Motherboard with more room for SLI

[casshern09]

Hey folks.
I have recently finished my new PC..

Intel i7 970 3.2ghz (6 cores, 12 CPU's)
16GB DDR3 RAM (2000mhz)
2 x Gigabyte GTX 580 SLI
X-Fi Titanium Pro
120mhz Benq Monitor 1920x1080
Gigabyte X58A-UD3R Mobo
Corsair Professional Series 1200 PSU
Win 7

Unfortunately I am having overheating issues with my primary card. They are both right on top of each other and the primary cards stock fans are being blocked by the second. I was going to try and use an after market heat sink http://www.zalman.com/ENG/product/Product_Read.asp?idx=443
but basically I cannot get the heat sink off. I heard that they don't come off in some cases. So basically my only other option is to sell one card and get another (cant send it back) or try and get another mobo that would allow more breathing room for the cards.

So, will this actually make a difference? My mobo at the moment is http://www.ebuyer.com/195332-gigabyte-ga-x58a-ud5-intel-x58-socket-1366-8-channel-audio-atx-motherboard-ga-x58a-ud5 similar to this (in layout) so you can see how it is cramped.

I came across http://www.ebuyer.com/219009-asus-rampage-iii-extreme-x58-socket-1366-8-channel-hd-audio-atx-rampage-iii-extreme this one and thought this might do the trick. Please let me know what you think.

Cheers

 

[x Heavy]

Why not pick any of the Z68 boards that are made for tri or even Quad video cards? Those old X58 boards have seen their day come and go.

You are however, are on the right path by trying to separate physically the cards any way you can. My two cards are about 1/3 of a inch apart (The slot between them is unusable) and I force air through and around those cards with very high pressure Ultra Kaze and Delta fans in addition to the giant fans on my HAF X.

I am even considering carefully of replacing the video card's alumium fins with Copper ones from Zalman. However that would be a extreme big medicine surgery for me. And one I am not prepared to do without practicing on a few old dead cards first.

If you insist on keeping your boards in X58, then I suggest a good case with lots of room like the HAF X and a watercooling solution to your VGA heating.

 

[casshern09]

Thanks for the reply.
I don't really mind what mobo I get. Can you suggest a good one? At this point I just want one that is better in terms of room for my cards.

I do have that case though Bought it a while back.

I was looking in to water cooling but because I cannot get the heat sinks off the cards it would make it impossible to use no? Correct me If I am wrong though.

 

[casshern09]

Oh looks like I cant use z68 as my processor needs a 1366 mobo.