hi guys, there is a duplication in the second paragraph.
Also its a little hard to tell from the first and fourth pictures but Im guessing you would need at least one slots separation to effectively use HG10 in an SLI setup?
I haven't really followed the AIO GPU coolers, but I would hope that it falls in between the nicer air coolers and a full-fledged custom water cooling setup. As long as your water cooling setup is good (can handle the heat output properly), you pretty much never hear it regardless of the stress on your GPU. I'm using a Gigabyte Windforce 780 Ti, and if I have the GPU above 75% utilization, I can definitely hear the fan. It isn't excessively loud, but it's definitely audible.
These also present a good cost advantage over a water cooling setup. A (full) water block will usually run you about $100-120, and they're usually restricted to specific card layouts. That means you may need to switch the block out if you buy a new card. With this, you just have to switch out the bracket, which is because this AIO setup is more like GPU-only water blocks.
Personally, I would consider this, but I probably wouldn't do it because I don't want to go through the hassle. I have some water cooling components left over, and I'd rather just pay the $100 for a block for my 780 Ti and just build a "simple" video card-only loop.
There ARE graphically intensive games that feature quiet/tense moments where a loud card might be intrusive... :p And the best headphones are open so that isn't a scapegoat either!
Nothing beats water cooling for GPU's because their TDP is so much higher than any mainstream CPU, usually 2-3x higher. That's 2-3x more heat to move. Even an overclocked i7 at 1.3v uses under 130 watts, where most high end GPU's are at least 160. Default voltage desktop CPU's are between 65-88 watts.
However, $40 for a bracket is ridiculous. Arctic Cooling has a complete kit for $120 that includes everything, even a heatsink back plate for the memory and VRM's. A cheaper DIY option is the Kraken 20, which is often on sale for <$30, although the quality is iffy (I installed one and a thread was striped.)
The problem with a $40 bracket is a solid copper water block costs about that much, and at that point you could make your own bracket out of a 3" piece of aluminum, a TIM pad and a drill with a 1/8" bit.
well given that it would cost many people more money to buy the tools and materials needed to manufacture their own bracket, I consider 30-40 a fair price. I have the NZXT version (coupled with a Gelid VRM heatsink) on my reference R9 290 and it runs at 75C at 1180/1350 with undetectable noise (with a lowly Kuhler 620!!!). The VRMs and GPU at 1180/1350 (+150mv) were significantly cooler and quieter than my Asus Direct CU II 290 @ 1115/1350 +75mv.
I only got the G10 because I got a reference card on release, I probably would not have bothered if I had gotten something like the DCU card to start with. The Corsair version appears to handle VRM cooling as well, and I actually waited a few months when they originally announced it but no one had them in stock so I went with the NZXT.
Odds are it'll fit, but it might not compensate for cooling the VRM's or something. Who knows. The bolt pattern hasn't changed for NVidia GPU's 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90-series throughout Kepler and Maxwell. Many Fermi cards even had the same bolt pattern. Things get tricky, however, when you have a non-reference card. I had a Gigabyte 970 ITX card that was a completely custom PCB (shorter and taller) but the bolt pattern was STILL the same.
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WatcherCK - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
hi guys, there is a duplication in the second paragraph.Also its a little hard to tell from the first and fourth pictures but Im guessing you would need at least one slots separation to effectively use HG10 in an SLI setup?
The_Assimilator - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
Due to the way the tubing is oriented, yes.The_Assimilator - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
$40 for a metal bracket? How about I take that $40 and spend it on a graphics card with a slightly better cooler, so I don't need this?Aikouka - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
I haven't really followed the AIO GPU coolers, but I would hope that it falls in between the nicer air coolers and a full-fledged custom water cooling setup. As long as your water cooling setup is good (can handle the heat output properly), you pretty much never hear it regardless of the stress on your GPU. I'm using a Gigabyte Windforce 780 Ti, and if I have the GPU above 75% utilization, I can definitely hear the fan. It isn't excessively loud, but it's definitely audible.These also present a good cost advantage over a water cooling setup. A (full) water block will usually run you about $100-120, and they're usually restricted to specific card layouts. That means you may need to switch the block out if you buy a new card. With this, you just have to switch out the bracket, which is because this AIO setup is more like GPU-only water blocks.
Personally, I would consider this, but I probably wouldn't do it because I don't want to go through the hassle. I have some water cooling components left over, and I'd rather just pay the $100 for a block for my 780 Ti and just build a "simple" video card-only loop.
StevoLincolnite - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
I don't understand why noise is such an issue with GPU's.Sure at idle it's nice for it to be silent, but at load? I would be gaming. - And when I am gaming... My windows are vibrating from the sound system.
Impulses - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
There ARE graphically intensive games that feature quiet/tense moments where a loud card might be intrusive... :p And the best headphones are open so that isn't a scapegoat either!Samus - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
Nothing beats water cooling for GPU's because their TDP is so much higher than any mainstream CPU, usually 2-3x higher. That's 2-3x more heat to move. Even an overclocked i7 at 1.3v uses under 130 watts, where most high end GPU's are at least 160. Default voltage desktop CPU's are between 65-88 watts.However, $40 for a bracket is ridiculous. Arctic Cooling has a complete kit for $120 that includes everything, even a heatsink back plate for the memory and VRM's. A cheaper DIY option is the Kraken 20, which is often on sale for <$30, although the quality is iffy (I installed one and a thread was striped.)
The problem with a $40 bracket is a solid copper water block costs about that much, and at that point you could make your own bracket out of a 3" piece of aluminum, a TIM pad and a drill with a 1/8" bit.
abhaxus - Thursday, January 8, 2015 - link
well given that it would cost many people more money to buy the tools and materials needed to manufacture their own bracket, I consider 30-40 a fair price. I have the NZXT version (coupled with a Gelid VRM heatsink) on my reference R9 290 and it runs at 75C at 1180/1350 with undetectable noise (with a lowly Kuhler 620!!!). The VRMs and GPU at 1180/1350 (+150mv) were significantly cooler and quieter than my Asus Direct CU II 290 @ 1115/1350 +75mv.I only got the G10 because I got a reference card on release, I probably would not have bothered if I had gotten something like the DCU card to start with. The Corsair version appears to handle VRM cooling as well, and I actually waited a few months when they originally announced it but no one had them in stock so I went with the NZXT.
Antronman - Thursday, January 8, 2015 - link
http://www.frozencpu.com/A waterblock costs around $90.
Unless you make it yourself. But in order to make a decent waterblock yourself, you need steady hands and a dremel is a fairly expensive tool.
Aluminum is not metal I would ever recommend for a waterblock. Galvanic corrosion's a bitch.
Copper or Nickel only, avoid mixing metals (except for silver + copper, copper + nickel).
rtho782 - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
Why no 980 compatibility for the GPU bracket, this would be ideal for me.Samus - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link
Odds are it'll fit, but it might not compensate for cooling the VRM's or something. Who knows. The bolt pattern hasn't changed for NVidia GPU's 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90-series throughout Kepler and Maxwell. Many Fermi cards even had the same bolt pattern. Things get tricky, however, when you have a non-reference card. I had a Gigabyte 970 ITX card that was a completely custom PCB (shorter and taller) but the bolt pattern was STILL the same.bigtymerr - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link
The hitchhiker's guide to PC buildingutkarsh.coderscreed.co