4870x2 on Water ?

Franco_cov · 22 Sep 2008 at 19:15

Anyone have any issues fitting the EK full water block on this card? As I have seen a few isues where one of the chips near the barb holes have shortd and gone black?? I am in the process of doing mine and was wondering would it hurt if I used the thermal pad that came with the block on these chips as a precaution as they aer not mentioned in the instructions and was wondering would this be ok or would it cause more problems?

Please, all those that have managed to install these blocks please share your experiences

Thankyou

gary996 · 22 Sep 2008 at 20:50

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12536704#post12536704

Franco_cov · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:10

Thx for that but I am already aware of using the washers etc it was just this thing about a short on a specific area of chips. If i was to but extra thermal pads on some of the other chips would this cause any problems, as it would prevent the possibiilty of these shorting?

fornowagain · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:21

Take a look at the pictures I posted in the thread above, you can see where to put pads. Its very unlikely any chip is shorting out, more likely to be overheating if anything.

Franco_cov · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:27

Ok sorry i may have not explained myself. I know all the locations of the pads i have put it all together and waiting for a pump to arrive before i can fill my system and try it. I just read on another forum of this chap who had them in crossfire and the chip near one of the barb holes was black on both cards and was just oncerned before i powered mine up thats all. It may have been a minor leak that caused it but the same place on both cards is a bit strange.... I just though that placing a thermal pad on this chip in addition to the other chips highlighted in the instructions and as your pics as a perventive measure? or would this cause a problem ??

fornowagain · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:32

Give me a link, I'll take a look.

From a heat pov I put a pad on every chip that needed it, a couple more than Eddy indicated in his instruction. Other than those few, there's no need to do any more.

Franco_cov · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:34

so where did u place he additional pads then ? other than in the instructions ?

fornowagain · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:39

Like I said look at the image, he missed a couple that are cooled on the original cooler and have an air gap with the block attached. TIM is not enough to bridge the gap.

Franco_cov · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:41

post removed

Franco_cov · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:43

so if TIM is not enough to bridge the gap. how did you do it as what i have seen in the picture is what the instructions say ?

fornowagain · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:44

Ok got it, just having a look. Its mainly the 'pulse' chips Eddy forgot about. Its not the same compare the two carefully.

One tip, before you mount a block, put a tiny spot of ceramique on each of the chips that make contact (or are fan cooled) on the original HSF. Check you get some TIM transfer when you trial fit the block, if not then think about using a pad.

Franco_cov · 22 Sep 2008 at 21:55

ah i see the 2 chips that are not on the instructions so i think its best if i take it apart again and fit a thermal pad on both them chips then? so if i do these 2 chips there shouldnt be an air gap as you said? and for the memory x8 chips and the 2x gpus i just but a small blob of thermal paste (MX-2) and then spread it by using cling film on the end of my finger and evened it out over the chip area i assume thats ok ?? thx again for yuor help mate well appreciated as I dont want to blow my card. After all the instructions for this block is far from clear

Franco_cov · 22 Sep 2008 at 22:04

ok mate i will do the block again and check they touch ok. Has your card been working ok now

and is it cooler than the fans as in having it at like 80% fan speed to get it round 45c

fornowagain · 22 Sep 2008 at 22:16

Franco_cov said:
ah i see the 2 chips that are not on the instructions so i think its best if i take it apart again and fit a thermal pad on both them chips then? so if i do these 2 chips there shouldnt be an air gap as you said? and for the memory x8 chips and the 2x gpus i just but a small blob of thermal paste (MX-2) and then spread it by using cling film on the end of my finger and evened it out over the chip area i assume thats ok ?? thx again for yuor help mate well appreciated as I dont want to blow my card. After all the instructions for this block is far from clear

I'll rehost one so we know what you were referring. Its a bit naughty Eddy doesn't show the Pulse chips getting a pad on the intructions. And yes if you don't put a pad or two on you'll see an air gap once the blocks mounted.

From those pics I'd say he had a leak, in the same place on both cards? Possibly due to the same installation error on both cards? Those smc don't touch the block, another possibility I guess is if he over tightened one screw and pulled the pcb down too much. Be careful to keep the pcb straight. Oh and going by his pics, no spacer on the barb/plug to the copper side, bad move.

It's not an easy block because of its size, just follow the pads in my pic and it'll be fine. I'd use MX-2 or silver equivalent on the gpu and white ceramique on any chips with surface traces. Personally I use a piece/strip of an old credit card to put a thin layer on each chip.

Temps, its pretty darn good, this is after 10mins of Furmark.

Franco_cov · 22 Sep 2008 at 22:42

i have used the spacers on both barbs but on the top side not the bottom side i have used the plugs for underneath is that correct ??

fornowagain · 22 Sep 2008 at 23:25

Screw in any plug or barb, does the thread reach into the water way? Is the barb/plug thread longer than the tapped thread? The purpose of the spacer is to stop and thread from screwing in too far and reducing flow. The acylic/delrin top is thick enough not to need spacers, the copper back with the waterway isn't.

Franco_cov · 23 Sep 2008 at 10:39

so yes i have used the spacers on the copper side with both my barbs on the top and plugged both the bottom holes so thats ok then ??

Morgoth · 23 Sep 2008 at 14:12

I installed my EK block at the weekend and find im having freezing issues, the gpu temp is fine (36 degrees or so under load) but i noticed that the ram chips on the top side get so hot that I can't touch them, I've propped a fan over them which seems to have fixed the problem for the moment. Anyone else found this?

fornowagain · 23 Sep 2008 at 15:59

Franco_cov said:
so yes i have used the spacers on the copper side with both my barbs on the top and plugged both the bottom holes so thats ok then ??

Sounds good

Morgoth said:
I installed my EK block at the weekend and find im having freezing issues, the gpu temp is fine (36 degrees or so under load) but i noticed that the ram chips on the top side get so hot that I can't touch them, I've propped a fan over them which seems to have fixed the problem for the moment. Anyone else found this?

That's odd, just checked mine under Furmark/Warhead with an Infrared thermometer and they're 44C&39C. Clocked at 1000, I do have quite good case air flow though.