Watercooling a GTX260

[format]

I just ordered a GTX260 today.
This is more a vague enquiry than a declaration of serious intent, but I'm wondering if it would be possible to watercool the card.
I'm happy with temps on my CPU w/TRUE, and the fan on that is nice n quiet too.
Is it
a) possible
b) cheap

to cool only the GPU?

I've absolutely no experience with watercooling so be gentle
Thanks.

[moogle]

a) Yes
b) No



You just need to make a decision, either go for performance components, or buy the cooling components and stay on normal/medium peformance for a while till you get the money to upgrade.
For example, last Dec I bought a BFG 8800GTS 512 at £233, and now it's worth not so much
Now I'm wanting a TJ07 and thats the same price I paid the graphics card, I really should have bought the case and now I would have got the graphics card (as I wasn't playing much in between).

Anyway now I'm still using the 8800 as I chose to get watercooling. I coulda bought a new GPU but I decided to go for the cooling first. Now I've got the main parts sorted when I upgrade next it'll be less. Just buy the GPU and if I want to watercool it buy a block at £50+

PS - Unless you're rich then you can get both without worrying

[SiM]

Why spend ~£220 on a GTX260 and then ~£100+ on watercooling when you can buy a GTX280 for ~£320 which will wipe the floor of a watercooled GTX260

[format]

Why spend ~£220 on a GTX260 and then ~£100+ on watercooling when you can buy a GTX280 for ~£320 which will wipe the floor of a watercooled GTX260

I'm actually gutted that the 280s are so expensive now - I got this ASUS GTX260 for £202, 2 months ago I could have had a 280 for £40 more
Ah well.

Anyway, it was just an enquiry, and its as much to do with the OC'ing as it is with silence, although having just read the SPCR review on the 260, it is apparently very quiet already.

So to sum up, to watercool my card would cost in excess of £100?

[moogle]

So to sum up, to watercool my card would cost in excess of £100?

Uh huh, anything less won't be worth it really. The blocks are expensive especially for GPU's. If you want cheaper silence then get an aftermarket cooler.

[format]

AFAIK there are none out specifically for the 260/80...
Some older ones might fit though, does anyone know of some that do?

[Webby]

Plenty of full cover blocks available fro the 260 and 280, you can also fit a Swiftech MCW-60 but it may require an adapter as does the EK Supreme VGA.

To watercool just the graphics card you are talking.

Pump - D-Tek dB-1 £27 quiet and small, not hugely powerful though so if you decide to upgrade the cooling in the future a second pump would probably be required
Radiator - XSPC RS-240 £24
Tubing - 7/16" or 1/2" tubing ~£3 a metre
Barbs - 1/2" £2 each
Reservior - Swiftech MCRES £12 or T-Line (Fillport £6 and T £2)
Tube Clips - Jubiliee clips/wormdrive clamps - I got mine for 99p for 8 from the market.
Block - Swiftech MCW60 £27 + G200 adapter £? (but it does exist)
or - EK Supreme VGA £35 and Mounting Kit £4
or - XSPC Razor 280/260 Full Cover £63
or - Aquacomputer AquagraFX G200 £66
If you buy a single block rather than full cover you will need RAM sinks and Mosfet Sinks as well cost about £10-£15 for a set

So total cost ranges between £115 and £140

You will also need some water to go in it or some fluid of your choice Feser 1 is what I use ~£7 a bottle. Oh and a couple of quiet fans for the radiator.

Hope that is of some use, this is only one possible option you could get a more powerful pump for £60 and then be ready for upgrading to full system cooling larger rads or by different manufacturers although XSPC value is hard to beat the swiftech rads offer excellent performance for a bit more monet (£30 for a double) and then you move into Thermochill and TFC pricing £50 for a double you certainly do not get double the performance for your money but they are the best you can buy in terms of a filling fan holes.

All in all it is quite a costly exercise but it really will keep the temps down my 3870 under fulll load site ~40°C with a 22°C ambient and that is in the same loop and my CPU and northbridge

[moogle]

Missing a radbox unless he could fit the rad in his P182

[Webby]

I was leaving fitting down to him I may just may have assumed that anybody considering watercooling would have a case you could fit a duel rad in could always just use some long screws and some plastic tube to act as stand offs or this XSPC Standoffsno need to pay £15 for a radbox especially as at 120mm it offers no adjustability (good for 80mm or 92mm fan holes though as you can move the Rad around a lot).

[format]

Plenty of full cover blocks available fro the 260 and 280,

I meant aftermarket air coolers, but thanks for your post

It arrived this morning (ordered at 4pm yesterday!) and the card is not too loud at all, I'll see how it goes

[F1ZZY]

If you are happy with the 260 stock cooling, and it is not too loud for you, then just keep it as is. It is supposed to be very quiet indeed.

Watercooling will have pump noise/vibration and at least 1 120mm fan - which, while these can be tamed with good mounting, will likely not be any quieter than the 260 stock cooling (from what I gather from SPCR.

Watercooling WILL make it cooler tho - but on gfx cards loading at 40 or 60 makes little difference to overclock (unless you volt mod).

For a first time watercooler I'd suggest not wasting your money on WC the 260.

ENjoy your new card !!