How to manage SLI airflow

gt_junkie · 10 Oct 2014 at 13:40

@OP - go for a long SLI cable like CaNsA recommends. Not pretty but i'd be amazed if it didn't resolve the issue you're having.

P.S:

shankly1985 said:
Xfired 290's pic

I know it's off topic shankly but how do you find the temps on those MSI's?

shankly1985 · 10 Oct 2014 at 13:41

gt_junkie said:
@OP - go for a long SLI cable like CaNsA recommends. Not pretty but i'd be amazed if it didn't resolve the issue you're having.

P.S: I know it's off topic shankly but how do you find the temps on those MSI's?

Stunning, I can play bf4 ultra @1080p unlocked frame rate and they never pass 77c. If I was to cap @120fps then they stay low 70s high 60s

gt_junkie · 10 Oct 2014 at 14:01

That's very impressive - thanks for the fast reply.

You ever run them closer than you have now?

I only ask as I'm limited by needing to use specific slots on my board so the cards would only have a single slot of spacing between them. Not ideal I know but at least they wouldn't be sandwiched together.

Cheers again! Not what I wanted to hear though. Unfortunately I'm running a Z68 Extreme 4 so would likely have the same issues... doh!

V V V

shankly1985 · 10 Oct 2014 at 14:23

gt_junkie said:
That's very impressive - thanks for the fast reply. You ever run them closer than you have now?

I only ask as I'm limited by needing to use specific slots on my board so the cards would only have a single slot of spacing between them. Not ideal I know but at least they wouldn't be sandwiched together.

Yeah at first I had them closer and temps was very high top GPU would hit 94c, this the reason why I said to OP I been there and tried most things I sure he about to.

The only thing that helped me was move them more apart. So new MB was needed as my Asrock z68 extreme 4 bottom slot was on 4x.

MasterOC · 10 Oct 2014 at 14:33

hey , I would have moved them apart ( have tried ) but thinking the long Bridge may be the only option to keep them far enough apart .theres enough space between the two atm to get my fat hands between but not much else ...

Whilst I am prepared to deal with higher temps to make sure its not throttling I would prefer to keep temps below 80c.

I will try some directional fans , im just a fan of non moded Perspex , I prefere the clean look but if it leave me no other option ill try it obv cource

im rocking all aftermarket fans on my case . either SP120's ( on my rad ) or AF120's ( everywhere else )

its not throttling massively , only to to around 1201mhz ( about 60mhz reduction ) so I assume im only a few celcius from keeping it under 80c hense why I don't feel it throttle in game . but I will try most of all your sugjestions guys .

ill looks for a longer bridge and a spot fan to see if that helps.

in the choice of me returning these , those airboss cards look like they might help with direction air disspertion but god knows without trying .

thanks for all your help guys ! majorly appreciated.

MasterOC · 10 Oct 2014 at 14:47

CaNsA said:
I know I mentioned it before, but is a 15cm sli cable really such a crazy idea...

can you actually buy these ? where from ... cant see any that long anywere only 12cm

ukxenon · 10 Oct 2014 at 15:44

12cm should be long enough

setter · 10 Oct 2014 at 17:40

Will sli run in the op's board in a lower slot? Iirc you'll need a PLX enabled board as sli needs two x8 slots.

MasterOC · 10 Oct 2014 at 17:58

My board supports 8x 8 across all slots , or 8 x 4 x 4 is running 3way

MooMoo444 · 10 Oct 2014 at 18:24

ukxenon said:
12cm should be long enough

She left me when I said that

Ste · 9 Dec 2014 at 06:47

Sorry to bump thread!

Same problem with windforce 970s on a UD3R as the two x16 slots are right next to each other. There is less than half an inch between them and in GPU intensive games the top card will throttle about the same as the OPs above.

Case is a silverstone raven rv02 so the airflow is pretty reasonable but I think it's hot air getting trapped between the two cards.

Options are probably -

Try the bottom slot but it's x8. Will PCIe 2.0 x8 be a bottleneck for the card? I will have to do some mods just to find out as there is very little clearance...

Install a side fan pushing cool air in (or exhausting hot air?) but that's going to be pricey and a lot of effort (new side panel needed plus fan(s))

Slot exhaust?

old gamer · 9 Dec 2014 at 11:03

i have a corsair 800d which is not the best case in the world for air cooling so i cut a hole and fitted a 200mm side fan, job done

Reaper123 · 9 Dec 2014 at 14:38

MooMoo444 said:
She left me when I said that

Reminded me of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8b1iflpz9w

thefogo · 9 Dec 2014 at 14:43

Ste said:
Sorry to bump thread!

Same problem with windforce 970s on a UD3R as the two x16 slots are right next to each other. There is less than half an inch between them and in GPU intensive games the top card will throttle about the same as the OPs above.

Case is a silverstone raven rv02 so the airflow is pretty reasonable but I think it's hot air getting trapped between the two cards.

Options are probably -

Try the bottom slot but it's x8. Will PCIe 2.0 x8 be a bottleneck for the card? I will have to do some mods just to find out as there is very little clearance...

Install a side fan pushing cool air in (or exhausting hot air?) but that's going to be pricey and a lot of effort (new side panel needed plus fan(s))

Slot exhaust?

PCIe 2.0 x8 will decrease performance slightly (though not noticeable), but it will be much better than having a card throttling.

setter · 9 Dec 2014 at 15:15

From what I've seen a few users on here report, adding a side fan as intake does a good job. Just need a 5.5" hole cutter and ill be trying it myself. 140mm fan on the side window.

a66as · 9 Dec 2014 at 15:33

increase the fan speed of your GPU? what are they currently running at

IceShock · 9 Dec 2014 at 16:36

Could do what I did with my bottom card, increases the amount of air that can get between the cards and creates a wind tunnel effect to the top cards fans.

Both gpus are always 100% exact in temperature, one card is never more than 1-2c hotter than the other.

Just simply used a pci-e riser cable and tie wraps and a xbox 360 joystick to prop the card up.

Dirk Diggler · 9 Dec 2014 at 16:45

@OP Did you solve this?

I have the same case and am considering another 970 but I'm thinking the temps might be a bit much and start throttling the cards.

One idea I'm going to implement regardless of going SLI right now or not, is to place 2 AF120's as bottom intake where the hot swap bays are.

Have you considered that? Does anyone have any ideas why that wouldn't work or be a meek attempt?

setter · 9 Dec 2014 at 16:50

Got two sp 120's below mine and two air penetrator fans behind them. Top card can still get pretty hot.

Evil-I · 9 Dec 2014 at 17:06

Had the same issue with my new pair of Gigabyte 970's. Actually blue screened the PC when running 3dmark. There's barely enough room to fit a cigarette paper between them on a two slot slot space. Basically ended up taking the second card out for now as they will be watercooled once the blocks arrive.

As others have said, with a longer/ flexible sli bridge you might be able to tweak the card gap slightly by how you screw them into the case. I've even in the past used a piece of plastic or rubber between the two cards to increase the space to give the upper cards fan more chance to suck cool air in. Slightly dodgy I suppose, but always amazes me how robust PCBs actually are to a little bit of bending.

As others have suggested focused cool air toward the upper card is probably a good idea too......

The PCI-e riser idea might be the best option for cooling... Bit ghetto though...

E-I