GTX 580 / Antec Kuhler 620 : BUILD LOG

NOTE: if your interested in a bracket/adapter like the one visible below, feel free to contact either of the two persons I know here at OCN that are currently fabricating/providing them. You can also use zip ties to basically do the same thing.

OCN User Dwood: This is the fellow I sourced my own bracket/adapter from. Contact him via PM if you are interested in getting one: Dwood

OCN User Chmodlabs: Chmodlabs is also producing/designing a bracket and from what I've read recently, he will be adding a few options like custom branding (Nvidia/ATI/etc.) and LED options. Keep an eye out at *this* thread to find out more: Chmodlabs Bracket

Good 'ole Zip Tie Method: And here's a thread discussing how to do the same thing with zip ties: http://www.overclock.net/t/1203528/official-nvidia-gpu-mod-club-aka-the-mod

Thanks to both for their efforts and for improving the mod scene...

Great work!

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Nvidia GTX580 / Antec - KÜHLER 620 ... A match made in Heaven

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I almost took my Antec Kuhler 620 back to Micro Center. Really .. I bought it wanting to do this mod but then kept thinking about breaking down my computer and all the other, more "turn-key" options available and how much easier those might be and ... well, you know .. laziness kicks in and all.

Anyway. I'm glad I didn't take the 620 back.

Just today I finally got the muster to do the trick and boy. I mean, really. I can't say it enough. It's just feckin' SICK!!

BTW: To mount the Kuhler 620 on to my MSI GTX 580, I used a custom cut, aluminum bracket from a OCN user named "Dwood" ... and to his credit, it worked like a magic trick (with a few notes/tips worth noting, mind you).

And so, here's a little pictographic work log ... I've tried to interject comments here and there where I found it might be beneficial to others.

Enjoy:

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And so it begins...stock MSI Twin Frozr II:



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Twin Frozr II cooler separated from the GTX580 beneath:



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Here is the naked GTX580 along side the custom bracket supplied by OCN user "Dwood" (note the screws and nuts and washers also visible in this shot. Seriously, the hardest part about this whole thing was getting those little plastic washers free of the tape that Dwood shipped them in... LOL ...



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Before starting the somewhat delicate process of aligning the Kuhler 620/bracket assembly in line with your video card, I would *highly* suggest using some zip ties to secure the bracket to the Kuhler 620 pump assembly. It sure made things easier for me!:



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And here...another view of what you'll be dealing with once you start assembling everything...



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Anyway ...

This whole effort turned out to be something good/fine cause my computer is now silent. Even when loading Furmark ... (and when playing Skyrim? temps are just ridiculously better; **** man. I won't even post them).

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BTW, here are some "system" shots:

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And,,,

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All in all?

Do the mod.

It's just ridiculous ( vs. stock coolers and all) ...

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And for me? It's UBER silent. Nary a whisper. Even when killing dragons in Skyrim. SILENT.

But do your own research, eh?

.j

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HEY!@

And BTW .. h ere's a load/temp shot with a super slow, 800 RPM *silent* 120mm fan on the radiator. In the near future I will be replacing the fan with something that has a bit more output and will run it on a fan controller...

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For what it's worth? That's about 40C *LOWER* than with the stock MSI cooler. Once I get a better fan, it will be in the mid 50's, easy.

Nice.

;-)
Edited by s1rrah - 4/2/12 at 9:08am

Definitely worth the effort/time (and then some). Your bracket made it possible, BTW ... so thanks for the nice design work and the ridiculously affordable price.

BTW ...

I would not rate the over all mod process as "simple" ... certainly not something that a person unfamiliar with hands-on modding would want to wade in to.

I found it easy, personally ... but I'm quite comfortable with taking things apart and putting them back together. But random person on the street just wanting better temps? Maybe not so easy.

You mentioned adding some "instructions" to your future bracket shipments ... I think that's a good idea. But mostly just simple stuff like securing the bracket/pump housing with small/thin zip ties before aligning the whole thing to the video card ... also, maybe mention using zip ties to hold the whole bracket/pump in place on the actual video card while getting the screws and nuts installed (I found this very beneficial and it made installing the screws/nuts much easier, even though I still had to use both hands).

Also...and trust me, I know from experience...*DEFINITELY* mention that users should be aware of the proper vertical orientation of the bracket. LOL . .. I first mounted it upside down and so the 92mm fan was hitting the mother board when I finally went to install everything. Talk about annoying. I had to undo everything and then redo everything after flipping the bracket over. But hey, my bad...even though I was taking my time, I still got hurried and so mistakes happened.

Anyway, thanks again for the totally great design work. Being a visual designer myself and by trade, I'm a HUGE fan of effective, clean and simple design...and your bracket is that (at least with my own experience); it works. At first glance, I thought the aluminum you chose to cut it out of might be a bit too soft and/or flexible (and it is both) but having installed everything, I can see I was worried about nothing. Even without a backplate, everything feels real solid. Again, congrats on the good work.

Now I'm going to go play Skyrim and watch my GPU temp try to get above 50C.

LMAO.

Yes. That would work, although there is no "locking" part. But yeah, I can see your method happening easy enough. One would simply have to install the screws/nuts and the bracket on the card and then put the pump in (like you said)...

Nice thought, actually. I think I'll do it that way next time. Thanks for that...

.j