EK 285 GTX Full Cover Blocks...

[RedRaider]

Here are the newly posted EK 285 GTX Full Cover waterblocks posted at EK Waterblocks - GPU blocks (http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/index.php?cPath=21_31_42).

I for one am not enthralled regarding Eddy's decision to use black anodized aluminum to cool the mosfets. Not the best performance/esthetic solution.

The price difference between the 280GTX and 285GTX is negligible, due to decreasing the amount of copper and replacing it with aluminum. :hmm:

EK 280GTX - Nickel Block = $128.20
EK 285GTX - Nickel Block = $124.15

These mosfets should get pretty toasty with eVGA's new voltmod tool...


Acrylic/Copper

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3521/3233350380_d34c08c26f_o.jpg


Acetal/Copper

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3120/3233350278_bd73337fed_o.jpg

Acrylic/Nickel

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3233350370_c070caa16a_o.jpg

Acetal/Nickel

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3527/3233350304_1206ed8647_o.jpg


Eddy's post of the backside of the 285 GTX block, notice the standoffs...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3512/3233351404_9cb1dd9e82_o.jpg




EK 280GTX vs. 285GTX

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3233350248_2817d15e3a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3233350370_c070caa16a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3369/3232503435_0f06da4010_o.jpg

[Sniper]

Well it certainly looks better than the 280 version that's for sure but aluminum or delrin either cool about the same don't they?

imo a Full Cover block should be just that a full cover like the Aqua or FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU blocks really.

[ballz0r]

looks good... the aluminum is just like their old 8800GTX/Ultra block... it shouldnt be an issue.

it looks like those screws are countersunk so fingers crossed that its single slot

[Sniper]

Is that what they used on those? I have some here & thought it was delrin lmao.

[ballz0r]

lol... I dont think delrin has very good heat conductivity :D

[Sniper]

Yeah I just new it was black haha wasn't sure what it was made of lol

[RedRaider]

I do feel that more heat from the mosfets can be transfered by using a single piece of copper. The 280GTX block seems like it would transfer some of the mosfet heat into the water...:shrug:

The standoffs appear to be plastic. Will definitely eliminate some "less experienced" users from frying their cards...;)

I'm liking the Aqua-Computer block myself...:D Just wish they'd make them SLI friendly...:shake:

[ballz0r]

The FC-8800 blocks used the same concept and they worked well... FYI you put some TIM in between the copper and al parts and its sweet.

I for one am all for reducing the amount of copper we use... If we used less copper, demand would reduce and the price would come down.

[zlojack]

Aluminum isn't a bad heat dissipation material.

I guess we'll have to see if it affects the performance in a negative manner.

I doubt it would make much of a difference in this case.

Still, I agree with Cutless on one thing...if the FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU block gives the same performance and the same quality and looks better (IMO), why bother with this one? That plus the FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU is single-slot.

[RedRaider]

:shake: What is the world coming to :shake:

[zlojack]

:shake: What is the world coming to :shake:
Well...it's either that or DD :)

Single-slot FTW

The fact is, the most recent FC blocks from FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU have been quality.

If AC would get their SLI design in gear, I'd be all over it, but...unfortunately, it's not happening.

Eddie makes good blocks, but I've seen signs of slipping QC lately, which isn't a good thing.

I hope he's taken the time to make sure this block comes out right.

[Cutless009]

I for one vote we start a petition to Vincent to force him to start making FC blocks :) mmmm, can you imagine, bp sexyness in the form of a block? HELL YAH. MAke that shit like copper bottom and give options for the tops like black sparkle, silver shining, copper flatted brass, and delrin/acrylic, holy shit, Id so be on that like white on rice...:crack:

** racist comments will not be tolerated **

[RedRaider]

I for one vote we start a petition to Vincent to force him to start making FC blocks :) mmmm, can you imagine, bp sexyness in the form of a block? HELL YAH. MAke that shit like copper bottom and give options for the tops like black sparkle, silver shining, copper flatted brass, and delrin/acrylic, holy shit, Id so be on that like white on rice...:)

:wasntme:

[zlojack]

:wasntme:
What do you know? :fight11:

Spill it so I don't buy FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU only to see BP blocks two weeks later!

As I've said...find me a single-slot alternative that works as well with SLI and is readily available and I'll consider it. :)

[Sniper]

What do you know? :fight11:

Spill it so I don't buy FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU only to see BP blocks two weeks later!



As I've said...find me a single-slot alternative that works as well with SLI and is readily available and I'll consider it. :)

It'll no doubt be anywhere near as nice looking as the FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU blocks. Personally I have the EK & It looks ok for my 8800GTX but anything newer looks hidious imo. I like the Aqua & FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU TOTAL FULL COVER style & finish much better than anything anyone makes period!

[Cutless009]

Eddy as a person has done nothing but earn my respect thus far, and one mistake does not warrant or justify the removal of said respect in my eyes. I will however state that I believe this product is rubbish.

And bluntly, its crap. It's made out of seperate metals which is going to reduce the efficiency, hardly any heat from the aluminum plate is going to be transfered into the water with this design. The standoffs are horrendous and made out of some very cheap-looking material, and looks as if they are glued on at that. The actual shape of it is aesthetically undesireable, and over as a product I am severely disappointed.

All of this is really a shame considering that I have been EAGERLY awaiting EK's entry into the 285 category. Now it just looks like eddy is trying to get as much money as he can out of these blocks. As I dont know how things are milled exactly Im not sure how much trouble it would have been to mill in those standoffs instead of putting those cheap plastic things on there, or what the reasoning behind that was, but I just feel cheated.

Ive said it before and Ill say to again in case anyone missed it, this market is in the middle of a transition. The general public is becoming aware of the existence of water cooling, and we are about to go mainstream. If you think we already are, think again, water cooling is the next "drifting", pretty soon itll be just another wanna be geek fad and not just something that those of us who like to push our hardware to the limits do. In the midst of these changes companies such as EK are trying to lower their costs of manufacturing while mainting their price point in order to ride this wave thats coming in as high as possible and make as much money as possible, the downside of this is that we the consumer suffer in terms of quality, aesthetics, performance, and every other aspect because of this, and I firmly believe that this block is just more proof that what Ive been saying is right.

I can only hope that Eddy makes a turn around and surprises us all with a product thats not only functional, but aesthetically pleasing, and well built.

[ballz0r]

re: standoffs... the only purpose is to provide physical separation or the block from the circuitry so that noobs dont overtighten and fry their cards... if u choose to use them you wont see them... by the way the "legendary" BP Blackfreezer uses the same type of standoffs

re: thermal conduction of aluminum to copper... both are good conductors of heat and with TIM in the joint I believe performance will be fine

re: looks... I prefer the looks of the nickel plated variant over FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU (http://www.FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=777) and AC's (http://shop.aquacomputer.de/product_info.php?products_id=2212) option isnt really SLI friendly

id buy one... or three based on looks, but ill wait for testing

[Xilikon]

Eddy as a person has done nothing but earn my respect thus far, and one mistake does not warrant or justify the removal of said respect in my eyes. I will however state that I believe this product is rubbish.

And bluntly, its crap. It's made out of seperate metals which is going to reduce the efficiency, hardly any heat from the aluminum plate is going to be transfered into the water with this design. The standoffs are horrendous and made out of some very cheap-looking material, and looks as if they are glued on at that. The actual shape of it is aesthetically undesireable, and over as a product I am severely disappointed.

Aluminium is quick to transfer heat from a part to another and with some thermal paste on the contact points, it's ok (mosfets is designed to run hot). This idea has been used on the G80 8800GTS/GTX/Ultra blocks as well and it's a great idea because the mosfet plate is the only different part between the cards.

As for standoffs, why judge on looks and material if it's designed to be hidden when the block is mounted on the card ? Standoffs is a long-time request of the public since the GTX 280 block fiasco. Using plastic is a sensible design choice because it's dielectric (won't conduce electricity) and it make it more "inexperienced user-proof".

As for the shape, beauty is only in the eyes of the beholder ;)


All of this is really a shame considering that I have been EAGERLY awaiting EK's entry into the 285 category. Now it just looks like eddy is trying to get as much money as he can out of these blocks. As I dont know how things are milled exactly Im not sure how much trouble it would have been to mill in those standoffs instead of putting those cheap plastic things on there, or what the reasoning behind that was, but I just feel cheated.

As I said above, those standoffs is a better choice than milled copper standoffs. It's also much simpler to machine like that which help avoid mistakes (If you milled a standoff a bit off, it can cause issues and the block is trashed).

Ive said it before and Ill say to again in case anyone missed it, this market is in the middle of a transition. The general public is becoming aware of the existence of water cooling, and we are about to go mainstream. If you think we already are, think again, water cooling is the next "drifting", pretty soon itll be just another wanna be geek fad and not just something that those of us who like to push our hardware to the limits do. In the midst of these changes companies such as EK are trying to lower their costs of manufacturing while mainting their price point in order to ride this wave thats coming in as high as possible and make as much money as possible, the downside of this is that we the consumer suffer in terms of quality, aesthetics, performance, and every other aspect because of this, and I firmly believe that this block is just more proof that what Ive been saying is right.

I can only hope that Eddy makes a turn around and surprises us all with a product thats not only functional, but aesthetically pleasing, and well built.

Remember, it's a free market and if people buy what is offered by EK, there's nothing we can do. You aren't even forced to pick that card if you don't like but please don't bash by using baseless reasons. A "I don't like this and I'll look elsewhere" would have been more appropriate.

[Xilikon]

Thread reopened... Please post valid arguments and not baseless attacks.

[coolmiester]

I know one of the reasons Eddy doesn't mill the standoff from copper is that each block would need milling from a 3 or 4mm thicker piece of copper which doesn't sound like much but adds to over-all cost dramatically and he's having enough trouble keeping in touch price wise with the cheaper costs out East, so to me it seems a perfectly reasonable way of going about a solution without adding more $$'s, €'s or ££'s

[mcoffey]

As someone else said, the AL I/O Mosfet cooling extension is just like the old 8800 GTX FC block, works well, keeps the weight down and reduces costs. I don't think I'd use a CU option if they offered it. No reason too really.

As far as the standoff's go, I have no issue with the way EK did that as long as they work well, which by the looks of things they do.

But to each their own,

andyc

[Septim]

well with this "stand offs" now provided, i hope to hear no more Novices killing their $500 gpus... hehehe...

[coolmiester]

I think that was the point though.

I wouldn't class myself as a novice but i managed to kill three GTX260's :(

[Snyxxx]

I wonder if the water will "stagnate" at the far left side of the block. It looks as if the easiest path of flow would be around the side by the GPU "wave" channels and bypass that region.

I think if there was more of an "island" to force the water to the far left side that i might cool better. :shrug:

Also, I wish eddy would put an O-ring on the islands to prevent cross-channel flow, though I have not really seen this as a problem, just a design consideration.

In regards to the stand-offs, everyone moaned when he did not have them. Now that he is at least addressing the issue, people still moan. I like the sepaaret stand-offs as I can modify them myself if contact is not perfect.

The separate aluminum MOSFET palte is how Eddy started with the FC 8800 GTXs. I have them and had no issues.

[Septim]

yes, he should have made it continuous flow...

and there is still the issue of coolant flowing across the middle of top cover and copper bottom, in acrylic cover these sort of leaves stain in the middle... i think an extra o-ring groove should have been implemented...

[ballz0r]

i've contacted EK to see if we can get a sample pre-release for testing.

it would make a good first product review for our testing section.

[Baleful]

Glad to see Eddy is incorporating standoffs now. They may be plastic but who cares if they work and save you some $$. You can't see them so it shouldn't matter.

The milling on the backside of the card looks pretty rough though, I hope retail models don't look like this.

As for the FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU FC blocks, who cares who makes them? I look at it like this: If the block is of good quality, works very well and is priced right, I don't give a flying pig's dick who makes it. FUFUFUFUFUFUFUFU has been known in the past to make some HORRIBLE products, but their new line doesn't seem to bad.

I personally don't like EK blocks or fittings for that matter, but that's just me. It doesn't necessarily mean EK FTL, but to each his own. Keep the flaming and fanboyism out, lets have some good clean fun.

@Ballz0r: Nice work man, I would like to see a retail version of this.

[RedRaider]

Well I found this on the World Wide Web...

It is a flow diagram from Eddy, he stated that the little booger leg on the left doesn't effect flow negatively, rather gives a little extra cooling to some small chips.

Eddy also stated this is a SINGLE SLOT block...;)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3235145063_00f0799b89_o.jpg

[zlojack]

Single slot, eh?

I'll wait to see actual pics of it installed and some sort of review.

[Septim]

hmm in that water diagram he has little movement of water on the longer side...
maybe add some length to that island in the middle, 1 cm should help water flow on that side...

[ballz0r]

I dont think it really needs much flow round there

the old 8800 block had no water over that chip
http://ekwaterblocks.com/shop/images/FC8800-Acetal.jpg

[RedRaider]

I agree Septim, sure is alot of wasted space on the bottom right of the block. No flow at all...:hmm:

[ballz0r]

do you have the legend for that image red? dark blue is no flow or just low?

[HESmelaugh]

I'm in favour of the plastic standoffs. In fact, I don't give a damn what the standoffs are made of, I just want them to be included in some way, shape or form.

One thing I want to add about that Alu extension: It's the same basic design as with the HD 4870 waterblocks by EK, and let me tell you, for that graphics card, this design is a godsend.
There are so many different PCB-layouts for HD4870 graphics cards, it's really insane. Eddy is the only manufacturer to offer blocks for four different PCB 4870 PCB designs. This is achieved by providing different Alu-extensions that fit onto the same copper block.

For many users of Gainward, Sapphire or 1GB 4870 cards, Eddy is the only hope.
So that design gets a big :up: :up: :up: from me. :)

[RedRaider]

No legend, it would appear that dark blue is very low flow..:shrug:

[ballz0r]

No legend, it would appear that dark blue is very low flow..:shrug:also it appears (due to the streams coming off the gpu) that the flow is anti clockwise on that picture, so the only flow going to the area on the right would be due to eddy currents (no pun intended)

If it were flowing clockwise the momentum of the water should create more flow through that "dead spot"

///

just got a reply from Eddy, no pre-release sample, they are going straight from production to release. I guess when you have that much experience prototypes arent necessary :)

I just ordered a nickel plated block from EK direct ill let you guys know when it gets here :up: