June.

Regards,
Niko

[bro20000]

Thanx cant wait got chiller just waiting for block

[thesmokingman]

Hi,

we believe the block should be ready and available no late than mid June.

Regards,
Niko

Niko, will the Lightning block line up with regular blocks? Inquiring minds must know!

[CRFX]

Any news on the lightning block? Eagerly awaiting it's release.

[tiborrr]

Got it, just can't show it yet :P Sry fellas, slight delay due to all these new 670/690/7870 water blocks.

[Church]

tiborrr: i'm slightly interested - how long on average it takes from beginning of measurements/starting design to actual packaged block in shelves? Month? Half a year? More?

[tiborrr]

We do design rather quickly, doesn't matter if it's reference or non-reference. It's the prototype that takes long since I need to hijack the one milling machine just to make a sample.

[Church]

No no, my question should not be understood in any way like if you are slow in getting this particular block out, rather it was just generic interest about "how things work" in vendor's "kitchen"
Eg. there probably are stages like measuring/designing/making sample/extensive testing/programming making machines/printing documentation, designing & making packaging and whatever else belongs to final logistics. No clue how long each phase takes and such ..

[Callsign_Vega]

Ya, I like manufacturing processes too. Although some of that information is kept close hold due to competition. I wonder if EK measures GPU PCB's for blocks using a 3d laser scanner or does it old school by hand.

[Vetalar]

i think that they get 3d models from producers (for reference design)...

[tiborrr]

Ya, I like manufacturing processes too. Although some of that information is kept close hold due to competition. I wonder if EK measures GPU PCB's for blocks using a 3d laser scanner or does it old school by hand.

Old school baby :P 3D scanner would be nice though :P

[Callsign_Vega]

Niko,

Still a few weeks out on the 7970 Lightning blocks? I just had a question about the liquid bridges on your site. I didn't see a 4-way bridge on the new style. Those bridges are required with these new single sided input/output cards right? What would be the best way to connect four of these water blocks together?

[tiborrr]

Hi!

4-way bridge is already manufactured, it will come both in plexi as well as in acetal version. It's actually semi-parallel, not parallel. Flow splits for first two cards and the last two cards.
I'll have some photos of EK-FC7970 LTG ready by tomorrow.

Regards,
Niko

[Callsign_Vega]

Awesome Niko,

Can certain ports be blocked off with the 4-way bridge? As in, you could still use the four way bridge in 2 and 3 way crossfire/SLI and not have to buy separate bridge for each config?

[MonsterDK]

Waiting to see the 7970 LTG.. I'd already emailed EK asking when it would be avail.
Good to hear it's going to make an appearance soon

[Callsign_Vega]

Ya, talking to people on the forums there are a lot looking forward to this block.

[tiborrr]

Awesome Niko,

Can certain ports be blocked off with the 4-way bridge? As in, you could still use the four way bridge in 2 and 3 way crossfire/SLI and not have to buy separate bridge for each config?

Yes, the user will be able to close ports just like it was with our previous generation of FC Bridges & Links. We will have blank links ready and available really soon. You will need blank parallel links for the Quad bridge.

Pictures later today as there is other work to do

[jomama22]

Yes, the user will be able to close ports just like it was with our previous generation of FC Bridges & Links. We will have blank links ready and available really soon. You will need blank parallel links for the Quad bridge.

Pictures later today as there is other work to do

I can't wait until this block is released. I have been waiting since the end of march for this! Any updates on a final release date?

[tiborrr]

I promised a photo yesterday, sorry I could not deliver. I went to mountains directly after work so I didn't had time to post a photo. Was standing on the summit at 7:30PM and returned back to car at 9:00PM, practically ran the last 500m altitude meters in five minutes from the gully to the starting point.

Please disregard the lack of badge, circle graphics on the metal plate and my handwriting

[Callsign_Vega]

Look's good. Done any temp/clock testing on that bad boy?

[tiborrr]

Not yet, I hope to get it done today.

[jomama22]

looks great! i have been wondering, did you decide to leave the two memory vrms uncovered or does the block extend over far enough to the right to cover them? the picture makes it seem as though it wont

[Vetalar]

i see ports only in POM top. is this a new EK trend? i can understand when card wider then typical to avoid case incompatibility but for all other cards? it makes plumbing big PITA IMHO

[MonsterDK]

i see ports only in POM top. is this a new EK trend? i can understand when card wider then typical to avoid case incompatibility but for all other cards? it makes plumbing big PITA IMHO

I agree with this totally. It's much neater to be able to pass from bottom to top and vice versa.