Waterblock selection for GTX 280

[acePROD]

Hi everybody

I would like to watercool my BFG GTX280 OC but I'm not sure which waterblock to choose. Can someone advice me on this? I couldn't find any reviews comparing any blocks so as to decide...

[Conumdrum]

I have the DD Tieton, works really nice, not as pretty as EK, but EK blocks have had mounting issues lately.

[BioTuned]

I too have DD Tieton. 34c - Idle and 46c-50c load.

[acePROD]

Guys thank you boh for your replies.

I found out something no so encouraging about the DD Tieton from a review at FrozenCPU:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/7760/ex-blc-497/Danger_Den_DD-Tieton_GTX280260_VGA_Full_Card_Water_Block_GPU-6880.html

I know this is just one review and all my waterblocks are from DD (super satisfied) but I never owned an acetal-top one.

[Conumdrum]

It is better than Acrylic.

[smithers102]

May i suggest the EVGA GTX 280 Hydrocopper 16 I have it on my EVGA GTX 280 Super Superclocked edition and it just rocks. My temps were 42 degrees idle with the fan now with the waterblock and overclocked a ridiculous amount my temps are max 49 at full load.

[acePROD]

Smithers102 can you please tell me at what ambient temperature you get these temps and with what radiator?

Thanks in advance.

[Conumdrum]

My BFG 280 OC (not overclocked past that, no need) is at 50C after 30 min of furmark. Ambient is 21.1C, 70F. Yate Loons Med on low low, pump on 3 setting. Stuff I have is in my sig. Had it for umm months, as soon as it was released.

[smithers102]

Smithers102 can you please tell me at what ambient temperature you get these temps and with what radiator?

Thanks in advance.

I lied a little on my previous post regarding my temps being 49 degrees Celsius at full load, indeed they are a lot less sitting at 43 degrees Celsius as can be seen in the first picture.

Ambient temperatures were around 18 to 20 degrees celcius. (More then likely on the colder side of the spectrum because its winter and my set up is in the basement.

As far as the radiator goes I don't have my video card on a seperate loop but rather a 120mm HW Labs Black Ice Extreme after my NB and CPU. I'm using 3 Yate Loon D12SL-12 120MM 47cfm fans on my 120.3 rad (not the best fans for the radiator some people will say, but it works just fine for me) on my 120.1 rad I am using the Antec TriCool 120MM fan with a 3 speed adjustment that can run on either 39, 56 or 79cfm. I always run it on low to achieve 39 cfm, again not the fan most people would use but it works just fine for me.


The whole loop is as follows:

Dual 5.25 Bay Res--->Swiftech MCP655--->HW Labs Black Ice Extreme 3 (120.3)--->Swiftech Apogee GTZ (CPU)--->Swiftech MCW-NBMAX (NB)--->HW Labs Black Ice Extreme (120.1)--->EVGA GTX 280 Hydrocopper 16--->Dual 5.25 Bay Res

Here's my temps on ATI tool while running Prime 95 (GPU temp visible on evga precision tool):



http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp160/smithers639/TestNov08.jpg



Here's a clear picture of my entire loop:



http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp160/smithers639/Nov08126.jpg



This shows all my waterblocks that I have installed:



http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp160/smithers639/Nov08084.jpg



My only problem with the GTX 280 Hydrocopper 16 is its massive weight. As visible in the second picture it clearly stresses that video card. I'm going to have to rig up a brace for it but I'm not sure what to use.

Another problem is the installation of the waterblock onto the video card as it is a very touchy process to get it to mount properly. The instructions also call for application of thermal paste on some very small voltage regulators, I'd recommend using the supplied paste as it is non-conductive. I believe it's arctic silver cremeque or something.

[Conumdrum]

Nice setup. Try running Furmark for a deeper stress and temp reading, you WILL get higher temps by a few C I bet. An I used a chopstick to hold my card up last year when I had a 8800GT with a TR HR03 on it. Just put it from the bottom of the case to the far corner of the card. I see an empty screw hole there to put the end of the chopstick in....

[smithers102]

Nice setup. Try running Furmark for a deeper stress and temp reading, you WILL get higher temps by a few C I bet. An I used a chopstick to hold my card up last year when I had a 8800GT with a TR HR03 on it. Just put it from the bottom of the case to the far corner of the card. I see an empty screw hole there to put the end of the chopstick in....

Good idea with the chopstick I'll definitely have to do something. I just ordered a new Maximus II Formula for my system because i screwed up some PCI Slots when my first waterblock failed, so in a week or so i'll try furmark and post the temps for sure.