Alphacool NexXxoS GPX Block R9-290X

[runit3]

Just swapped out my 970's for a 290X (MSI Twin Frozr 8GB - V308 ver2.2 PCB) and some pocket cash. Needed the extra VRAM to push HD packs at 1440p. Really impressed with the card overall except for the temps. When I first threw this thing in I was smashing into 95C within 20 seconds running Valley. I figured the card was used and probably fairly old, did a re-TIM with Kryonaut, and now I'm capping 93C with some lower average temps depending on the game. -no overclock.

 

Does anyone have experience with these Alphacool blocks?

http://www.performance-pcs.com/water-blocks-gpu/alphacool-nexxxos-gpx-ati-r9-290x-and-290-m09-incl-backplate-black.html

 

EK doesn't make anything full coverage and this appears to be my only solution. It's fugly as hell IMO, but I'll take function over form if it means getting a healthy OC out of the card and staying sub 85C while gaming.

[Curufinwe_wins]

Jayztwocents did a review on that style of cooler. It will be much better  than stock cooling.

 

ASSUMING that block is compatible, which is NOT likely.

 

EDIT apparently this is actually compatible. I'm shocked the msi model is a reference pcb...

 

https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-r9-290x-nickel-rev-2-0

 

Try to find one on the used market or ppcs.

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

If its compatible it should work fine. Even though the vrm isn't cooled by water, that big chunk of metal will cool it fine. 

[WynLore]

Well, based on Xtremerigs' testing, the Alphacool blocks don't cool the VRMS with water at all (unlike Bitspower, EK, Watercool [yes, thats a company that makes waterblocks and even radiators], and the likes), but may arguably have better cooling than the heatsinks that come with most, if not all, GPU's. VRM's are passively cooled, though.

(I know its for the 980, but its a good point of reference) http://www.xtremerigs.net/2015/04/07/gtx-980-water-block-round-up/

But yeah, thats all I can say about it.

[WynLore]

2 minutes ago, Pohernori said:

If its compatible it should work fine. Even though the vrm isn't cooled by water, that big chunk of metal will cool it fine. 

Plus, its cheaper and comes WITH A BACKPLATE (I'm just happy Alphacool adds in bonus stuff like that at a relatively cheap price compared to the competition)

[runit3]

2 minutes ago, Curufinwe_wins said:

Jayztwocents did a review on that style of cooler. It will be much better  than stock cooling.

 

ASSUMING that block is compatible, which is NOT likely.

compatible according to their list

watching Jayz vid now

[Curufinwe_wins]

Just now, runit3 said:

compatible according to their list

watching Jayz vid now

yea see edit.

[runit3]

1 minute ago, Curufinwe_wins said:

yea see edit.

It's V308-036R, not compatible with the EK kits, checked there first

[Curufinwe_wins]

13 minutes ago, runit3 said:

It's V308-036R, not compatible with the EK kits, checked there first

so I know it doesn't list it, but having looked at the pcb, I see literally nothing that indicates it should work, and given the alphacool says it works for both is another indication that the compatibility list just is incomplete.

Spoiler

4GB

8GB

Yea... they share identical PCB's officially just 16x512 MB chips instead of 16x256 MB.

 

I just confirmed, and the image used in the EK configurator link is NOT the correct PCB in either the 4GB or 8GB variants. 

 

https://www.ekwb.com/configurator/waterblock/3831109869024

 

Taking a look at it, the pcb matches the -001R without exception that is listed as compatible.

 

TL:DR Look I understand this stuff is kinda sketch and you might not want to risk buying it without knowing 100% if it will work, but I'd put the chance of working properly over 95%.

 

 

[runit3]

9 minutes ago, WynLore said:

Plus, its cheaper and comes WITH A BACKPLATE (I'm just happy Alphacool adds in bonus stuff like that at a relatively cheap price compared to the competition)

thanks for that link. Looks like a different design from the one they tested, hopefully with a bit more coverage. Not worried about the pressure, D5 vario on 3/8ID lines with a small run distance.

 

Unless someone chimes in with a horrible GPX experience I guess this is the route I'm going to go.

[runit3]

4 minutes ago, Curufinwe_wins said:

so I know it doesn't list it, but having looked at the pcb, I see literally nothing that indicates it should work, and given the alphacool says it works for both is another indication that the compatibility list just is incomplete.

Yea... they share identical PCB's officially just 16x512 MB chips instead of 16x256 MB.

Totally different on the right side, my card:

[Kinda Bottlenecked]

7 minutes ago, Curufinwe_wins said:

so I know it doesn't list it, but having looked at the pcb, I see literally nothing that indicates it should work, and given the alphacool says it works for both is another indication that the compatibility list just is incomplete.

 

4GB

 

8GB

 

Yea... they share identical PCB's officially just 16x512 MB chips instead of 16x256 MB.

 

I just confirmed, and the image used in the EK configurator link is NOT the correct PCB in either the 4GB or 8GB variants. 

 

https://www.ekwb.com/configurator/waterblock/3831109869024

 

Taking a look at it, the pcb matches the -001R without exception that is listed as compatible.

 

TL:DR Look I understand this stuff is kinda sketch and you might not want to risk buying it without knowing 100% if it will work, but I'd put the chance of working properly over 95%.

 

ver 2.2 pcb is actually different

 

[Curufinwe_wins]

1 minute ago, runit3 said:

Totally different on the right side, my card:

That would have been a good image to see. kk yea then it's the other variant.

 

 Looks totally SOL with that top left side clear top missing a cutout for that third from the bottom capacitor. Sigh.

[Curufinwe_wins]

2 minutes ago, Pohernori said:

 

ver 2.2 pcb is actually different

 

I saw. Based on his image. Only looks to be a small clear block being an issue. Pretty stupid.

[runit3]

Just now, Curufinwe_wins said:

That would have been a good image to see. kk yea then it's the other variant.

 

Looks totally SOL with that top left side clear top missing a cutout for that third from the bottom capacitor. Sigh.

yep. EK just loves gettin' all snuggly with their blocks

[Curufinwe_wins]

Just now, runit3 said:

yep. EK just loves gettin' all snuggly with their blocks

It isn't even a critical part of the block, sigh. Well that explains how it didn't matter for alphacool but it did for EK. 

[runit3]

1 minute ago, Curufinwe_wins said:

It isn't even a critical part of the block, sigh. Well that explains how it didn't matter for alphacool but it did for EK. 

I almost feel like I have to buy it on principle. Alphacool went after every odd and obscure card on the market

I'd prefer the copper sink to Nickel anyways...never understood why EK has such limited copper offerings in their GPU blocks.

[WynLore]

Just now, runit3 said:

thanks for that link. Looks like a different design from the one they tested, hopefully with a bit more coverage. Not worried about the pressure, D5 vario on 3/8ID lines with a small run distance.

 

Unless someone chimes in with a horrible GPX experience I guess this is the route I'm going to go.

I'm planning to buy one soon. If its true that, should one upgrade a GPU, the two things that you're really gonna need to replace is the front and backplate, not the block where the water passes through, thats really cost effective. The pressure is kinda negligible, IMHO (unless someone's gonna do a ridiculously off balanced build [in more ways than one] like this one: 

where it has three Titan X's, a 5960X, one of the most restrictive radiators around [4 components and 3 120mm fan/rad slots. Did I mention that the radiator is very restrictive as well?]... yeah, I think the lady [with a nice pair of titties] just spent that donation money on a waste... which hurts me alot. All that to inflate increase the size of her e-vag or e-tits... as if her e-tits aren't already fairly large enough. Safe to assume everyone here wouldn't do something as off balanced as this. Short loop run, yeah, but come on... one of the hottest chips around + 3 copies of one of the hottest GPU's around, despite running in parallel... I don't even know it it'll be adequately cooled even when undervolted.)

But yeah, back on topic. Pressure is negligible provided the cooling makes up for it.

[Curufinwe_wins]

@runit3 @Pohernori

 

Not that you are necessarily going to want to do this... but here is a fairly straight forward mod to make them work if you are interested.

 

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/modding-ekwb-block-to-fit-msi-r9-290-gaming-4gb-new-pcb-revision.204851/

[runit3]

1 minute ago, Curufinwe_wins said:

@runit3 @Pohernori

 

Not that you are necessarily going to want to do this... but here is a fairly straight forward mod to make them work if you are interested.

 

http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/modding-ekwb-block-to-fit-msi-r9-290-gaming-4gb-new-pcb-revision.204851/

It's tempting, but I've got at least 10 hours of painting on top of this block deal next weekend. Taking a file to a nice piece of machined copper or nickel makes me feel like a real asshole. If I had a CNC or lathe I'd be all over it.

[Curufinwe_wins]

Just now, runit3 said:

It's tempting, but I've got at least 10 hours of painting on top of this block deal next weekend. Taking a file to a nice piece of machined copper or nickel makes me feel like a real asshole. If I had a CNC or lathe I'd be all over it.

I understand completely. I broke a standoff on one of my blocks due to stupid, and I had to do a lot of filing along with super glue to make it fit back on and the whole time I had to scream at my self saying, "This is NOT visible on the finished product!"