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EK FC-7970 vs XSPC Razor 7970

post #1 of 27
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These two waterblocks are pretty much the only (local) option for me right now due to limited stock in the only two good online watercooling retailers that i can find in Australia. I can get an EK block for between $108 to $130 depending on whether it is acetal/plexi/copper/nickel and i can get the XSPC Razor block for $90

The XSPC Razor 7970 doesn't look that crash hot aesthetically but the real thing i want to know is if it will perform well enough? The only review i can find for it is the comparison of six 7970 waterblocks by Bundymania. Here it performs the worst out off all the blocks temperature wise (~5 degree difference between it and 3 others) frown.gif If anyone has had experience with this waterblock i would love to hear from them.

I was 100% happy to buy an EK block but gammods.com.au are out of stock and their new stock only consists of the new EK CSQ range (the blocks with all the circles...). I dont like these at all and the fact they dont have a inlet/outlet on both sides completely screws up my plan of how im going to drain my loop.

http://www.gammods.com.au/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5866
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=207_160_878_880&products_id=19265

Should i save money and get a XSPC Razor at the cost of losing performance, Spend $40 more on an EK block or find somewhere that has a Heatkiller, AquaGratix, or Koolance block in stock and can ship to Australia?
post #2 of 27
The EK block is a much better block all around, especially given it's flow rate. Get it in copper btw.
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post #3 of 27
Do you have any empirical evidence to back up that claim?

Xspc blocks have been pretty good overall.
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post #4 of 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by axiumone View Post

Do you have any empirical evidence to back up that claim?
Xspc blocks have been pretty good overall.


Are you trolling? Did you not read the review in the OP? XSPC has worst temps and really poor flow for said low temps. And the vrms are not watercooled. On a single block flow is not as important so picking the best performing block temp wise is good. However, when running quads you want to balance temps vs flow, and probably like me give a little in temps for flow. The XSPC in either respects has nothing going for it.
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post #5 of 27
I have the EK myself.

Waterblocks on GPUs are just so good in general even the XSPC would be a huge upgrade over air cooling. I game at 45C with the EK, so even losing 5C from that would be much better than air at equivalent volts. If the XSPC is available and fits your budget, go for it. The difference in flow rates shouldn't be a big deal provided you have a good pump and aren't already fighting restriction problems.

edit: wow didn't realize the xspc doesn't cool the VRMs. That's a deal-breaker personally. You'll have to include the cost of a VRM heatsink solution to the cost of the block and make sure you'll have some airflow towards that area. In that case, might as well buy a universal GPU block and go that route.
Edited by Johnny Utah - 6/17/12 at 9:38pm
    
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post #6 of 27
I would imagine with just one card it really won't matter much performance-wise which way you go honestly. So the EK's might do 45C under load, the XSPC's would do 50C which is totally acceptable. Don't get me wrong, the EK's are the better choice both in performance and in looks but if you can only get the XSPC it should still be good enough....

-Ninja'd by Utah! :facepalm:
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post #7 of 27
But the xspc are not cooling the vrms with water! Bundy's test are really limited with no scope on the vrm temps. That's rather a big point in getting a fullcover block.
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post #8 of 27
That's a good point though I've noticed that even with air cooling my VRM's rarely get above 70C even under full load...
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post #9 of 27
What's the point of getting a fullcover block over a gpu only block? Think about it.
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post #10 of 27
Duh, epeen! Jeez...
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