arestavo

Schlomo
NZXT says VRM temps are around 45degrees without heatsinks and just the G12 itself, are VRM heatsinks really needed at all? It costs me around 40-50euro to do the heatsink mod for one card.

I run a G10 without VRM or VRAM heat sinks. It worked fine for a 980 Ti Classified, a 980 Ti G1 Gaming, a 1080 ACX 3.0, and now my 1080 Ti DR.

VRM temps were around 60 to 70 degrees C and VRAM temps were 20 to 30C lower - all while looping the Valley benchmark while overclocked. I've got a large case with three 200mm fans blowing in from the side, and that likely helps keep things nice and cool along with the little G10 fan.

What kind of 1080 ti do you have? I can't find any onboard temperature readings on mine (EVGA) besides the GPU temperature in both Precision X and GPU-Z, or did you measure manually too? Id like to be able to check my other temps without taking the panel off and using my IR thermometer lol.

owhatnow6

arestavo

Schlomo
NZXT says VRM temps are around 45degrees without heatsinks and just the G12 itself, are VRM heatsinks really needed at all? It costs me around 40-50euro to do the heatsink mod for one card.

I run a G10 without VRM or VRAM heat sinks. It worked fine for a 980 Ti Classified, a 980 Ti G1 Gaming, a 1080 ACX 3.0, and now my 1080 Ti DR.

VRM temps were around 60 to 70 degrees C and VRAM temps were 20 to 30C lower - all while looping the Valley benchmark while overclocked. I've got a large case with three 200mm fans blowing in from the side, and that likely helps keep things nice and cool along with the little G10 fan.

What kind of 1080 ti do you have? I can't find any onboard temperature readings on mine (EVGA) besides the GPU temperature in both Precision X and GPU-Z, or did you measure manually too? Id like to be able to check my other temps without taking the panel off and using my IR thermometer lol.

The 1080 Ti Founders Edition from a step up of the 1080 iCX base model, which was from the 1080 ACX 3.0 base model to iCX upgrade, which I stepped up from a 980 Ti Classified (woah, right?).
 
I used a wireless thermal gun and tested directly on the VRMs, which may not be super accurate due to the reflective properties of the VRMs, the backside of the VRMs at the metal posts that protrude and the immediate surrounding area, as well as the front of the card in the immediate surrounding PCB which gave a closer approximation for temperatures which, being the hottest of the all the values, I went with. Since the VRMs are rated for ~120C, and they were well below even the 100C thermal throttle threshold, there won't be any issues. The VRAM temps should be spot on since they don't have that reflective issue - they were a lot cooler for obvious reasons (seeing as how they don't handle lots and lots of power).
 
Checking is fairly simple since the G10 bracket allows for testing most of the front of the card, and the back without a backplate is completely open to test out the backside of the VRMs.

arestavo

owhatnow6

arestavo

Schlomo
NZXT says VRM temps are around 45degrees without heatsinks and just the G12 itself, are VRM heatsinks really needed at all? It costs me around 40-50euro to do the heatsink mod for one card.

I run a G10 without VRM or VRAM heat sinks. It worked fine for a 980 Ti Classified, a 980 Ti G1 Gaming, a 1080 ACX 3.0, and now my 1080 Ti DR.

VRM temps were around 60 to 70 degrees C and VRAM temps were 20 to 30C lower - all while looping the Valley benchmark while overclocked. I've got a large case with three 200mm fans blowing in from the side, and that likely helps keep things nice and cool along with the little G10 fan.

What kind of 1080 ti do you have? I can't find any onboard temperature readings on mine (EVGA) besides the GPU temperature in both Precision X and GPU-Z, or did you measure manually too? Id like to be able to check my other temps without taking the panel off and using my IR thermometer lol.

The 1080 Ti Founders Edition from a step up of the 1080 iCX base model, which was from the 1080 ACX 3.0 base model to iCX upgrade, which I stepped up from a 980 Ti Classified (woah, right?).
 
I used a wireless thermal gun and tested directly on the VRMs, which may not be super accurate due to the reflective properties of the VRMs, the backside of the VRMs at the metal posts that protrude and the immediate surrounding area, as well as the front of the card in the immediate surrounding PCB which gave a closer approximation for temperatures which, being the hottest of the all the values, I went with. Since the VRMs are rated for ~120C, and they were well below even the 100C thermal throttle threshold, there won't be any issues. The VRAM temps should be spot on since they don't have that reflective issue - they were a lot cooler for obvious reasons (seeing as how they don't handle lots and lots of power).
 
Checking is fairly simple since the G10 bracket allows for testing most of the front of the card, and the back without a backplate is completely open to test out the backside of the VRMs.

Oh okay, that's pretty much what I did except for that it was hard for me to get any measurements on the back of the PCB underneath my CPU cooler, or on the inside of the card since the G12 sits so close to it. I was definitely expecting all of the VRM and VRAM components to run hotter than they did though, especially since some people on different forums had made a big deal out of it on posts Ive read about the G10.  

Nice looking build, thanks for showing it off. +1 :)

owhatnow6

arestavo

owhatnow6

arestavo

Schlomo
NZXT says VRM temps are around 45degrees without heatsinks and just the G12 itself, are VRM heatsinks really needed at all? It costs me around 40-50euro to do the heatsink mod for one card.

I run a G10 without VRM or VRAM heat sinks. It worked fine for a 980 Ti Classified, a 980 Ti G1 Gaming, a 1080 ACX 3.0, and now my 1080 Ti DR.

VRM temps were around 60 to 70 degrees C and VRAM temps were 20 to 30C lower - all while looping the Valley benchmark while overclocked. I've got a large case with three 200mm fans blowing in from the side, and that likely helps keep things nice and cool along with the little G10 fan.

What kind of 1080 ti do you have? I can't find any onboard temperature readings on mine (EVGA) besides the GPU temperature in both Precision X and GPU-Z, or did you measure manually too? Id like to be able to check my other temps without taking the panel off and using my IR thermometer lol.

The 1080 Ti Founders Edition from a step up of the 1080 iCX base model, which was from the 1080 ACX 3.0 base model to iCX upgrade, which I stepped up from a 980 Ti Classified (woah, right?).
 
I used a wireless thermal gun and tested directly on the VRMs, which may not be super accurate due to the reflective properties of the VRMs, the backside of the VRMs at the metal posts that protrude and the immediate surrounding area, as well as the front of the card in the immediate surrounding PCB which gave a closer approximation for temperatures which, being the hottest of the all the values, I went with. Since the VRMs are rated for ~120C, and they were well below even the 100C thermal throttle threshold, there won't be any issues. The VRAM temps should be spot on since they don't have that reflective issue - they were a lot cooler for obvious reasons (seeing as how they don't handle lots and lots of power).
 
Checking is fairly simple since the G10 bracket allows for testing most of the front of the card, and the back without a backplate is completely open to test out the backside of the VRMs.

Oh okay, that's pretty much what I did except for that it was hard for me to get any measurements on the back of the PCB underneath my CPU cooler, or on the inside of the card since the G12 sits so close to it. I was definitely expecting all of the VRM and VRAM components to run hotter than they did though, especially since some people on different forums had made a big deal out of it on posts Ive read about the G10.  

Yeah, I was expecting the same and was wondering why NZXT hasn't fixed the issue in a newer model.
With some googling, the card that is commonly reported having VRM issues with the Kraken G10 is the Radeon 290/X.
 
Speaking of the G12 has anyone in EU been able to pre order or buy it yet? I've been googling everyday last week and no retailer has them yet, NZXT has unfortunately no EU shop.

notfordman
Nice looking build, thanks for showing it off. +1 :)

Thanks!

Very tempted to try this, just not overly excited to take apart my GPU. I have replaced the stock cooler in the past with a gigantic after-market cooler and was not a fun job, although the results were totally worth it.

Schlomo

owhatnow6

arestavo

owhatnow6

arestavo

Schlomo
NZXT says VRM temps are around 45degrees without heatsinks and just the G12 itself, are VRM heatsinks really needed at all? It costs me around 40-50euro to do the heatsink mod for one card.

I run a G10 without VRM or VRAM heat sinks. It worked fine for a 980 Ti Classified, a 980 Ti G1 Gaming, a 1080 ACX 3.0, and now my 1080 Ti DR.

VRM temps were around 60 to 70 degrees C and VRAM temps were 20 to 30C lower - all while looping the Valley benchmark while overclocked. I've got a large case with three 200mm fans blowing in from the side, and that likely helps keep things nice and cool along with the little G10 fan.

What kind of 1080 ti do you have? I can't find any onboard temperature readings on mine (EVGA) besides the GPU temperature in both Precision X and GPU-Z, or did you measure manually too? Id like to be able to check my other temps without taking the panel off and using my IR thermometer lol.

The 1080 Ti Founders Edition from a step up of the 1080 iCX base model, which was from the 1080 ACX 3.0 base model to iCX upgrade, which I stepped up from a 980 Ti Classified (woah, right?).
 
I used a wireless thermal gun and tested directly on the VRMs, which may not be super accurate due to the reflective properties of the VRMs, the backside of the VRMs at the metal posts that protrude and the immediate surrounding area, as well as the front of the card in the immediate surrounding PCB which gave a closer approximation for temperatures which, being the hottest of the all the values, I went with. Since the VRMs are rated for ~120C, and they were well below even the 100C thermal throttle threshold, there won't be any issues. The VRAM temps should be spot on since they don't have that reflective issue - they were a lot cooler for obvious reasons (seeing as how they don't handle lots and lots of power).
 
Checking is fairly simple since the G10 bracket allows for testing most of the front of the card, and the back without a backplate is completely open to test out the backside of the VRMs.

Oh okay, that's pretty much what I did except for that it was hard for me to get any measurements on the back of the PCB underneath my CPU cooler, or on the inside of the card since the G12 sits so close to it. I was definitely expecting all of the VRM and VRAM components to run hotter than they did though, especially since some people on different forums had made a big deal out of it on posts Ive read about the G10.  

Yeah, I was expecting the same and was wondering why NZXT hasn't fixed the issue in a newer model.
With some googling, the card that is commonly reported having VRM issues with the Kraken G10 is the Radeon 290/X.
 
Speaking of the G12 has anyone in EU been able to pre order or buy it yet? I've been googling everyday last week and no retailer has them yet, NZXT has unfortunately no EU shop.

I don't think its really an issue with the Kraken G10/G12 so much as it is that you are removing the midplate and lowering the amount of mass touching the components that can soak up heat, so when you really stress the VRM with something like Furmark which puts an unrealistic load on those parts they can get really hot. But I'm not an expert in thermodynamics by any means so I may be completely wrong about that. And have you tried buying it on the US shop? I'm not familiar with having things shipped overseas but maybe they will let you buy it there?

DrunkMexican
Very tempted to try this, just not overly excited to take apart my GPU. I have replaced the stock cooler in the past with a gigantic after-market cooler and was not a fun job, although the results were totally worth it.

Yea I was pretty nervous when taking mine apart since this is the nicest/newest graphics card I've ever owned and EVGA put a "warranty void if removed" sticker over one of the backplate screws so there wasn't any turning back once I started, now that its done though and my computer doesn't sound like a jet engine every time I boot up a game I'm pretty glad I made the switch

owhatnow6

DrunkMexican
Very tempted to try this, just not overly excited to take apart my GPU. I have replaced the stock cooler in the past with a gigantic after-market cooler and was not a fun job, although the results were totally worth it.

Yea I was pretty nervous when taking mine apart since this is the nicest/newest graphics card I've ever owned and EVGA put a "warranty void if removed" sticker over one of the backplate screws so there wasn't any turning back once I started, now that its done though and my computer doesn't sound like a jet engine every time I boot up a game I'm pretty glad I made the switch

Is warranty really voided though with installing the G12? I thought EVGA covered removing the heatsink / cooler.