Adding additional VRAM & VRM heatsinks useful?

[azathoth]

I've noticed that on 98% of Custom GPU board, unless you're buying and assembling a third-party cooling system. That the VRAM and VRM circuitry is cooled by the main fan slightly above, without any additional heatsinks.

(For example, the GTX 750ti tomshardware tore down)

Spoiler

Now, I have two GTX 970's arriving today. I plan to overclock the living hell out of them. Would there be any benefit if I were to slide in some low-profile VRAM heatsinks such as http:// ?

I assume the gains if any would be minimal. I would also suspect the outcome to simply be, if anything a miniscule boost in life longevity due to being a few degree's shaved off.

But would that allow me at all to overclock a bit further, with a bit less thermal stress on the VRAM and VRM circuitry? I mean these little copper sinks you can pick up stacks of them for under $10. Would it be worth looking into?

 

[unknownofprob]

Would it help, yes. Is it really worth doing, yes and no (small difference but for the sake of $10 may be worth it to you). If you want to overclock to the max liquid cool the cards, that is the best way to go to the max and keep down GPU temps.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

The 970s overclock like crazy with no temperature issues. For example....

The 970 reference has a Core Clock of 1050 MHz, MSI takes that up an incredible 26% to a Core Clock of1325 MHz .... Gury 3D took it to 43% Core Clock 1501 MHz

Temps on the MSI PC Board various points ranged from 40 to just 77C....20C below any cause for concern.

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_geforce_gtx_970_gaming_review,9.html

On older cards where the temps got well into the 90s, yeah I see that ..... but not on the 970s, their power efficiency compared to past generations makes heat far less of a concern.

 

[unknownofprob]

overclocking to the "max", temperatures will always be of concern. For example: We don't know what he would classify max is. We also don't know what kind of setup and ventilation he has, with dual cards heat is even greater.

 

[RobCrezz]

Yes if you are looking for very high vram clock speeds, then putting heatsinks on them does help, I managed an extra 100mhz or so on my old 660 when using vram heatsinks.

 

[azathoth]

Yes if you are looking for very high vram clock speeds, then putting heatsinks on them does help, I managed an extra 100mhz or so on my old 660 when using vram heatsinks.

This would be around what I am aiming for. I'm running my main Monitor at 2560x1440, with two other 1080p monitors too.

I would imagine that having a 256-bit memory interface might start to be a limiting factor over core speed with 2x 970's. Maxwell is much more efficient in memory management, but that also means cranking up the memory speed will be that much more beneficial as well.

I think what I will do is run some testing, and see for myself if it makes any discernible different to overclocking potential. If $12 in cheap copper heatsinks improves overclocking potential by ~5% even, it would be nice for myself and others to know.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

You'll note on the link above Guru3D managed 10 times that (1000Mhz) with no problem whatsoever on the Asus, Gigabyte and MSI 970 cards....

 

[unknownofprob]

I am not sure if you mean you only want to overclock 100MHz over factory or an extra 100Mhz more on top of an already high overclock, could you please specify which?

 

[JackNaylorPE]

overclocking to the "max", temperatures will always be of concern. For example: We don't know what he would classify max is. We also don't know what kind of setup and ventilation he has, with dual cards heat is even greater.

Why ? He doesn't get to say what max temps are, nVidia does.....98C

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-970/specifications

nVidia's physical and legal restrictions on card designs make them really really difficult to damage..... before it gets anywhere near those temps it will become unstable.

Of course we don't know what case ventilation is but logic dictates that we wouldn't be talking about VRAM heat sinks unless case ventilation has already been well addressed.... what I mean is, if someone asks me about delidding and it's advantages, I just assume he doesn't have an Intel stock cooler.

At this level of efficiency .... 100 watts less than the 780 ... we get more performance for a lot less heat. I have several SLI builds here and none of them have VRM issues and they are no where near as cool running as the 970's.... my son's 560 Ti's are overclocked close to 30% and that's a 210 watt card..... running 60 watts cooler, and with a better cooler, I just don't see an issue here .... not with the temps from Guru3Ds thermal imaging.

Of course....I could be wrong ..... just ask my wife.

 

[unknownofprob]

I know what your saying but 98 degrees is far from liking even though the extreme's to get to it. To be quite frank he needs to answer us more about his setup to estimate such a scenario. Dual cards effect the upper cards temperature, adding extreme overclocks to both only makes things worse. I am not saying it "will" be in the 90 degree range I am pointing out the factors he has which can put it under such temps.

 

[anbello262]

For that amount of money, I suggest doing the experiment, at least for the sake of curiosity. If you can manage a higher overclock or lower temps because of those heatsinks, it will be more than worth it!

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Understood....what I am saying tho....is if the 560 Ti's don't get there in SLI, I don't see the 970's with 70 less watts and better coolers ain't gonna get there.

I'd only recommend VRAM heatsinks for those folks who pulled off their air coolers and used a universal water block on the GPU

 

[anbello262]

Oh, didn't read thoroughly, I thought that the OP was using water cooling. As he's not, then the heatsinks would make basically no difference, I would guess.
I would still like someone to do the experiment, though.

 

[RobCrezz]

I am not sure if you mean you only want to overclock 100MHz over factory or an extra 100Mhz more on top of an already high overclock, could you please specify which?

I meant I could overclock 100mhz higher than what was possible without the heatsinks. (from 6000 stock to around 7000)

 

[unknownofprob]

I was referring to the OP, which he answered from your post.

 

[RobCrezz]

I was referring to the OP, which he answered from your post.

ah ok sorry.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I meant I could overclock 100mhz higher than what was possible without the heatsinks. (from 6000 stock to around 7000)

7000 - 6000 = 1000

They all managed that easily

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_geforce_gtx_970_gaming_review,26.html
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_970_g1_gaming_review,26.html
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/asus_geforce_gtx_970_strix_review,26.html

As long as ya don't take off the fans and install a universal water block, given the cards efficiency, I don't think the HS's will have a significant effect. But that doesn't mean it won't be a fun project

Maybe you'll get a Swiftech H220-X for the CPU and then open the loop to cool the GFX cards

 

[RobCrezz]

I meant I could overclock 100mhz higher than what was possible without the heatsinks. (from 6000 stock to around 7000)

7000 - 6000 = 1000

They all managed that easily

http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/msi_geforce_gtx_970_gaming_review,26.html
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/gigabyte_geforce_gtx_970_g1_gaming_review,26.html
http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/asus_geforce_gtx_970_strix_review,26.html

As long as ya don't take off the fans and install a universal water block, given the cards efficiency, I don't think the HS's will have a significant effect. But that doesn't mean it won't be a fun project

Maybe you'll get a Swiftech H220-X for the CPU and then open the loop to cool the GFX cards

I was talking about a different card (660 oem), just saying about the vram heatsinks.