Help! Which waterblock for VTX3D 6970 - non-reference

Whiplash450

Whiplash450

Whiplash450

Associate
Joined
5 Mar 2011
Posts
1
Hi all!

I have 3 VTX3D 6970s and they are getting a bit hot in such a confined space so I want to watercool them. Luckily I decided to check the board before I bought a reference block. There are some differences between this block and the reference, V1 and V2.

Here's the board, notice the second line of capacitors instead of 2 groups:
6970s.jpg


Does anyone have any experience watercooling this board or could anyone suggest a block that would fit?

Thanks
 
You'll probably have to go with a GPU only block, as non-reference cards are rare to have a full cover block. Although if you want a full cover block, it might be worth you sending the card link to EK here to see if they say any of their blocks will fit.
 
Ok, so it looks like I'm going to have to put on a generic GPU waterblock. I've never done this before though, what other parts of the card needs cooling? I assume the memory, will stick-on heatsink fins be good enough?

P.S. I was using a friends account before, I didn't realize that he was logged into my PC, I am actually the OP.
 
My 6950 is a Reference one so not so sure about the VRM cooling part
IMAG0231.jpg


EDIT:
Apart from the 8RAM chips, you seem to have 3 VRMs near the Display port connectors.
 
Last edited:
EK do an FC6970 v2 GPU full cover block for non-reference cards. Having gone through the nightmare that is finding the correct block just recently for my 2GB Powercolor 6970, yours deffo looks non-ref from that pic.

You could mail them with your PCB pic, as Gregor at EK is very quick at confirming a good block for you.
 
Hi, yeah I contacted EK and got this reply:

"Hello Andy,
Unfotunatelly only EK-VGA Supreme HF will fit there."

VTX3D have actually discontinued my card already, I thought they were a bit on the cheap side when I bought them. And now I have 3 that I can't get blocks for.

Anyway, so a cheap GPU block along with some fins for the memory and anything else I can stick them to should be fine? Do I need a fan to blow over the fins? Bearing in mind there are 3 cards in Crossfire there isn't much room for air to move.
Although, the side panel of my case already has a large square 240x240mm rad on it so there will be a bit of airflow as the fans suck air through that rad.
 
oh noes :(
3x XFire cards will generate quite a lot of heat just from the gpu alone, and you'll need some cool air to blow across those heatsinks you'll be placing on the ram chips too. Definately need some fannage somewhere for such a setup.
 
Last edited:
Yep you'll need plenty of airflow over the memory fins. A triple GPU loop with universal gpu blocks will need a fair bit of planning so do your homework before you splash the cash as the costs quickly mount up when water cooling.

Could you not sell them and get two reference 6970s and just add full cover blocks? It will look much better, but then I'm biased as I think universal blocks are pig ugly.
 
Hmmm, ok well I could put a large fan on the side of the case to blow cold air in. I'd have to get an external housing for the 240x240mm rad. This is starting to look like more trouble than it's worth lol.

One last question, can anyone recommend a GPU block that is slim enough to use in Crossfire, the cards need to be adjacent to fit all 3 on the mobo.

Thanks

Edit: Sell 3 cards to get 2 reference ones? I'll go with ugly I think :P
 
Last edited:
Yeah in EK VGA core only block the inlet and outlet ports are fixed, you cant switch to what ever you want. When you fix the block to the card, port near to the Display outputs is the inlet and the port near the power connectors is the outlet.
Also not every angled compression fitting will fit there with out some sort of a extension or a 45 degree rotary.
On the plus side you will not have to change the blocks every time you upgrade the GPU(at least for me)-this may not be relevant to you as it will take some time to replace or upgrade a tri-fire setup.
 
Yeah I have that problem with adhesive of the ram chips. You can try rubbing arubber eraser on the ram chips and the using the adhesive or you can use just a teeeeny tiny amount of super glue to hold them together.

Edit:
As for the fittings, if you are going to route the tubing from GPU to CPU vertically, you will not be able to use 90 degree angle adaptors just on its own.
Have to use some extenders,but check the inner diameter of the extenders as they can be smaller than the fittings inner diameter.
 
Last edited:
XSPC Rasa VGA is the best core only block at the moment. I use Zalman Ramsinks on the memory and have never had one fall of. Originally i used the supplied Zalman thermal tape but had to replace it after i changed cards. The stuff i use now is the excellent Akasa thermal tape. It helps to clean the ram with IPA before applying the ramsinks. They barely get warm though so it is argueable if they are even needed.

The VRM's are another thing altogether. They will need a decent heatsink and active airflow over them. I cut up a ancient Pentium heatsink for the VRM's on my 480 and with a fan pointed at it seems to do the job nicely. This did'nt work with my old 5850 though as the VRM's on that were ridiculously hot running. I saw temps approaching 120 degrees on that before buying a Thermalright 5850 VRM cooler. Hopefully things are better on the 6970 and you may get away with some Enzotech Mosfet heatsinks.
 
Does anyone have any experience with the Koolance GPU-220? Will it fit on the cards in Crossfire without touching the neighbour?

Cheers for all your advice guys :)
 
Hi again, sorry to resurrect the thread but I thought I'd return and report on how the build went.

I went for 3 of the Koolance GPU-220 in the end. and I must say that I am very happy with them, there is about 5mm gap between the water block and the next card. Instead of using hose to connect the waterblocks I found some 90 degree SLI connector bits and some short extenders. They work really well and add support.

For cooling I built an external system as there wasn't much space inside the case for a large enough radiator.

Thanks for all your help, I'm now ready for BF3 :D

Andy

Here are some photos:
img06071u.jpg


img06061.jpg


img06051.jpg


img06041.jpg


img06111r.jpg


img06001z.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom