A water block for the GPU. How do u want it?

[Bruno Facca]

Please forgive me for any writing errors, english is not my native language.

Ok, you probably read (at least some) of my thread called "The ideal water block" (well if you haven't please do ) , I said I would make water blocks for the northbrigde and the GPU, some people convinced me that I should do the GPU block first. Now it's the time to do it because I'm making the model to cast the final version of my CPU block so want to make the model for the GPU while I'm at it.

I never really made a GPU block but I learned in these boards that GPUs don't dissipate much heat, not nearly as much as a modern CPU, so the block has to focus mainly on restricting as little flow as possible. My first idea is to make a very simple block, it should restrict very little flow and exchange enough heat to cool an overclocked GF4, well I think so, if anyone knows how many watts a GF4 dissipates when it's heavily overclocked that would be usefull info, I guess this block I'm thinking of can cool up to 50 watts without any problems. I made a sketch in photoshop but my FTP client is in my other HD, wich is not installed now so I'll post it later. It consists of a "box" with 3 or 4mm walls, the inlet and outlet in one of the sides and a division in the middle that forces the water to go around it, so it circulates in the whole block, these channels will already be pretty large, if flow restriction is still a problem the block can be made tall to make the channels even bigger.

This block will be made to be compatible with the Geforce 3 and 4, I have a GF2 myself but I'll have to upgrade once I have to begin testing the block.

I would like to know your opinion on the following:

1 - Measurements of the block so it fits on the place of the original GF3 or 4 HSF.

2 - What you think about the design I talked about, this can wait intil I post the sketch I made.

3 - How fast is your Geforce running and how much heat does it dissipates.

Thank you
Bruno Facca

[The Spyder]

i am realy impressed with this block....GF4 water cooling goodness! PICS.

[dimmreaper]

When it comes to a GPU block, I think the best plan is just to keep it as simple as possible. GPUs don't benefit much from the extra cooling, and frame rates aren't greatly increased by what extra little GPU speed you gain, so a GPU waterblock's primary purpose is just to make the system quieter by eliminating a fan.

[Holst]

If your going to watercool your GPU then you should seriously consider a peltier.

You can get some big gains with a pelt and as you dont need a silly wattage for a GPU then its allot less trouble (a good PSU can power a 12v 60watt pelt)
Plus insulation is easyer as you can take the card out.

[JFettig]

i say just make an open casm, dont bother putting flow restrictive channels in the thing, its not worth the restriction of the cpu block

and peltier would be nice, but do what you want or what you think would be best

[Holst]

To give pelt option all you need is 40mm of (flat) surface area and suitable holes for coldplate mounting.

I agree that just a chamber with in and out will be fine for GPU and Chipset.

[Bruno Facca]

@The Spyder: That really looks nice, I don't have resources to made something like that and I think if the side walls here made of copper it's performance could be better but I liked it.

@dimmreaper: I never overclocked a GPU since mine were always good enough for the games I played but I tought it could make a big difference, so it doesn't?

@Holst and maskedgeed: I can easily make support for a coldplate, if you say it's worth it I'll do it.

Thanks
Bruno Facca

[Bruno Facca]

I just got a Prolink Geforce 4 MX440 especially for this project, so I have a way to test the GPU block.

Here's my idea:
http://www.advancedcoolingsolutions.net/bruno/gpu.jpg

I have some questions about block position (inclinated to allow bigger size or "aligned" limiting the size to something around 1cm bigger than than the GPU chip itself). I'll post them tonight because I'm late for something now.

Thanks
Bruno Facca

[Holst]

This is the sort of thing I was thinking of.

Copper Block with side inlets. With soldered cap with holes for mounting (May be able to make one block fit different GPU's, may not)

Then 4 holes drilled through to mount a coldplate beneath for TEC mounting.

The open space between the holes must be at least 41mm^2, so the copper part of the block will probably measure about 50mm^2 using M3 countersunk bolts.
Coldplate should be about 1/4" thick and have countersunk holes (so screws dont protrude)

Im sorry for my poor painshop skills, ive got no graphics package as I recently lost a HDD and had to reinstall.
Can somebody convert this to a JPG for me and post it up.

[Holst]

THis version is much easyer to make and can be shipped without a coldplate if needed.

Now with colour.

[JFettig]

does anyone have the specs of the holes and all??? i could design you something for an idea it would be pretty cool too and easy to make

[The Spyder]

Originally posted by Holst
THis version is much easyer to make and can be shipped without a coldplate if needed.

Now with colour.

holst~ just to clarify~

the green is the hold down~ block~ tec~ then cold plate..... mounts onto the card (not shown)?

Spyder

[Bruno Facca]

In the following pic I'm trying to illustrate how a block that's made to be placed "in a 45 degree" angle related to the video card's edges can be bigger than one that is aligned with the edges. the drawings were made quickly and they're not in scale but they show where the holes on my GF4 MX440 are placed (related to each other and the chip, not the PCB itself because it doesn't really matters..).

The last drawing is my idea for the block (outside part now), it has to be conical to cast nicely and that may be an advantage because the hose fittings being inclined will probably put less strain on the board (because it doesn't has to hold the weight of the hoses, they'll be coming from below).

The "top" (mobile part) of the block is actually the part that goes in contact with the chip, the support will probably be better with the retention part of the block being very close to the board itself, to understand it better look at the outside of my CPU blocks in the other thread and imagine them being placed on the CPU (in out case the GPU) backwards.

http://www.advancedcoolingsolutions.net/bruno/GPU3.jpg

I think this post has gotten pretty confusing, my english is not good enough to explain mechanical details like these, I hope you understood what I meant.

@Holst: I like that, I would have to do some modifications for it to cast nicely but it's something like the basic design I'm looking for.

Thanks
Bruno

[JFettig]

that looks pretty good, you know how you got the top for the other blocks like molded or something? maby mold a top for this block, like as the body and add a copper plate... and use that idea, i have a similar block im thinking about cutting some off and using like that, it has the 45degree enterance and outlet click my www, and go to the forums and waterblocks

[JFettig]

also, if you want me to cad something up for ya, let me know...

[Bruno Facca]

I'll probably start working on the model for the GPU block tomorrow, I hope to have the external walls done by tomorrow afternoon, I'll do the inside (division) the day after tomorrow, so post all of your ideas before it's too late

@maskedgeek: Very nice web site, I spent a couple of hours in there reading the articles and stuff.

also, if you want me to cad something up for ya, let me know...

Thanks, I'll let you know if I need something

Bruno Facca