GA-X58A-UD9 (waterblock issue)

[VegetaFH1]

Hello everybody (first time poster here)

I am wondering if it is possible to use this motherboard without using the waterblock (watercooling) and its expansion slot cooling device (the one that would appear to screw into the waterblock)

Ill give the issue here for future referance or if anybody is interested

I bought a huge ammount of parts, but amoung those parts was a case (Corsair 800D Obsidian ATX)
When i try fit the board to its ATX fitted screw holes the board is blocked by the crossbar (the one that sits right above the PSU) and i would loss the ability to use all of my expanion slots

But when i move the ATX fitted screw holes i can get all my expansion slots utilized but then i have a problem of not being able to screw in the north bridge expansion slot heatsink (As there is a giant fan in the way) and since i dont have water cooling i cant use the water block

If anybody has any insight into this i would be most appreciative if you could share some thoughts

Thank you for your time, i shall await a responce

[absic]

Hi, sorry I don't have an answer for you but I'm sure when Dark Mantis our mad maniac with the chainsaw and TNT logs on he'll be able to help.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the forum, I see you have already come across our court jester absic. Thanks for the big sendup mate
I wouldn't honestly advise using the board without some active northbridge cooling if you are not using the supplied Hybrid Silent Pipe module to reduce the heat. I don't know if you are planning to overclock or really run the board hard but if so you will definitely need a fan or some other cooler on the northbridge. That's the only trouble with the UD9 being such a large board it only fits a number of cases. There is in fact a list available. 

[VegetaFH1]

Hi Mantis

Yes the board does seem large, though i get the feeling the case i have is at fault rather then the board itself
I am not planning on overclocking the board or CPU, so that will not be much of an issue
However i can say that the north bridge waterblock is right beside a 120 sized fan, though it is not directly attached so i cant say for sure if it will keep it cool enough

Im a power user of sorts, however i dont do anything that puts the lifespan of the mechine at risk, thus i wouldnt be kicking it to hard

Plus, yes i have seen that the "court jester" showed himself to lighten the mood abit, no offence Absic

[Dark Mantis]

To be fair absic and I like to keep a light  hearted mood in the forum, that way it doesn't get to dry and everyone enjoys a laugh. 
What I would suggest then is, if changing the case is out of the question, the newer revision motherboards come with a heatsink to use instead of the waterblock, if you fitted one of these then the nearby 120mm case fan would cool it enough I am sure. If you PM runn3R the main moderator he might well be able to help with one.

[absic]

Hey, I'm too stupid to get offended! 

[Dark Mantis]

Don't worry absic gives as good as he gets, often more so

I have contacted runn3R on your behalf and hopefully he will drop in and discuss this with you.

[VegetaFH1]

So what you are telling me is that the water cooling is totaly optional? becuase that would be a great help if so
Also it is always great to have a nice forum to come to

Modding the case isnt out of the question, infact the reason why i cant exchange the case now is becuase its already been modded (a big hole cut out of the back to resit the board on differant screw holes) so dont be afraid to saggest something like "make a new exspansion slot and slap in the external heatsink for the north bridge"

That said, i would like to get more information about my best options before i go cutting anymore large holes out of the case :p
And that is why im here, seeking the wisdom of a forum

Also, thank you for contacting the forum moderator, you have been a great help so far Mantis, i will look forward to your next post

[Dark Mantis]

Yes the waterblock is only screwed onto the Northbridge heatsink. As I said it comes as a optional accessory on the newer revision boards. Dont forget with the Hybrid Silent Pipe module you can cut away as many of the fins as you like as long as you dont cut the actual heatpipe, even that can be bent slightly if necessary. If you have any further problems try and uplaod a picture of the offending bit as it is often easier to see from a picture what is possible.
Glad you enjoy the forum.

[VegetaFH1]

No offence intended Mantis, you have been a great help
However in this situation i would need that to be said from a GigaByte representitive, becuase in reality if i was to damage the board intentionaly then i void the warenty, which doesnt sit well with me considering i have yet to boot up the board and see if it works
But thank you all the same for opening up afew more options, however again, i would need a rep to say that its "ok to cut away as may of the fins as you like" or to even "bend the heatpipe"

And yes i believe i like these forums, the help is most definatly suitable (all of one person which is you ofcourse, Mr.Mantis)

[Dark Mantis]

I appreciate what you are saying regarding the warranty but the bit we are talking about comes seperately from the board and is screwed on if you want to use it. If you watercool you don't need to use it. If you check out the picture of the board here(actually it's the UD7 because it is rev 2) you can see the Northbridge heatsink that now comes as an option to the watercooling block.

 http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3527&dl=1#ov

And here is the Hybrid Silent Pipe module on page 16:

http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-x58a-ud7_v.2.0_e.pdf

[VegetaFH1]

Ok then, that sounds like a plan to me
I just have one last question, even though i know its a stupid question, im still gonna ask it for the sake of double checking
If i have the silent pipe heatsink screwed into the two short pipe shaped treaches on the north bridge, then i do not need to use eather watercooling or the other heatsink block? (the heatsink that you mentioned with the forum moderator)

[Dark Mantis]

No that would be correct because when they only used to supply the waterblock and heatpipe module if you didn't use the watercooling option then the heatpipe was enough. 

[runn3R]

So what you are telling me is that the water cooling is totaly optional? becuase that would be a great help if so (...)

Hi VegetaFH1

You don't have to use water cooling in fact when using the MB without overclocking. The same applies to add-on heatsink with heatpipes (so called Hybrid Silent Pipe or "Extreme X" module). Because the chipset is already equipped with quite huge metal radiator and 2 heatpipes.

Of course this is our highest-end MB so some users buy it for overclocking purposes. In such case, of course, it would be necessary to use at least one type of additional NB cooling mentioned above. Installing Hybrid Silent Pipe is a good solution for users who want to have the lowest temperature of all components, including the MB's northbridge.

Cutting the fins out from the Hybrid Silent Pipe is not a good idea due to voiding the warranty on this item (it would be treated as mechanical damage).

[Fatman]

EK are developing waterblocks for the UD9, you might want to wander on over and take a look.

http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=40&cntnt01origid=18&cntnt01returnid=17