Beware: GTX 285 Waterblock issues

[ctsoccer13]

My registration finally went through...

Anyways, be very careful with the GTX 285s. There's a very brief thread on here that I, and I'm assuming others will too, overlooked and have ended up being severely setback because of it.

Apparently manufacturers are overhauling their GTX 285 video cards. They're reworking the GTX 275 PCB and swapping in and out some parts to meet the GTX 285 standards. However, because this is just now beginning to take place, it means that a lot of the GTX 285 waterblocks are no longer compatible with the newer cards. Cards with 118x in the model number are no longer compatible (though I can't confirm this for all 285 GPU waterblocks).

I recently bought a GTX 285 and a corresponding waterblock (Koolance VID-NX285) and they are not compatible. Specifically, some of the holes on the end farthest from the ports have been relocated, some of the memory chipsets have been shifted over slightly, and there is a large capacitor impeding on part of the block's location (near what I assume to be a small chip/MCU).

I'll include pictures of what I'm talking about when I get home.

Since I've opened the video card, I can't return it to Newegg and, though it's not confirmed and only reported from the customer service rep, since I've cut up the thermal pads to install the gpu block, I can't return that either. Therefore, I'm also open to suggestions as to any different block that may fit or mods to make these compatible.

CT

[Waterlogged]

Get in touch with [Koolance] Dean, he should be able to take care of you.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/member.php?u=101185

[eponymous]

Already been mentioned here:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=223405

[paul_]

[QUOTE=ctsoccer13;3812556]Since I've opened the video card, I can't return it to Newegg
This is why I avoid all but EVGA like the plague
20 or so bucks down for an EVGA EAR, and I'll have a new card @ my house ASAP, and also fabulous with returns like this. They let you take the stock cooling assembly off while retaining warranty.

[ctsoccer13]

Wish I'd seen that sooner...

Any blocks to recommend that we know fit? I feel like a list would be beneficial...

CT

[Waterlogged]

This is why I avoid all but EVGA like the plague
20 or so bucks down for an EVGA EAR, and I'll have a new card @ my house ASAP, and also fabulous with returns like this. They let you take the stock cooling assembly off while retaining warranty.

True, but this problem will still need to be addressed by the block makers because I doubt EVGA is gonna change the design back just for a handful of nuts that LC their cards.

[ctsoccer13]

True, but this problem will still need to be addressed by the block makers because I doubt EVGA is gonna change the design back just for a handful of nuts that LC their cards.

Right. From what I've read, it's all about cutting costs and ease of manufacturing for them. It's a lot easier to buy/make a lot of one type of PCB than two. Eventually I'm sure all 285 manufacturers will follow suit, if they haven't already.

[BlackDragon24]

I already commented on this in the other thread, but purchasing a -128X part number does not guarantee you will receive an older revision pcb:

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.asp?m=100651290