Akasa vortexx doesn't fit my 4870!

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 00:34

Posting from phone, will post pics when stock HS is back on. 4 holes all line up, but bloody capacitors or whatever they are, they're blocking some of the metal backplate of vortexx, and it's impossible to seat cooler. I've put MX-2 on core, but also 8 sticky backed thermal pads from vortexx on memory chips on 4870. Should I leave thermal pads on now? They're useless once ripped off, but memory chips didn't have any pads with stock cooler. This is meant to fit the 4870.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 00:47

Anyone got advice please? I can't see how I'm installing it wrong. Maybe I am?

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:00

HIS 4870. The edge of metal plate under cooler wont clear silver caps on card by about 3 or 4mm.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:06

Just to add, I can push all 4 screw threads of cooler into all 4 holes of card, but cant push it down far enough to touch gpu core as its blocked by these caps. This is under the fan end of akasa.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:09

Azza said:
When did you order it?

26th august.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:13

Azza said:
Can you get a pic?

Yes, I've done pics, but need to fit stock cooler first before booting pc. Need to know if I should leave 8 thermal pads on or not?

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:23

Ye azza, can't get them fully through holes.

dr4g0nf1y said:
Yeah? I'd need more to go by.

The only ones I can see look easy to add a vortexx to or they'd be no need. Need some pics

Sorry matey, its this one
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-108-HT&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=939

Bear with me chaps. bloomin slow posting from phone.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:25

I'll reinstall card with stock cooler now so I can show u pics.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:49

Can you see from this picture? I've brightened it a little.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:52

Yeah, bad idea huh?

Another pic, you can see it sitting on silver caps.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/5784/imgp2698.jpg

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:56

Azza said:
I've taken mine off lots of times and not had any problems. As long as you take them off carefully you'll be all right.

Doubt it would do any harm keeping then on with the stock cooler fitted any way.

Thanks for the advice btw, I left them on. Forgot to say that earlier.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 01:59

jigger said:
Yeah, very good chance of killing the card with static.

Cut off the offending part of the cooler.

I don't have the tools to do that, and I wouldn't really know how to do it properly.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 02:21

rexehuk said:
You need to saw the card just before the capacitors, then attach the cooler and glue the other end back on.

Should work fine

Err, I don't think so!

It's metal for a start, not card, and I wouldn't be able to reattach the other end since it wouldn't fit in front of the caps, and there's also the 2 plastic vertical pillars to consider. or did I misunderstand you? Frankly, it was £15 and I might just buy something else that will hopefully fit as advertised.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 02:23

jigger said:
Its very simple to do. Line up and use a marker to highlight what part of the cooler will make contact with the card.

Grab you self a junior hack saw or some kind of rotary cutting tool to remove the excess. Its only thin copper plate so it very easy to cut.

Hmm, guess so, ok, might be worth me trying.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 02:37

rexehuk said:
You need to saw the card just before the capacitors, then attach the cooler and glue the other end back on.

Should work fine

Sorry rex, didn't mean to dismiss your advice, you're right. I'm just feeling a bit pee'd off. But yeah, will have to give it a go.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 02:39

rexehuk said:
Joke fail I meant your GPU.

*finds door*

Lol, oops. I did wonder if you were referring to 'card' as the cooler or the gfx card. Whoosh, right over my head I guess.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 05:44

Well on the positive side, my idle temp a few weeks ago was 52c, and 85c load with furmark at default 34% fan speed @1024 x768. Tonight, idle is 47c, and only 70c load with furmark at default 34% fan speed @1024 x768. :eek:

Don't know how much of that is the mx-2 I put on, tightening screws better on gpu heatsink (they weren't that tight before I don't think) and possibly some sort of indirect cooling from the TRUE. So when the akasa is on, should be very interesting to see what kind of drops I get. Thanks again for all the advice, I'll get on to the junior hacksaw/dremel whatever, or I'll write to jim'll fix it.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 06:14

Yeah. And the stock cooler is also non reference from what I gather. Though this apparently gives slightly better temps than some of the other reference cooler cards. Oh well at least I had my first experience of taking a GFX card apart

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 15:39

95thrifles said:
Id strongly recomend against hacksawing anything, but maybe thats just me being overly cautious
If you read the info supplied with the vortexx and any other aftermarket cooler they do specifically state that they will only fit reference design PCBs and to double check with your cards manufacturer whether your is reference or not.

Sorry, that's complete ********. There is nothing in the spec on ocuk, nor on the box, nor in the manual that says that. And there's no reason I should have checked with their website first bearing in mind the box says it's compatible with the 4870.

Merlin5 · 25 Sep 2009 at 16:13

james.miller said:
then again, it doesnt say 100% compatibility either. just playing devil's advocate. I wouldnt expect any cooler to fit my gpu unless i knew it was a reference design.

Where does it say that?? On the box and the manual it says compatiblity list, ati and nividia, then goes on to list all the cards including 4870. Nothing about reference or non reference. That's why I bought it. I'm happy I bought it because I'll get it to fit, but please stop making me feel like an idiot, because I've gone on all the information that was supplied before purchase.