8800GTS G92 water block

[Greebo]

Looking at going water on my 8800GTS G92.

Is it best to go for a dedicated full block water cooler or just any compatible vga block and put heatsinks on the ram and other chips?

Or do you not even need heatsinks?

Either way, what do people how have both find is a good buy for the money?

 

[Vogon]

Probably start a full debate with that question
For me, as I knew how hot my vga ram chips got, I went full EK block and am very happy with the results.
Not sure how hot the GTS ram gets, but full cover would always be my personal choice.

 

[Greebo]

Well people are slow coming forward for a change!

I suppose a vga block plus heatsinks is getting so close in money to a dedicated block, that seems the route to go.

 

[Skyboat]

Haven't got round to building my water loop yet but I'm definitely going for full-cover, as RAM/PWMs need just as much cooling these days on graphics cards.

 

[Vogon]

The argument against full cover is that new graphics card = new block, a gpu only block would just need new mounts, but I am happy to change my block when I change the card.

 

[Greebo]

I suppose you can get some money back by selling the block with the card

 

[pastymuncher]

I have an Aquaextreme MP-1 (same as a DD Maze4 externally) on my 8800GT with ramsinks on the memory. This is the same block i had on my old 7800GT's. As already stated, a full cover block has to be replaced when you swap cards and are significantly more expensive. You could also argue that core only blocks give better core cooling than full cover blocks.

 

[Vogon]

and are significantly more expensive. You could also argue that core only blocks give better core cooling than full cover blocks.

Hmm well add ramsinks and the difference shrinks a bit, but still cost more admittedly.
The second point is debatable, a decent FC block will be not noticably worse than a gpu only block IMO, either way still well within acceptable temps.
My factory overclocked ultra under full load, doesn't even get as warm as the idle temps on its stock cooler, and my loop has the CPU and NB (680i chipset) in too

 

[Street]

You could also argue that core only blocks give better core cooling than full cover blocks.

I'll agree with that, the core needs the most cooling and core only blocks will do this better than full cover blocks.

I have only ever used core only blocks.. I've found that RAM sinks on the memory are more than enough!

 

[PinkFloyd]

I suppose you can get some money back by selling the block with the card

It really limits who you can sell it to though.

Its going to have to be someone who is watercooling, so likely to be running hi-end stuff. Are they likely to want a no doubt older card?


I currently have a full cover block on my 8800gtx. Bought it on the cheap, but doubt I'll ever buy a full cover block again unless I'm rolling in it.

 

[pastymuncher]

Hmm well add ramsinks and the difference shrinks a bit, but still cost more admittedly.
The second point is debatable, a decent FC block will be not noticably worse than a gpu only block IMO, either way still well within acceptable temps.
My factory overclocked ultra under full load, doesn't even get as warm as the idle temps on its stock cooler, and my loop has the CPU and NB (680i chipset) in too

My ramsinks cost me £3.82 for all 8 (Zalman kit). They work fine and are also re-useable. I think this is the 3rd card that they have been on now. Just need to renew the thermal tape in between cards. My block cost me £22 a couple of years ago and you can still get them and Maze4's for the same price. You can even get a Dtec Fuzion GPU block for £28 so block and ramsinks for £26-32 compared to £50+ for a full cover that 9 times out of ten will fit one card only. Made that mistake with a EK 8800GTS 320mb full cover block on a card i only kept for 6 months.

I did say "argueably" on the second point.

 

[Hesky82]

Totally agree, I’ve reused my Swiftech MCW60 block and MC14 memory ramsinks on countless GFX cards! It’s never needed extra mounts and has fitted perfect every time, I just keep some sekisui thermal tape at hand when I need to refit the ramsinks.
Currently cooling my 8800GTS 512 a treat, if I had the heart I would volt mod my card to extract even more clocks out of it as the temps are super low. Even at full load temps only tend to be 10c above ambient!