Water cooling an expensive graphics card

[tainer]

I'd like to start doing some watercooling with a custom loop, but i'm afraid to start because I'm worried i'll ruin my very expensive graphics cards when installing the water block. How hard is it to crack the chip? I plan on getting 2 1080tis in SLI, so if i mess up while doing water cooling it would be a VERY expensive mistake, but the potential temps in SLI are really enticing...

Am I just being overly worried? Is installing the waterblock that big of a deal?

[Matt_98]

3 minutes ago, tainer said:

I'd like to start doing some watercooling with a custom loop, but i'm afraid to start because I'm worried i'll ruin my very expensive graphics cards when installing the water block. How hard is it to crack the chip? I plan on getting 2 1080tis in SLI, so if i mess up while doing water cooling it would be a VERY expensive mistake, but the potential temps in SLI are really enticing...

Am I just being overly worried? Is installing the waterblock that big of a deal?

 

if you look on jayz2cents channel he does a lot of water cooling and has been seen bending gpu PCB,s to show how tough they actually are

[UMxMarky94]

also get a brand like EVGA who don't mind if you take apart your GPU

[DocSwag]

Just now, UMxMarky94 said:

also get a brand like EVGA who don't mind if you take apart your GPU

Yeah, if you get an evga card and take off the cooler you don't void the warranty like with most other GPU manufacturers so you might as well play it safe.

[zMeul]

if you're worried you should not be doing it

alternatively you could just buy two EVGA hybrids when they're gonna be available 

[tainer]

43 minutes ago, zMeul said:

if you're worried you should not be doing it

alternatively you could just buy two EVGA hybrids when they're gonna be available 

I was worried about assembling my PC at first too, but it was the best decision I could have possibly made. I feel like with a $700+ graphics card, some extra confidence through more info is a reasonable request. I've wanted to get into custom loops for a while, i'd just like a bit of info more than "Don't crack the chip". Things like, is thumb tight good enough to make a good connection without too much pressure? is it comparable with CPU heatsinks? Should I keep one of my 970s and do a practice install, or is it not worth it since it's not as hard as it seems and it's not worth the $150 for a 970 ek block? 

[zMeul]

13 minutes ago, tainer said:

I was worried about assembling my PC at first too, but it was the best decision I could have possibly made. I feel like with a $700+ graphics card, some extra confidence through more info is a reasonable request. I've wanted to get into custom loops for a while, i'd just like a bit of info more than "Don't crack the chip". Things like, is thumb tight good enough to make a good connection without too much pressure? is it comparable with CPU heatsinks? Should I keep one of my 970s and do a practice install, or is it not worth it since it's not as hard as it seems and it's not worth the $150 for a 970 ek block? 

you won't crack the GPU, the blocks are easy to install

 

 

[Deli]

21 minutes ago, tainer said:

I was worried about assembling my PC at first too, but it was the best decision I could have possibly made. I feel like with a $700+ graphics card, some extra confidence through more info is a reasonable request. I've wanted to get into custom loops for a while, i'd just like a bit of info more than "Don't crack the chip". Things like, is thumb tight good enough to make a good connection without too much pressure? is it comparable with CPU heatsinks? Should I keep one of my 970s and do a practice install, or is it not worth it since it's not as hard as it seems and it's not worth the $150 for a 970 ek block? 

Installation of EVGA waterblock is very fool-proof. Don't worry.

[tainer]

4 hours ago, DocSwag said:

Yeah, if you get an evga card and take off the cooler you don't void the warranty like with most other GPU manufacturers so you might as well play it safe.

Looking at EVGA's website, it seems that it's not that different from the others' warrenties. Wouldn't installing a waterblock qualify as any of these:

 

• Graphics Cards that are modified by customer outside of factory specifications and/or not in factory condition.

• Any damages to the components, hardware and/or assembly of the graphics card including neglect, or unusual physical, electrical or electromechanical stress.

• Graphics Cards that are rendered non-functional due an accident, collision with an object or tool, use of excessive force, neglect for care, exposure to fire or abnormal heat, flooding, dirt, windstorms, lightning, earthquakes, excessive weather conditions, theft, blown fuses, or improper use of any electrical source.

I feel like anything I could do to the card to damage it would fall into one of those categories. 

[Master Sonic Wisebeard]

27 minutes ago, tainer said:

Looking at EVGA's website, it seems that it's not that different from the others' warrenties. Wouldn't installing a waterblock qualify as any of these:

 

• Graphics Cards that are modified by customer outside of factory specifications and/or not in factory condition.

• Any damages to the components, hardware and/or assembly of the graphics card including neglect, or unusual physical, electrical or electromechanical stress.

• Graphics Cards that are rendered non-functional due an accident, collision with an object or tool, use of excessive force, neglect for care, exposure to fire or abnormal heat, flooding, dirt, windstorms, lightning, earthquakes, excessive weather conditions, theft, blown fuses, or improper use of any electrical source.

I feel like anything I could do to the card to damage it would fall into one of those categories. 

I think what everyone means is that EVGA's warranty team are easier to deal with and less dickish when it comes to warranty claims. Some companies follow their rules to the letter while other may not.

[stealth80]

6 hours ago, UMxMarky94 said:

also get a brand like EVGA who don't mind if you take apart your GPU

 

2 hours ago, tainer said:

Looking at EVGA's website, it seems that it's not that different from the others' warrenties. Wouldn't installing a waterblock qualify as any of these:

 

• Graphics Cards that are modified by customer outside of factory specifications and/or not in factory condition.

• Any damages to the components, hardware and/or assembly of the graphics card including neglect, or unusual physical, electrical or electromechanical stress.

• Graphics Cards that are rendered non-functional due an accident, collision with an object or tool, use of excessive force, neglect for care, exposure to fire or abnormal heat, flooding, dirt, windstorms, lightning, earthquakes, excessive weather conditions, theft, blown fuses, or improper use of any electrical source.

I feel like anything I could do to the card to damage it would fall into one of those categories. 

Just make sure the card you buy has a block available - I would go on the EK website and find supported cards then buy the card, nothing worse than having to mod blocks to fit your card!

[UMxMarky94]

14 hours ago, tainer said:

Looking at EVGA's website, it seems that it's not that different from the others' warrenties. Wouldn't installing a waterblock qualify as any of these:

 

• Graphics Cards that are modified by customer outside of factory specifications and/or not in factory condition.

• Any damages to the components, hardware and/or assembly of the graphics card including neglect, or unusual physical, electrical or electromechanical stress.

• Graphics Cards that are rendered non-functional due an accident, collision with an object or tool, use of excessive force, neglect for care, exposure to fire or abnormal heat, flooding, dirt, windstorms, lightning, earthquakes, excessive weather conditions, theft, blown fuses, or improper use of any electrical source.

I feel like anything I could do to the card to damage it would fall into one of those categories. 

it is also the placement of their Void if removed stickers my old asus 780 had one right on the heatsink screw anyway as long as you return it in the stock config all is well, here is a link to there forums about this issue https://forums.evga.com/Evga-policy-on-waterblock-Gpu-m2002280.aspx