Best generic GPU waterblock

[QuinRiva]

As far as I'm aware, the VRAM and chokes on most video cards don't appreciably benefit from watercooling, and thus it isn't really necessary to do anything more than whack on a couple of heatsinks and ensure there is sufficient airflow.

Basically, the full cover GPU blocks add signficantly to the cost of a video card, and I think the money would be better spent on a future upgrade (i.e. replacing the video card 6-12 months earlier.) Can anyone recommend a good block that is likely to work across generations? There is a big difference spending $70 on a GPU block that will last me for at least 3 generations, rather than dropping $160 every two years on a new block.

EK VGA Supreme HF seems to be the way to go, but I would welcome recommendations.

[Superchargedftw]

Ek blocks are the way to go, smart stylish and decent performers to boot.

[Creekin]

Originally Posted by Superchargedftw

smart stylish

aww cmon mobile copie..all nickel issues aside..
u cant still srsly think that about the new lino edition??

[Huggy_Bear64]

But my full cover blocks are so pretty

But seriously, just get the heatkiller ones and win at tube routing.

[javascripterror]

Originally Posted by Superchargedftw

Ek blocks are the way to go, smart stylish and decent performers to boot.

Might want to add the Swiftech MCW82 universal block to that list also.

[kazen]

Originally Posted by QuinRiva

As far as I'm aware, the VRAM and chokes on most video cards don't appreciably benefit from watercooling, and thus it isn't really necessary to do anything more than whack on a couple of heatsinks and ensure there is sufficient airflow.

he said when his vrm burnt out because he wasnt cooling them because he was only cooling his GPU core.

Ram on the GPU?, lesser extent, VRM, extremely important.

you will find people who cool their videocards with liquid nitrogen, still have some form of VRM heatsink, or even a fan pointed directly at them, if they dont want the cards power circuitry to burn out.

tl;dr, buy the damn fullcover, or at least find heatsinks for your VRM.

[QuinRiva]

Originally Posted by kazen

he said when his vrm burnt out because he wasnt cooling them because he was only cooling his GPU core.

Ram on the GPU?, lesser extent, VRM, extremely important.

you will find people who cool their videocards with liquid nitrogen, still have some form of VRM heatsink, or even a fan pointed directly at them, if they dont want the cards power circuitry to burn out.

tl;dr, buy the damn fullcover, or at least find heatsinks for your VRM.

I forgot to mention the MOSFETs, but the caps shouldn't need cooling.

[Rory K]

Originally Posted by kazen

he said when his vrm burnt out because he wasnt cooling them because he was only cooling his GPU core.

Ram on the GPU?, lesser extent, VRM, extremely important.

you will find people who cool their videocards with liquid nitrogen, still have some form of VRM heatsink, or even a fan pointed directly at them, if they dont want the cards power circuitry to burn out.

tl;dr, buy the damn fullcover, or at least find heatsinks for your VRM.

Originally Posted by QuinRiva

As far as I'm aware, the VRAM and chokes on most video cards don't appreciably benefit from watercooling, and thus it isn't really necessary to do anything more than whack on a couple of heatsinks and ensure there is sufficient airflow.

Reading: you're doing it wrong...

@OP: IMO there's 2 main reasons people WC. 1, better/quieter cooling, and 2, looks fucking awesome. If you're not doing it for both those reasons, you have too much money. If you are doing it for both of those reasons, then full cover blocks look waaaay cooler...

[Creekin]

Originally Posted by Rory K

@OP: IMO there's 2 main reasons people WC. 1, better/quieter cooling, and 2, looks fucking awesome. If you're not doing it for both those reasons, you have too much money. If you are doing it for both of those reasons, then full cover blocks look waaaay cooler...

/thread

[javascripterror]

Of course you would have take into consideration the three main advantages of GPU only blocks i.e. no worries about non reference cards, somewhat better GPU cooling and transportability across a variety of cards.

[QuinRiva]

Originally Posted by javascripterror

Of course you would have take into consideration the three main advantages of GPU only blocks i.e. no worries about non reference cards, somewhat better GPU cooling and transportability across a variety of cards.

Which is the exact reason I'm going for GPU only blocks. I have a non-reference design (Gigabyte 670 OC Windforce) and I want the transportability. I will potentially get a second 670, but if I'm going to buy full blocks, then that's not very likely. So basically, it comes down to SLI 670's with generic blocks, or a single 670 with a full block - one option clearly makes more sense.

It's nice to have a pretty computer, but I'm not blowing a bunch of money on something that no-one other than a hardcore oc'er is going to notice.