Inside the Hydro Copper EVGA FTW Fermi block

[StAndrew]

GTX 470
Load Heatsink: 83c
Load Waterblock: 38c

GTX 480
Load Heatsink: 95c
Load Waterblock: 49c

http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=271190

[Sushi Warrior]

Pretty shoddy machining, but at least it gets good temps. The heatpipe/VRM cooler is interesting....

[dM@n]

Looks like Swiftech used the pin-matrix design they used in their XT.

[CryptiK]

Looks a bit dodgey. As long as it works I guess. I wonder what EK can come up with.

[Planet]

Looks like Swiftech used the pin-matrix design they used in their XT.

The delrin cover says Swiftech on it.

[Boulard83]

Yep. Similar to the XT.

[StAndrew]

Nice, didnt catch that. That must have been a killer deal for Gabe. I think Swiftech GPU blocks are the most innovative and its good to see EVGA feels the same way.

[Conumdrum]

The XT has MUCH smaller pins. Glad to see pins in this hot GPU, better heat reduction. Channels just don't cut it no more I guess.

[CryptiK]

The XT has MUCH smaller pins. Glad to see pins in this hot GPU, better heat reduction. Channels just don't cut it no more I guess.

I don't want to start a water block argument, but the EK HF tested in Vapour's review performed better than the Swiftech XT. The EK HF has channels, the XT has pins, so that shows channels do still cut it, and in fact outperform pins. Further, the HF, while performing better, also has less flow restriction.

[Conumdrum]

Well, maybe so. I'll say it looks like in the long run for overclocking controlling the VRM temps is what matters. In my case, I'll pretty much sit back and wait till the fall. See whats on the market. Be a good time to make a move before the next crazy Christmas announcements. Til then I'm done.

[jkr266]

I don't want to start a water block argument, but the EK HF tested in Vapour's review performed better than the Swiftech XT. The EK HF has channels, the XT has pins, so that shows channels do still cut it, and in fact outperform pins. Further, the HF, while performing better, also has less flow restriction.

I think you are misunderstanding him, there is a HUGE difference between the very small channels on the HF, and the much larger channels found on most full cover vid card blocks, including the EK ones. I don't think he meant to mean that channels were worse period, just the way they are typically used in vid card blocks.

[JaD]

I'm disappointed to notice how the heatpipe seems to have no direct flow...




Anyway it's wrong to say that VRM temps are the only ones that count, this might be partially true for recent ATI cards but Nvidia's designs didn't ever rely much on VRM temps. GPU cooling is fundamental, especially on Fermi chips.
It surprises me however that most of you failed to notice how Swiftech used this very kind of pin matrix in all of their komodo blocks for a long time.

[xslix]

I'm disappointed to notice how the heatpipe seems to have no direct flow...




Anyway it's wrong to say that VRM temps are the only ones that count, this might be partially true for recent ATI cards but Nvidia's designs didn't ever rely much on VRM temps. GPU cooling is fundamental, especially on Fermi chips.
It surprises me however that most of you failed to notice how Swiftech used this very kind of pin matrix in all of their komodo blocks for a long time.

kool block shtty cooling for other chips. those unisink or w/e its call thingy dont cool as good as it looks either. i think vrm should b lil worry if it gets too hot no.. 280 vrms get hot with swiftechs unisink on them its hottest part on card 60c + . n u get gfx coruption flashes

dd blocks full cover no lil unisink

[StAndrew]

I think the heat pipe to the block is enough. While the water doesnt directly cool the VRM's it does cool the heat pipe which is cooling the VRM's. This has been shown to be pretty effective with the old 4870 block and MCW60.

[Waterlogged]

It's not a bad design, my only concern would be if the heatpipe had enough capacity for OC'ing.

[StAndrew]

Well, how did these work out:



Anyone know? Maybe Gabe could provide some VRM temps...

[xguntherc]

Hmm... so how will this compare to the DD

[the finisher]

DD all Cu, gona cost more, but I'd go for that.

[Alien Grey]

It's nice to see that they use Swiftech blocks for their watercooled models.


The question is if there's going to be a European model and if it's going to use the same Swiftech blocks?

Perhaps they did learn from their mistake with the EVGA GTX 285 Hydro Copper.

[StAndrew]

DD all Cu, gona cost more, but I'd go for that.

If I know swiftech, this is all Cu as well with a nickle or chrome plating.