Best Universal GPU Water Block?

[annaconda]

I am looking for Best Univeral VGA Water Block, please help me find it. Any body?

 

[Imitation]

There was a review that took the top 3 blocks out right now, the swiftech MC-60, DD maze 4 and the aqua one and came to the conclusion that they are all about the same. I can't find the link though

 

[annaconda]

Are they Universal, i mean they will fit on any current Video cards or future video cards.

 

[annaconda]

I think you are talking about this Comparison Review.

 

[Alex41290]

I don't know how well you will do finding one that is completely future-proof, but the Maze4 GPU block is probably your best bet. The only thing you would have to upgrade would be the hold-down set or the top of the block, which is not very much compared to buying a new block.

That would be my choice. I have it, runs nicely

edit: don't mean to be a dick, but sig is about 5 lines over

 

[Nobi125]

I'm probably gonna go with Danger Den, since their customer service is amazing.

 

[annaconda]

Any best priceses on these three?

 

[Viper87227]

I've personally owned a DD Maze4 and Silverprop Fusion HL. Both are universal. The Fusion HL did perform a bit better, bit it was at a cost. That cost was an absolutly shitty set of mounting hardware. Its very difficult to mount properly, where as the Maze4 is a snap. In the end, I prefer the Maze4. It's much easier to use for the 1-2C temp difference. The FusionHL is collecting dust right now. I may put it back in service one day, but its not very likley.

 

[annaconda]

What about Sweift tech MCW60B

 

[madmat]

The MCW60B comes sans ramsinks and you need an adaptor to use it with older nVidia cards but it's a good cooler and now there are no springs and nothing sticking up on the rear of the card unlike the Maze 4.

The Maze 4 is a royal PITA on both the A8N32-SLI and the MSI K8N Diamond. The ASUS ends up with all the PCI slots blocked off by the hardware and the MSI, the hardware hits the NB HSF.

Not fun at all.

 

[Alex41290]

The MCW60B comes sans ramsinks and you need an adaptor to use it with older nVidia cards but it's a good cooler and now there are no springs and nothing sticking up on the rear of the card unlike the Maze 4.

The Maze 4 is a royal PITA on both the A8N32-SLI and the MSI K8N Diamond. The ASUS ends up with all the PCI slots blocked off by the hardware and the MSI, the hardware hits the NB HSF.

Not fun at all.

I don't have any of the problems you are having...the new hold-down set eliminates the springs and the block doesn't take up that many PCI slots...no more than a dual-slot aftermarket air cooler, at least.

 

[madmat]

When did they change the hold-downs on the Maze 4? The set I used was from this past December and the hardware I looked at on D.D.'s site was the same shit.

As per this image...http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product_detailed_images.php?productid=161

 

[Alex41290]

Ah, forgot that they still had the plexiglass top for it. Mine is the stainless steel set. Much cleaner, IMO

 

[madmat]

Well, with the Plexi set in SLI on the A8N32-SLI the blocks and hardware totally block every single PCI slot on the board, yes, it is that bad.

 

[annaconda]

I bought Swieftech MCW60B, do you guys think it will fit any future card also? and did i made the right choice? I have 3/8" tubbing, thermaltake bigwater 745.

 

[madmat]

The way that the MCW60B is made allows you to remove the chrome plate for the hardware and replace it. This is a fairly future-proof design in that it allows you to just change that piece should the mounting locations change in the future. I'd reckon that unless they do something radical to the mounting hole locations you should be good for some time to come.

 

[annaconda]

The way that the MCW60B is made allows you to remove the chrome plate for the hardware and replace it. This is a fairly future-proof design in that it allows you to just change that piece should the mounting locations change in the future. I'd reckon that unless they do something radical to the mounting hole locations you should be good for some time to come.

Thanxs man, so MCW60B is a good GPU block right?

 

[madmat]

Seems like a top quality unit to me. Some people don't like the top since it's molded but I haven't had any issues with mine and I love the mounting system as long as the block isn't plumbed. When the block's plumbed and you need to mount it on a card (with the first version of the nV hardware that is) you basdically need to either A) be ambidexterous since you need to manipulate things equally well with both hands or B) have a helper. The new hardware looks to have that solved but I haven't gotten any hands on experience with it yet to be certain.

 

[Introvert]

I have a mcw60 on my vid and i thought i was not necessarily difficult to mount but awkward. Other than that it is top notch.

 

[madmat]

I have a mcw60 on my vid and i thought i was not necessarily difficult to mount but awkward. Other than that it is top notch.

QFT, trying to manipulate the parts, hold the card and line up the holes is awkward as hell. That's why I said being ambidexterous or having a helper are what's needed to make the job doable without losing one's mind in the process.

 

[Imitation]

QFT, trying to manipulate the parts, hold the card and line up the holes is awkward as hell. That's why I said being ambidexterous or having a helper are what's needed to make the job doable without losing one's mind in the process.

Haha no kidding, I mounted the one I just bought last night and it was interesting to say the least. The suckiest part was trying to disconnect the fan header, I ended up cutting it off instead. Anyone else think that the swiftech ram sinks aren't sticky enough? Do they hold better once the card heats up? I bumped one last night and it moved, I wasn't very happy!

 

[madmat]

I've seen that same thing with every stick-on ramsink I've encountered. OCZ, Koolance and Swiftech. The key I've found is to clean the ram very agressively with a solvent based cleaner such as Get OFF or OOPS then after the solvent has completely evaporated go over the ram with 91% (or higher if you can find it) isopropyl alcohol to remove any lingering solvent film.

I've done this with my 6800 and a pair of 7800GTX's and neither has suffered any loss of ramsinks after many, many repeated movings and the GTX's have been at the tender mercy of FedEX no less than 3 times with no sinks shook loose.

 

[Imitation]

I've seen that same thing with every stick-on ramsink I've encountered. OCZ, Koolance and Swiftech. The key I've found is to clean the ram very agressively with a solvent based cleaner such as Get OFF or OOPS then after the solvent has completely evaporated go over the ram with 91% (or higher if you can find it) isopropyl alcohol to remove any lingering solvent film.

I've done this with my 6800 and a pair of 7800GTX's and neither has suffered any loss of ramsinks after many, many repeated movings and the GTX's have been at the tender mercy of FedEX no less than 3 times with no sinks shook loose.

Yeah I cleaned them with 91% alcohol but i don't have anything else available right now and i'm too lazy to buy anything for that. Luckily my case is a reverse so they'll be sitting upright instead of upside down. Does the tape get a better grip after they heat up? I might just buy some epoxy...

 

[madmat]

It seems to grip better with time, yes. I know that when I pulled the Koolance ramsinks off my 5900 they were on there better. They actually were stuck pretty good and they were so loose when first installed that I brushed one with my finger and it fell off. Although as I couldn't find thermal epoxy local at the time I had removed the tape on one that was screwed up out of the package (it had been put on nearly 2/3's the way off center) and I had put AS3 on the sink and used a bead of hot glue to hold the sink in place (looks like hell but works wonderfully BTW).

The sink held with the AS3 had adhered to the ram better than the ones using tape and was easily removed by sliding it to the side. Pulling it straight off was not possible.