Water-Cooling Graphics Card

[shiroBlank]

Not too long ago I bought the ASUS ROG Strix GTX 1080, https://www.asus.com/us/Graphics-Cards/ROG-STRIX-GTX1080-O8G-GAMING/, with the mindset that I wouldn't water cool it because i just didn't have enough money to do it. But now, starting off the New Year and ending the holidays, I got some money, and is building a new computer, where I will be placing my 1080 in. Currently, I'm looking to do a custom water loop, that includes my graphics card because why not?
I've been looking at full coverage water blocks and realized that these only fit the reference card "versions". And here comes my concerns, is my model a reference card model?

I've been looking and researching , and what I've basically read is that the graphics card manufacuturer, in this case Nvidia, releases the reference card, The Founders Edition, but allow partners, Asus in my case, to change cooling, PCB, and possible the layout. Could anyone explain the reference card vs non-reference card, or even if I should water cool my graphics card.

 

[Derek56]

Try the EK Waterblocks web site. I believe they hve a full cover block for the Strix.

 

[Eximo]

They certainly do.

 

[Eximo]

As for watercooling. It is not a real performance improvement for Nvidia. The non-reference coolers are enough to take care of it. You max out the power/temp limits and the GPU will clock itself up as high as it can go, then you can try adding a little bit to it.

Basically GPU Boost 3.0 makes all the cards about the same. 2100-2200Mhz on the average is the best you can do.

Water cooling will make the power and temperature limits meaningless though, so whatever the max clock is that is stable, you'll be able to keep it there.

Basically, if you want to do it, do it, if not, you can save some money.

I used a reference PCB EVGA SC with the ACX3.0 cooler as may target. Then put an XSPC Razor block on it. Highest temp I have seen is 51C.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Rge FE versions are the refernce cards ... EK has two listed here:

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

While some manufacturers cater to the reference board, many reference board blocks also fit custom versions ... and manufac turers do pay attention to the tweaked AIB cards because a greater percentage of users wil want to water cool. But you have to be more specific on which card you are talking about.EK full cover parts for the various Asus Strix cards are different and are listed below

ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 Advanced STRIX-GTX1080-A8G-GAMING 8GB GDDR5X (90YV09M2-M0NM00)
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 STRIX-GTX1080-8G-GAMING 8GB GDDR5X (90YV09M1-M0NM00)
ASUS ROG Strix GeForce GTX 1080 OC STRIX-GTX1080-O8G-GAMING 8GB GDDR5X (90YV09M0-M0NM00)

EK-FC1080 GTX Strix – Nickel [3831109831410]
EK-FC1080 GTX Strix - Acetal+Nickel [3831109831427]
EK-FC1080 GTX Strix Backplate – Black [3831109831434]
EK-C1080 GTX Strix Backplate – Nickel [3831109831441]

, that includes my graphics card because why not?

Exactly ... while Boost 3 has sort of capped performance of most cards. Unlike previous generations up thru 9xx, getting anything more out of a better AIB air cooled or water cooled card is somewhat limited. When the differences exist, they are small. We are somewhat hampered here as no one has as yet come up with a BIOS editor for the 10xx series. Once that happens, the construction quality differences will open op higher performance.

However, increased performance is not the only reason to water cool. For me it's all about silence. If you can't tell if the box is on or off when the screen goes to sleep, I'm happy. There's also the aesthetics of a nice rigid acrylic build not to mention the challenge and fun of the build process in making something unique.

 

[Eximo]

I suppose I should add that I already had the majority of my watercooling loop. So for me it was just the cost of the block (which I bought with the card, months ago) new fittings, and another radiator, and a pile of fans to match the new theme. Really I just did it along with a re-build around a Kabylake CPU.

That reminds me, I need to buy a few things to put my old machine back together. Putting my old GPUs into a custom loop for no reason, I guess.