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Best GPU Blocks for SLI?

K

kleox64

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Sep 21, 2004
Messages
1,467
Iam going after the Maze 4 GPU blocks for my SLI setup using the AMD ASUS board, Iam assuming there is enough spacing between the SLI slots for this to be OK without resorting to the low profile versions(around £10 more expensive by the way). Iam also up to the idea of using another brand that does without NPT fittings.

kleo
 
*Well*
If you want the BEST for SLi, I'd say that the :: Wintsch Labs Arctic Spider Rev. 1.5 Liquid Cooled 437Watt Thermoelectric Assembly (GeForce 6800) x2 would be the BEST. However those run $200 USD.
linky to GPU TEC

Next I'd reccomend the :: Danger Den NV-68 SLI GPU Water Cooling System - 1/2" ID Fittings $233 USD
linky

Thirdly I'd reccomend the :: Danger Den Acetal Maze4 nVidia/ATI GPU Water Block - 1/2" ID High Flow Fittings - Low profile model for XFire and SLi. $45 USD
linky

------------
I have the DDen NV-68 single GPU block, and I think it's freaking awesome. It keeps my BFG6800U AGP nice and cool.

I've also got the Maze-4 low profile acetal block on a PCI-e X850XT. I am thouroughly impressed with that block, and actually reccomend it over the NV-68 block due to it's versatility. You can use that Maze-4 on almost anything. ...oh and spend the extra bux on the low profile acetal one, it'll keep your GPU from bending.
 
Well how about the Aqua Computer AquagraFX 6800 Rev 2 combo ram/gpu cooler. It has a floating GPU sink to eliminate ram to gpu mismatches common with the DD NV-68 and other similar designs. Can be used with up to a 3/8" ID tube. Pus it has a cool little LED light that shows "AQUA COMPUTER." Now that is assuming you are planning on doing a pair of 6800's.
 
No ram coolings for me... maze4 acetel low profile will do the job just fine.
I've had the ram cooling version and it basically made core temp go higher than just maze4 while introducing more restriction to water loop. Best IMHO would be silverprop fusion SL for straight H2O. But we are talking 1-2c temp difference here -_-; It is not readily available unless you are an aussie, not to mention more costly.

Cooling on memory with water rarely yields tangible extra but core does :) As for core temp diff while loaded between maze4 and the big nv68 block... we are talking 4-5c temp diff on load temp on core....!!!!
 
I'll second that about the NV-68 vs Maze4GPU. The full-card cooler may look better, but that's about it. Getting all the ram chips to make contact while getting the right pressure on the core is difficult at best, impossible at worst :(
 
Top Nurse said:
Well how about the Aqua Computer AquagraFX 6800 Rev 2 combo ram/gpu cooler. It has a floating GPU sink to eliminate ram to gpu mismatches common with the DD NV-68 and other similar designs. Can be used with up to a 3/8" ID tube. Pus it has a cool little LED light that shows "AQUA COMPUTER." Now that is assuming you are planning on doing a pair of 6800's.
Click to expand...

Is that the one that looks like a combo heart-lung machine/soda fountain?

If it is I'd say avoid it like the plauge, the tubing on the ram is so small as to make the ramblocks more effective as ramsinks.

I'd have to say the best bet would be for you to go with the Maze4 lowprofile and a good set of ramsinks (well, 2 actually for SLI) and call it a day, the upshot is 2 of the Maze4's will cost you the same as one of the 6800 full body coolers by either A.C. or D.D.

Edit/ If you ever decide to go with a different board, say the DFI for some reason then you'd have to sell the Maze4 set you bought and saved 10 quid on and turn around and buy the low profile set on top of that, better to spend the extra now and have the option of moving to a different board should you ever decide to in the future because you'll save money in the long run.

As far as I know the ASUS is the only board with that much space in between the PCI-E slots so any other board as an upgrade would require you to jetteson the bigger blocks in favor of the lower profile blocks. I'm sure that if I'm mistaken on this someone will correct me though.
 
Vertigo Acid said:
I'll second that about the NV-68 vs Maze4GPU. The full-card cooler may look better, but that's about it. Getting all the ram chips to make contact while getting the right pressure on the core is difficult at best, impossible at worst :(
Click to expand...
The GDDR3 ram modules are giving off a bit less heat now-a-days.. but I just can't get into those OCZ copper VGA ramsinks on my X850XT. The Maze-4 on the other hand does a bang up job.
X850XT_on_H208-vi.jpg


look, there are two ram modules that I didn't have enough clearence to put sinks on. (just below the fittings)
X850XT_on_H2023-vi.jpg
 
fore1337 said:
The GDDR3 ram modules are giving off a bit less heat now-a-days.. but I just can't get into those OCZ copper VGA ramsinks on my X850XT. The Maze-4 on the other hand does a bang up job.
X850XT_on_H208-vi.jpg


look, there are two ram modules that I didn't have enough clearence to put sinks on. (just below the fittings)
X850XT_on_H2023-vi.jpg
Click to expand...

That's why the Dremel is your friend...cut those sinks down a bit.
 
iam not going for the full body blocks, the 6800 version wont fit the 7800 etc...
Can I fit the standard dangerden blocks in SLI on a mobo such as the msi?
 
Also performance difference between standard and low profile MAZE 4 GPU blocks?
 
What does one use to keep the ramsinks attached? Thermal tape or an epoxy of some sort?
 
Yodies said:
What does one use to keep the ramsinks attached? Thermal tape or an epoxy of some sort?
Click to expand...

Try one part epoxy with one part thermal paste, if its too strong add more thermal paste I cant remember the exact ratios to use but it depends on the epoxy your using. Try it on a scrap piece of silicon, with luck and a firm twist any heaksinks should be removable.
 
As far as I know there is no difference in performance on the low profile Maze4 and the standard, I just know that the standard isn't guaranteed to work in SLI rigs whereas the low profile Maze4 is designed for it.

The ASUS, yeah it'll work, no problem but those boards are the exception not the rule.
 
the acetal low profile blocks have 2 things going for them.

1.) The lower profile design is specifically due to the new SLi / Crossfire configurations coming out.

2.) The acetal block is much lighter weight than the standard maze-4 blocks... which will help keep your expensive GPU from bending over time.

Those ramsinks came with double sided thermal tape already applied to the sinks. ....it's a bitch to get it off, so I just left it on. I also have some Zalaman ramsinks which really suck... I was thinking of dremelling those guys down to fit.


....hey! did someone say that my DDen NV-68 waterblock won't fit a 7800GTx?
 
DangerDen website
We are getting plenty of questions on the Nvidia 7800 series blocks...and the short answers are this:

MAZE4GPU Block- This block fits the cards without any problems. It uses the same hardware as teh 6800 series. Remember, if you want an SLI solution for motherboards with the smallest spacing (like the DFI) use the Low Profile MAZE4GPU.

NV-68 Block- There is a change to the 7800 series cards. The height difference of the RAM to the GPU has changed by about the diameter of a human hair (0.006 inches or 0.15mm). Danger Den will make a modifed block to officially work with the 7800 series. Also, there is RAM on the backside of the card. This requires a modifed backing plate and RAM sinks.
Click to expand...

heh well the NV-68 block was my first ever gpu block... and now I know better.

TN does the ac solution work on the 7800GTx since the ram and core sinks have floating positions?
 
The power circuitry is different and in a different position, it cant work.
 
Also, who the hell is charging you 10 pounds more for a low-profile version... they're the exact same price straight from DD!
 
Vertigo Acid said:
The full-card cooler may look better, but that's about it. Getting all the ram chips to make contact while getting the right pressure on the core is difficult at best, impossible at worst
Click to expand...

Well I would definitely agree with you if you are talking about ANY cooler besides the Aqua Computer AquagraFX 6800 Rev 2 GPU/RAM combo cooler. See the links below for some nice pics. BTW, this cooler has a "floating GPU block" that allows for an almost perfect matchup between the GPU and the ram chips. It also cools the voltage regulators to boot. :D

http://www.aquacomputer.de/prodimg/nd_products/6800_1_200.jpg

http://www.aquacomputer.de/prodimg/nd_products/6800evo_kern_3_200.jpg

http://www.aquacomputer.de/prodimg/nd_products/6800_2_200.jpg
 
TN, are you jusat a little biased for AC components, or did I eat something bad for dinner? Really, after all of these months I'd think you would have gotten past simply claiming "AC is teh uber 1337! Big bore sucks monkey balls!" Next time you want to recommend an AC component, give some actual reason instead of simply "<insert AC component here> is the best/only one that will fit/all other <insert component> are inferior.

Back to actual discussion of core vs. core & ram gpu blocks: I agree with Vertigo Acid, you just can't get equal mounting pressure on the core and memory, even with a floating design, because different levels mean that you would have to figgratively taper the clamping devise to even the level the perssure is intended for. Secondly, I highly doubt the necessity of memory watercooling, as extreme OCers such as OPPAINTER have pushed 7800GTX memory up to 1490MHz from the stock 1200MHz using a pair of MCW50s and copper ramsinks (see here). Third, memory & core blocks easily cost more than a pair of core blocks, while likely not giving you full OC potential for your core because of higher temps cause by poorer mounting compared to a core block, as well as the heat added to the loop from the memory and a design that limits impingement designs that work so well for core blocks. Just my $0.02.
 
ikellensbro said:
TN, are you jusat a little biased for AC components, or did I eat something bad for dinner? Really, after all of these months I'd think you would have gotten past simply claiming "AC is teh uber 1337! Big bore sucks monkey balls!" Next time you want to recommend an AC component, give some actual reason instead of simply "<insert AC component here> is the best/only one that will fit/all other <insert component> are inferior.
Click to expand...
In Top Nurse's defense, the AC cooler in this case does have a leg-up on DD's solution. The floating GPU block is the way to go. However, as has been mentioned before, it still looks like a soda machine hookup ;)
I'll stick with RAMsinks :)
 
ikellensbro said:
TN, are you jusat a little biased for AC components, or did I eat something bad for dinner? Really, after all of these months I'd think you would have gotten past simply claiming "AC is teh uber 1337! Big bore sucks monkey balls!" Next time you want to recommend an AC component, give some actual reason instead of simply "<insert AC component here> is the best/only one that will fit/all other <insert component> are inferior.
Click to expand...

The only reason I brought it up was because of the comments I hear about the Danger Den NV-68 not interfacing correctly between some GPU's and the ram components. Like I said in the post above "BTW, this cooler has a "floating GPU block" that allows for an almost perfect matchup between the GPU and the ram chips. It also cools the voltage regulators to boot." So please get off my case, okay? :)
 
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