Gigabyte HD7950 Windforce x 3

[Ticonderoga]

So decided to ditch my plans to buy a VTX3d HD7970 as I wasn't to sure about the brand and warranty.
Instead there is a great offer at the moment in Denmark on the Gigabyte HD7970 oc Windforce x 3.
But I don't know Gigabytes cards and I want to watercool, so does anyone know if their wf 3 card are ref or if there are special waterblocks + backplates for them?

 

[drunkenmaster]

Pretty much everyone is using the reference design for now, the only card around I know doesn't is the Asus direct cu 7970, even the 7950 direct cu uses the reference pcb.

Go on the EK website and use their configuration tool, it gives a fairly good list of just about all graphics cards and if they are compatible with various waterblocks or not. I'm pretty sure the windforce uses the reference design and their 7950 waterblock will fit fine.

Assuming it is reference then I assume other 7950 waterblocks will also fit fine, not sure if other water cooling manufacturers have similar tools on their websites or not.

 

[tobsmonster2]

Comparing this:

To this:

I'd have to say no.

 

[drunkenmaster]

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...orce-msi-hd-7950-twin-frozr-iii-review-2.html

Though they've worded it horrifically, its actually essentially the default 7950 pcb everyone is actually using as far as I can tell, and Ek waterblocks says its compatible with their 7950 block.

If you look at that review, basically the MSI it says uses the standard 7950 pcb, and on the next page it says insanely badly that the Gigabyte does as well

Power connectors on the WindForce 3X retain the reference dual six pin configuration but the PCB uses Gigabyte’s blue colour. This is the direction Gigabyte usually goes with their initial cards. It changes AMD’s HD 7950 layout but incorporates slightly different components which helps keep costs under control.

That's what they mean to say, but it clearly means "it doesn't change the 7950 layout but uses slightly different components". Because its an identical pcb to the MSI 7950 on the previous page.

Its a bit odd, review 7950's came with the 7970 pcb/heatsink, identical basically(from that side) and hardwarecannucks review shows that.

http://www.ocaholic.ch/xoops/html/modules/xcgal/displayimage.php?pid=17273

You can see here aswell that the 7950 Asus direct CU uses the same PCB yet again.

Basically just about all shipping 7950's come with that pcb, not the 7970 one. What I don't know is if anyone actually shipped any "7970" style 7950's to retail, if all reference 7950's are basically 7970's, and all custom cooled 7950's all share this other pcb.

Basically EK waterblocks have a 7950 block that fits just about every custom cooled 7950. Actually yes, EK waterblocks lists a "standard" 7950 as compatible with their 7970 waterblocks.

So reference 7950..... 7970 pcb and works with 7970 waterblock.

Custom cooled 7950, 7950 custom pcb(but they all use the same one) and work with 7950 waterblocks.

http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/step1_complist?gpu_gpus=595

Wasn't sure the link works, reference 7950 design on the EK website, 7970 block.

http://www.coolingconfigurator.com/step1_complist?gpu_gpus=622

Custome 7950 windforce, 7950 block compatible, same goes for MSI/Asus 7950's.

So the only ones I'm aware of are the 7970 Asus direct CU which needs its own block(ek make one just for it), and the 7970 lightning, which is also a custom pcb, and Ek don't support it with full cover blocks, its gpu only block works though.