GPU + waterblock - water == ???

[scaryjim]

Yeah, itmay look like a daft thread title, but hopefully you'll get what I mean.

I have a GPU with a waterblock on it, but currently I don't have a watercooled PC. As I'm moving house and need ever scrap of cash I can get my hands on, as well as wanting to avoid moving superfluous rubbish, I'm probably going to sell my existing graphics card: but I could really do with checking if the replacement (with waterblock, not an air cooler) works before I do.

So, here's the crux. A waterblock is a big slab of copper, that will presumably act (to a certain extent) like a heatsink. So, would it be safe to very quickly boot my PC with the waterblocked card in it to check the card works, as long as I don't try to give it a work out or anything daft (i.e. will the block draw enough heat away from the GPU for a couple of minutes of light usage)?

What do you think boys and girls?

[Hicks12]

risky as the amount of metal on a gpu block is fairly small, there isnt enough natural disipation to use it normally HOWEVER the fact you only want to boot the pc, i think it might work however i would suggest a little precaution, do you have any tubing and fittings for the block? if so then fill up the block with water and then do it, that way you have atleast some water in the block to take a bit of the heat off for those few mins, better safe than sorry.

[Terbinator]

Assuming its those 8800GTX's (?) you may get away with it.

For comparisons sake, my PC wouldn't complete memtest (got about 15% in) without rebooting due to thermal shutdown on my 480 when i forgot to plug the fan in.

[scaryjim]

Assuming its those 8800GTX's (?) you may get away with it.

Yes it was, and yes I did Ran long enough to boot into Windows and have 8800GTX drivers installed. Basically I'm selling my 8800GTX as I need cash and to declutter, but wanted to check the one Gonz sold me was alright (otherwise I'd've had some difficult decisions to make!).

So yeah, an EK full cover block will keep an 8800GTX at runnable temps for long enough to boot into Windows and have the card recognised. And to be fair, the block was warm to touch but not hot when I pulled it, so it could probably have gone on a bit longer. So all good