Water Cooling a GPU?

gb155

gb155

gb155

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8 Jun 2012
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Today I have installed my first ever water-cooling solution, a h115i for a 4770k.

It was a doddle and I am amazed that its dropped temps from a max of 90 (Stock) to 51 (over clocked to 4.2)

I have a 980Ti Strax, Is there any point in water cooling this? can it be done as easy ? does it void warranty ?

Thanks
 
You can and there is a point. Temps will be lower (given adequate cooling) and it won't sound like a jet plane when you're gaming as the fans struggle to keep it from melting. Lower temps may extend the life of the card too.
I think there is an AIO type solution using a Kraken but I don't know the details. What you really want is a custom loop but it is pricey. You need a block for that cars - I know EK do one for the Strix (it's not a standard Nvidia reference design so it needs to be specifically for that model). To fit it you need to strip off all the air cooling fans and heatsinks and fit the water block. It's a bit like fitting a heatsink to a cpu. Most manufacturers will honour warranty (apparently) provided you haven't obviously broken or abused it. You may want to keep the heatsinks and fans to reassemble in case you have to RMA it.

You'll also need pump, reservoir, radiator, tubing and fittings.

I'd start by having a look at guides on how to install a graphics card waterblocks to see if it's something you'd be comfortable doing. Then have a look at some of the project log pages to see the rest of the setup.
 
The only way to easily watercool your GPU and CPU is to get the Predator 360 from EK and a prefilled waterblock from EK for the predator.
 
I'm not sure if Asus hold the warranty on 3rd party water cooling on GPUs, i'm sure there was a list around here somewhere of them all collated by the OCUK staff (based on RMA experience). EVGA for example does allow it, long story short you might be told no by Asus in which case the risk might be too great - depends on your personal finance situation if it should break and no longer be under warranty.

If you do decide to cool it with water you either need a full block and custom loop (expensive and time consuming but best possible results, mine runs at 1,500 and 45c when max load) or a closed loop solution can work. There are cheaper alternatives to the full EK block, but you should know they cool only the GPU by liquid and the VRAM by air. Here is an example of something which I believe is compatible (although not listed as such) for £22.99 (excluding the block/rad):

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/nzxt-kraken-g10-gpu-cooling-adapter-black-hs-007-nx.html

And a video for the installation on to a Strix, note you will need another closed loop cooler such as your current H115, a 120mm would do it though so either the H60 or equivalent other branded cooler. How to do it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlGMhASE22w

This will still void the warranty under its standard terms so you will need to verify first if it will still be honored or alternatively you are willing to take the risk. Hope that all helps!
 
Last edited:
aceCrasher said:
The only way to easily watercool your GPU and CPU is to get the Predator 360 from EK and a prefilled waterblock from EK for the predator.
Click to expand...

This. I have done this with my MSI GPU and am very happy with the results. Well worth it but you're still looking at about £360. for the set up.
 
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