290X VRM Cooling

[bloodkil]

So I recently purchased an NZXT Kraken G10 bracket and a Corsair H55 for my 290X.

The temps I am getting on the GPU are amazing, but on the VRM's, they are hitting about 105 Degrees with a 1200/1680 overclock (which is stable with no artifacting). There is currently the Alpenfohn VRM sink on there.

What else can I use/try?

Thanks!

 

[Smudge]

Do you have any case fans blowing in the direction of the vrm's? Maybe try cable tying another fan over that area. Did you use thermal tape or epoxy on the sinks?

I have seen a few mods on overclock.net where people have cut up the reference coolers and used parts of them to get the vrm temps down.

Let us know how you get on as there is a lot of us 290 reference owners that want to go down the kraken route.

 

[ICDP]

How much volts are you using to get 1200 stable?

Of all the R9 290X cards I've tested none would get 1200 stable without at least 156mV - 200mV. If you are going over 100mV expect very high VRM temps without excellent cooling.

I have an R9 290X with Arctic Hybrid cooler and an Alpenphon VRM heatsink and at 156mV I get 95c-98c on the VRM. So don't ecpect to put a VRM heatsink on there and magically get 80c-90c on the VRMs.

In short. If you are on air for the VRM cooling you will not be able to push more than 100-125mV through those VRMs.

 

[bloodkil]

Do you have any case fans blowing in the direction of the vrm's? Maybe try cable tying another fan over that area. Did you use thermal tape or epoxy on the sinks?

I have seen a few mods on overclock.net where people have cut up the reference coolers and used parts of them to get the vrm temps down.

Let us know how you get on as there is a lot of us 290 reference owners that want to go down the kraken route.

I would like to do that but am unsure how to cut the stock heatsink out, how would one go about doing it?

 

[bloodkil]

How much volts are you using to get 1200 stable?

Of all the R9 290X cards I've tested none would get 1200 stable without at least 156mV - 200mV. If you are going over 100mV expect very high VRM temps without excellent cooling.

I have an R9 290X with Arctic Hybrid cooler and an Alpenphon VRM heatsink and at 156mV I get 95c-98c on the VRM. So don't ecpect to put a VRM heatsink on there and magically get 80c-90c on the VRMs.

In short. If you are on air for the VRM cooling you will not be able to push more than 100-125mV through those VRMs.

The card is at +200mV atm

 

[Avenged7Fold]

Dremel i suppose.

The VRMs on reference 290x's are great but i wouldnt feel comfortable at those temps. Under water here and managed 1241/1550 on +100mv, 1281/1625 +200mv, could be a fair bit easier for me, since i am using a full block and a ton of radiators. I went higher on the card and got a few artifacts . Temps are still low, so might give Asus bios a go and really abuse this card

I doubt the stock heatsink/plate will be much better than full copper heatsinks. You could try and find a decent aftermarket cooler which fits the reference PCB's and sell the h55. I know quite a few people who bought Sapphire tri-x 290/290'xs (cooler is the same for both) and put the cards under water anyway, so they dont even need the cooler. Your best bet would be MM but since you dont have access, try searching other tech forums like AVforums classifieds.

Hell, it might even cost you less than what you can sell the h55/kraken combo for.

 

[ICDP]

The card is at +200mV atm

Then that's your problem. Even if you put a Alpenphon heatsink on those VRMs they are going to overheat with +200mV.

I have tested a Sapphire Tri-X at +200mV and even with the excellent heatsink plate it gets to +100c in no time in a Corsiar H540 high airflow case. Unless you are using a full waterblock you simply have to accept that +200mV is not an option.

You will probably find you can get 1170 at much less volts and the difference in speed will not even be perceptible.

 

[Marine-RX179]

Then that's your problem. Even if you put a Alpenphon heatsink on those VRMs they are going to overheat with +200mV.

I have tested a Sapphire Tri-X at +200mV and even with the excellent heatsink plate it gets to +100c in no time in a Corsiar H540 high airflow case. Unless you are using a full waterblock you simply have to accept that +200mV is not an option.

You will probably find you can get 1170 at much less volts and the difference in speed will not even be perceptible.

^This

I decided to set my 290x overclocked from 1200 back to 1180, as the extra voltage require for 1200 and the tiny performance difference just doesn't seem to worth the extra voltage.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

You will probably find you can get 1170 at much less volts and the difference in speed will not even be perceptible.

Probably true if card is hot or unstable. My card can go a little higher but scores lower in benches.

Valley is what i use, since it is quite realistic as a gaming benchmark. Also that leader board is addictive as hell. Trying to hit 3100 before i submit my results, stuck at 3060

 

[tommybhoy]

Then that's your problem. Even if you put a Alpenphon heatsink on those VRMs they are going to overheat with +200mV.

Oi!

Iv'e ran +250Mv with a modded AC Extreme, Alpenfohn vrm and 120mm fan(on controller) for a few benches, it doesn't get you much more on the core than +150Mv tbh, but my air cooling is more than up to the task for 3Dmark/Heaven bench runs, my vrms don't go above 90c, they are rated for124c so there will be a bit of headroom above that(not that I recommend that)

Outwith BM, stock volts@1150/1400Mhz can be ran, but I usually run@stock 290X clocks tbh.

 

[Avenged7Fold]

(not that I recommend that)


Outwith BM, stock volts@1150/1400Mhz can be ran, but I usually run@stock 290X clocks tbh.

Quote for truth!

Just because they are rated at that temp, doesnt mean they can stably deliver power near that temperature. VRMs especially start to give sketchy power delivery before they give up or even throttle sometimes (For motherboard/cpu)!

My Asus board with 4+1 phasing will have the voltages all over the place at the upper temps before throttling, if i whack one of my fx 8 cores in there. 200mv is cutting it close on Alpenphon heatsinks for 24/7. Personally wouldnt feel comfortable above 60 degrees for water and 90 for air for 24/7.

I don't know if the cooling plate for the 290x attached to the aluminium heatsink is copper, aluminium or a copper vapor chamber. If it is a vapor chamber, cutting it with a dremel and keeping some heat-sinks on it will show slightly better results. Good enough to have it at 200mv? Who knows but those who have tried.