Why are gpu block SO expensive?

Rowey · Mar 1, 2011

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ek-fc...al-plus-nickel

Looking at these for my 460, its so expensive?
Even the blocks for the older cards (8800GT) they are like Â£50-Â£60

Dark · Mar 1, 2011

They are unique to the cards themselves and require a much larger block to mill from.

If the blocks worked on multiple cards then they would likely be cheaper (ref. gpu blocks, not full blocks).

UnexplodedCow · Mar 1, 2011

I used to ask this, until I bought an EK FC6970. It is milled from a nearly .5" thick block of copper. It is thick/heavy, with a nearly .5" top of acetal on it that's also milled. The amount of work that goes into a full cover block is surprising. Granted, a CNC machine will simplify this, but designing the block requires time, and purchasing/using the CNC also requires time and money. I think, overall, these are good prices. I mainly turn my questioning of price onto the CPU blocks, pumps, and radiators...as those are very expensive. Even tubing is expensive (for PVC...I can see the price behind silicone).

SmokinWaffle · Mar 1, 2011

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/ek-fc...ckel-vga-block

Count yourself lucky. Waterblocks are expensive becuase, as UnexplodedCow said, the amount of work that goes into them is surprising.

Mongol · Mar 1, 2011

It's the level of detail, and amount of work that goes into them.

That's craftsmanship...milled or otherwise.

HAF_wit · Mar 1, 2011

Hasn't the price of copper in the world also skyrocketed? I swear I remember reading an article where they forecast computing materials to become more scarce as China ramps up their technological base.

UnexplodedCow · Mar 1, 2011

I'd also like to point out that the US dollar is rubbish when compared to the British pound, or even Euro, although we lack VAT of any kind. My example is that I paid ~$100 US for the FC6970 block, whereas it is listed here for 67.18 GBP (including VAT). The typical exchange ratio is 1.8 USD to 1 GBP. My price wasn't terrible, but it was really no worse than what someone in the UK would pay pound for pound (no pun intended).

nickbaldwin86 · Mar 1, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by HAF_wit

Hasn't the price of copper in the world also skyrocketed? I swear I remember reading an article where they forecast computing materials to become more scarce as China ramps up their technological base.

Yes, copper and silver have been going up.

Why are gpu block SO expensive?

Rowey

Dark

UnexplodedCow

SmokinWaffle

Mongol

HAF_wit

UnexplodedCow

nickbaldwin86

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