Water Blocks Too Heavy?

[oxy4bf2]

Ironically, the only reason I decided to get into water-cooling is the insurance money I got back from UPS after my PC arrived DOA. Long story short, the Thermalright HR-03 Plus I installed on my 8800 GTS was heavy enough to distort the PCB (that is the correct term for the circuit board, right?) and the PCI-E port it was connected to. I figure that UPS dropped my box, in transit, hard enough to deal my motherboard's PCI-E port its final blow (thankfully it wasn't the 8800, although EVGA has great warranties).

So, with the extra money, I ordered the parts I needed (with all of your help) to get my computer wet (and hopefully hit 3.6 Ghz with my e4300). I am planning on upgrading later to include a VGA block; right now I'm just cooling the CPU and NB...

But if my air-cooling unit (http://www.thermalright.com/a_page/main_product_hr03_plus.htm) was heavy enough to warp the 8800, won't those massive, all-in-one coolers rip that thing right out of the PCI-E? I mean, the swiftech stealth, BFG cooler, innovatec coolers are gigantic. Has anyone had a problem I'm describing with one of those larger water blocks? It would be great to know in case I decide to ship my computer again.

Btw, I should have my water system set up by Wednesday, so I'll give a link to the official thread and include a picture of that distorted PCI-E, because I'm not making this stuff up!

 

[djBon2112]

Get a card keeper. They're cheap and they'll save you many of these problems. Either that or make yourself a makeshift card holder.

Assuming it's screwed in and you're not too forceful with it though, you shouldn't damage your card/slot.

 

[Arcygenical]

The 8800 level cards, and many others have 2 holes for screws to the case. Tighten both of these up and you have no room to pivot on any axis...

 

[joecop120]

Get a card keeper. They're cheap and they'll save you many of these problems.

Agreed. I bought one from sidewindercomputers.com and I think performance-pcs.com also has them. It works fantastic for me and poses no clearance issues. The edge of the PCB is well supported and is worth the $7-10 investment.

 

[Erasmus354]

The weight of your air cooler was 410g. The Zalman cooler is 420g which should be somewhat representative of the aluminum based coolers (AC and Innovatek, sort of Swiftech Stealth). The EK full cover block is a whopping 690g, this is probably the heaviest of them all. The DD block is probably a bit lighter.

 

[BillParrish]

Regardless of what you buy, stop shipping your computer with stuff like that installed. Remove large heatsinks, cards/ blocks and ship in a seperate box. You just asked for it. My son works at a UPS distribution center. Everything gets a 4 foot vertical drop as part of the conveyer system (hopefully your stuff is on top, falls less and has the stuff under it to cushion the impact, LOL) and thats least horrific story.

Oh and make double damn sure the drives are screwed in/down/secured well, I shipped one box where I forgot to tighten the drive cage screw and the cage with drive bounced around inside the computer during shipping. It looked like someone had taked a shotgun to the the motherboard and then beat it with a hammer.

 

[oxy4bf2]

Thanks for the advice. I knew there had to be something that supported those 8800s, like the plastic supports in dells or the x2900xt (the new ATI) in Macs, but I didn't know what they were called. I'll definitely order one.

And the stock cooler does support the card better; those two screws you guys mentioned do help, but it's also the fact that those screws brace the rest of the cooler that runs almost the whole length of the card.

I've had this computer shipped several times, and I probably should have taken off the Thermalright, but this is the only time the PCI-E has ever been distorted like it was. I'm sure it went off the 4-foot drop and then some more drops (the one's that aren't part of the system) at UPS, even with those FRAGILE stickers on all six sides. I'm not hating though, I get lots of stuff shipped via UPS!

Once again, thanks guys

 

[Viperlover]

Regardless of what you buy, stop shipping your computer with stuff like that installed. Remove large heatsinks, cards/ blocks and ship in a seperate box. You just asked for it. My son works at a UPS distribution center. Everything gets a 4 foot vertical drop as part of the conveyer system (hopefully your stuff is on top, falls less and has the stuff under it to cushion the impact, LOL) and thats least horrific story.

Oh and make double damn sure the drives are screwed in/down/secured well, I shipped one box where I forgot to tighten the drive cage screw and the cage with drive bounced around inside the computer during shipping. It looked like someone had taked a shotgun to the the motherboard and then beat it with a hammer.

WOW.

 

[Arcygenical]

United Postal Smashers

 

[GhengisKhan]

Regardless of what you buy, stop shipping your computer with stuff like that installed. Remove large heatsinks, cards/ blocks and ship in a seperate box. You just asked for it. My son works at a UPS distribution center. Everything gets a 4 foot vertical drop as part of the conveyer system (hopefully your stuff is on top, falls less and has the stuff under it to cushion the impact, LOL) and thats least horrific story.

Oh and make double damn sure the drives are screwed in/down/secured well, I shipped one box where I forgot to tighten the drive cage screw and the cage with drive bounced around inside the computer during shipping. It looked like someone had taked a shotgun to the the motherboard and then beat it with a hammer.

PICS!!!