What GPU cooling method do you currently use? (With poll)

[chimaxi83]

Full custom loop, XSPC CPU block, radiators, and bay reservoir with upgraded variable speed pump mounted inside, EK full cover GPU blocks.

 

[imaheadcase]

I tend to like the blower-style coolers since:

1) My motherboard is rotated 90°
2) I am currently using 3-way SLI

I guess my only other choice is water with this type of setup, but that can be pricey.

Has 3-way SLI, complains about price of water cooling it people..

 

[exar333]

I always do core only and either custom make or buy separate heatsinks for the VRMs and VRAM.

I was wondering if anyone would respond with a core-only water-cooling selection.

Is this because it allows for swapping GPUs more frequently without needing to get a custom block every time? I was trying to decide this myself when I went water-cooled last fall, but decided on a full-block for VRM cooling as well. I could see the added flexibility here if you swapped GPUs semi-regularly.

 

[chimaxi83]

I was wondering if anyone would respond with a core-only water-cooling selection.

Is this because it allows for swapping GPUs more frequently without needing to get a custom block every time? I was trying to decide this myself when I went water-cooled last fall, but decided on a full-block for VRM cooling as well. I could see the added flexibility here if you swapped GPUs semi-regularly.

I used to do core only. The block came with brackets for use with either AMD or Nvidia, which made them simple to use in any system. I decided to stick with full cover because I don't switch cards as much as I used to, and because water cooling the VRMs allowed for a little better OC and stability.

 

[BHZ-GTR]

Hi

Cooling my GPU is dual 90mm ultra huge dual fan

 

[MiRai]

I tend to like the blower-style coolers since:

1) My motherboard is rotated 90°
2) I am currently using 3-way SLI

I guess my only other choice is water with this type of setup, but that can be pricey.

Has 3-way SLI, complains about price of water cooling it people..

Not complaining one bit, but adding another $700 - $1,000 on top of $2,100 of GPUs since I'd need all of the hardware and equipment to do it (and I might as well add in the CPU to the loop), can be pricey.

 

[KaRLiToS]

Full Cover Blocks

 

[Kenmitch]

Blower style on my reference design 970. Works fine for 970 even overclocked. Turned led off.

 

[MrTeal]

I selected other, since mine is goofy. I have two Swiftech H220s on my R9 290 GPU cores, but I made a t-shaped piece of copper to cover the VRM fets and inductors and soldered it to the base of an old AIO head with a failed pump and connected that to the loop. It's not true full coverage, but it effectively performs almost the same. VRM temps under Furmark dropped from over 100C with the Gelid VRM kit to 50C.

 

[xthetenth]

I selected other, since mine is goofy. I have two Swiftech H220s on my R9 290 GPU cores, but I made a t-shaped piece of copper to cover the VRM fets and inductors and soldered it to the base of an old AIO head with a failed pump and connected that to the loop. It's not true full coverage, but it effectively performs almost the same. VRM temps under Furmark dropped from over 100C with the Gelid VRM kit to 50C.

Is that with a 295 card? I'm having a hard time figuring out exactly how this is laid out.

 

[MrTeal]

Oh, there's two 290s in CF. Each one has a H220, with the custom jerry rigged VRM block added into the loop.

 

[xthetenth]

Oh, there's two 290s in CF. Each one has a H220, with the custom jerry rigged VRM block added into the loop.

I'd love to see a picture.

 

[MentalIlness]

 

[MrTeal]

I'd love to see a picture.

Sure. It's kind of tough to see without pulling it out of the case, but you get the basic idea.

The output of the H220 feeds the second block which was salvaged from an out of warranty H220 with a failed pump. I just soldered that on to a piece of copper that's coupled the the FETs and inductors.

Also, on the PLL heatsink I just cut a t shaped piece of 3/8" aluminum to connect to the FETs and clear the surrounding components, and then screwed a heatsink I had laying around to it.

 

[exar333]

Sure. It's kind of tough to see without pulling it out of the case, but you get the basic idea.

The output of the H220 feeds the second block which was salvaged from an out of warranty H220 with a failed pump. I just soldered that on to a piece of copper that's coupled the the FETs and inductors.

Also, on the PLL heatsink I just cut a t shaped piece of 3/8" aluminum to connect to the FETs and clear the surrounding components, and then screwed a heatsink I had laying around to it.

That's really clever. Sounds like some nice temp improvements to...

 

[exar333]

Glad so many people voted in the thread! 100+

Currently at roughly a 2:1:1 ration for multiple fans/blowers/watercooled setups (AIO/custom together).

 

[Bubbleawsome]

This beast.

Easily my favorite GPU cooler ever.

 

[Makaveli]

Sure. It's kind of tough to see without pulling it out of the case, but you get the basic idea.

The output of the H220 feeds the second block which was salvaged from an out of warranty H220 with a failed pump. I just soldered that on to a piece of copper that's coupled the the FETs and inductors.

Also, on the PLL heatsink I just cut a t shaped piece of 3/8" aluminum to connect to the FETs and clear the surrounding components, and then screwed a heatsink I had laying around to it.

That is a crazy setup up dude looks to use up alot of space also.

I myself would have probably just gonna with two G10 brackets with H90's with both rads at the front of the case.

Love the creativity tho.

 

[MrTeal]

That is a crazy setup up dude looks to use up alot of space also.

I myself would have probably just gonna with two G10 brackets with H90's with both rads at the front of the case.

Love the creativity tho.

It doesn't take more than the G10, it's just triple slot. I can still fit two of them in the case. The G10 was my first thought; I have one sitting in a box, but wasn't able to use it with the H55 I had. The bottom of the H55 was so convex that it was impossible to get decent contact on the perfectly flat GPU die. I might have tried another Asetek cooler, but I had a bunch of the H220s so I just went with them.

 

[yacoub]

Dual/triple fan is the only way to go short of stepping into the world of watercooling. Blowers are too noisy and inefficient, and watercooling is something I haven't wanted to bother with. Just give me a quality heatsink that actually connects to all the important bits (GPU, VRAM, mosfets), and 2-3 large fans that can turn quietly and we're golden.

 

[exar333]

Dual/triple fan is the only way to go short of stepping into the world of watercooling. Blowers are too noisy and inefficient, and watercooling is something I haven't wanted to bother with. Just give me a quality heatsink that actually connects to all the important bits (GPU, VRAM, mosfets), and 2-3 large fans that can turn quietly and we're golden.

I definitely agree.

Outside of the space my rads take up, watercooling is just so nice because it keeps the middle part of your MB area such more open. Coming from a triple-fan NH-D14 w/ triple-fan 670 in my past life, its SO much more open and accessible. It definitely took some time and funds to get there, but so worth it...

Edit: My build thread from last year: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2403342&highlight=

 

[exar333]

Ill give the thread one last bump. Poll has 2 days left.

Thanks to all who have already responded.

 

[MentalIlness]

I have this on my EVGA 9800GTX

 

[exar333]

I have this on my EVGA 9800GTX

Quite the setup. Guessing that takes-up three slots? How is the volume on the fans?

 

[Makaveli]

It doesn't take more than the G10, it's just triple slot. I can still fit two of them in the case. The G10 was my first thought; I have one sitting in a box, but wasn't able to use it with the H55 I had. The bottom of the H55 was so convex that it was impossible to get decent contact on the perfectly flat GPU die. I might have tried another Asetek cooler, but I had a bunch of the H220s so I just went with them.

ahh I c makes sense.

guess you can lap that H55 and use it and the G10 for a future gpu maybe.