Aftermarket Coolers on the GTX680

I ordered two of these to use on my SLI 680 setup. Anyone know if you can use these and the EVGA Backplates at the same time?

I would think the back plate is held down by the screws that also hold the fan assembly down on the other side of the card. If that is the case then no, I don't think the back plate will be useable as that fan has to be removed.
 
I would think the back plate is held down by the screws that also hold the fan assembly down on the other side of the card. If that is the case then no, I don't think the back plate will be useable as that fan has to be removed.

Can anyone confirm this? If so, I need to cancel an order I placed today!!!
 
It hasn't been mentioned so far I think, and I need to know.

What is the size of the star screwdriver needed to remove the fan assembly?
 
Can anyone confirm this? If so, I need to cancel an order I placed today!!!

I honestly dont remember if the torx screws "bit" into the fan assembly ONLY, or the PCB itself as well. if the screws bite into the PCB you're golden, if not, you will need to use some jenkification to get the backplate to work with this cooler.
 
I honestly dont remember if the torx screws "bit" into the fan assembly ONLY, or the PCB itself as well. if the screws bite into the PCB you're golden, if not, you will need to use some jenkification to get the backplate to work with this cooler.

I think they do bite into the reference fan assembly, but that shouldn't be a problem cause there isn't a backplate on the aftermarket cooler that would keep a backplate from being put on snuggly. And the screw size should be the exact same.. so here's hoping it works lol.
 
well I got my TT2 today. Should I use the mx4 paste that is pre-applied or my ICDiamond24?
 
Okay well I completed the installation(Mostly). It's T6 not T7.

And here's the silly part: One of the mounting screws that came with my package has no thread. It's just smooth. I already emailed arctic cooling about a replacement but if anyone is really smart and knows the size I would like to go get another one right away.
 
The stock vapor chamber cooler from the GTX570 and 580 is very similar to the stock heatsink on the GTX680. Hole spacing is the same, dimensions are very similar, and I know that Nvidia released a few GTX580s with no IHS. You might be able to pop the 570 or 580 vapor chamber right into the 680 and shave off a few degrees.
 
I installed the Gelid Icy Vision on my EVGA GTX680 with EVGA backplate. You lose screw holes for the backplate when you take off the reference cooler but I was able to find a solution to make sure the backplate was firmly attached and even pressure all around

The standoffs used with the Icy Vision were just long enough to accommodate the extra width of the card while the backplate is lined up. I used extra screws/nuts that were included with the Icy Vision to make sure the backplate was fully attached beyond just the 4 screws for the heatsink itself.

OC: +132% power target, +127 GPU clock yielding 1250Mhz, +400 memory

Before - Idle Temp: 48c (three monitors makes the card idle high)
Before - Load Temp: 69c (agressive/loud fan profile to keep under 70)

After - Idle Temp: 30c
After - Load Temp: 57c (max after 3 heaven runs)

I knew as soon as I ordered the card that I would hate the reference cooler. Ended up hating it even more so because of how loud it had to be to keep it under 70c. Much happier now that it is quiet and cool.

680gelid.jpg
 
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Great thread, I love aftermarket coolers so this is like porn :D

Is it just me or do all video card coolers look the same? A fat heatsink with a pair of big fans on top. The vf3000 has the same thing.
 


here it is installed with only 3 screws since one had no thread.

I can confirm that even with only 3 screws it works in an RV02/FT02
 
Changing this post a bit to include what air coolers fit on the GTX680. I will leave it up to you to source them :)

Arctic Accelero Twin Turbo II - http://www.arctic.ac/en/p/cooling/vga/375/accelero-twin-turbo-ii.html?c=2182

Installed - http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1038557526&postcount=10

Thank you very much for this thread. The Twin Turbo II above piques my interest. Is there knowledgeable confirmation that the RAM does or does not require heat sinks? More importantly, how do the VRMs do with those small passive coolers that are provided with the Twin Turbo II?

If the VRMs are running hotter than spec allows, then the GPU temp is meaningless.
 
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I found this review:
http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages/arctic_cooling_accelero_twin_turbo_pro_review,5.html

Not the same cooler or card, but looks like a nearly identical passive coolers on the VRM and they report in the review that the temps are much higher than the stock cooler. Still researching.

I've already ordered the Arctic Accelero Twin Turbo II because I want to overclock and I'm concerned about noise. Not sure if I will cancel the order.

edit: The twin Turbo II has the new G-1 glue and that review of the Twi Turbo 'pro' used tape. So the VRM temps should be improved over that. Not sure how much.
 
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One thing that have always concerned me with these custom 2 or 3 fans cooler is this. In the stock cooler for AMD or nVidia, the VRM are getting the cooler air directly from the fan as the air passes through the VRM heatsink first before flowing through the GPU heatsink.

But with these custom cooler, all the air goes through the main heatsink first before reaching the VRM heatsink, so the VRM heatsink would be getting the hotter air from the main heatsink.So I think when it comes to the VRM temperature, its always going to be higher than the stock cooler design.

I'm not really sure what is the recommended temperature limit for the VRM, but I guess the best we can do is to ensure that the VRM don't get too close to its max operating temperature.
 
Thanks Hornet. Finding out what the limits the VRM's can handle seems like a difficult task. Calling the manufacturer? Who makes them? Do they have a website with details on these units?

Looking around the Internet some more, I think they will be cooled adequately, especially in games but NOT in GPU stress tests. That's my first take-home is to not run those with the AATT II cooler setup. Here are some product pages that have user reviews of this cooler:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1..._NVIDIA_and_ATI_250_Watts_Cooling_Power_.html

Two users report that 5hrs isn't enough time for the G-1 paste to fully dry. 12+hrs probably a better idea. Might depend on your relative humidity, elevation and temperature.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186052

http://www.amazon.com/Arctic-Cooling-Accelero-Turbo-Cooler/dp/B005FYCFG8/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Personally I'm sick & tired of loud GPU blower coolers and even though the stock GTX680 is getting very good reviews on noise, I want to do it and I think this cooler is good for it from what I read on the Internet...
 
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Personally I'm sick & tired of loud GPU blower coolers and even though the stock GTX680 is getting very good reviews on noise, I want to do it and I think this cooler is good for it from what I read on the Internet...

Give the stock GTX680 a try first. You might be pleasantly surprised. I certainly was. I've always water cooled or used an aftermarket air cooler, like Arctic Cooling. The stock 7970 cooler, while often referred to ask "quiet" in reviews, was way too loud for my taste. The GTX680 though is the first card with stock cooling that's quiet enough for me in many, many years. Nvidia did a great job on it.
 
It is a very nice mount. Hopefully he comes through with the IHS for the 680 but at the moment there aren't any real options.

True, hopefully we'll find out this week once he gets his supplies and pricing down.
 
I have two engineering friends, one with a CNC he can use, and was seriously considering designing/building a mount for the Antec coolers onto the 580/680s. I see I have been beaten to it :(
 
Thank you very much for this thread. The Twin Turbo II above piques my interest. Is there knowledgeable confirmation that the RAM does or does not require heat sinks? More importantly, how do the VRMs do with those small passive coolers that are provided with the Twin Turbo II?

If the VRMs are running hotter than spec allows, then the GPU temp is meaningless.

Your welcome!

Nice link Nortons is blocking attacks from it.

I think I found your problem........ ^^^^

I didnt know anyone still used that crap :D
 
the thermal adhesive that comes with the arctic cooler twin turbo II is crap

buy some Arctic silver Alumina Ceramic Thermal Adhesive

its 100% better and easier to work with and it does not take 5 hours to cure

you have 4 mins to spread the shit and stick on there before it completely hardens up
it takes 60 mins for it to completely cure and is almost permanent. the VRMS will not come off with this shit
 
I was worrisome about getting a reference style GTX 680 because of cooling issues, but with a small overclock it still runs very cool with the fans being set at 70% all the time. My case fans are already loud as hell, so I can't even hear the 680 fan.
 
Give the stock GTX680 a try first. You might be pleasantly surprised. I certainly was. I've always water cooled or used an aftermarket air cooler, like Arctic Cooling. The stock 7970 cooler, while often referred to ask "quiet" in reviews, was way too loud for my taste. The GTX680 though is the first card with stock cooling that's quiet enough for me in many, many years. Nvidia did a great job on it.

Alright will do. Thanks!!

123Lanoix said:
the thermal adhesive that comes with the arctic cooler twin turbo II is crap

buy some Arctic silver Alumina Ceramic Thermal Adhesive

its 100% better and easier to work with and it does not take 5 hours to cure

you have 4 mins to spread the shit and stick on there before it completely hardens up
it takes 60 mins for it to completely cure and is almost permanent. the VRMS will not come off with this shit

Excellent. They have this at Micro Center too.
 
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