DESPERATE to put AIO cooler on my 980Ti (Palit super jetstream)

wunkley · 13 Jan 2016 at 19:24

Long story short, I have a corsair h55 AIO cooler ready and waiting to put on my palit 980ti Super Jetstream. https://www.overclockers.co.uk/pali...aphics-card-ne5x98th15jb-2000j-gx-034-pl.html

1. Ideally I want to use a Corsair n980 bracket to do this (released a few months ago), but they appear to have been recalled/ withdrawn from sale due to mounting issues. The palit 980ti Super Jetstream is listed as compatible with this bracket on the corsair spec webpage.

2. I would be willing to go with an NZXT G10 bracket, but on checking the website it lists the palit 980ti Super Jetstream as "not compatible".

3. I would also, stupidly, be willing to buy the EVGA AIO 'Hybrid kit' that sells from about £85. HOwever, I have no idea if this would be compatible. All it says is 'reference EVGA cards' compatibility.

What I need to know is - does the palit 980ti Super Jetstream have a "reference pcb"? It only has 6 pin and 8 pin power connectors, and given that corsair list it as compatible with the n980 bracket, you would think so??

However, I don't want to gamble, so does anyone have any better or first hand knowledge? This is a picture of the card stripped down form the kitguru website review ...

** No Hotlinking **

Gregster · 13 Jan 2016 at 19:30

It is a reference PCB but I have only ever done full watercool loops, so can't help there sadly

wunkley · 13 Jan 2016 at 19:59

Gregster said:
It is a reference PCB but I have only ever done full watercool loops, so can't help there sadly

Cheers Greg

Do you mind me asking how can you tell exactly, that it's a 'reference pcb'?

What worries me is there's just too much sketchy info out there. I went for this particular 980ti because I thought it was a reference pcb even though it has an 'extreme' fat cooler, and I had AIO water cooling in mind as a near future option, and it should therefore be compatible with corsair's AIO bracket (n980), NZXT G10 etc etc.

BUT - NZXT list it as "not compatible" on their website, so that has got me confused and worried that it's not as simple as being a 'reference pcb' for these brackets.

Has anyone tried a NZXT G10 on this particular card??

EDIT - just done some more research. On guru3d there are people saying they've fitted a Kraken G10 to EVGA 980Ti AXC 2.0 AND a Zotac Amp extreme 980Ti with good results - see here http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=400844

These are both 'reference pcbs' like my palit jetstream, and the zotac Amp is a big fat 2.5 slot cooler like mine too. The thing is the NZXT website lists both those cards as "not compatible" too! See here https://www.nzxt.com/products/kraken-g10-white - under the colour option there is a "PC COMPATIBILITY CHECKER" tool that lets you search for whatever. It returns an "oops not compatible" message for my card and the other cards mentioned, that people say do work!

Even more confused now.

tommybhoy · 13 Jan 2016 at 20:28

I'm out and about and can't sbs compare as using my phone but swapping tabs looks the same:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/NVIDIA/GeForce_GTX_980_Ti/5.html

I'd suggest getting some small heatsinks to add to the vrm's vram if going with the Kraken.

Kraken works well btw, ran 290X CrossFire with them.

Gregster · 13 Jan 2016 at 20:54

wunkley said:
Cheers Greg

Do you mind me asking how can you tell exactly, that it's a 'reference pcb'?

What worries me is there's just too much sketchy info out there. I went for this particular 980ti because I thought it was a reference pcb even though it has an 'extreme' fat cooler, and I had AIO water cooling in mind as a near future option, and it should therefore be compatible with corsair's AIO bracket (n980), NZXT G10 etc etc.

BUT - NZXT list it as "not compatible" on their website, so that has got me confused and worried that it's not as simple as being a 'reference pcb' for these brackets.

Has anyone tried a NZXT G10 on this particular card??

EDIT - just done some more research. On guru3d there are people saying they've fitted a Kraken G10 to EVGA 980Ti AXC 2.0 AND a Zotac Amp extreme 980Ti with good results - see here http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=400844

These are both 'reference pcbs' like my palit jetstream, and the zotac Amp is a big fat 2.5 slot cooler like mine too. The thing is the NZXT website lists both those cards as "not compatible" too! See here https://www.nzxt.com/products/kraken-g10-white - under the colour option there is a "PC COMPATIBILITY CHECKER" tool that lets you search for whatever. It returns an "oops not compatible" message for my card and the other cards mentioned, that people say do work!

Even more confused now.

Basically I did the EK configurator to check and it came in with the reference Ti's/Titan X's

tommybhoy · 13 Jan 2016 at 21:03

Had a proper look and there is small transistor differences on the link I posted, but I wouldn't say those differences are going to create a physically different footprint that would get in the way of a Kraken fitting.

varkanoid · 13 Jan 2016 at 22:11

What you get with the Kraken is the top edge where the tubes go and where the fan sits can be the compatible issue morover than the actual block fittings. It also is not good with cards that have backplates although I did manage to fit one with my 980 that had a backplate. Just. You do need the ram and VRM heatsinks though and if you do this be prepared to mod a couple round the block fitting as one at the bottom and two at the top clashed so I hide to file/cut the heatsinks to shape.

As for the EVGA Hybrid cooler I have a Zotac 980ti with reference cooler that has the Hybrid on it now and according to the EK configurator they class it as a reference board. If this helps.

wunkley · 14 Jan 2016 at 10:05

Thanks for the help lads, love this place sometimes

Based on all this I see no reason why the Kraken g10 shouldn't work with my card. I've gone ahead and ordered one with some ram heatsinks and bits and bobs. Will report back with how it goes, wish me luck...

EDIT - just so I know in advance could some kind soul indicate on the card photo above where exactly the little heatsinks need to be fitted? I've ordered some evercool ones- there are 8 of them and they're 20mm x20mm X 6mm each. Are these the right ones? They were the 'other items people buy' with the kraken g10 I ordered from another site

tommybhoy · 14 Jan 2016 at 10:08

Good luck

varkanoid · 14 Jan 2016 at 11:48

I've circled them in blue below. You need 12 for the RAM Chips and some kind of long heatsink for the VRM's. I couldnt find anything but the Gelid AMD 290 VRM heatsink from the USA (for my 980's). I ended up tie wrapping it down. I did order one from China that I was going to mod as I was thinking of using a kraken on the 980ti but instead just went for the EVGA AIO.

tommybhoy · 14 Jan 2016 at 12:08

I always use Akasa thermal tape, lot of people don't like it as heatsinks can fall off if you don't clean the residue off of the chips, but a proper thorough clean with an eraser and take your time and not rush it, it's solid, can protect from shorting too.

varkanoid · 14 Jan 2016 at 12:51

I like Akasa Thermal tape too (and clean chips with Akasa cleaner) but this time it just didnt hold. Probably due to the small footprint of the VRM's in single line. So as well as the thermal tape I tie wrapped the b*****r and it wasnt going to come off !

wunkley · 14 Jan 2016 at 13:18

tommybhoy said:
I always use Akasa thermal tape, lot of people don't like it as heatsinks can fall off if you don't clean the residue off of the chips, but a proper thorough clean with an eraser and take your time and not rush it, it's solid, can protect from shorting too.

varkanoid said:
I've circled them in blue below. You need 12 for the RAM Chips and some kind of long heatsink for the VRM's. I couldnt find anything but the Gelid AMD 290 VRM heatsink from the USA (for my 980's). I ended up tie wrapping it down. I did order one from China that I was going to mod as I was thinking of using a kraken on the 980ti but instead just went for the EVGA AIO.

Legends! Thanks chaps this is really helpful.

I've ordered another set of the evercool heatsinks that are 20mm square. So I should have 16 to play with for the ram chips. I've also orderd some of that Akasa thermal adhesive tape.

I'm still a tad confused about the VRM's now though (sorry!) - the tiny ones on the right. The rainforest website (where I'm ordering all this) has some smaller 15mm square heatsinks, would 8 of these do the job? Could I just run a one piece strip of Akasa thermal tape along the VRMs and then mount as many of the smaller heatsinks as I can?

Looking at a few reviews / opinions of the Kraken G10, it sounds like the reports of VRMs getting hot might be totally overblown. This on Linus is pretty good, and says just the fan on the Kraken can do a better job than some stock coolers at cooling the VRMs! http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/232654-kraken-g10-help/

Do I really need these heatsinks?

EDIT - what are thermal pads? Can these be used and cut to size instead of metal heatsinks on the tiny VRM's? (sorry if that's a daft question, this is all new)

tommybhoy · 14 Jan 2016 at 14:40

Yes, use vrm heatsinks, they get hot, very hot, and I'd advise monitoring temps after the swap too.

On the presumption that^ area is all relatively flat, I'd just heatsink the lot using 1 cut out of tape, not much clearance btw so the height of the heatsinks is important.

Thermal pads won't work as they won't stick, they're only useful when sandwiched in place.

varkanoid said:
I like Akasa Thermal tape too (and clean chips with Akasa cleaner) but this time it just didnt hold. Probably due to the small footprint of the VRM's in single line. So as well as the thermal tape I tie wrapped the b*****r and it wasnt going to come off !

wunkley · 14 Jan 2016 at 14:58

tommybhoy said:
Yes, use vrm heatsinks, they get hot, very hot, and I'd advise monitoring temps after the swap too.

On the presumption that^ area is all relatively flat, I'd just heatsink the lot using 1 cut out of tape, not much clearance btw so the height of the heatsinks is important.

Thermal pads won't work as they won't stick, they're only useful when sandwiched in place.

Cheers Tommy. Heatsinks I've ordered are only 6mm high so should be ample room from what I've read. I've ordered 16. They're 20mm square so 12 should go on the ram chips (are they 20mm dimension?) , then I might hacksaw the 4 left in half and strip those along the vrm's. Should work nice.

wunkley · 14 Jan 2016 at 15:20

tommybhoy said:
I always use Akasa thermal tape, lot of people don't like it as heatsinks can fall off if you don't clean the residue off of the chips, but a proper thorough clean with an eraser and take your time and not rush it, it's solid, can protect from shorting too.

Also, is there anything stronger than the akasa thermal tape, but not as strong and permanent as say arctic silver thermal adhesive?
The latter stuff sounds like it's too strong and permanent, and I want the option to remove everything and put the stock cooler back on.

tommybhoy · 14 Jan 2016 at 17:02

Arctic cooling used to sell glue but it's not on their store and took about 2 weeks for uk delivery from asia iirc, but a bit of elbow grease(+ lighter fluid) required for removal, 24hr curing time.

If you do it right with the tape it'll work fine.

Panos · 14 Jan 2016 at 21:33

wunkley said:
Long story short, I have a corsair h55 AIO cooler ready and waiting to put on my palit 980ti Super Jetstream. https://www.overclockers.co.uk/pali...aphics-card-ne5x98th15jb-2000j-gx-034-pl.html

1. Ideally I want to use a Corsair n980 bracket to do this (released a few months ago), but they appear to have been recalled/ withdrawn from sale due to mounting issues. The palit 980ti Super Jetstream is listed as compatible with this bracket on the corsair spec webpage.

2. I would be willing to go with an NZXT G10 bracket, but on checking the website it lists the palit 980ti Super Jetstream as "not compatible".

3. I would also, stupidly, be willing to buy the EVGA AIO 'Hybrid kit' that sells from about £85. HOwever, I have no idea if this would be compatible. All it says is 'reference EVGA cards' compatibility.

What I need to know is - does the palit 980ti Super Jetstream have a "reference pcb"? It only has 6 pin and 8 pin power connectors, and given that corsair list it as compatible with the n980 bracket, you would think so??

However, I don't want to gamble, so does anyone have any better or first hand knowledge? This is a picture of the card stripped down form the kitguru website review ...

** No Hotlinking **

http://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/AS7V1493.jpg[/IMG[/QUOTE]

Just a thought. Have you considered to change your CPU AIO to Predator 360 with QDC? Because that way, you can buy from EK a pre-filled 980Ti waterblock, plug it on, and you are good to go.

I am doing the same. R9 Nano pre-filled block is due to be delivered next week, and waiting for Predator 360 rev 1.1 stock to grab one. After all the H100i is on it's last leg, after all those years.

wunkley · 14 Jan 2016 at 22:22

Panos said:
Just a thought. Have you considered to change your CPU AIO to Predator 360 with QDC? Because that way, you can buy from EK a pre-filled 980Ti waterblock, plug it on, and you are good to go.

I am doing the same. R9 Nano pre-filled block is due to be delivered next week, and waiting for Predator 360 rev 1.1 stock to grab one. After all the H100i is on it's last leg, after all those years.

Wish I'd known about this predator 360 a few months ago when I was getting everything together for my new build! That would actually fit nicely in the rear chamber of my Lian Li pc08. Given I already have my h100i gtx set up, and it's working a treat, and I already have a h55 for the gpu, I'll stick with my current plan for this round