So I accidentally killed my R9 280X and it got me thinking...

[Xrqute]

Hi guys,


So I accidentally killed my R9 280X and it got me thinking are current waterblocks/back plates flawed in their design?

With components so close to the edge of the PCB should the back plate fully encase the card and clip into the waterblock? effectively making it one sealed piece leaving only the power connectors, Sli/xfire connection and pci-e connection exposed.

I know if they were designed as such my card would still be alive as the tiniest little bit of coolant some how managed to get under my waterblock and short out some chips about 1cm from the edge of the PCB which effectively killed my card. If there was some sort of barrier the would of been protected.

I got no the slightest idea on how the coolant got there as I was sure I didn't spill any but shit happens.

But anyway moving on, Now that I'm going to have to get a new card should I just try get an identical card so my watrr block dosent go to waste or is it worth uping the game to a 290x or something Nvidia then getting a new block to match and selling my current block? Ny card specifically was a ASUS Radeon R9 280X DirectCU II TOP 3GB.

Cheers,
Xr.

 

[Damien c]

Are you sure the block doesn't have a leak in it?

Might be worth checking and contacting the manufacturer of it if it has, and tell them that because of it you card is now dead so surely they should replace the card, due to it being killed by a manufacturing fault with the block.

If it's not got a leak then it depends on what you want to spend on a new card.

 

[Master&Puppet]

Was this a new waterblock in a new loop? I've never had a waterblock leak on me but that's what leak testing is for. Of course if it's a small leak that happens over time then there's not much you can do other than make sure that the fittings are all tightened correctly.

If you do believe that the waterblock itself leaked then I would definitely not be buying another GPU to put under it! I'd send back the block and get a refund if possible. If it wasn't the block then it must have come from somewhere so see if you can find out as a learning point for next time?

Also regarding the GPU I'd clean it up and put it back together and send it back off under warranty if it's still under one. I'm not sure if ASUS covers this type of modding but if you are that way inclined you don't have to tell them I suppose.

 

[Xrqute]

Are you sure the block doesn't have a leak in it?

Might be worth checking and contacting the manufacturer of it if it has, and tell them that because of it you card is now dead so surely they should replace the card, due to it being killed by a manufacturing fault with the block.

If it's not got a leak then it depends on what you want to spend on a new card.

Tbh I'm pretty sure the block is sound I've had it since there initial release about 6 months ago. But in saying that I've been off work the last few weeks and to entertain myself I've been constantly fucking round with my rig trying new things out etc I don't spose a seal could of cracked from constantly tightening and undoing fittings.

Was this a new waterblock in a new loop? I've never had a waterblock leak on me but that's what leak testing is for. Of course if it's a small leak that happens over time then there's not much you can do other than make sure that the fittings are all tightened correctly.

If you do believe that the waterblock itself leaked then I would definitely not be buying another GPU to put under it! I'd send back the block and get a refund if possible. If it wasn't the block then it must have come from somewhere so see if you can find out as a learning point for next time?

Also regarding the GPU I'd clean it up and put it back together and send it back off under warranty if it's still under one. I'm not sure if ASUS covers this type of modding but if you are that way inclined you don't have to tell them I suppose.

I don't know if I have all the original screws and shiz to refit the original cooler.

I got my old man dropping off some old gpu's to get me up and running for a few weeks till I've got the money for a gpu. I think he has a GTX4XX and a pair of 8800GTX's. I suppose uts a good thing I'm not a huge gamer because I'm going old school for a few weeks hahaha

I'm thinking of getting a Asus ROG GTX780 Poseiden for 2 reasons one being I only buy Asus and the other being I like that the stock cooler is amazingly beautiful and it's stock with watercooling built in so I don't need to worry about voiding warranty by taking off the stock cooler.

 

[SparkleDJackson]

i didnt think asus warranty covered watercooling or modding in general. would water damage not be pretty obvious. im pretty sure there was a guy on before was saying that he wrecked his card watercooling but was going to pass it off as normal damage. im pretty sure the mods went bonkers and reported him to the manufacturer.

 

[Xrqute]

i didnt think asus warranty covered watercooling or modding in general. would water damage not be pretty obvious. im pretty sure there was a guy on before was saying that he wrecked his card watercooling but was going to pass it off as normal damage. im pretty sure the mods went bonkers and reported him to the manufacturer.

Looking at the card you can't tell. Only reason I'm certain it was water was from when I pulled the block off and could see it sitting there. There are no scorch marks or blown components or anything its just dead.

 

[Dragolu]

That is one of my arguments for using distilled water. I know it is not 100% as it can still conduct with dust but i have had one of my previous GPU's fully powered with a puddle on it the size of a door knob with no problems.
A tight turn caused one of the tubes to pull out of its compression fitting a month after leak testing. The only way i found out was a coolant level drop in the res.
I powered down and dried it out. It still works after 4 years.

 

[Kushiro]

Well either way OP, you could try just RMAing it, I mean its not as if you have anything to lose, no? Best case scenario you get a replacement and worst case you wont have a dead card taking up space in either the bin or where you store it. Though this may be considered fraud, but who gonna know

 

[GarrenM]

I don't agree with trying to RMA it if it is not due to a defect on manufacturer end. You need to man up,admit you fuked up, learn the lesson and move on. People actually wonder why it is so hard to get an RMA through some companies? Lol, this discussion is why.

 

[Kushiro]

and theres the voice of reason, sorry it is like 4am here, either way what the above post says is correct, you should not RMA it, I mean technically it was your fault and you knew full well the risks that were involved when you decided to watercool.

OP why dont you just get a 7970 of ebay or something? they are dirt cheap at the moment and you could just OC it, then again you should probably make sure that the WB that you have is the same for the DCUII 7970 and then make the purchase.

Though if you want, you could upgrade to the 290(x), I have two of the 290x cards in CF under water and they are bloody amazing even at stock. I have not persoanlly owned the 290 variant, however it would seem that it is a much better deal assuming you do not require the extra shaders. Not that it makes that much of a difference.

 

[FTR.4500MHz]

Watercooling is an "at your own risk" fancy. Sending back a card that was damged by yourself obviously is a FRAUD.

This kind of thread also makes OC3D look bad.

 

[Xrqute]

I'd just like to say my OP was actually about how I think that waterblocks and backplates should be designed to clip into each other and fully encase the card thus adding an extra level of protection.

I have accepted fault even though I'm unsure how it happened. And yes I am fully aware of the risks thats why I am not stamping my feet and sooking yet putting forward an idea on how I think things could be improved.

I've never even suggested that I would try to RMA it. Yet stated I'm thinking about buying a Poseiden as a replacement.

And no a 7970 will not fit my 280x water block as it was a full pcb redesign.

 

[FTR.4500MHz]

Yes, i did understand your OP. I was just pointing out not to do what others have pointed out as a possible solution.

 

[SparkleDJackson]

i do think the idea for an fully enclosed system would be a great idea sn not only would it look great but it would probably increase the rigidity a good bit aswell (a normal backplate does this enough though. but the thing would need to have some sort of gasket or seal system or any leaks would just find their way between the spaces.it would def look slick.

i personally hate the look of the poseidon. imo you are either water or air. like rorshach you are either black or white there are no grey areas

 

[Dragolu]

The problem with an air tight enclosed system is that anything that is not touching the backplate is basically not getting any cooling. So would would have to ensure that components that do fine with just passive cooling into the surrounding air now need to touch the backplate or they are insulated by the air gap which makes making the plate very complicated and expensive as it now needs to be a decent heat sink.

I am partial to the Nvidia options so my suggestion would be a 780/Ti with a new block. The Poseidon is kind of a half way answer since it doesn't cool as well as a proper block and adds the noise of 2 extra fans. If you do go for it make sure the barbs/fittings clear the side of your case as it does require more space.

Also FYI EVGA does not void the warranty for removing the stock cooler so your card would be covered as long as you can replace the original cooler. However it does not cover visible burns or visible water damage.

 

[Xrqute]

My temp card! Think it'll run 4k? Lol..... I'll be surprised if it runs 1080 lol

 

[MadShadow]

My temp card! Think it'll run 4k? Lol..... I'll be surprised if it runs 1080 lol

It'll do Metro: Last Light at 4k 60fps.

 

[RamboOC]

My temp card! Think it'll run 4k? Lol..... I'll be surprised if it runs 1080 lol

My gpu has the same architecture as that one , but is X6.7 faster

BUT YOU HAVE MORE VRAM! ?

you should be able to play battlefield 3/4 on the lowest settings @1080p

 

[Xrqute]

In life we must ADVANCE AND NEVER LOOK BACK!