Maze 4 (1/2") on an OC'd 8800GTX

[Sentry2]

For those of you with Maze 4 GPU blocks don't get rid of them if you plan on getting an 8800. I just picked up some cheap (but good) Thermaltake BGA ramsinks from newegg for the ram and vregs.

I took the Maze 4 and shaved the bottom until it was completely flat. Then I finished it off with some wet sanding. I used 2000 grit for the final and it came out great.

You can only use 2 of the 4 bolts to hold the block down though. I just used 2 opposite of each other. This isn't a problem like it normally could be since the G80 chip is so huge. It fits tight even though it's a little off centered.

Putting it on water only really affected my memory clocks. The GPU still maxes out around 670 like a lot of GTX's but the memory will now do 2200MHz 24/7 stable. It will actually hit 2240MHz before it starts artifacting. With the stock cooler I'd be lucky if I got 2100MHz without artifacts. More like 2050MHz actually. What's even more surprising is that this card runs cooler than my X1900XTX @ 690/1592(stock volts)...about 4c cooler under load.

Here are the ramsinks:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835116019

They are extremely cheap compared to some of the others and they work just as well if not better. I've used a bunch including the copper OCZ's and these are every bit as good.
Just make sure you clean the ram chips a few times and then let them dry really good.

I'm currently in the process of reworking my water cooling setup. I've got 2 triple 120mm radiators coming. I'll try to add some pics of the card when I take apart my system...again.

 

[JAG87]

those are damn nice temps

 

[TheRyuu]

What do you do with the other chip on the 8800GTX??
The one by the DVI ports?

 

[Elfear]

Very nice temps. I was just getting rid of my Maze4 blocks because I thought they wouldn't be sufficient. What did you use to sand the block down with and do you have any pics of the bottom of the block and finished card?

 

[Yreka]

Elfear, what are you using right now on your VC ?

I just took the VC out of my loop for the time being, its just using the stock cooler. I was going to wait until the DD Block came back in stock, but if these smaller blocks are doing the trick, I might just get the new mounting bracket for my MC60.

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Yreka
Elfear, what are you using right now on your VC ?

I just took the VC out of my loop for the time being, its just using the stock cooler. I was going to wait until the DD Block came back in stock, but if these smaller blocks are doing the trick, I might just get the new mounting bracket for my MC60.

I did the same thing you did and just pulled the gpu out of the loop. I've been waiting for some inexpensive full blocks to come out but I'll probably try one of my Maze4s as they are much less expensive than the DD waterblock.

My only hesitation in watercooling the card is the same hesitaion I have with watercooling any Nvidia card, no software voltage adjustments. The general oc you gain from watercooling is minimal because the core and mem are starved for volts. I tried voltmodding my 7800GTs when I had them and it was just too much of a hassle and I hated worrying about running my cards at elevated volts all the time. Just lame IMO that Nvidia doesn't follow ATI's example and allow software voltage adjustements.

 

[Sentry2]

Just got back from dinner.

@ Wizboy: That small chip just has a ramsink on it for right now. The chip is tiny. At first I thought I should find a decent heatsink for it but it's got one of those crappy white thermal pads(the same ones they use on the ramchips) between it and the stock cooler....so I don't think it puts off that much heat. Now I just need to make a hold down bracket for it just to be safe.

@ Elfear: I mainly used a bench grinder...(very carefully of course) due to the lack of tools. After that I started out at 100 grit sandpaper and slowly worked up to 2000 grit. I just placed the sandpaper on a desk so it was nice and flat. Lol...that's about it. Nothing fancy here. It was a bit of work but I didn't want to spend the money on a DD full block...that you more than likely can't reuse.

OK, I'm gonna take it all apart. My radiators got here this afternoon. If you guys are interested....Jab-tech has great deals on most all of there water cooling parts. I saved well over $100 by ordering from them instead of frozencpu or even DD.

I'll try to post some pics in a few...hours...

 

[Sentry2]

Originally posted by: JAG87
those are damn nice temps

Thanks It was kinda chilly in the room at that time but even when it's warmer I still haven't seen over 42c....and this is while running the card @ 652/2200.