SLI cooling

Mr Fujisawa · 26 Feb 2010 at 10:01

Hi all. I've not done SLI but, when I put an 8800gtx in next to my gtx280 it was so tight and I can't see how the 280 fan can possibly be getting any air, but they must have though of that right?

What are peoples' experiences? Best to have some fans above the cards blowing down?

wingnuttzz · 26 Feb 2010 at 11:52

Cards in SLI generally run quite a bit hotter than the single card on its own for the very reason you have said, they are crammed in so close together.

So obiviously the card on the top will be pulling in air that has been heated up on the card below it and like wise the card on the bottom wont have the same aitflow over the top of the PCB.

And if you could imagine tri-SLI, the card in the middle gets cooked.

In the cases of the GTX280, i don't know how much difference a side panel fan would make as obiviously the coolers are fully inclosed (so all the hot air goes out the back and doesn't leak into the case)

But there is gaps at the very end of the card in the case, so direct air flow to those would be your best bet.

either that or watercooling

Mr Fujisawa · 26 Feb 2010 at 12:29

thanks

i've bought one of the zalman bracks that go over the cards and plan on attaching 2 or 3 120mm fans, should cool things down just enough i think!

JonJ678 · 26 Feb 2010 at 12:31

It's best done with watercooling really. Otherwise a motherboard which offers at least one space between the card is useful. If that's unavailable, position 120mm fans over the cards blowing air into the intakes.