Cheapest way to cool Vega using aftermarket cooling?

lovelyhead · 25 Oct 2017 at 20:55

I am about to buy a new GPU and am weighing all of my options up. I have pretty much made my mind up to get a GTX 1080 / 1070ti but thought I would give AMD one last chance.

I would be interested in getting a Vega card but I am definitely not interested in the reference cooler. AIB cards are still MIA with no release on the horizon. So my question is, if I were to buy a Vega card is there any way to cool it using an after market cooler? My current system is completely air cooled so a custom loop is out of the question. I am also not willing to pay way over the odds for the Vega 64 AIO.

The whole package would have to be cheaper than a decent custom cooled GTX 1080 for it to be worth my while. Seems unlikely I know, but I would really like to give AMD this one last chance after sticking with them for about 10 years.

old gamer · 25 Oct 2017 at 21:30

This is the cheapest I've seen so far.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/raij...on-high-performance-vga-cooler-hs-028-rt.html

lovelyhead · 25 Oct 2017 at 21:33

old gamer said:
This is the cheapest I've seen so far.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/raij...on-high-performance-vga-cooler-hs-028-rt.html

Interesting. Problem being it seems to be no longer available anywhere. Not looking good for my money going to AMD.

Panos · 25 Oct 2017 at 21:45

old gamer said:
This is the cheapest I've seen so far.
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/raij...on-high-performance-vga-cooler-hs-028-rt.html

Err NO. That one only cools the cores not the HBM ram, and isn't compatible with Vega. (which is massive chip compared to FuryX)

Panos · 25 Oct 2017 at 21:48

lovelyhead said:
I am about to buy a new GPU and am weighing all of my options up. I have pretty much made my mind up to get a GTX 1080 / 1070ti but thought I would give AMD one last chance.

I would be interested in getting a Vega card but I am definitely not interested in the reference cooler. AIB cards are still MIA with no release on the horizon. So my question is, if I were to buy a Vega card is there any way to cool it using an after market cooler? My current system is completely air cooled so a custom loop is out of the question. I am also not willing to pay way over the odds for the Vega 64 AIO.

The whole package would have to be cheaper than a decent custom cooled GTX 1080 for it to be worth my while. Seems unlikely I know, but I would really like to give AMD this one last chance after sticking with them for about 10 years.

Whats the rest of your cooling? Asking because EK MLC is almost due out. You can buy pre-filled waterblocks for what ever GPU you want, and have full WC solutions without the hassle.
If you had Predator, I would say the same. Using the Predator 360 since January 2016 with pre-filled waterblocks (Nano, 1080, FuryX), and works perfectly. Just waiting to see what the MLC going to bring into the market before I commit a pre-filled block or custom WC for the 1080Ti.

Martini1991 · 25 Oct 2017 at 21:53

Probably better off going for an AIB 1080 for £499.99 to be honest.

Smudge · 25 Oct 2017 at 21:55

Just to add a bit of real user info here, the ref coolers are not "that" bad. Ive had my vega 64 fan version since a few days after launch. silent idle, silent for less demanding games, and with some under volting, tweeking, decent at playing AAA titles. You wont get the full potential of the card keeping the fan speed down to say 2400, maybe max out around 1550ish on the core, but that will net you 1080 performance. I run mine at a fan speed of 2800, which might be to loud for some, but I use headphones so its not audible and then it sits at 1640+ core and with my 1440p 144hz freesync screen is VERY nice. I will probably put some sort of AIO on it at some stage but not because of noise, more so because it has a lot more under the hood, performance wise if its cooled well.

lovelyhead · 25 Oct 2017 at 21:57

Panos said:
Whats the rest of your cooling? Asking because EK MLC is almost due out. You can buy pre-filled waterblocks for what ever GPU you want, and have full WC solutions without the hassle.
If you had Predator, I would say the same. Using the Predator 360 since January 2016 with pre-filled waterblocks (Nano, 1080, FuryX), and works perfectly. Just waiting to see what the MLC going to bring into the market before I commit a pre-filled block or custom WC for the 1080Ti.

I have a Inwin 303 case with every fan mount covered by a fan and a Cryorig H5 CPU cooler. The EK MLC sounds like it will be quite expensive vs some sort of aftermarket cooler just for the Vega (Although it seems like there is no aftermarket air cooler available for the Vega cards unfortunately). I would probably be cheaper getting a 1080ti rather than changing my case cooling to water.

Man, AMD have really messed this up. A long time customer wanting to give them money (more than I have ever spent in the past) but I won't due to crappy reference coolers. Disappointed.

lovelyhead · 25 Oct 2017 at 22:01

Martini1991 said:
Probably better off going for an AIB 1080 for £499.99 to be honest.

Looking likely.

Smudge said:
Just to add a bit of real user info here, the ref coolers are not "that" bad. Ive had my vega 64 fan version since a few days after launch. silent idle, silent for less demanding games, and with some under volting, tweeking, decent at playing AAA titles. You wont get the full potential of the card keeping the fan speed down to say 2400, maybe max out around 1550ish on the core, but that will net you 1080 performance. I run mine at a fan speed of 2800, which might be to loud for some, but I use headphones so its not audible and then it sits at 1640+ core and with my 1440p 144hz freesync screen is VERY nice. I will probably put some sort of AIO on it at some stage but not because of noise, more so because it has a lot more under the hood, performance wise if its cooled well.

My PC is silent at idle. Can't hear it at all with the case less than a meter away from me on my desk. A reference blower fan will definitely be louder than the rest of my machine even at idle unfortunately.

gupsterg · 25 Oct 2017 at 22:07

Panos said:
Err NO. That one only cools the cores not the HBM ram, and isn't compatible with Vega. (which is massive chip compared to FuryX)

Morpheus II works very well on VEGA. I suggest OP checkout OCN VEGA owners club.

lovelyhead · 25 Oct 2017 at 22:10

gupsterg said:
Morpheus II works very well on VEGA. I suggest OP checkout OCN VEGA owners club.

The cooler doesn't seem to be available in the UK anywhere unfortunately.

gupsterg · 25 Oct 2017 at 22:34

No idea on availability. I'm going WC on VEGA so not researched availability factor. As subbed to various forums for VEGA info and seen info relevent to "aspect" I posted. So my post was purely in context of it can be used, with good gains for cooling, etc.

shankly1985 · 25 Oct 2017 at 23:33

I just bought one of these waiting on stock

Alphacool Eiswolf 240 GPX Pro ATI RX Vega M01

lovelyhead · 25 Oct 2017 at 23:37

shankly1985 said:
I just bought one of these waiting on stock

Alphacool Eiswolf 240 GPX Pro ATI RX Vega M01

Thanks. Looking at the price of that + a Vega 56, you are talking good custom GTX 1080 money and you would still have a warranty.

Think I have made my decision.

Better luck next time AMD.

oldbanana · 25 Oct 2017 at 23:47

why does it need to be uk ? just order from EU and be dont with it king of cases has it in stock for example

gupsterg · 25 Oct 2017 at 23:55

shankly1985 said:
I just bought one of these waiting on stock

Alphacool Eiswolf 240 GPX Pro ATI RX Vega M01

Today whilst reading OCUK V56 owners thread I came across @Vince 's shares on it. He had rough time with it. Saw a post of him offering free trial to member before purchase from him, with discount from what it cost him as purchase.

Martini1991 · 25 Oct 2017 at 23:57

The problem being any cooler's going to put the V64 costing more than the 1080.
Unless you're vested with Freesync, even with current prices, I'd still pick an AIB 1080.

shankly1985 · 26 Oct 2017 at 07:12

gupsterg said:
Today whilst reading OCUK V56 owners thread I came across @Vince 's shares on it. He had rough time with it. Saw a post of him offering free trial to member before purchase from him, with discount from what it cost him as purchase.

i'll give my feedback when I get the unit

Emailed Alphacool they said around 30th for stock

Brazo · 26 Oct 2017 at 07:43

Do you have free sync? If not then your making a rod for your own back by picking vega over a 1080. There really are no benefits but lots of drawbacks.

The fact that AIB’s aren’t touching vega with a barge pole must tell you something...

Panos · 26 Oct 2017 at 09:22

lovelyhead said:
I have a Inwin 303 case with every fan mount covered by a fan and a Cryorig H5 CPU cooler. The EK MLC sounds like it will be quite expensive vs some sort of aftermarket cooler just for the Vega (Although it seems like there is no aftermarket air cooler available for the Vega cards unfortunately). I would probably be cheaper getting a 1080ti rather than changing my case cooling to water.

Man, AMD have really messed this up. A long time customer wanting to give them money (more than I have ever spent in the past) but I won't due to crappy reference coolers. Disappointed.

EK MLC going to be at similar prices as the Predator. From my experience was a worthy investment because is not a useless AIO that you have no options.