Just got my GTX 480

oh and I figured I'd also post this just for a few of you guys here that were wondering. while removing the stock fan and heatsink I found that Nvidia at stock just LOADS these cards with Thermal Paste. There was really tons of it. So much that it was gooping over the sides of the core n getting everywhere. I'm pretty positive if you removed it and used some MX-3, AS Ceramique, or some Shin Etsu x23 thermal paste and redid it, the temps would be a good 7c better. possibly more on load.

Sorry photo sucks, it was my cell phone.

It's not Nvidia who put it on. That's EVGA, because my ASUS one had hardly any thermal compound on it.

Update: eVGA GTX 480 WATERCOOLED!

Hey everyone, After several delays, waiting for parts DD forgot in the package (missing O-Ring) and waiting for barbs I have finally finished my little project. And ohhh am I exited.

I tore down, and redid my Watercooling loop and added the GTX 480 into my loop. I'm running the 480 and my Q9650 (4.0 Ghz) all on a Feser TFC 360 Radiator. I switched out the Yate Loon fans for Scythe GT 1850's and used the Yate's for Shrouds.(I killed the Yate's, Tore out the motors) Now at idle I'm actually getting LOWER temps than before with just the CPU, weather it's a better CPU block seating, or the Scythe Gentle Typhoon Fan upgrade and the use of shrouds i don't know. but my CPU temps are a little lower, and my GTX 480 idles at 33c and oh is it excellent!


So, I'll go ahead and throw up a screeny for everyone, then a photo of the system will follow in a minute..
GTX 480 idling at 33c and Q9650 (4.0 Ghz) idling around 30-33c with a Ambient temp of 26c (78F) in the house.

:cheers:

Oh and I must say... to all the Haters. Fermi Rocks & Loves Water.

my GTX 480 under water is just amazing. it idles at 33c and the HIGHEST temp I have seen Period is 51c. and that came while running Metro 2033 in DX11 at 1920x1200 with Physx, AO, AAA, and AF all turned to the MAX. that game is the new Crysis and it gives a beating to these cards. Crysis I was seeing LOAD temps of 49c.. and trust me. I was a happy camper!

Congrates on the cooling system.

Thanks, I'll be sure to get the real camera out and take some better photo's later.

How hard is a water cooling system to maintain?

Not hard at all if done right.. When you use things like coolants and green and blue colors in there. then it's best to drain, clean, rinse and redo every 5-6 months. but the safest and best bet to have clean tubing and not have to worry about tubes getting foggy and such is to just use Distilled water, regular water will NOT work.

My first loop I put together and I used Distilled Water, and something Called a Silver Killcoil. Silver is what marine and some fish tanks use to keep algae out of the water and everything clean. I had a silver killcoil thats 99.9% silver in my reservoir (in there now just cant see it). and it protects the water. My first loop I ran daily for over a year and 2 months without a SINGLE problem. I never drained it or anything. it could have gone longer also.

technically it's good to clean out and add new water, but there's not really any maintenance over a standard system if it's done right. and if I only have to mess with it once a year thats fine as I'm adding new GPU's or parts sooner than every year so it's really no problem at all. It's becoming a bigger part of PC cooler as the years go on.

To start easy and simple I'd recommend the Corsair H50. it's a good product. Check newegg.com it's got around 500 reviews.

Looking good, but you've still got air bubbles in your loop. You should have really jump-started the watercooling to get it flowing for a while first.