Important: Also fits without problems in a gigabyte R9 290 with Custom Design !!! (Gigabytes R9 290 OC WindForce / Gigabyte R9 290 Wind Force). Everything is covered! The month is slightly different than the reference board but this is immediately apparent which screws need to be resolved by the board design to dismantle the air cooler.
Otherwise:
- Installation: easy and well documented (hardware knowledge required, but that should be standard for jemdanden of a water cooling At length)
- Accessories: Everything you need is here. Thermal pads are attached generous. So you can sometimes blend without the need to re-order.
- Thermal pads: When the voltage transformers should be vll still get an extra pads because the VRM1 temperature may well be raised when the pad is too shallow or the cooler not presses correctly.
[...]
The forum to solve the problem with thicker pads or thermal grease. Note: For a water cooling system is of course a temperature of 40-50 ° under load for VRM1 good or expected, but it is also not a problem if it occurs at 60-80 ° C when the pad is not "perfect" resting. In air, the transducers reach temperatures> 100 ° C and at about 125 ° C max. designed. So do not worry if GPU-Z under load eg 70 ° C displays (VRM1). The VRM2 temperature but should be in any case below 50 ° C!
- Optics: I decided, inter alia for this cooler as you can see, the coolant very good and the GPU after reconstruction is a real eye-catcher. For modders a very good choice.
- Processing: There are no sharp edges on the radiator nor materials dissolve in operation. Top milled!
- Power: In my current setup: aquastream + 120mm (45) + 240mm (45) + 360mm (45) wheel + EK-Bay reservoir + NB-BlackSilentPro (600 (min) - 1200 (max) RPM): Temperature GPU: ~ 45 ° C (@ 60 FPS Gaming / Benchmar) (max 53 ° C @ 120 FPS Gaming / benchmark.). Water temperature:. 23-37 ° C Max target temperature fan control: 38 ° C H2O (from maximum fan speed here @ 1200 RPM)
- Conclusion: for me after a long search of the optical, power-rated and well priced best coolers of all current manufacturers of R9 290 blocks. The possible answer with Acetal cover the map or to build in a backplate is also given by EK. Accessories you will find everything on the manufacturing side.
Warning !!!: backplate and reinforcer of EK ONLY (!!!) with reference board design! NOT at Custom Design - not at Gigbayte R9 290 OC WindForce / Gigabyte R9 290 WindForce!
But do not worry: even without backplate and Reinforcer remains the map in relation to the reference cooler cold and especially quiet (but that's due to the respective watercooling system!).
I hope I could help you with my review. Questions / comments / criticism? Please in your posting and I try to help to the best of its knowledge and belief.
Robz
