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r9 290 - Cost comparison of custom cooling

SimonKa

SimonKa

SimonKa

Associate
Joined
21 Nov 2013
Posts
30
Hello,

Can someone help me figure out the final cost (and suggest which option would be the best) of custom cooling for r9 290 - I have a reference model that I'd like to get a custom cooler for.


Option #1
- Gelid Icy Vision rev. 2
- Alpenfohn vrm heatsinks


Option #2
- Arctic Accelero Xtreme III
- Alpenfohn vrm heatsinks

Option #3
- Arctic Accelero Hybrid
- Alpenfohn vrm heatsinks


Option #4
- Kraken bracket
- cooling unit to hook the Kraken to

Option #5
- water cooling loop (starting from scratch, I have nothing :() - new or used? I have no clue what's needed here, so...

Option #6?


I'm asking because I want to figure out the final cost for the solution and either trade the ref r9 290 for a non-ref or go ahead with a custom cooling
 
I've got a define4 with 1x ssd and 1x hdd (middle bracket removed for extra space), and a gigabyte z87x-d3h. Nothing in the other PCI-E slots. I have 2 fans in the case (default setup), 1 in the bottom front, and 1 top back.


As a side note that sways me towards getting a custom loop - I will probably get a 2nd r9 290 in the coming months for some double/triple 1440p goodness, but right now it's a single 1440p and it might stay this way for a couple of months. All of it depends on the final cost of WCing this first 290.
 
not heard of a define4 - post a link?
unless you mean fractal design R4?

In which case there's not really enough space, unless you want to mod the case or have external radiators.
 
Option #2 set me back around £60.

AX 3 from Amazon and Alpenfohn heat sinks & Akasa cleaning fluid from OcUK.

The large VRM heat sink that comes with the Alpenfohn kit won't fit under the AX 3's main cooler unless you break out the Dremel.
 
picked up a H55 for 49.99 brand new
kracken bracket £29.99

i'm gonna spend more though and pick up some ram/vrm heatsinks. so looking at another10-20 quid or so.

total cost 100 ish.

actually anyone got a link to the alpenfohn heatsinks on OcUK cant seem to find them currently

nvm found them
 
Last edited:
Soo... with the cost oscillating around 100 euros (including postage, alpenfohn heatsinks etc.) Do you guys reckon it would be better to buy a non-ref r9 290 cooler from someone going water? It seems to be an easier solution, and cheaper as well.. From what I see (early reviews), the non-refs seem to be cooling very efficiently.
 
SimonKa said:
Do you guys reckon it would be better to buy a non-ref r9 290 cooler from someone going water? It seems to be an easier solution, and cheaper as well.. .
Click to expand...
And how easy do you think your going find someone selling a non-ref cooler from there R290....

As I would also guess you would need to get in a long line of loads of other ref cooled owners waiting for one...;)
 
Seeing how there's definitely going to be such people, and that I'm willing to pay premium (I expect the mounting to be easier than any other custom cooler)... I expect it to be quick enough :)
 
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