Cool those VRMs!

[Squeetard]

I picked up a gtx 260 55nm at future shop a few weeks back. Ran it on air in SLI with my watercooled one. I'm waiting for my waterblock for it. The other night I decided I'd clamp my existing block to it and run it single, find out what it can do before I pair it up. slapped on some ramsinks and my exisiting block, bios modded the voltage to 1.18 (reading 1.3 with my meter) and gave it a shot.

I've been trying for 2 days to get this thing to clock decently, can't even run 680 without faulting in 10 minutes. Never tops 45c either.
I noticed that even though the vrms were not heat sunk to the stock cooler that they were running sizzling hot, burn the finger hot, so I made some sinks out of an old northbridge block and expoxied them on. I've been stable at 740 now and am going to up it further.

Looks like the vrms are fine for stock speeds but you definitely need to cool them if you are going for max clocks.

[martin_metal_88]

really good to know! will try it out with my 4870 if it can help me to get her higher! Thx squeetard!!

[MarkOne]

talking of VRM cooling I set up 1 4890 with the Rad2 of thermalright and also their vrm rad..( you can see it on the top of the card ) .. i may put my second 4890 with an other rad2, but the vrm rad of thermalright will not fit in crossfire... so I'm may have to look for a similar rad I can use on the second 4890 or at least a good vrm heat sink ....any recommendations ?

[martin_metal_88]

Accelero twin turbo from Arctic cooling. Tested on a UD3P ( p45 ) and a UD3R (P55) and worked fin.

[MarkOne]

thanks Martin... but it's it's the same as the thermalright rad2 , they don't offer very good solution for the VRM. look at this pics on the link , that's the one I use on my first card the problem is you can't install on on the second card when xfire

Ultimate CPU Cooling Solutions! USA

[martin_metal_88]

There is certainly a solution to that. I take a closer look tomorrow! for now it's party in my house:)

[MarkOne]

And he don't invite us

[Squeetard]

Here's an article about vrm cooling on the ati 5xxx series.

AnandTech

[anthonee1230]

Originally Posted by Squeetard

Here's an article about vrm cooling on the ati 5xxx series.

AnandTech

More specifically that's overclocking an ATI 5970 and running it at 5870 clock speeds such that it's more of a 5870X2.