Poll: Which GPU block?

jtroutma · 11-08-2002, 04:02 PM

Looking to put a waterblock on my Radeon 9700 Pro. Will be using an old Gateway heatsink to cool memory chips. Which block do you guys think would work the best?

bigben2k · 11-08-2002, 04:22 PM

Does it really matter?

I mean, we're not talking about any significant amount of heat here, so I would go with the block that has the smallest flow restriction.

Innovatech block

DangerDen

DTeK (GF3?)

jtroutma · 11-08-2002, 04:24 PM

Yea...

Yea....

And Yea....

I am just in a bind here. Really dont have much money to spend (at all) and so I am wanting to get feed back from everyone else on what they would use. Talk is cheap; mistakes are NOT! (Trust me; I have a kid

)

bigben2k · 11-08-2002, 04:37 PM

I know what you mean: my stepdaughter keeps talking about a car, and she's only 15!

The DD block is $45, the DTek is $36, and the Innovatech is $39.99 .

I'm going to add the DTek Sidewinder, just because it's less restrictive:

It goes for 37.00, but it'd have to be epoxied, because there's no mount.

Speaking of which, one could also get a cheap NB block, and epoxy it to the GPU.

For the ramsinks, I remember reading somewhere about someone cutting his own with a hacksaw, out of 1/2 fittings. Cost: a buck and a half.

g.l.amour · 11-08-2002, 05:03 PM

well, the swiftech gpu block design seems to be one of the least flow resistance ones. but then you are stuck with their sucky hose clamping method.

anyway. one can hardly judge from the non-plexi topped pix; as u are almost clueless as to how it is designed internally.

what everyone seems to be forgetting:

u want form or function?
i can cool my gforce3ti500 oc 270/590 almost passively with a large retired cpu heatsink + fan at 5V. temps are 40°C when gaming. i don't know however if that method would work for the ti4600 and 9700 hotshots. worth a try before killing some flow and spending some $.

jtroutma · 11-08-2002, 06:12 PM

For my last video card (the GF3 that I murdered

) I just epoxied a Thermatake Golden Orb on it. That thing OC to 250 and wasnt even warm. However it took up 2 full PCI slots.

I have always wanted to watercool my GPU but I felt it would be a waste of money on a video card that I also had to cool the memory on. NOW I can just cool the core and put passive heatsinks on the memory and call it a day! AND I can always increase the core voltage on the GPU and get extra OC without changing the GPU cooler.

Another point, I dont want to use epoxy on the GPU core because that was how I killed my GF3; tried to get it off and the knife slipped. DOH!

I dont mind loosing 1 PCI slot but 2 is pushing it

Truth be told, I am leaning towards the DangerDen block. I like Dteks block much better (It uses a HorseShoe design) but I doubt that Danny will ever get those available. The InnovaBlock would work great if it wasnt for those pressure fittings. If Swiftech has a good GPU block, please reference it and give its pros and cons.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

jtroutma · 11-08-2002, 06:19 PM

BigBen: You could probaby make a mount for the Dtek sidewinder.... piece of flat steel, angled hose barbs, stainless screws, nylon washers and a few nuts

G.L.Amour: I have flow to kill

The new Sedra pump I installed has a rating of 350Gph @ 8' and right now I only have my TC-4 and heatercore on that loop. Besides, I am trying to move away from fans.........and it looks cool when you can cool your GPU and CPU with the same water system

g.l.amour · 11-08-2002, 06:45 PM

the cool looks are all that matters.

-my gpu vcore is at 1.8V
-temp is 40°C max (won't get alot better from h2o)
-loss of pci is an issue for some, but i got 6 and use 1. so no issue for me
-epoxy can be an issue too (its how i also had to do it)

but don't say u have flow to kill... it hurts me, i can always use some more flow.

n-way

look at the internals of this puppy (MCW50), should tell u more than some reviews...

and

w00t?

the MCW40 doesn't look too shabby either

+

so to sum up why i think swiftech is good.

-u can c that flow resistance is minimum
-baseplate finish is top
-mounting mechanism is very nice

(damn, if someone from swiftech is reading this, they should give me a free block for advertising)

UnloadeD · 11-09-2002, 01:23 AM

might as well throw the gemini block into the mix 8)
http://www.case-mod.com/store/produc...roducts_id=240

peace.
unloaded

#Rotor · 11-09-2002, 01:56 AM

gha... I see the pin-grid-array consept is slowly but surely starting to take over the world of water-cooling...

one problem with the nice swifty block... the open space over the top of all those nice pins.... what a waist.....

why would you guys want the block to be low restiction, have it high restriction, and run it in parrallel, that way not adding heat to the CPU or taking away flow from the CPU... even the least restrictive design still embodies what pretty much can be looked at as a bunch of 90º bends, and we know what those do to flow rate. IMO. anyway...

MadDogMe · 11-09-2002, 04:15 AM

I'd rather have a low restriction GPU and NB, run them in parallel after the CPU...

I'd ask someone to make you up one

...

PS, OCPC make an Atlantis Radion9000series block now.

don't forget 9700's have a 'proud' lip around the GPU that makes using old GPU blocks impossible without an insert!...

jamicon · 11-09-2002, 06:15 AM

dont forget about the nice offering from new zealand

they look even better with a led chucked in the mix

or even with a bit of UV dye

bigben2k · 11-09-2002, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jtroutma
BigBen: You could probaby make a mount for the Dtek sidewinder.... piece of flat steel, angled hose barbs, stainless screws, nylon washers and a few nuts

G.L.Amour: I have flow to kill The new Sedra pump I installed has a rating of 350Gph @ 8' and right now I only have my TC-4 and heatercore on that loop. Besides, I am trying to move away from fans.........and it looks cool when you can cool your GPU and CPU with the same water system

A mount should be fairly esy.

JT: do you mean 350 gph@0 head, and a max head of 8 feet?

jtroutma · 11-09-2002, 02:18 PM

Unloaded: Thanks for posting the Gemini. I will defiantely take that one into consideration.

Jamicon: That block almost looks "too simplistic" for my taste

But everything will be considered.

BigBen: The actaul number that the box says something closer to 500Lph @ 2m of head. I will get my digicam back and take a picture of the box for you ASAP. Max head is 8' though.

Aardil · 11-10-2002, 08:12 PM

As far as the innovec blocks there are fittings available that use barbed ends instead of the compression fitting.
2 routes you can go
1. adapters that convert the theads from bssp to NTP
or
2. fittings like these
http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2...y_Code=Fitting

just a little more food for thought
Aardil

redleader · 11-10-2002, 08:54 PM

jamicon:

Thats probably the most intelligently designed GPU block I've seen. I don't understand why people bother with all these twist and turns to cool a 15w GPU. Make it simple, non restrictive and use those 45 degree barbs so you don't kill flow or block PCI slots.

jamicon · 11-11-2002, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by redleader
jamicon:

Thats probably the most intelligently designed GPU block I've seen. I don't understand why people bother with all these twist and turns to cool a 15w GPU. Make it simple, non restrictive and use those 45 degree barbs so you don't kill flow or block PCI slots.

i agree, thats why for my block im doing a PVC cap with the barbs comming in from the side, with some fins of some type (probably copper wire) sticking up in the middle, works well, low restriction

mfpmax · 11-11-2002, 04:24 AM

isn't there a physical restriction to putting a GPU block on the 9700s...like that the core itself is surrounded by a slightly raised area?

Cause I saw pictures of one of the first 9700s to go public and someone modded a Danger Den block to it.

jtroutma · 11-11-2002, 06:13 PM

I am now just starting to hear about this sort of limitation.... Wondering just how bad it is......

From all the review sites that I have read up about the 9700, it didnt show any sort of "lip" around the core preventing direct cooling.

I suppose the worst that I would need to do is sandwich a coper plate between the core and the GPU block to act as a conduit for the heat.... just wouldnt be as efficent.

Anyone have any more details about this "lip" in question? Pictures would be even better!

Thanks again for all your posts.

bigben2k · 11-11-2002, 06:18 PM

I believe that the surrounding RAM chips level off higher than the GPU. We could look at (morphling's ?) videocard block, to check.

mfpmax · 11-11-2002, 06:41 PM

http://www.darkcrow.co.kr/image/arti...ro/art01_s.jpg

Here is a picture of what i mean.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....ight=Water+ATI

Here is the thread that I found the pictures at...

they are gone now looks like.

I think this is the picture though. Not of the core...but of something that looks like a plate that the guy made.

morphling1 · 11-11-2002, 07:18 PM

My gf3 design I just made for one guy,fits prefectly of course to 9000 or 9700 cards.

Jessfm · 11-11-2002, 08:25 PM

Well guess I may as well show off the Atlantis range.
Supprised no one else has posted tbh, as they not exactly new.
Radeon 9x00 version

GF3 version ( fits Gf2/3 and Gf4mx)

Finaly GF4

MadDogMe · 11-12-2002, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Well guess I may as well show off the Atlantis range.
Supprised no one else has posted tbh, as they not exactly new.
Radeon 9x00 version

Ahem?!...,

...

Quote:

Originally posted by MadDogMe
PS, OCPC make an Atlantis Radion9000series block now.

don't forget 9700's have a 'proud' lip around the GPU that makes using old GPU blocks impossible without an insert!...

**********************************

-------Originally posted by redleader ---------
jamicon:

Thats probably the most intelligently designed GPU block I've seen. I don't understand why people bother with all these twist and turns to cool a 15w GPU. Make it simple, non restrictive and use those 45 degree barbs so you don't kill flow or block PCI slots.------------------------------------------------

-------Originaly posted by Jamicon-------------
i agree, thats why for my block im doing a PVC cap with the barbs comming in from the side, with some fins of some type (probably copper wire) sticking up in the middle, works well, low restriction.
-------------------------------------------------------

I agree as well, apart from the fact that heat is generated at the very centre of the NB chip, a fact that manufacturers seem to overlook!.
I plan on making a very simple NB&GPU block out of 28mm Cu-pipe end caps, with the barbs made of 13mm inner(same size as silicone tubing I'll use) Cu pipe soldered to the sides. they'll probly have to be O< Vee shaped rather than O= parallel, to allow for room to fit tube&ties/clamps. Could also gloop a perspex/plexi top to it with two/four holes for the mounts, or solder some lugs with holes to the endcap body for a soldered top...

Or use 15/22mm caps and have the inlet going in the top and outlet on the side. the 15mm would be very minimal and quite high flow(comparitivly) like a 90Deg elbow with a flat bottom, again two/four lugs for mounting...

gmat · 11-12-2002, 04:43 AM

(voted 'other')
As i am European it would be either:
- Aquacomputer Twinplex
or:
- JessFM's atlantis line

I currently own a Twinplex, and i am satisfied with this high-quality product.

View Poll Results: Which GPU block is the best? Explain WHY below!
InnovaGPU Block	10	7.87%
DangerDen Block	40	31.50%
Dtek GF3 GPU waterblock	5	3.94%
Custom made by Form member	29	22.83%
Other....Please specify below	43	33.86%
Voters: 127. You may not vote on this poll

11-08-2002, 04:02 PM	#1
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	Poll: Which GPU block? Looking to put a waterblock on my Radeon 9700 Pro. Will be using an old Gateway heatsink to cool memory chips. Which block do you guys think would work the best? __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

11-08-2002, 04:22 PM	#2
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	Does it really matter? I mean, we're not talking about any significant amount of heat here, so I would go with the block that has the smallest flow restriction. Innovatech block DangerDen DTeK (GF3?) __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

11-08-2002, 04:24 PM	#3
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	Yea... Yea.... And Yea.... I am just in a bind here. Really dont have much money to spend (at all) and so I am wanting to get feed back from everyone else on what they would use. Talk is cheap; mistakes are NOT! (Trust me; I have a kid ) __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

11-08-2002, 04:37 PM	#4
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	I know what you mean: my stepdaughter keeps talking about a car, and she's only 15! The DD block is $45, the DTek is $36, and the Innovatech is $39.99 . I'm going to add the DTek Sidewinder, just because it's less restrictive: It goes for 37.00, but it'd have to be epoxied, because there's no mount. Speaking of which, one could also get a cheap NB block, and epoxy it to the GPU. For the ramsinks, I remember reading somewhere about someone cutting his own with a hacksaw, out of 1/2 fittings. Cost: a buck and a half. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

11-08-2002, 05:03 PM	#5
g.l.amour Cooling Savant Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: on da case Posts: 933	well, the swiftech gpu block design seems to be one of the least flow resistance ones. but then you are stuck with their sucky hose clamping method. anyway. one can hardly judge from the non-plexi topped pix; as u are almost clueless as to how it is designed internally. what everyone seems to be forgetting: u want form or function? i can cool my gforce3ti500 oc 270/590 almost passively with a large retired cpu heatsink + fan at 5V. temps are 40°C when gaming. i don't know however if that method would work for the ti4600 and 9700 hotshots. worth a try before killing some flow and spending some $.

11-08-2002, 06:12 PM	#6
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	For my last video card (the GF3 that I murdered ) I just epoxied a Thermatake Golden Orb on it. That thing OC to 250 and wasnt even warm. However it took up 2 full PCI slots. I have always wanted to watercool my GPU but I felt it would be a waste of money on a video card that I also had to cool the memory on. NOW I can just cool the core and put passive heatsinks on the memory and call it a day! AND I can always increase the core voltage on the GPU and get extra OC without changing the GPU cooler. Another point, I dont want to use epoxy on the GPU core because that was how I killed my GF3; tried to get it off and the knife slipped. DOH! I dont mind loosing 1 PCI slot but 2 is pushing it Truth be told, I am leaning towards the DangerDen block. I like Dteks block much better (It uses a HorseShoe design) but I doubt that Danny will ever get those available. The InnovaBlock would work great if it wasnt for those pressure fittings. If Swiftech has a good GPU block, please reference it and give its pros and cons. Thanks for the suggestions guys. __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

11-08-2002, 06:19 PM	#7
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	BigBen: You could probaby make a mount for the Dtek sidewinder.... piece of flat steel, angled hose barbs, stainless screws, nylon washers and a few nuts G.L.Amour: I have flow to kill The new Sedra pump I installed has a rating of 350Gph @ 8' and right now I only have my TC-4 and heatercore on that loop. Besides, I am trying to move away from fans.........and it looks cool when you can cool your GPU and CPU with the same water system __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

11-08-2002, 06:45 PM	#8
g.l.amour Cooling Savant Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: on da case Posts: 933	the cool looks are all that matters. -my gpu vcore is at 1.8V -temp is 40°C max (won't get alot better from h2o) -loss of pci is an issue for some, but i got 6 and use 1. so no issue for me -epoxy can be an issue too (its how i also had to do it) but don't say u have flow to kill... it hurts me, i can always use some more flow. n-way look at the internals of this puppy (MCW50), should tell u more than some reviews... and w00t? the MCW40 doesn't look too shabby either + so to sum up why i think swiftech is good. -u can c that flow resistance is minimum -baseplate finish is top -mounting mechanism is very nice (damn, if someone from swiftech is reading this, they should give me a free block for advertising) Last edited by g.l.amour; 11-08-2002 at 06:52 PM.

11-09-2002, 01:23 AM	#9
UnloadeD Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: MidWest USA Posts: 176	might as well throw the gemini block into the mix 8) http://www.case-mod.com/store/produc...roducts_id=240 peace. unloaded

11-09-2002, 01:56 AM	#10
#Rotor Cooling Savant Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Dione, sector 4s1256 Posts: 852	gha... I see the pin-grid-array consept is slowly but surely starting to take over the world of water-cooling... one problem with the nice swifty block... the open space over the top of all those nice pins.... what a waist..... why would you guys want the block to be low restiction, have it high restriction, and run it in parrallel, that way not adding heat to the CPU or taking away flow from the CPU... even the least restrictive design still embodies what pretty much can be looked at as a bunch of 90º bends, and we know what those do to flow rate. IMO. anyway... __________________ There is no Spoon....

11-09-2002, 04:15 AM	#11
MadDogMe Thermophile Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Just shut up ;) ... Posts: 1,068	I'd rather have a low restriction GPU and NB, run them in parallel after the CPU... I'd ask someone to make you up one ... PS, OCPC make an Atlantis Radion9000series block now. don't forget 9700's have a 'proud' lip around the GPU that makes using old GPU blocks impossible without an insert!... Last edited by MadDogMe; 11-09-2002 at 04:23 AM.

11-09-2002, 06:15 AM	#12
jamicon Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 44	dont forget about the nice offering from new zealand they look even better with a led chucked in the mix or even with a bit of UV dye

11-09-2002, 02:18 PM	#14
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	Unloaded: Thanks for posting the Gemini. I will defiantely take that one into consideration. Jamicon: That block almost looks "too simplistic" for my taste But everything will be considered. BigBen: The actaul number that the box says something closer to 500Lph @ 2m of head. I will get my digicam back and take a picture of the box for you ASAP. Max head is 8' though. __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

11-10-2002, 08:12 PM	#15
Aardil Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 174	As far as the innovec blocks there are fittings available that use barbed ends instead of the compression fitting. 2 routes you can go 1. adapters that convert the theads from bssp to NTP or 2. fittings like these http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2...y_Code=Fitting just a little more food for thought Aardil

11-10-2002, 08:54 PM	#16
redleader Thermophile Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: The deserts of Tucson, Az Posts: 1,264	jamicon: Thats probably the most intelligently designed GPU block I've seen. I don't understand why people bother with all these twist and turns to cool a 15w GPU. Make it simple, non restrictive and use those 45 degree barbs so you don't kill flow or block PCI slots.

11-11-2002, 04:24 AM	#18
mfpmax Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Rockledge,FL,US Posts: 731	isn't there a physical restriction to putting a GPU block on the 9700s...like that the core itself is surrounded by a slightly raised area? Cause I saw pictures of one of the first 9700s to go public and someone modded a Danger Den block to it. __________________ My old and retired watercooling setup. Watercooled K6-2 450 at 600 Also Retired - Watercooling an XP1800@1782MHz

11-11-2002, 06:13 PM	#19
jtroutma Cooling Savant Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 837	I am now just starting to hear about this sort of limitation.... Wondering just how bad it is...... From all the review sites that I have read up about the 9700, it didnt show any sort of "lip" around the core preventing direct cooling. I suppose the worst that I would need to do is sandwich a coper plate between the core and the GPU block to act as a conduit for the heat.... just wouldnt be as efficent. Anyone have any more details about this "lip" in question? Pictures would be even better! Thanks again for all your posts. __________________ Athlon64 X2 4200+ @ 2.5Ghz (250FSB x 10) OCZ VX 1GB 4000 @ 250FSB (6-2-2-2 timmings) DFI LANParty nForce4 Ultra-D SCSI Raid 5 x (3) Cheetah 15K HDDs LSI Express 500 (128MB cache) OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU ATI X850XT PE (Stock) DTEK WhiteWater + DTEK Custom Radiator Eheim 1250

11-11-2002, 06:18 PM	#20
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	I believe that the surrounding RAM chips level off higher than the GPU. We could look at (morphling's ?) videocard block, to check. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

11-11-2002, 07:18 PM	#22
morphling1 Cooling Savant Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Slovenia Posts: 468	My gf3 design I just made for one guy,fits prefectly of course to 9000 or 9700 cards. __________________ [My ftp, with lots of pics, hope to be home page someday

11-11-2002, 08:25 PM	#23
Jessfm Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 110	Well guess I may as well show off the Atlantis range. Supprised no one else has posted tbh, as they not exactly new. Radeon 9x00 version GF3 version ( fits Gf2/3 and Gf4mx) Finaly GF4

11-12-2002, 04:43 AM	#25
gmat Thermophile Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: France Posts: 1,221	(voted 'other') As i am European it would be either: - Aquacomputer Twinplex or: - JessFM's atlantis line I currently own a Twinplex, and i am satisfied with this high-quality product.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)