Radeon 5700 XT waterblock nightmare

[Lipe123]

This is a little bit video card and a little liquid cooling related, not sure which forum location is best.

 

I've seen loads of reviews/tests of 5700 XT's on gamersnexus for example and the limiting factor in best to worst there seemed to be cooling mostly?

So question one.

Does it matter which 5700 XT brand I buy if I plan to use a water block on it.?

 

Question two.. 

Every motherloving VGA block manufacturer seems to only have blocks for reference blower design - none of these cards are for sale anymore!!

Or they only have very specific models of cards that I cannot find for sale on newegg/amazon/anywhere.

 

Does anyone know of a decent combo of video card + waterblock that can be purchased in Canada and of course not cost like $1000 for the block alone?

I give zero poops about RGB or any of that frills, just want a basic block to keep the card cool.

 

 

Also inb4 "buy a 2070 super instead" - just don't.

[UpTheDons]

9 minutes ago, Lipe123 said:

This is a little bit video card and a little liquid cooling related, not sure which forum location is best.

 

I've seen loads of reviews/tests of 5700 XT's on gamersnexus for example and the limiting factor in best to worst there seemed to be cooling mostly?

So question one.

Does it matter which 5700 XT brand I buy if I plan to use a water block on it.?

 

Question two.. 

Every motherloving VGA block manufacturer seems to only have blocks for reference blower design - none of these cards are for sale anymore!!

Or they only have very specific models of cards that I cannot find for sale on newegg/amazon/anywhere.

 

Does anyone know of a decent combo of video card + waterblock that can be purchased in Canada and of course not cost like $1000 for the block alone?

I give zero poops about RGB or any of that frills, just want a basic block to keep the card cool.

 

 

Also inb4 "buy a 2070 super instead" - just don't.

any particular reason for liquid cooling. I mean some 5700xt cards do have very good air cooling with the fans. 

[Lipe123]

2 minutes ago, Ed-petit said:

any particular reason for liquid cooling. I mean some 5700xt cards do have very good air cooling with the fans. 

I've been running a gtx 970 with liquid for.. many years. Able to OC it much safer and it makes almost no noise.

Even in hours long gaming sessions top temps are in the mid 50's Celcius.

 

I recognize this is mostly luxury, but isn't that true for any custom liquid loop?

One could very well argue the same point on any liquid cooling, there are plenty adequate air cooling solutions  

[wall03]

this is the subforum to put this in.

 

welcome to the forum! wait

 

edit wuuuuut why did I think tat

[UpTheDons]

10 minutes ago, Lipe123 said:

I've been running a gtx 970 with liquid for.. many years. Able to OC it much safer and it makes almost no noise.

Even in hours long gaming sessions top temps are in the mid 50's Celcius.

 

I recognize this is mostly luxury, but isn't that true for any custom liquid loop?

One could very well argue the same point on any liquid cooling, there are plenty adequate air cooling solutions  

yeah its up to you. temps will be lower and there will be no noise. im not really sure in terms of liquid water blocks so i cant recommend anything.

[-rascal-]

The blocks for the reference design PCBs are the most "universal", and typically the reference boards are the cards they gets water-cooled.

This is applies to nVidia GPUs, too.

 

Obviously, you can't...say... use a reference PCB 5700 XT waterblock for a ASUS ROG StriX 5700 XT, because the PCB is completely different.

 

Which 5700 XT are you planning to get?

 

EDIT:

Also know that some 5700 XTs with custom AIB / vendor heatsink and cooling, STILL uses a reference PCB underneath.

You just need to research, which ones they are.

 

EDIT2:

Ekwb sells waterblock for specificially for the ASUS StriX 5700 XT.

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-quantum-vector-strix-rx-5700-xt-d-rgb-nickel-plexi

 

Alphacool also has a few waterblocks specifically for the...

• XFX Thicc II / III
• AsRock Taichi
• ASUS StriX
• Sapphire Pulse / MSi Mech and Evoke
• MSi Gaming X
• etc..

https://www.alphacool.com/shop/grafikkarten-wasserkuehler/?p=1&o=1&n=25&f=2647

 

Bitspower has a few too...

• XFX RAW II
• ASUS ROG StriX and TUF

https://shop.bitspower.com/index.php?route=product/search&search=5700

[Lipe123]

25 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

The blocks for the reference design PCBs are the most "universal", and typically the reference boards are the cards they gets water-cooled.

This is applies to nVidia GPUs, too.

 

Obviously, you can't...say... use a reference PCB 5700 XT waterblock for a ASUS ROG StriX 5700 XT, because the PCB is completely different.

 

Which 5700 XT are you planning to get?

But reference designs are not for sale anymore, unless I'm blind.

some random reddit post I found but not sure

 

I have no plans on a specific model, I just want anything that I actually can find a block for and it shouldn't suck.

So far I've gone through the big lists of compatible model numbers and then trying to find any of those models for sale and came up with nothing in Canada. If i I have to order from the US there is that lovely 20-30% border tax on top of the crap exchange rate so No.

 

Surely someone must have done this before and found a decent combo for sale in Canada?

 

*edit* For some reason this just sat as a draft and didn't post - maybe because of edits above.

In response to your edits

I've looked at those lists and tried to find those models for sale and couldn't find anything.

[-rascal-]

12 minutes ago, Lipe123 said:

But reference designs are not for sale anymore, unless I'm blind.

some random reddit post I found but not sure

 

I have no plans on a specific model, I just want anything that I actually can find a block for and it shouldn't suck.

So far I've gone through the big lists of compatible model numbers and then trying to find any of those models for sale and came up with nothing in Canada. If i I have to order from the US there is that lovely 20-30% border tax on top of the crap exchange rate so No.

 

Surely someone must have done this before and found a decent combo for sale in Canada?

 

*edit* For some reason this just sat as a draft and didn't post - maybe because of edits above.

In response to your edits

I've looked at those lists and tried to find those models for sale and couldn't find anything.

 

I'm not too sure about water cooling suppliers in Canada (to avoid the 20% ~ 30% extra cost from the US).

I've only order / purchased parts directly from EKwb a few times, but that was before this pandemic crisis...

 

Will have to see what other LTT members have to say...at the moment...

[Lipe123]

8 minutes ago, -rascal- said:

I'm not too sure about water cooling suppliers in Canada (to avoid the 20% ~ 30% extra cost from the US).

I've only order / purchased parts directly from EKwb a few times, but that was before this pandemic crisis...

 

Will have to see what other LTT members have to say...at the moment...

It might be cheaper to order from Europe than USA actually. 

The only place I've had decent pricing from in Canada is this one: https://www.dazmode.com/product-category/watercooling/gpu-blocks/amd-cards/?orderby=price&s=5700&instock_products=in

But all those coolers are for the reference design that's no longer for sale.

 

Anyone have a reference card that's in good condition they want to sell? XD

[Lipe123]

I might have found something but the pricing looks too good to be true..

 

Does anyone have experience with https://www.formulamod.com/ ?

 

For example they have a GPU block for the Gigabyte 5700 XT OC: https://www.formulamod.com/Bykski-GPU-Water-Cooling-Block-For-Gigabyte-RX5700XT-GAMING-OC-8G-Computer-Component-Heat-Dissipation-A-GV5700XTGM-X-p2755091.html

 

[icase81]

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but I was able to use a NZXT Kraken G12 on my MSI 5700 XT EVOKE OC that was supposedly 'not compatible'. No mods, no nothing. I just used some M3 screws through the stock mounting holes and it mounted right up. I'm only using a 120mm EVGA AIO cheapy, but I went from 105C+ junction temps to a max of 78C, and the average package temp is right around 60C now. I also am using a 140mm corsair ML fan at like 600rpm to keep it virtually silent. 

Essentially, I think any 'universal' block may work just fine, it just won't cover the VRM and RAM. With the Kraken, however, the silent 92mm fan that comes with it has kept VRM under 60C during gaming and the RAM hits about 80-85C. I've also left the stock backplate with thermal pads on it, so that's likely passively helping a little bit.

[Lipe123]

5 hours ago, icase81 said:

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but I was able to use a NZXT Kraken G12 on my MSI 5700 XT EVOKE OC that was supposedly 'not compatible'. No mods, no nothing. I just used some M3 screws through the stock mounting holes and it mounted right up. I'm only using a 120mm EVGA AIO cheapy, but I went from 105C+ junction temps to a max of 78C, and the average package temp is right around 60C now. I also am using a 140mm corsair ML fan at like 600rpm to keep it virtually silent. 

Essentially, I think any 'universal' block may work just fine, it just won't cover the VRM and RAM. With the Kraken, however, the silent 92mm fan that comes with it has kept VRM under 60C during gaming and the RAM hits about 80-85C. I've also left the stock backplate with thermal pads on it, so that's likely passively helping a little bit.

Thanks for the info, it certainly helps a bit!

I think I might still go for one of those cheapo byski blocks but right now the 5700xt's are so expensive that I put everything on hold till pricing comes back to more normal levels.

[Muzza1742]

I've got a bykski block on my reference 5700xt, can't complain at all. Average temps are between 49-52 at full chat and junction temps top out around 65-70. Idle temps are around 34.

For £65 it's great

[Lipe123]

On 6/21/2020 at 5:49 AM, Muzza1742 said:

I've got a bykski block on my reference 5700xt, can't complain at all. Average temps are between 49-52 at full chat and junction temps top out around 65-70. Idle temps are around 34.

For £65 it's great

Thanks man, glad to hear there are some people that have used their products before.

 

I can't wait for amd/nvidia to release the new cards so the 5700's can get cheaper again.