X58 UD7 and SLI

[Sadcalvin]

Question about running SLI on this board. I currently have one EVGA GTX580 and want to run SLI. The problem is that with another 580 in the appropriate slot, there is little clearance between the cards. Is this going to be a major issue ie: heat and proper cooling? It all currently resides in an Antec 1200 chasis which cools quite well but I am concerned with the cards being so close, they will get hotter than "normal" under load.
Anyone have any experience with this or can dispell or quiet my fears?

Cheers

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

This is a perennial problem and seems to get worse as the size of cards increases.  Quite often there is no option but to have the cards next to each other and as such the space between them is severely limited. Usually this will result in the top card getting quite a bit hotter than the bottom card. A lot of people decide to water cool for this reason alone. If that is not an option for you then I would recommend either moving the cards further apart or wedging something non conductive in between the cards to maintain the gap and making sure that there is plenty of cool air being directed over the cards from outside the case.

[Sadcalvin]

Thanks for the advice.... I think I will try to construct some sort of tunnel between the two for a dedicated fan as water cooling kind of scares me 

Cheers

[Dark Mantis]

I take it that you actually have the X58A-UD7 motherboard. If so you always have the option of moving the bottom card down to the very lowest PCIE slot. It is only PCIEx8 but that wouldn't matter for a graphics card.

[Aussie Allan]

 Now that's good advise.......hot air rises........the bottom  slot is the coolest place in any case, ... this would allow you to construct a substantial Fan/tunnel cooling solution to get some air movement going between the two cards..........non-conducting thermal shielding would not be required then at all.

 Aussie Allan

[Dark Mantis]

You would of course need a longer bridge to connect them both but they are readily available.

[F5BJR]

*
But PCI-e X16 is only with the good --> PCI-e 1 and PCI-e 3

if not cards run in X8 mode

Pierre

[Dark Mantis]

PCIEx8 is enough bandwidth for graphics cards Pierre.

[Sadcalvin]

Thanks guys.... the bottom slot is an option but my case, Antec 1200, and this board (UD7) I guess are not a perfect match... In that the bottom PCI-E slot on the motherboard lines up with the last I/O hole in the case. Therefore with another 580, the bottom portion of the cards I/O shield (the part with the venting) will be blocked due to the lack of another, lower, I/O slot.... I hope that makes sense. I did think about taking a Dremmel to the case and opening it up so that the vent in the card can breathe....

[Dark Mantis]

Yes it probably wouldn't be a good idea to resrtict the airflow on one of these cards any more than normal. I guess it is back to plan A then!

[Sadcalvin]

Actually... I am looking into water cooling now.. just the GPU's though... I'll update once its all setup, without any leaks I hope :p

[Dark Mantis]

Just make sure that you test it without the motherboard and cards powered up. If you don't know how to do that just post back and I will help you.

[Sadcalvin]

Thanks Mantis,

Just trying to find a good unit for cooling. So far haven't found anything... so if anyone has any suggestions, they would be most appreciated as this whole water cooling is new to me.

Cheers

[Dark Mantis]

When you say"a good unit for cooling" exactly what are you after ?

[Sadcalvin]

Like pump, tubing, radiator... waterblocks as well. I've done some searching for stuff but I would rather talk to people that know over hits from google. I just want to cool the cards, not the whole PC and am looking for something reliable.