SLI cooling help

[Cybcom]

Hello Everyone,

I just purchased a second gtx 580 today to go sli with and am wondering about what kind of cooling solution I would need. Both cards are the standard 1.5gb version by Evga. Other than that I also have a 2600k being cooled by a cm hyper 212 evo with one fan on the heat sink. My rig is currently inside a cm 690 2 basic at the moment, it seems the case allows me to place one more fan on the side panel, and maybe two more at the top. Should I get a different case? or just add more fans? or both? It's my first time going SLI, so I'm a complete newbie to the concept of setting up a good airflow. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[chugot9218]

It is going to partially depend on the construction of the cards. I have a Gigabyte GTX670 and the way it exhausts heat into the case would spew the hot air from the bottom card right onto the top card. I plan on adding a side fan to blow on the video cards as well as an internal fan to blow on the cards from the side, hoping to get fresh air to the cards from the side panel fan and the internal fan will push the hot air towards the top/rear exhaust. You shouldn't worry about cooling until you notice a heating problem, install and do some benchmarks and check your temps.

 

[Cybcom]

Thanks for the replies guys. Here are some pictures of my current setup, the new PSU that I bought along with everything else turned out to be DOA so I have to go and replace that first. The mobo is an ASUS Z77-V pro, I tried putting in both cards and it seems like there's a nice little gap between card 1 and 2, nevertheless it still feels pretty cramped inside with all the wires and such, even after I tried routing them (which I am pretty bad at)

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/840/imag0030ll.jpg/

 

[Cybcom]

Sorry, double post.

 

[chugot9218]

Just make sure that your cables are not obstructing any airflow to the GPU's after you get the second one installed, you should be okay, does that card exhaust out the rear of the case or internally or both?

 

[Cybcom]

not sure about that one, there are vents on the back ends of those cards so I guess out the back? GTX 580s still get pretty hot though, from what I remember.

 

[chugot9218]

Yes, it does. I cannot recall on my GPU if it vents out the back there as you describe or if it vents into the case... either its intaking hot air from the inside or exhausting the hot air into it. I'd say as long as you have proper airflow to the cards you should be good to go, you are certainly not the first one to sli two 580's!

 

[dingo07]

you should have at least 2 fans on your removable side panel - it looks like you will have a space between the cards, but the top card will be sucking hot air off the board below it

make sure your front case fan is up to par to push enough fresh air in as well

 

[Cybcom]

double post again, sorry

 

[Cybcom]

Thanks for the replies guys, if I do decide to get a new case, what kind would be good for airflow? also, what kind of fans should I get for the case?

 

[Bolivious]

Depending on your budget I suggest either:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163180&Tpk=raven rv-03

or if you want to spend less

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=haf 912

Right in the middle:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139010

The Raven is unique as well as functional with great cable management and layout.

The HAF is tried and true.

Corsair cases have some of the best features available in terms of cable management and fan placement, and the 500R is their best for air cooling.

I personally have a HAF X and can't say enough about the HAF line, so anything in their series is a winner, but if I had to pick another case right now, the Raven would win easily.

Good luck!

 

[dingo07]

the 500R will do wonders for your SLI configuration