[sunrunner20]

I am wondering if it is worth the extra money to get a BFG 6800U w/ a water block already on it. I've got 1/2" ID lines on all the rest of the system but the largest barbs for the default water block are 3/8". Should I buy the card and then buy a different water block for the 6800u?

Another factor is, how easy is it to hide the fact that I was water cooling the thing in case it ever dies? I think the heat syncs are held on with something similar to a CPU/NB mount but I am not sure.

And what are the top waterblocks for the 6800? I would prefer to have one that covers the ram too if there is one.

[Perseus]

It's worth it if you're going to keep the card for a while, and want it to be a stable performer, whether you OC it our not.

The stock cooler on my 6800 GT OC came off very easily. Just keep all the parts and a tube of cheap thermal grease ready.

The Innovatek NV40 block is MAYBE the top performer. Some guy told me that it covers the GPU, GDDR3 AND some other chip (voltage regulator?) too. The DD NV68 works just fine for me though, and because I didn't want to go through conversion hell trying to figure out those weird Innovatek fittings.

"Mommy, what does it mean 8-1?"

[Achilles17]

DONT get one that covers the ram, as long as you get some copper heatsinks for it and have SOME air blowing in your case, you will get no preformance increase from the waterblock compared to the heatsinks. With the waterblock however, you will be getting a huge flow restriction from that block, and you will be dumping all that heat from the memory into your loop. The top preforming block for the 6800 is probably the Silverprop Fusion HL, its all copper/bronze (no corrosion issues) and it cools extremley well. I got one for my BFG 6800U, it brought the temps from 75* Idle with stock cooling and AS5, to 39* idle with the fusion HL and AS5. Yeah, its just that good lol. No way the NV68 is gonna give you a 36* temp drop lol.

[sunrunner20]

I am very intent on keeping the things warrantee, so I think thermal epoxying copper sinks to the ram is out of the question.

and where is the best place to get the fusion HL?

[Perseus]

GDDR3 isn't really THAT warm compared to VRAM. Also the NV68 is pretty low restriction. Maybe you used an early version of the NV68 Achilles, but mine works pretty well.

[mR|bUNgLe]

I dont care what anybody says I like my NV68 cooler
Im sitting @ 42 celcius @415 1.1 on a BFG 6800GT

[Perseus]

Originally Posted by mR|bUNgLe

I dont care what anybody says I like my NV68 cooler
Im sitting @ 42 celcius @415 1.1 on a BFG 6800GT

Yeah boy!!!

[sunrunner20]

Again, where is the best place to get the blocks?

[JeffP]

I vote for the Silverprop HL. I run one myself and did some homework before I purchased. I wanted a good performer and a GPU block that wouldn't restrict the rest of my loop. The clear winner was the HL. I use it with nice set of BGA Heatsinks and run 450Mhz and 1.20Ghz on the memory flawlessly. My idle temps are 40c and full load after hours of gaming are no more then 44c.

This combo has turned some great 3dmark scores (check sig) and works even better for gaming in the real world.

I can't say the NV68 is a bad choice but it wouldn't be my first choice.

[JeffP]

Silverprop HL http://www.criticool.com/
NV68 http://www.frozencpu.com/ex-blc-123.html

[sunrunner20]

$150 for a waterblock!? HL wins by default, but is not the only reason. Now I will have to find some removeable method to cool the RAM. Maby I will design a bracket to hold on RAM sinks and just use some AS5.

[JeffP]

Originally Posted by sunrunner20

$150 for a waterblock!? HL wins by default, but is not the only reason. Now I will have to find some removeable method to cool the RAM. Maby I will design a bracket to hold on RAM sinks and just use some AS5.

You can buy some Thermal Adhesive Tape. It's sticky and will hold them in place but not so perminent you can't remove them. Anywhere you buy BGA sinks should sell them. Some BGA sinks come with them so check before you buy.

[sunrunner20]

Bga?

[JeffP]

Originally Posted by sunrunner20

Bga?

BGA is what they call the Heat sinks for the memory on your video card.

[Odie812]

Just bought my Silverprop HL from Frozenmods.com. This place will send you the extra clips needed to mount the Ultra on all four holes. Very nice people to work with as well. They have the best price on the block, but they're in Australia so shipping is slightly more. I paid $70 for mine all together, but I know EXACTLY what I was getting, and it was worth paying that much knowing that I was taken care of.

Odie

[sp00L]

JeffP, I heard that the gainward cards retention holes are smaller and you have to drill them out if you use another vendor's cooling solution. Did you have any problems installing your Silverprop? I have a Gainward 6800U.

[JeffP]

Originally Posted by sp00L

JeffP, I heard that the gainward cards retention holes are smaller and you have to drill them out if you use another vendor's cooling solution. Did you have any problems installing your Silverprop? I have a Gainward 6800U.

You don't have to drill the card, you just have to be creative. What I did was use the stock screws and back plate from the stock Gainward HS. It has the 4 threaded studs that go up through the board. You also want to use the screws that go with the stock heatsink. You then take the tabs that come on the Silverprop HL and use a dremel with a arrow shaped head to open the slots up just enough for the stock screws to slide through.

It may sound difficult but it's really easy. Took less then 5 minutes to complete and frankly is much more secure then the stock hardware setup Silverprop provides.

Jeff

[sunrunner20]

So I guess that I will find one cheaper and put my water block on it.

[sp00L]

Thanks, Jeff. Reuse the stock retention and dremel the gpu block. Too bad everyone is sold out of the HL in time for Christmas. Did you notice any significant increase in cpu temps when adding the gpu block?

[JeffP]

Originally Posted by sp00L

Thanks, Jeff. Reuse the stock retention and dremel the gpu block. Too bad everyone is sold out of the HL in time for Christmas. Did you notice any significant increase in cpu temps when adding the gpu block?

Nope because my G4 doesn't ship out until tomorrow. It woln't though as it's a non-restrictive block. One of the reason I chose it. Same thing with the Swifty NB block. Very open and low restriction design.

Wouldn't be surprised to see you hit the 500mhz mark once you have the gpu cooled.