Gtx 295 What is the best water block?

adskiracerad · 09-27-2009, 09:47 PM

I have a BFG GTX295 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-192-_-Product i was wondering what the best water block would be i was thinking EK-FC295 http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25902 if there is somting better please show me the light lol.

eponymous · 09-28-2009, 12:14 AM

http://www.koolance.com/water-coolin...product_id=857

This is the block I'd buy. I can't say one is better than the other though as I've not got a 295

I bought the Koolance blocks for my 285's however and they're great.

millertime359 · 09-28-2009, 04:01 AM

Most of the gpu blocks seem to preform pretty close to each other. Iwould get whichever you like the best.

Aphellyon · 09-28-2009, 09:13 AM

Yea, I'm trying to decide on this as well for my 2x 295s. Koolance, EK or swiftech? Tuff decision that.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25772

Koolance looks pretty cool and comes with a back plate. I think you can see the coolant (if colored) through the logo cutouts on the front plate. I'd really love to see how this one looks mounted and/or lighted. Anybody got any pics out there?

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25902

EK also looks pretty cool, but I think you have to buy the back plate seperately (if you want one). Did they fix their problem with poor standoffs, or was that just an issue with the dual PCB cards? Again, I'd love to actually see some good pics of this mounted... anybody out there with some decent snappys?

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=25949

The swiftech one... also cool, but perhaps not as much as EK's. Plus, I don't think it has a back plate option at all, (could be wrong on that).

*sigh* decisions, decisions....

adskiracerad · 09-28-2009, 09:46 AM

lol i agree. that was a great post you did thanks very much! im in the same boat as you!! Im tempted to try and get a hold of Heat killer and ask if they have a singe board 295 water block coming soon or i just might go for the EK. Thanks very much tho for your post.

Ketzer7 · 09-28-2009, 09:46 AM

FYI, gabe @ Swiftech commented somewhere on these boards that their 295 block reuses the backplates that come on the 295, so it does have one just to clarify what you said.

I'm not sure about EK's block reusing the stock backplates or not, maybe Eddy can comment that. EK's upside is that they also offer an FC block for the back of the board that mates together with the front and still allows you to maintain a single inlet/outlet config on it.

Like millertime said, just pick whichever you one you think you like best.

Edward88 · 09-28-2009, 10:11 AM

BP also have one for 295 too.

All perform well, like everyone said, just pick the one you like more

MaByBoI · 09-28-2009, 10:56 AM

personally i love the look of the swiftech epsilon block, does anyone have any pictures of the back plates of the other water blocks? i like how the swiftech block keeps the original backplate, does anyone have a picture of that backplate of the ek block? i need to buy one for my EVGA gtx 295 some time this week.

adskiracerad · 09-28-2009, 11:36 AM

i agree some pics of the blocks with back plates would be awesome. i also am going to be buying a block this week along with a solid state drive any have a recommendation on one of those

MaByBoI · 09-28-2009, 12:06 PM

well i have found out that for me, the swiftech epsilon is the only block available at directcanada.com, and its 30$ less than everything else. so im quite content

Aphellyon · 09-28-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaByBoI

personally i love the look of the swiftech epsilon block, does anyone have any pictures of the back plates of the other water blocks? i like how the swiftech block keeps the original backplate, does anyone have a picture of that backplate of the ek block? i need to buy one for my EVGA gtx 295 some time this week.

Here's the EK back block... pretty slick... but pricey for ~125 bucks.

Like Ketzer said, the swifty block uses the existing back plate.

And to round it off... Koolance comes with this back plate... which looks a bit more stealthy than stock.

Quote:

BP also have one for 295 too.

Yea, I just didn't like that one as much as the others, (wouldn't mind seeing it all mounted up with the black sparkle rotories on there though)

Aphellyon · 09-28-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adskiracerad

i agree some pics of the blocks with back plates would be awesome. i also am going to be buying a block this week along with a solid state drive any have a recommendation on one of those

Hmmm.... SSDs.... anything with the Indilinx/Intel controller... OCZ Vertex comes to mind... avoid ones with older JMicron controllers.
Useful linky vv
http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=736

MaByBoI · 09-28-2009, 12:14 PM

im sure the koolance back plate could be used on the swiftech block? makes it look a little bit nicer

Aphellyon · 09-28-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaByBoI

im sure the koolance back plate could be used on the swiftech block? makes it look a little bit nicer

Heh, maybe... I think you'd have to buy the KL full block to get it though.

Anyway, I'm not sure how the Swifty block "fastens" to the existing stock plate. But, I agree, the KL back plate does look better... I have an open case, so the backs of these cards will need to be stealth'd as much as possible.

rear shot of a swifty mount vv

MaByBoI · 09-28-2009, 12:49 PM

yeah i think it would look really nice with the koolance backplate on there, i hate seing the back of the pcb on my cards, after i put so much effort into everything else..

Aphellyon · 09-28-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaByBoI

yeah i think it would look really nice with the koolance backplate on there, i hate seing the back of the pcb on my cards, after i put so much effort into everything else..

Sorry OT: How's your t-virus res hold'n up? I've been waiting on mine forever.

adskiracerad · 09-28-2009, 01:57 PM

wow this is a really great thread guys. im staring to think i want to go with the Koolance water block i love the back plate.

Also here is a link to my build log
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...50#post4024650

MaByBoI · 09-28-2009, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aphellyon

Sorry OT: How's your t-virus res hold'n up? I've been waiting on mine forever.

havnt got it yet, still waiting. just like you

Aphellyon · 09-28-2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaByBoI

havnt got it yet, still waiting. just like you

Heh, I'm at the point now where I think I'll just slap a coupl'a coke bottles on my rig'n lite'em up with some glow sticks. I feel your pain bro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adskiracerad

wow this is a really great thread guys. im staring to think i want to go with the Koolance water block i love the back plate.

Also here is a link to my build log
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...50#post4024650

Cool beans.

Sub'd your log... nice start, by the way. Reminds me, I need to get my sleeving ordered. I noticed you have a 260 in there... you got your 295 stashed away somewheres?

justin.kerr · 09-28-2009, 02:57 PM

I really like the Swiftech blocks.
Build is in progress, so dirty, lol,fingerprints, and my photo skills resemble a geriatric orgy, but they do perform very well, very easy install, have had no problems with these blocks.!

MaByBoI · 09-28-2009, 04:17 PM

those blocks are SOOO nice!, thank god im buying one

justin.kerr · 09-28-2009, 04:29 PM

been able to run vantage with 730Mhz on the core on both 295's, temps with Vantage run 40C-45C.

MaByBoI · 09-28-2009, 05:15 PM

*sigh* i just bit the bullet and bought a swiftech epsilon. beautiful block. but 160$ CAD...

Aphellyon · 09-29-2009, 08:46 AM

@Justin: Thanks for the post... very nice.

Anybody want to share some KL, or EK snappys? (guess I could dig through the work log section)

Aphellyon · 09-29-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin.kerr

been able to run vantage with 730Mhz on the core on both 295's, temps with Vantage run 40C-45C.

How's your gaming with quad sli going... any stuttering or other issues?

EDIT: Ahh... never mind, I just noticed you still working on the build.

Also, what voltage are you pushing to hit 4.6 on your 920?