Watercooled Case Gallery

momo56 · 30 Aug 2023 at 00:12

Made a couple changes and was impressed with the results. (Still need to cable manage at some point).

Switched to the Iceman direct die cpu block. 31c improvement on some cores. Highest core was in the sub 70s at 340W Cinebench.

Also had to RMA gpus and went with a Heatkiller block. Quality on this is solid. Came with precut pads and gave me a 4c improvement over my EK block. Impressive when it costs slightly less.

Parsley · 30 Aug 2023 at 00:41

momo56 said:
Had this build for a bit before the Meshroom S.

Unfortunately had to return it due to a dodgy riser cable, then it was out of stock.

Felt like a successor to the Ghost S1 in many ways.

Would they not just send a new riser out? That sucks. I do like your current build though, and I agree that the heatkiller blocks are really good.

momo56 · 30 Aug 2023 at 09:12

Parsley said:
Would they not just send a new riser out? That sucks. I do like your current build though, and I agree that the heatkiller blocks are really good.

The retailer wouldn’t send a new riser. There were also a few QC issues so wanted a replacement.

Shilz · 16 Sep 2023 at 14:05

Completed my small upgrade a week ago.

New XSPC Twin D5 Top/Res combo - Lucky find
Alphacool Water block for Sapphire 7900XTX Nitro+
Clear Coolant by Aquacomputer DP Protect - Flushed out Mayhems X1 Red
Waiting on a Aquacomputer filter to add into the external rad setup.

Jay85 · 17 Sep 2023 at 10:14

momo56 said:
Made a couple changes and was impressed with the results. (Still need to cable manage at some point).

Switched to the Iceman direct die cpu block. 31c improvement on some cores. Highest core was in the sub 70s at 340W Cinebench.

Also had to RMA gpus and went with a Heatkiller block. Quality on this is solid. Came with precut pads and gave me a 4c improvement over my EK block. Impressive when it costs slightly less.

Does the heatkiller block come with metal washers or plastic ones, was that ever fixed/changed since the reviews?

momo56 · 17 Sep 2023 at 12:42

Jay85 said:
Does the heatkiller block come with metal washers or plastic ones, was that ever fixed/changed since the reviews?

Metal washers with foam on one side. Mine is a Strix though.

I think that was only an issue with the FE cards that had a plastic clip interfering with washers ? I rememeber Igors lab or someone said Heatkiller acknowledged it.

Jay85 · 17 Sep 2023 at 12:50

momo56 said:
Metal washers with foam on one side. Mine is a Strix though.

I think that was only an issue with the FE cards that had a plastic clip interfering with washers ? I rememeber Igors lab or someone said Heatkiller acknowledged it.

Yeah it was for the FE cards, i wasn't aware if it affected any other brands. It's probably one of the only things stopping me from getting this block right now for my FE card. There doesn't seem to be any mention of a revision for this block for the FE cards.

momo56 · 17 Sep 2023 at 12:53

Jay85 said:
Yeah it was for the FE cards, i wasn't aware if it affected any other brands. It's probably one of the only things stopping me from getting this block right now for my FE card. There doesn't seem to be any mention of a revision for this block for the FE cards.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/11547569...7205088560&abcId=9300866&merchantid=101719719

I was looking at these just in case. Also quite a few people on reddit who did not have the issue.

Jay85 · 17 Sep 2023 at 12:55

momo56 said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115475699846?chn=ps&var=415497865677&_trkparms=ispr=1&amdata=enc:13EHl16KZSZC0I9pYWV9bcw50&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=415497865677_115475699846&targetid=1647205088560&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9044943&poi&campaignid=17206177401&mkgroupid=136851690655&rlsatarget=pla-1647205088560&abcId=9300866&merchantid=101719719

I was looking at these just in case. Also quite a few people on reddit who did not have the issue.

Thanks for linking them, was wondering hat size to get tbh. Saved me some leg work.

I guess the only thing left to do is to buy the block at some point now. It looks great btw, really love what they've done with this block.

momo56 · 17 Sep 2023 at 13:13

Jay85 said:
Thanks for linking them, was wondering hat size to get tbh. Saved me some leg work.

I guess the only thing left to do is to buy the block at some point now. It looks great btw, really love what they've done with this block.

Careful I just linked a UK seller selling the type of washer needed, not the actual size.

Jay85 · 17 Sep 2023 at 13:14

momo56 said:
Careful I just linked a UK seller selling the type of washer needed, not the actual size.

Oh whats the actual size needed? Don't have the block so don't know what size comes with the block.

gjthom · 17 Sep 2023 at 14:09

This is what I got with my Heatkiller V Pro for 4090 FE when it arrived a few weeks ago (from a UK supplier). The washers are metal and some form of foam gasket material.

https://flic.kr/p/2p3w2uj

Jay85 · 17 Sep 2023 at 14:24

gjthom said:
This is what I got with my Heatkiller V Pro for 4090 FE when it arrived a few weeks ago (from a UK supplier). The washers are metal and some form of foam gasket material.

https://flic.kr/p/2p3w2uj

Hmmm looks like i should order some of those pads then, im worried about the metal washers pushing the plastic guides off.

Mysterae_ · 19 Sep 2023 at 15:38

Here are the fixings from my as yet unmounted Heatkiller V Pro 4090 FE block. Included was a note to remind you of how the washers are fitted.

Do we think the insulated fibre washers are still required?

Jay85 · 19 Sep 2023 at 16:00

Mysterae_ said:
Here are the fixings from my as yet unmounted Heatkiller V Pro 4090 FE block. Included was a note to remind you of how the washers are fitted.

Do we think the insulated fibre washers are still required?

It should be fine, from my understanding it was the metal washers if not centred correctly before tightening down it would cause the washer to push against the black plastic guides. This in turn can cause them to come away from the pcb since they’re only glued on and according to Nvidia, warranty is void if they come off.

Mysterae_ · 19 Sep 2023 at 16:31

Jay85 said:
It should be fine, from my understanding it was the metal washers if not centred correctly before tightening down it would cause the washer to push against the black plastic guides. This in turn can cause them to come away from the pcb since they’re only glued on and according to Nvidia, warranty is void if they come off.

Cool thanks, I'll take care when fitting the block, it's a heavy lump of metal.

Jay85 · 19 Sep 2023 at 16:33

Mysterae_ said:
Cool thanks, I'll take care when fitting the block, it's a heavy lump of metal.

Assuming your card is a FE Card.

Infact, let me know when you take your card apart if the plastic guides are present. I've seen some builds and disassembly where the guides are not present, so not sure if they just removed them anyway or if Nvidia made some changes/revisions.

Mysterae_ · 19 Sep 2023 at 22:12

Jay85 said:
Assuming your card is a FE Card.

Infact, let me know when you take your card apart if the plastic guides are present. I've seen some builds and disassembly where the guides are not present, so not sure if they just removed them anyway or if Nvidia made some changes/revisions.

Yes, it's an FE and I'll share post here if the guides are present or not. I think the card and waterblock are going to look awesome when fitted, just need to get round to it!

gjthom · 24 Sep 2023 at 11:49

https://flic.kr/p/2p4WofD

I spent last evening doing the nerve wracking job of fitting my Heatkiller block to my 4090 FE. Pretty straightforward in actual fact. I used the barely adequate instructions from Watercool and at the same time followed a Youtube video from a channel called Vector Network. The video showed a PCB minus the semi circular plastic guides but mine did have them. I didn't encounter the problem referred to in the Igor's Lab article. The washers were a good fit around the screw and in the channel created by the plastic guides. The guides didn't show any signs of being dislodged as I tightened the screws down. The video also had a couple of the smaller thermal pads missing but I followed the Watercool diagram exactly and put every pad in the place shown on it.

Feeling slightly paranoid this morning that there might have been a protective film on the block that I've failed to remove but I don't think there was one and certainly the Watercool instructions make no mention of one.

Parsley · 24 Sep 2023 at 15:18

gjthom said:
https://flic.kr/p/2p4WofD

Feeling slightly paranoid this morning that there might have been a protective film on the block that I've failed to remove but I don't think there was one and certainly the Watercool instructions make no mention of one.

It's easy enough to pop the block off and check now, before you put it into your system. Unless it is already in!

I'd do so for peace of mind, and it's a good opportunity to see if the paste has spread out nicely.