Watercooling/overclocking reference cards easier than factory oc card?

[guzami77]

Im trying to decide what 580 to buy knowing I may add a waterblock in the future? Is it typcially better to get a card with factory clock/settings? Or can I go with the EVGA black ops, Zotac AMP!, or MSI lightning when it is released? and add a waterblock to those

 

[ortoklaz]

EVGA have the best warranty/support ,most of this cards are already out and if you want to push your card this will give you some ideas;
http://www.overclock.net/nvidia/890903-nvidia-gtx-570-580-owners-club.html

 

[ortoklaz]

I would suggest EVGA vanilla, you don't need to spend extra $ and Just OC it yourself ,here is a round up of water blocks (for reference )
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=262937

 

[guzami77]

The second link/post if for 480s. I thought 580s had a different board layout.

 

[ortoklaz]

The second link/post if for 480s. I thought 580s had a different board layout.

yes ,the link is just for the reference/performance I have EK FC580 on my 570 and i'm very happy with it

 

[rubix_1011]

I've had an EVGA card die and I told them I had it watercooled (not the cause of it dying) and they didn't care...I put the stock cooler back on, shipped it back, and got a replacement.

MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER YOUR EGVA STUFF WHEN YOU GET IT...If you don't, they won't RMA anything.

 

[ortoklaz]

^ +1 EVGA allow overclocking and BIOS flashing(if you use evga bios) and have 90 day step up program

 

[wolfram23]

One thing to note, many waterblocks are built around REFERENCE model PCB, so it's a risk that you literally cannot buy a compatible waterblock with a custom PCB card.

 

[rubix_1011]

...Unless you get a universal block like the MCW80 or something similar.

 

[ortoklaz]

One thing to note, many waterblocks are built around REFERENCE model PCB, so it's a risk that you literally cannot buy a compatible waterblock with a custom PCB card.

I think all waterblocks are for ref. cards and most of the cards mention here are ref.cards
universal blocks won't provide cooling for memory witch comes with extra$ for heatsinks ,they are the most restrictive blocks, ugly :lol:

 

[rubix_1011]

I use universal blocks...who you callin' ugly?

Yes, you'll need RAMsinks for memory modules and good airflow.

 

[guzami77]

How do I find out if a card uses the reference board? I jumped on the evga 580 black ops edition. I can return them tho if they aren't reference.

 

[ortoklaz]

How do I find out if a card uses the reference board? I jumped on the evga 580 black ops edition. I can return them tho if they aren't reference.

you are fine it's a reference card (black PCB)

 

[ortoklaz]

here


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[JackNaylorPE]

The thing about factory overclocked cards that they are "supposedly" guaranteed to run at that speed. When ya do it yaself, if it don't get there, you have no recourse.

With EVGA however, I can tell you emphatically they they do NOT honor their warranty in this regard. They keep sending my son RMA's, but none of the cards they've sent has been able to run at more than 10% of the spread between the reference clock and so called guaranteed factory overclock.

 

[ortoklaz]

it's not the card..i would suggest this;
http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=169555