** OcUK Tech Lab 'Prolimatech MK-26 Equipped' Custom R9 290X **

[rjk]

Hi Guys

Available for pre order now, this Sapphire 290X comes pre fitted with a Prolimatech MK-26 cooler.

All you need to do is add two fans of your choice. Ideal for if you want to go for silence or all out performance. The choice is yours.

Temperatures are slashed and overclocking capability is improved with this cooler as well as the obvious advantage of being able to run large fans at slow speeds meaning your R9 290X will be quieter and more efficient than with that horrible stock cooler.

We will commence building on these the second that the Sapphire cards arrive.


OcUK Tech Lab Custom R9 290X 4096MB GDDR5 Prolimatech MK-26 Cooled Graphics Card

The New, Ultimate Solution

The OcUK Tech Lab H2O Custom R9 290X combines the fastest Single Core Graphics Solution on the planet with the most effective cooling solution.You can expand your visual real estate across three HD displays in jawdropping 3D and experience immense framerates with blistering graphics.

The Prolimatech Mk-26 is meticulously crafted. Designed and engineered for maximum cooling capabilities and efficiency. Compatible with most popular graphics cards, the MK-26 provides a quieter alternative to other inferior VGA coolers.

Choose between the MK-26 and the MK-26 Black Edition.

This Graphics Card is shipped without fans. In order to operate correctly, you must fit 2 fans to the cooler.

This cooler is compatible with 2x 120mm or 2x 140mm fans.

We suggest Noiseblocker Black Silent Pro series fans for quiet operation and great cooling performance


AMD Radeon R9 290X is a new graphics card powered by the latest AMD Radeon™ R9 290X graphics-processing unit (GPU). 4GB of super-fast GDDR5 memory for the best gaming experience at the highest resolutions including 4k and incorporates AMD Eyefinity and TrueAudio technologies to enable expansive multi-display setups and more accurate environmental sounds. R9 290X also includes support for both DirectX® 11.2 and AMD's new Mantle application programming interface (API) for great handling of even the most-demanding PC games.


Features:-
- DirectX 11.2 Support
- Open GL 4.2 Support
- Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio support
- Crossfire Support upto 4-way: Native software crossfire (No bridge required)
- Gaming @ 4k Resolutions (UltraHD)
- Synergy with next-gen game consoles (Mantle)
- Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture - optimized from previous generation products

Specification:-
- GPU: Hawaii XT
- Stream Processors: 2816
- Core Speed: 1000MHz
- Memory Speed: 5000Mhz
- Memory interface: 512-Bit
- Memory capacity: 4096MB GDDR5
- Cooling: 2-Slot Blower Fan
- Fan Speed: 20% - 40% (Quiet Mode) & 20%-55% (Uber Mode)
- PCI-Express X16 lane required
- 750W or greater PSU required
- Power Connectors: 8-pin + 6-pin required
- Display Outputs: 2x Dual Link DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort
- Warranty: 2yr

From £551.99 inc VAT.

ORDER NOW

 

[rjk]

Have these been tested yet?

Would be good to see some benchmarks regarding temps before possible buying.

currently running one in heaven using some random fans we found in the office.

the temps arent going above 55'C

same scenario on stock cooler was 30'c worse

 

[rjk]

stock clocks and fan speeds

85'C in heaven on MK-26 cooler

55'C in heaven on MK-26 cooler


Overclocked at 1200 Core + 1.4V


stock cooler at 85'c with 100% fan speed

MK-26 cooler at 72'C with silent fans.

 

[rjk]

They fit in a 650d.

Two would fit in a 750d but you would need a fair gap between the cards. I will measure the height tomorrow.

 

[rjk]

It isn't that heavy. No drooping from what I have seen. The main point of weight is centralised on the core mounts which is between the pcie bracket and board slot. Its less weight distributed on the whole board than a water block for example.

This card has better heatsinks on the hot ram components than the cooler usually comes with. I will upload pictures tomorrow.

The design of the cooler blows cold air across the entire PCB evenly. It is great for cooling the vram and vrms

 

[rjk]

Right then

Some more information here to answer drunkenmasters questions in the graphics section and hopefully explain a little more about the setup on this card.


this is the board layout and shows where the heatsinks go and what heatsink from which kit we are using.

this is the configuration used on the retention plate:
we use the smaller rubber standoff and the thicker plastic washers to ensure a secure mount. also use the silver screws not the black nickel ones as they are for GTX680s.

this picture shows the rubber underneath the backplate and the mounting method as well as the half height heatsinks next to the heatpipes from the cooler.

finally, this image shows how thick the card is with the cooler and a 25mm thick fan installed. it takes up 4 PCIE slots

 

[rjk]

Please excuse my lack of knowledge... putting together my first build (My last PC was a P3 at 866mhz)... but does that mean it would take the physical space of 4 PCIE slots (if you had them) or that it requires connection to that many slots?

The reason I ask is that my mobo is a Gigabyte GA-Z87X-UD4H with three PCIE slots... Would it fit?

it takes up two physical slots on the case due to the cards pcie backplate

then you have two slots below that on the board. this picture shows it

Spoiler

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i303/rjkoneill/WORK/IMG_20131025_084647.jpg

it depends how much space you have in your case.

but on that board it would look like this:


Blue = the graphics card and backplate
Green = Cooler
Orange = Fans

So a third party cooler chops a massive 30 degrees off the load temp vs a stock cooler? So from that result water-cooling is going to make a massive difference!

This bodes well for after market coolers from vendors too.

its looking like watercooling is the way to go if you want silence from them. the MK26 is then next best thing and obviously doesnt require the ancillary hardware that water cooling would.

I'd expect another 10C+ (minimum) drop with water if my 7970 with an Alpenfohn Peter followed by a full loop is anything to go by.

potentially. i would expect similar temps to this but with lower peak temps. ultimately it will mean it is silent but would depend entirely on loop layout.

 

[rjk]

I expect the vendor custom cards will come in at 60c load for his gpu then?

i would say thats a safe assumption for non heavily overclocked cards with big coolers. windforce etc.

i would imagine lightning and matrix variants would be a little hotter.

 

[rjk]

Ok... Just to be sure... with a Corsair 650d case (already bought), the Gigabyte Z87-UD4H mobo (already bought) and one of these custom 290Xs I would have nowhere to put my PCI-E Wireless Network Adapter (TP Link TL-WDN4800 - already bought) but would be able to get a wireless adapter with a USB interface instead and just slot it in the back of the case - problem solved? I don't think I have any further need for a free PCI-E slot.

Apologies... I put an order on this morning but I'm not at home for few days so can't take a look at the mobo and case myself - would rather cancel the order if it won't work out then have to deal with returns.

you have a PCIE slot at the bottom of the board.

put the network adapter in there


everything would work fine

there is no need to worry