watercooling my graphic card help

[Jacob Bowerman]

ok so ive finally worked up the courage to watercool a 980. i havent bought it yet. however ive read some things like the waterblock is only compatible with the nvidia reference design only. is there a certain way i can tell what a nvidia reference design is before i buy the GPU? im assuming a website calling PCcasegear. here is a list of there 980's
https://www.pccasegear.com/category/193_1693/graphics-cards/geforce-gtx-980
and here is a list of there GPU waterblocks
https://www.pccasegear.com/category/207_160_878_880/cooling/water-cooling/waterblocks/vga-waterblocks

if possible can you provide me a GPU and waterblock combo and explain to me why they will work.

 

[terroralpha]

the BEST GPU water blocks you can buy are EK water blocks. the difference in price between quality blocks are marginal, $10 at best. so you may as well get the best. fortunately, EK has a tool on their website that will show you the matching waterblock for any GPU you can think of. here is the tool: https://www.ekwb.com/configurator/

on the right side, select nvidia in the first drop down menu, then GTX 980 in the second, then desired manufacturer and then desired model.

my personal favorite series of GPUs are the STRIX.
the card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121905
matching block: http://www.amazon.com/EK-FC980-Strix-Water-Block-Nickel/dp/B00R0ZPGYI

it will work because this block is designed for this exact card.

reference cards can be very easily identified when you see a blower style cooler. like this guy here: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/geforce-gtx-980-review-front.jpg

additionally, EVGA has many reference design boards with fancy coolers strapped to them. their "ACX reference", "ACX SC" and "ACX SC+" are all reference boards.

MORE IMPORTANTLY!!

before jumping into water cooling, understand all the costs. your water cooling bill will sky rocket mighty fast. here are some useful tips:
-thicker rads won't help and you don't need NASA grade fans. stick 30-35mm rads. they work just fine. just make sure you get the longest rads you can fit.
-fittings are very important! don't buy cheap no name garbage. buy barrows fittings to save money without sacrificing quality.
-you don't need fancy cooling liquids. distilled water will work fine. just make sure to add a biocide and an anti rusting agent.

i ended up paying north of $600 to water cool two GPUs and my CPU, and I didn't even have to pay for the fans!!!

 

[Jacob Bowerman]

the BEST GPU water blocks you can buy are EK water blocks. the difference in price between quality blocks are marginal, $10 at best. so you may as well get the best. fortunately, EK has a tool on their website that will show you the matching waterblock for any GPU you can think of. here is the tool: https://www.ekwb.com/configurator/

on the right side, select nvidia in the first drop down menu, then GTX 980 in the second, then desired manufacturer and then desired model.

my personal favorite series of GPUs are the STRIX.
the card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121905
matching block: http://www.amazon.com/EK-FC980-Strix-Water-Block-Nickel/dp/B00R0ZPGYI

it will work because this block is designed for this exact card.

reference cards can be very easily identified when you see a blower style cooler. like this guy here: http://www.hardwareheaven.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/geforce-gtx-980-review-front.jpg

additionally, EVGA has many reference design boards with fancy coolers strapped to them. their "ACX reference", "ACX SC" and "ACX SC+" are all reference boards.

MORE IMPORTANTLY!!

before jumping into water cooling, understand all the costs. your water cooling bill will sky rocket mighty fast. here are some useful tips:
-thicker rads won't help and you don't need NASA grade fans. stick 30-35mm rads. they work just fine. just make sure you get the longest rads you can fit.
-fittings are very important! don't buy cheap no name garbage. buy barrows fittings to save money without sacrificing quality.
-you don't need fancy cooling liquids. distilled water will work fine. just make sure to add a biocide and an anti rusting agent.

i ended up paying north of $600 to water cool two GPUs and my CPU, and I didn't even have to pay for the fans!!!

hello. thanks for all your help. i wanted to get an EK water block, however all the blocks they had in stock werent compatible with the 980's that PCCASEGEAR had in stock according to their website...

THANKYOU SO MUCH for telling me about the 'ACX" thing with EVGA. that has helped me alot.
my friend understands the costs. however he LOVES cosmetics. so this is a must for him. its unfortunately my first time watercooling GPU's, picking out everything, acrylic tubing. so im trying to gain as much knowledge as possible before i attempt the task. if its not too much to ask could you check this wishlist for me and just double check everything will work together please.. i know its alot to ask but im just trying to be 100% sure everything will work

also what would be the easiest way of adding an anti rusting agent?