[skarface]

Okay got koolance water blocks for both my 295's. I installed both of the water blocks per the book from koolance. I get them together put then in the pc and no display from one card! So i power pc down and power back up "display this time" i go into safe mode and in device manager bam only three gpu's showing. Take note i was running these cards in sli for a month before i added the water blocks and everything was in working order before i added them.

So after i uninstalled the drivers and reinstalled rebooted same thing. So i found that one card was 100% dead no display no blue light not even in a diifferent slot or on another pc. I even double checked ribbon cable to ensure thats they were pluged in. Then i added the fan and heat sink back on it with the same results.

I was gunna run the other card till the bad card got rmaed. So i started the pc and get into windows and vga adapters get installed. Then i installed 182.08 and restart right before windows logo blue screen everytime. So i tried older drivers to include 181s that came on the disc. I could however stay in safe mode all day long or in windows without drivers installed just the vga adapters. Both gpus showing up, green light and blue light on. So i reformat and reinstall windows bam same thing so i tried a different slot no change. I take the card out and put it in another system with same results. So i grab my 8800gt plug it in bam no problems go right into windows without blue screen with 182.08 drivers.

At this point im soo frustrated so im like screw it i rma both cards and i get two back from evga but they are not new they are in a white box with a plastic case that holds the cards and thats it. So i uninstalled the heatsinks and add the water blocks this time with the help of an expert presents who builds custom machines completely water cooled on a regular basis. He has also put block on gx2, 295s, 280s and many others so this was not an unfamiliar situation for him.

I got the water blocks installed on both cards and never touched the card with my bare hands at all. Learning from the other two i was able to get them apart and back together without disconnecting the ribbons. So i get both cards back into the machine and start it up no display at all top card has a green light only no blue light. Bottom card has a green light and blue light. So i shutdown and restart with the monitor pluged in the bottom card and i get a display. Now it says gpu in 16x_2 And another in !6x_3 start pc with the card in pcie slot 1. Then it has hit del to enter setup alt f2 to flash adsw or something and another option. So i hit delete to go into setup and its just frozen at this screen everytime will not let me go into any option.

My friend eric said i did a great job installing the block and he couldnt have done a better job. I never once touched anything on the card during this proccess. I even had a tool that i used to grab the screws so that i would not touch the board. I even used the same gpu past as evga used so i never came in direct contact with the gpu.

Me and eric inspected both cards and we both agreed that the ribbons apeared to be fully seated on both cards. I should have tested the cards prior to install but that just shows people how much trust i have in evga. Any ideas or help would be greatful.

Best Regards Joe

[DrNip]

Did you try the cards before you installed the waterblocks? What mobo did you try to install these on and which slots?

[skarface]

Originally Posted by DrNip

Did you try the cards before you installed the waterblocks? What mobo did you try to install these on and which slots?

I tried the cards in my 780i ftw board in slot 2 as well! The 8800 and 4870x2 work fine in slot one! No i did not test the cards prior to install and that is my mistake and i feel like im paying for that with the time i just wasted.

[Kal-EL]

Joe,
sry to hear bout the run of bad luck homie.

The thing about waterblocks on gpu's is not overtightening the block screws. The pcb easily bends when the screws are over-tightened and if the pcb bends and touches the metal block, you can get a short. Also, if the pcb bends enough, you can crack the inner layers of the pcb severing the trace lines running thru the pcb.

This thing with the pci slot 1_ slot_2 slot_3. What it sounds like is that the gpu in slot_2 is functioning fine but the gpu in slot_1 is recognized as present but not functioning. This happened to me with my 9800gx2's after the slot_1 card failed due to short. Remove and switch out slot_1 cards.

I'd reckon just from this that gpu in slot_1 arrived d.o.a. from Evga (shit happens)
OR
The Koolance waterblock is warped and there is contact being made somewhere on the pcb
OR
the retention screws used with the waterblock have been over-tightened

Another option you may try is running the system outside of the case on a flat non-conductive surface like a cardboard box. Be wary though, the gtx295's with waterblock are pretty damned heavy and if you're pci slut isn't a virgin, you might have lean on the gpu in the slot.

Also, are you laying the case on its side when mounting the gtx's w/waterblock? Because of the weight of this card with a waterblock, properly seating the card adn then securing the card to the motherboard tray might require laying the case on its side. This way, you know for sure you have a good seat and that its snuggly fastened to the mobo tray. A slut pci slot can allow for alot of play which can lead to bad mounts.

And lastly, don't sweat it bro, its a hobby and not intended to be a huge source of frustration. Everyone and I mean everyone in that plays with their pc will encounter d.o.a. hardware and rma blues. Just pull that nut tot and re-install the air h/s, and rma that sucker to EVGA for a fresh start. now that you've learned your lesson on assuming hardware is working on arrival, always test at stock upon reciept to lessen ur workload, time consumed, no sweat.

[skarface]

Originally Posted by Kal-EL

Joe,
sry to hear bout the run of bad luck homie.

The thing about waterblocks on gpu's is not overtightening the block screws. The pcb easily bends when the screws are over-tightened and if the pcb bends and touches the metal block, you can get a short. Also, if the pcb bends enough, you can crack the inner layers of the pcb severing the trace lines running thru the pcb.

This thing with the pci slot 1_ slot_2 slot_3. What it sounds like is that the gpu in slot_2 is functioning fine but the gpu in slot_1 is recognized as present but not functioning. This happened to me with my 9800gx2's after the slot_1 card failed due to short. Remove and switch out slot_1 cards.

I'd reckon just from this that gpu in slot_1 arrived d.o.a. from Evga (shit happens)
OR
The Koolance waterblock is warped and there is contact being made somewhere on the pcb
OR
the retention screws used with the waterblock have been over-tightened

Another option you may try is running the system outside of the case on a flat non-conductive surface like a cardboard box. Be wary though, the gtx295's with waterblock are pretty damned heavy and if you're pci slut isn't a virgin, you might have lean on the gpu in the slot.

Also, are you laying the case on its side when mounting the gtx's w/waterblock? Because of the weight of this card with a waterblock, properly seating the card adn then securing the card to the motherboard tray might require laying the case on its side. This way, you know for sure you have a good seat and that its snuggly fastened to the mobo tray. A slut pci slot can allow for alot of play which can lead to bad mounts.

And lastly, don't sweat it bro, its a hobby and not intended to be a huge source of frustration. Everyone and I mean everyone in that plays with their pc will encounter d.o.a. hardware and rma blues. Just pull that nut tot and re-install the air h/s, and rma that sucker to EVGA for a fresh start. now that you've learned your lesson on assuming hardware is working on arrival, always test at stock upon reciept to lessen ur workload, time consumed, no sweat.

Hey thanx alot kal! After a day of rest and clearing my head i looked back at the cards and noticed an error. One of the ribbions was not properly installed so i used a tarter tool for teeth to get it plug back in correctly through the fan vent above the dvi ports. Bam card work posted and both gpu showed. So then i was left with only rmaing one more card vs 2 more. Well i got the card this past wed and installed it friday and all is well and working great! Lost around 7c in windows and 16c with full load on a single rad and a 400m/l pump.

Chuchnit came by and gamed with us some on sat and checked out my rig. He was saying he was surprized the the set up was holding those temps down!

[Jeffro64]

I had just read last night about installing those blocks and was going to suggest checking the ribbon cable to make sure it was plugged in all the way. Glad to hear it worked out!

[skarface]

Originally Posted by Jeffro64

I had just read last night about installing those blocks and was going to suggest checking the ribbon cable to make sure it was plugged in all the way. Glad to hear it worked out!

Yea that was the issue with only one card out of 3 so thats not very good.

[Jeffro64]

Originally Posted by skarface

Yea that was the issue with only one card out of 3 so thats not very good.

Yeah.... I was in a hurry the first time I read the first post. Not good at all.... I've been lucky with things so far but I know my day is coming.

[Chuchnit]

Originally Posted by skarface

Chuchnit came by and gamed with us some on sat and checked out my rig. He was saying he was surprized the the set up was holding those temps down!

Yes I was. I thought you'd be boiling the water with both cards on a single rad. You should still condider puting them on your triple or just adding the single in with it to make one big loop.

[Kal-EL]

Originally Posted by Chuchnit

Yes I was. I thought you'd be boiling the water with both cards on a single rad. You should still condider puting them on your triple or just adding the single in with it to make one big loop.

If it aint broke, don't fix it!