Koolance Intros Radeon HD 6900 Series Compatible VID-AR697 Full-Coverage Water Block

[btarunr]

Water-cooling specialist Koolance announced its full-coverage water block that's common for AMD Radeon HD 6970 and Radeon HD 6950 graphics accelerators. The VID-AR697 from Koolance measures 6.25" x 5.75" x 0.62" (15.9cm x 14.6cm x 1.6cm), weighing 1.5 pounds (680 g). Its primary material is nickel-plated copper, with acetal top. Tailored for AMD reference-design PCB, it offers full-coverage, cooling all heat producing components including the GPU, memory chips, and VRM. It uses a 0.5 mm micro-fin array over the GPU for better heat dissipation. The block uses standard G 1/4 BSP threading. The Koolance VID-AR697 is priced at US $114.99.

[blu3flannel]

Man, now the upgrade to a 6970 is around $465! It's really shiny though.

[bear jesus]

I look forward to seeing how well the 69xx cards clock on water but I'm still not too convinced on the 2 part design of this and other water blocks, it just feels like the more seals and joints there are on a single block the more places it could possibly leak from after a fair amount of use.... Although i may just feel that way as I'm yet to make my own loop so know very little about water cooling

I guess i just always felt a single block with a single cover and single joint was safest even if i have no experience although i do hope to gain some experience in 2011 once the next gen CPU's and GPU's are out

I do like the water channels, i know they will be quite restrictive but with such a good amount of surface area i would hope this block does pretty well at cooling.

[Steevo]

Are the mount holes the same as a 4xxx series, and 5xxx series?

[cdawall]

Originally Posted by bear jesus

I look forward to seeing how well the 69xx cards clock on water but I'm still not too convinced on the 2 part design of this and other water blocks, it just feels like the more seals and joints there are on a single block the more places it could possibly leak from after a fair amount of use.... Although i may just feel that way as I'm yet to make my own loop so know very little about water cooling

I guess i just always felt a single block with a single cover and single joint was safest even if i have no experience although i do hope to gain some experience in 2011 once the next gen CPU's and GPU's are out

I do like the water channels, i know they will be quite restrictive but with such a good amount of surface area i would hope this block does pretty well at cooling.

Should be fine most blocks have more pieces than you would think in them

Originally Posted by Steevo

Are the mount holes the same as a 4xxx series, and 5xxx series?

Vrm locations will be diff though

[Steevo]

I was just wondering for my block, three series of GPU, three CPU on the same setup, loop and coolant.

[overclocking101]

I prefer the plate design. one piece of copper that makes contact with the gpu, less leak points. I have had it happen in the past. I like EK or AC myself.

[WarEagleAU]

I agree there with you Bear, I want an enclosed one piece loop.

[bear jesus]

Originally Posted by cdawall

Should be fine most blocks have more pieces than you would think in them

Originally Posted by overclocking101

I prefer the plate design. one piece of copper that makes contact with the gpu, less leak points. I have had it happen in the past. I like EK or AC myself.

Originally Posted by WarEagleAU

I agree there with you Bear, I want an enclosed one piece loop.

With many blocks i have looked at that are a single piece with a cover they have between one and three seals/o-rings but this block has 6 and that makes me a little uncomfortable, i really want to make my own loop once i have components that are really worth putting under water but I'm a pansy and want minimum risk in any way possible even down to absolute minimum amount of seals/o-rings an connections.

[wahdangun]

Originally Posted by Steevo

I was just wondering for my block, three series of GPU, three CPU on the same setup, loop and coolant.

hmm thank you, you have inspired me, i will try to use WC with 3 CPU and 3 GPU across 3 PC case, i think it will be utterly wicked for my game center