Does my GPU need a cooler?

[VelikiPCguy]

Hey all, first-time PC builder, trying to make a 3090 rig.

 

If I understand this correctly, the difference between EVGA's FTW3 Ultra Gaming and FTW3 Ultra Hybrid Gaming is in the "Hybrid" part, which (according to their website: https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=400-HY-1988-B1) is an AIO GPU cooler. So if I get the non-Hybrid version, should I get EVGA's Hybrid cooler separately, or should I get some other GPU cooler, or is that not necessary?

 

Thanks!

[tkitch]

all the GPUs come with a cooler.

 

As long as you get a decent brand, it should be (at least) adequate for the card.  You do not need upgrade to an AIO on it. 

[Jurrunio]

Don't treat "hybrid" as an upgrade of the standard FTW3 ultra. They are seperate models while the hybrid's cooler can be bought seperately and installed onto the standard FTW3 ultra.

 

If you're set on having the AIO, get the hybrid to begin with

[rice guru]

5 minutes ago, NewwGuyy123 said:

Hey all, first-time PC builder, trying to make a 3090 rig.

 

If I understand this correctly, the difference between EVGA's FTW3 Ultra Gaming and FTW3 Ultra Hybrid Gaming is in the "Hybrid" part, which (according to their website: https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=400-HY-1988-B1) is an AIO GPU cooler. So if I get the non-Hybrid version, should I get EVGA's Hybrid cooler separately, or should I get some other GPU cooler, or is that not necessary?

 

Thanks!

its really not all that neccesary at all  water cooled GPUS are cool and are certainly a good way to ensure cooler temperatures and a quieter system but are not necessary unless you plan super heavy overclocks. just google specific cards for tests .if your happy with the noise and performance that's a good card we cant really be too picky these days. but if you are a beginner and deem water-cooling is necessary I would honestly just get the hybrid now but again in a case with good airflow water cooling GPUS is not really super necessary 

[VelikiPCguy]

47 minutes ago, Jurrunio said:

If you're set on having the AIO, get the hybrid to begin with

 

44 minutes ago, rice guru said:

I would honestly just get the hybrid now

So in case the only card I can get my hands on atm is the non-hybrid version, would you recommend just getting the hybrid kit separately? It's only around £100 (considering the card is 20 times that, I'd consider that a good investment)

[Jurrunio]

1 hour ago, NewwGuyy123 said:

 

So in case the only card I can get my hands on atm is the non-hybrid version, would you recommend just getting the hybrid kit separately? It's only around £100 (considering the card is 20 times that, I'd consider that a good investment)

if somehow you feel the need for extra cooling, yes. AIOs like this typically only cool the GPU die with liquid however, but for the 3090 VRAM temperature is the problem so going liquid is not going to help. The GPU also would barely budge in overclocking potential when temperatures are 70-75C and you make it even cooler.

[VelikiPCguy]

13 hours ago, Jurrunio said:

if somehow you feel the need for extra cooling, yes. AIOs like this typically only cool the GPU die with liquid however, but for the 3090 VRAM temperature is the problem so going liquid is not going to help. The GPU also would barely budge in overclocking potential when temperatures are 70-75C and you make it even cooler.

Hmm that's an interesting point, I'm a complete newbie when it comes to PC building so I'm only going off of what I've seen other people say / do, but it seems people have generally reported a noticeable drop (like 15 - 25c) in temperatures going from fan to AIO for the EVGA 3090 card (see here: https://forums.evga.com/EVGA-3090-FTW3-Fan-Cooler-vs-Hybrid-Kit-m3173574.aspx), despite the issue with VRAM cooling you mentioned.

 

Also, there's this video by JayzTwoCents where he talks about exactly this problem. A GPU whose AIO system doesn't have a fan attached to the actual card itself can't blow the cold over the VRAM and other non-die components, hence they still get hot. But the EVGA Kingpin 2080 TI card (which he uses for demonstration) does have a fan over the VRAM, which he says is enough to cool the rest of the card, and the EVGA Hybrid kit for the 3090 has that exact same fan placement.

 

So do you reckon that would be enough for ambient cooling all along the GPU? Or maybe the 3090 has even hotter VRAM components, I don't know?

 

[Jurrunio]

5 hours ago, NewwGuyy123 said:

but it seems people have generally reported a noticeable drop (like 15 - 25c) in temperatures going from fan to AIO for the EVGA 3090 card (see here: https://forums.evga.com/EVGA-3090-FTW3-Fan-Cooler-vs-Hybrid-Kit-m3173574.aspx), despite the issue with VRAM cooling you mentioned.

that's the core temperature and as I said, going lower helps less and less as you go colder. From what I've seen, 70-75C is where the gains get negligible as you push the temperatures even lower. No one in the link you provided mentioned memory temperature.

 

Only benefit at that point will be noise, since you can reduce fan speed if the temperatures are low enough.

 

5 hours ago, NewwGuyy123 said:

Also, there's this video by JayzTwoCents where he talks about exactly this problem. A GPU whose AIO system doesn't have a fan attached to the actual card itself can't blow the cold over the VRAM and other non-die components, hence they still get hot. But the EVGA Kingpin 2080 TI card (which he uses for demonstration) does have a fan over the VRAM, which he says is enough to cool the rest of the card, and the EVGA Hybrid kit for the 3090 has that exact same fan placement.

 

So do you reckon that would be enough for ambient cooling all along the GPU? Or maybe the 3090 has even hotter VRAM components, I don't know?

30 series uses GDDR6X, which runs even hotter than 2080ti's GDDR6 (more speed = more heat, basically). To make it worse on the 3090, you have them on both sides of the PCB (typically they are only on the inside facing the cooler) and those at the back are only cooled by the backplate in hybrid and standard models.