OTOY Forums

Yo - while rendering (in Octane), is it just cores that are getting hot, or VRM's and VRAM too?

I ask because I am going to be switching to water-cooling (Asetek 760GC's) and planning my fan layout.
Side fan may be adequate, if VRM's etc do not get too hot...

(for all I know, only games get the VRM/VRAM cooking.. with the many frames per second etc)

Please advise

Hi Frank,

Yes, the VRAM is heavily used in octane as well as the core. (this is where all the geometry and textures, render target etc are stored so this is of course used all the time). I definitely think you will need to take efforts to at least get similar cooling to the stock cooler for the VRAM (but can't say for sure what that would be).

Thanks Fooze.

I just popped open case and measured.. I had not realized that the side fan (where a new Corsair AF120 is going)
is less than 2 inches away from cards. So the shrouds are going to be off and an AF120 is going to be blowing
directly on the VRAM etc... whew! Hopefully this should keep it cool enough. I can always add those little heatsinks
if necessary.

Thanks again -- this is definitely important to know regardless.

Edit: If anyone is planning WC-ing their GPU's, you are most certainly going to want heatsinks on VRM's and VRAM...
This is absolutely essential if you are going to be doing The Mod (see overclock.net link below) and removing shrouds.
I ended up with a great little kit that Arctic sells. Works like a champ. Asetek's 760GC's are keeping system very cool...
I used to get up to 87°C during Octane renders... now, they never go above 40°!! And my workstation is damn near
silent.

http://www.overclock.net/t/1203528/offi ... ka-the-mod