Unviversal GPU block and Ramsink overclock

[Boostage]

What kind of overclock are you guys able to get with a GPU only block and copper ram and mosfet sinks? Doesnt matter what card, I will just compare your results to the average stock temps/speed. I just want to see if not having the Mosfet and ram watercooled will hold back a decent overclock.

 

[lollerskater69]

Temps are pretty close to a full cover block. The core temps are usually better than FC blocks, but as you can guess the ram runs a little hotter.

 

[BillParrish]

will just compare your results to the average stock temps/speed.

Temps dramaticlly lower with my older (8800GT SC factory OCed ) card. From 90C + gaming to never breaks 60C. Ram temps I do not know but I have a PCI slot fan card directly under the video card blowing air over the entire card so I know they have to be cooler than stock, lot cooler. With the direct airflow hittig the chips there was no need and it was likely counter productive to put ram sinks on but I did anyway using 1/2 artic epoxy + 1/2 AS 3 (it was a while ago). With thermal tape or other crappy interface/attachment methods I recommend not using the ramsinks unless the memory runs hot to touch or no direct fan. Every card is different and I am discussing mine.

http://wwparrish.embarqspace.com/#/computer/4532774341

As to speed, my card was already factory OCed so I found the manuf already did a decent job and I could only get a few 10's MHz out of the GPU over stock and the memory even less. My point is that they speed bin these cards much better than in the past and it would be real luck to get a "normal" card that OCed to the levels seen in the past. All those cards get weeded out at the factory or speed binned by the GPU manuf and sold at a premium. Not saying it still does not happen but it is much much rarer than before. Also another thing I noticed is that with ATI tool or Furmark I could get very high OCs on the GPU and be stable in testing mode for hours and hours but play a game and artifacts would appear. I finally just left it at just above stock as the minor bumps in speed really did not translate to any improved game experience and I got tired of getting killed online while I alt tabed or worse to reset my video card.

I was easly able to OC more with a watercooled GPU than the stock air cooler but as I mentioned above in the long run it did not matter much. However my card is solid as a rock at stock or very minor OC with the heat reduced 30C or more in gaming sessions lasting many hours. That is more important to me than any numbers. I also feel confident that the life and reliability have been improved by the cooler running temps. Mainly due to the slot fan keeping the caps and other components besides the memory and GPU cool. GPU and memory are not the only important things on the cards and actually the capacitors are the most likely things to fail, another reason besides the difficulity moving from card to card I do not care for full coverage blocks. Many times they cover too much.

But to each their own, full coverage blocks look awesome and if you cannot get air over the entire card or do not/ can not install the fan card - what the hey.

So in my opinion WC the graphics card is not about OCing (hey, if you get some, bonus!!! ) but about stability and long life at reduced sane opeating temps as I tend to keep a card until it will not play my current game (lol poor old 8800GT, its about time, new ATI card looking sweet)

Just some random thoughts. Bottom line, anything is better than the stock cooling even if aftermarket air cooling and remember there is more on the card than the GPU and memory chips and VR.