A while ago I installed an EKWB kit from Microcenter, it has been great. The 1080ti I have is an EVGA FTW3, the air cooling works very well on it, but can be a bit loud and isn't nearly as cool as running a watercooled card so I bought a block for it.
Keep in mind a few things before reading further:
-This is my first watercooling setup, it's an ever-evolving setup
-It is quite "ghetto"
-It is ugly
If you can handle this stuff then let's proceed. The block itself is the cool-looking nickel one, instead of just the plain boring black one they offered. It was back-ordered so I had to wait about a week. It is extremely well built and pretty heavy. All of this was done on the comfort of my couch with no precautions taken regarding safety of computer components, and being distracted by watching the Astros win the World Series.
Pic of previous setup for reference:
Install:
Taking off the monstrous FTW cooling was very simple. The included instructions are easy to follow but I mostly winged this part. I believe EKWB recommends using a non-abrasive qtip or something and some special alcohol to clean the gunk off; I just grabbed the nearest napkin and went to town, sans alcohol. EKWB recommends a star pattern, I fudged this as best as I could:
I haven't worked with thermal pads since the x1900xt aftermarket cooling I installed a longggg time ago. After slapping on the pads I slapped on the EKWB block and lined up the mounting holes. This was even easier than disassembling. The whole process was a breeze, I'm always nervous about undressing graphics cards but had no issues here.
Block mounted, card resting safely out in the open on the couch, my wife's hair photobombs the pic:
I messed up the thermal pads a bit, part of them stick out on the bottom of the block. I may go back and try and cut them, but I'm definitely not taking off the block and remounting, far too lazy to do that.
Leak test:
Shortly before turning on:
No leaks at all. Lots of air though, it took a while to clear out the air and get water flowing throughout the block. I could see bubbles forming in some of the corners, more on that later.
Benching:
Leak test finished and how it sat during benches:
Bench action (I ran 8 threads as I was a bit gun shy doing 12 (the lighting of my keyboard matching furmark is purely coincidental)):
This is how my case has sat for several months and sits now:
The Air 540 will not suffice for this setup, so I'm not going to bother installing fancy tubes or squeezing the pump in somewhere. A new case is next on my list. I haven't had any dust issues at all and the both sides have been off the case for months. I also haven't spilled or secreted anything into the case and damaged any components. I think it's humorous how many people freak out when I show them I'm running a case with no sides on. I have two dogs in the house and neither of them have bumped, knocked into, or secreted any liquid or other form of matter into the case.
Moving on.
FTW cooling had the 1080ti around 68-75 during the summer (top room in the house, hard to cool), and 58-63 now that it's fall and I keep the room cool (keep in mind - completely open case, no sides). The EKWB cools it down to 45 from what I've seen so far. Not bad, but at least I don't have to listen to the FTW any more.
The CPU does not seem to be affected, since it is the first in the loop anyways. And stressing it does not raise the temps on the 1080, idle or otherwise. 1080ti idles at 27 now vs 35ish.
Now to the bubbles:
I have tipped and shook the case every way imaginable except upside down. As I am typing this it is still running at my house so maybe when I get home from work some bubbles may have cleared up? I read that using a drop of dish soap may help, so I will try that later. I also read that it could take days or weeks for the bubbles to clear.
Temps are great, so even with some bubbles in the corners of the block, it's still cooling it effectively.
Keep in mind a few things before reading further:
-This is my first watercooling setup, it's an ever-evolving setup
-It is quite "ghetto"
-It is ugly
If you can handle this stuff then let's proceed. The block itself is the cool-looking nickel one, instead of just the plain boring black one they offered. It was back-ordered so I had to wait about a week. It is extremely well built and pretty heavy. All of this was done on the comfort of my couch with no precautions taken regarding safety of computer components, and being distracted by watching the Astros win the World Series.
Pic of previous setup for reference:
Install:
Taking off the monstrous FTW cooling was very simple. The included instructions are easy to follow but I mostly winged this part. I believe EKWB recommends using a non-abrasive qtip or something and some special alcohol to clean the gunk off; I just grabbed the nearest napkin and went to town, sans alcohol. EKWB recommends a star pattern, I fudged this as best as I could:
I haven't worked with thermal pads since the x1900xt aftermarket cooling I installed a longggg time ago. After slapping on the pads I slapped on the EKWB block and lined up the mounting holes. This was even easier than disassembling. The whole process was a breeze, I'm always nervous about undressing graphics cards but had no issues here.
Block mounted, card resting safely out in the open on the couch, my wife's hair photobombs the pic:
I messed up the thermal pads a bit, part of them stick out on the bottom of the block. I may go back and try and cut them, but I'm definitely not taking off the block and remounting, far too lazy to do that.
Leak test:
Shortly before turning on:
No leaks at all. Lots of air though, it took a while to clear out the air and get water flowing throughout the block. I could see bubbles forming in some of the corners, more on that later.
Benching:
Leak test finished and how it sat during benches:
Bench action (I ran 8 threads as I was a bit gun shy doing 12 (the lighting of my keyboard matching furmark is purely coincidental)):
This is how my case has sat for several months and sits now:
The Air 540 will not suffice for this setup, so I'm not going to bother installing fancy tubes or squeezing the pump in somewhere. A new case is next on my list. I haven't had any dust issues at all and the both sides have been off the case for months. I also haven't spilled or secreted anything into the case and damaged any components. I think it's humorous how many people freak out when I show them I'm running a case with no sides on. I have two dogs in the house and neither of them have bumped, knocked into, or secreted any liquid or other form of matter into the case.
Moving on.
FTW cooling had the 1080ti around 68-75 during the summer (top room in the house, hard to cool), and 58-63 now that it's fall and I keep the room cool (keep in mind - completely open case, no sides). The EKWB cools it down to 45 from what I've seen so far. Not bad, but at least I don't have to listen to the FTW any more.
The CPU does not seem to be affected, since it is the first in the loop anyways. And stressing it does not raise the temps on the 1080, idle or otherwise. 1080ti idles at 27 now vs 35ish.
Now to the bubbles:
I have tipped and shook the case every way imaginable except upside down. As I am typing this it is still running at my house so maybe when I get home from work some bubbles may have cleared up? I read that using a drop of dish soap may help, so I will try that later. I also read that it could take days or weeks for the bubbles to clear.
Temps are great, so even with some bubbles in the corners of the block, it's still cooling it effectively.