Water cooling block for Gigabyte R9 280X

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bearsomg

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Dec 21, 2013
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Does a full cover water cooling block exist for the Gigabyte R9 280X Windforce graphics card, preferrably one that has the tube connectors on the top of the card instead of the side of the card? I'm looking to replace the stock cooler with a water cooling system.

Thanks!
 
Solution
manofchalk
The 7970 and 280X are the same card, just rebranded. Most 7970/280X blocks only support a reference design PCB.

Far as I can tell, the only significant difference between the PCB's is that far left red square. A chip there does need to be cooled (at least on the reference), and the capacitors that are there could get in the way of a reference waterblock.
DSCF2925_zps3c8b0776.jpg


The one on the far right is just a heatsink that you can remove, it would be the same underneath.

My advice, email both the block manufacturer and Gigabyte and ask whether the block will fit. Visually it looks like it could, but you just dont know.
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bearsomg

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Dec 21, 2013
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Thanks for the reply!

Yeah, that was the first place I looked, and it didn't come up with anything for VGA full cover, but I wasn't sure if there are any other companies that have made water blocks for this card specifically.

I did just realize that the picture it brings up for the PCB is the actual PCB for the card (not a reference one just to show what standard blocks fit) and it does look almost exactly the same as the picture you posted:

Gigabyte-Radeon-R9-280X-WindForce-3X-OC-3GB-GDDR5-%28GV-R928XOC-3GD%29-PCB.jpg

 
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kaimcsquare

kaimcsquare

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Sep 12, 2012
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Hi I'm desiring an answer to OP's original questions as well; I think I need to watercool my Gigabyte R9 280X .
I haven't done watercooling before and need guidance.

From comparing those two pictures, I can see that they're not exactly the same; those things squared in red are definitely different from the reference 7970 card.

What does this mean? Can the old 7970 waterblocks still fit or what? I really hope it does. :(
 
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manofchalk

manofchalk

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May 11, 2012
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The 7970 and 280X are the same card, just rebranded. Most 7970/280X blocks only support a reference design PCB.

Far as I can tell, the only significant difference between the PCB's is that far left red square. A chip there does need to be cooled (at least on the reference), and the capacitors that are there could get in the way of a reference waterblock.
DSCF2925_zps3c8b0776.jpg


The one on the far right is just a heatsink that you can remove, it would be the same underneath.

My advice, email both the block manufacturer and Gigabyte and ask whether the block will fit. Visually it looks like it could, but you just dont know.
 
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Solution
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DanglingPointer

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Dec 1, 2009
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How did you go mate? I'm in the same boat and would like to watercool a pair of the gigabyte R9-280X OC WF3 cards.
 
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bearsomg

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I've been hunting around, and can't seem to find any definite answers.

When I called Gigabyte I was told (as expected) to not modify the card since it would void the warranty, and I don't have a way to call out of the country so I couldn't contact EKWB. Though, most likely, they would just say there isn't one because their cooling configurator says that there isn't a full VGA cooling block.

 
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DanglingPointer

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I may go the universal block but I'm worried about not having any active cooling on the VRMs. Also since I've got a pair, I may have to use a bridged universal block which will mean I can't put heatsinks on the top RAM chips.

Has anyone here done this? What were your results?
 
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