Installing the GPU

Introduction to GPU Cooling

Unlike CPU cooling, custom cooling a GPU is complicated and non-user-friendly. This is because every card has a different layout and cooling solution. This is further complicated by the need to cool multiple different components scattered across the PCB, some of which are difficult to access.

Third-party cooling solutions have typically required the design of complex custom coldplates that cover the entire card in order to cool all these various components. This method is difficult to scale and provides very narrow compatibility.

Our approach is to break down the cooling into manageable groups, allowing for increased flexibility and compatibility.

GPU Die

VRM

VRM

VRM

The parts of the GPU that need cooling can be broken down into 3 main categories

  1. The GPU Die – the bare silicon of which the processing unit is comprised, often interchanged with “chip.”
  2. The VRAM – The video RAM chips, typically located in close proximity around the Die.
  3. The VRM – Voltage Regulator Module, typically comprising of a Mosfet (IC or Chip), Choke and Capacitor

The Die is cooled by direct contact with the Evaporator. This is the most critical element in terms of cooling and it’s important to ensure good contact between them. Thermal paste is used to ensure good thermal conductivity. The Evaporator does not attach directly to the PCB, it secures via the coldplate.

The VRAM is cooled by the coldplate which also provides the mechanism for securing all the other cooling components to the PCB. The exact design of the coldplate will depend on the series/make/model of the card but any single design should work across multiple cards. Contact is made using included thermal pads.

Least critical but in some ways the most difficult to cool is the VRM circuits. This is achieved with and independent heat sink, not connected to the cooling loop. Depending on the card design, there can be a single bank or double bank of circuits to cool. Additional shims and thermal pads are needed to reach the Mosfet chips and different thicknesses are supplied to achieve contact with them and the heat sink.

Remove the Stock GPU Cooler

As the disassembly process will drastically vary between different makes/models, below is general explanation of the objective rather than a detailed explanation of the exact procedure.

Graphics Card with Stock Cooler

It is not possible to install a graphics card into the case without removing the stock cooler and attaching the SG10 mounting hardware to it.

Graphics cards are not designed with any after market cooling in mind. Please take caution when disassembling the card and be aware that is may invalidate the warranty. Do not proceed unless you are familiar with these kinds of procedure and are fully aware of the risk.

Upper Housing with Fans

GPU Cooler

PCB

Auxiliary Bracket

Backplate

A typical graphics card comprises the outer shell with fans, the cooler, main PCB, backplate and other small brackets or fixtures. There will also be cables to connect fans and RGB lighting. Disassemble the cards to get access to the main PCB.

Make sure to keep all the parts safe should you wish to use the graphics card in a regular case in future.

Main PCB

GPU Backplate

When complete, the goal is to have the PCB without any additional parts (cooler, fans, thermal pads, etc) attached to it. If your card also features a backplate, this should also be used when fitting the SG10 GPU cooling as it will provide additional support to the PCB.

Assembly Overview

Before going into detail for each step, here is an overview of the assembly process to get a top-level understanding of the procedure. You can flip through each step to see where each part goes.

Your Graphics Card

An exploded view showing all the parts that will be fitted onto the card.

VRAM Thermal Pad

Apply the pre-cut thermal pads to the VRAM

Coldplate

Attach the coldplate

Backplate (Optional)

Install the GPU backplate (if your card has one)

Steel Spacers

Attach the steel spacers onto the screws

GPU Brackets

Attach the GPU Brackets

Thumbscrew

Secure the coldplate, backplate, spacers and GPU bracket to the card using the thumbscrews.

VRM Thermal Pad

VRM Thermal Pad

Place the VRM thermal pads to the Mosfet IC’s

VRM Shim

VRM Shim

Place the VRM Shim onto the VRM thermal pad

VRM Heatsink thermal pad

VRM Heatsink thermal pad

Place the VRM heat sink thermal pads onto the shim and choke

Nylon Spacer

Place the nylon spacers onto the coldplate upper screws.

VRM Heatsink

VRM Heatsink

Fit the VRM heat sink assembly onto the coldplate ensuring the heat sinks align with the VRM.

Spring-loaded thumbscrews

Secure the VRM heat sink assembly to the coldplate using the spring-loaded thumbscrews

GPU Assembly

Diagonal Bracket

Fit the entire GPU PCB assembly into the case onto the diagonal brackets

Clip

Secure the GPU assembly onto the diagonal brackets using the clips

Evaporator

Position the evaporator onto the GPU Die and coldplate (make sure to apply thermal paste)

Hex M2.5 Screw

Secure the evaporator onto the coldplate with 4 x M2.5 HEX Screws

Prepare Case for Installation

Evaporator

M3HEX Screws

To keep the Evaporator safe during shipping, its secured to the diagonal brackets using an acrylic plate. Before fitting the graphics card, the Evaporator must be moved out of the way and the acrylic panel removed from the case.

Begin by removing the 4 x M3 HEX Screws that secure the Evaporator to the acrylic panel. Carefully bend the Evaporator to make some space for fitting the graphics card.

The M3 HEX Screws wont be needed for the rest of the assembly but keep them safe if you want to remount the evaporator to the transportation plate in future.

Quick Release Cable Tie

Transportation Plate

The acrylic panel is secured to the diagonal brackets with cable ties, remove them to release the panel and remove it from the case.

All cable ties we use have a quick release design so they don't need to be cut and can be reused.

Clips

Evaporator

Remove the GPU mounting brackets from the diagonal brackets by unscrewing the clips. Keep them handy as they will be required for fitting the card later on.

GPU Bracket

Bracket Clip

Keep the brackets and clips handy as they will be needed to mount the coldplate and card into the case.

Step 1 - Coldplate

Whilst there are many individual steps, we will break down the entire process into 3 main sections, starting with the coldplate. The first 2 steps are performed outside of the case and the final step inside of the case.

M2.5 Screw

M2.5 Nut

The coldplate will come partly assembled with only the upward-facing screws installed to save space. Begin by installing the downward-facing screws using the matching nuts.

A 1.5H Hex Allen Key is included to help tighten the screws.

Thermal Pads

VRAM

Identify all the VRAM ICs located around the GPU Die and apply the included pre-cut thermal pads to them. The exact number of ICs will depend on your specific card and the amount of RAM is has.

Be careful when handling the thermal pads as they are thin and easy to damage

Cooler mounting hole

Fit the coldplate onto the graphics card, ensuring the correct mounting holes are used and all the VRAM chips are in contact with the coldplate.

Backplate

If your graphic card includes a backplate, this should be installed onto the coldplate screws as this will help maintain even pressure on the DIE. If the backplate has screws retained in the mounting holes, please remove them.

Backplate

Add the steel spacers onto the screws, these will ensure the mounting bracket does not make contact with any components on the back of the card. Note that these are not threaded, they simply fit onto the screws.

GPU Bracket

Fit the GPU brackets onto the screws through the slots ensuring the orientation is parallel to the PCI bracket. The slots allow for position adjustment but it’s best to centre them to the screws.

Thumbnut

Secure the brackets and coldplate to the card using the included thumbscrews

Coldplate

The completed Coldplate assembly should look something like this.

Step 2 - VRM Cooling

This section will differ the most from card to card as the size and location greatly vary between cards but as before, understanding the principle will allow you to apply these steps to your card correctly.

6mm SHIM

3mm SHIM

0.5mm Thermal Pad

2mm Thermal Pad

The GPU kit includes 2 sets of different thickness aluminium shims and thermal pads. There are 2 x 3mm shims, 2 x 6mm shims, 2 x 0.5mm thermal pads and 2 x 2mm thermal pads. There is also a set of winder thermal pads used to contact the heat sink, but that will be detailed later on.

A 1.5H Hex Allen Key is included to help tighten the screws.

0.5mm Thermal Pad + 3mm Shim

2mm Thermal Pad + 3mm Shim

0.5mm Thermal Pad + 6mm Shim

2mm Thermal Pad + 6mm Shim

By combining these different thickness shims and pads it is possible to create a total height range of 3.5 to 8mm. This allows the heat sink to make contact with the VRM ICs and choke components which are at different heights.

Snap along the cut

Cut as required

The number of VRM ICs varies significantly between different cards and there could be components placed above and below that impede the placement of the shim. To account for this, the length of the shim can be adjusted to match the number of VRM IC’s. There are 4 cuts along the length of the shim that allow it to be ‘snapped’ to create different lengths. The thermal pad should also be trimmed, either with a knife or scissors to match the length.

Choke

IC

For reference, when the thermal pad and shim are placed on the VRM ICs, they should sit level with or slightly above the adjacent choke components.

Backplate

Locate the VRM ICs on the PCB and prepare the lower narrow thermal pad, aluminium shim and upper thermal pad by cutting if necessary.

Thermal Pad

Place the thermal pad onto the VRM ICs ensuring it sits flat and centered on them.

Shim

Place the aluminium shim onto the thermal pad ensuring it does not make contact with any other components on the PCB. Make sure the height of the thermal pad + shim is level or slightly higher than the adjacent choke components.

If there are no components blocking the shim, it does not need to be trimmed and can extend beyond the end of the VRM area.

Thermal Pad

Place the wider thermal pad onto the shim and choke components so there is an even surface for the heat sink to rest on.

6mm SHIM

3mm SHIM

0.5mm Thermal Pad

2mm Thermal Pad

The GPU kit includes 2 sets of different thickness aluminium shims and thermal pads. There are 2 x 3mm shims, 2 x 6mm shims, 2 x 0.5mm thermal pads and 2 x 2mm thermal pads. There is also a set of winder thermal pads used to contact the heat sink, but that will be detailed later on.

A 1.5H Hex Allen Key is included to help tighten the screws.

VRM Heat Sink

VRM Heat Sink Mount

VRM Heat Sink Rod

The VRM Heat Sinks are held onto the PCB via mounts that attach to the coldplate and rods that connect the heat sinks to the mounts. The rods also allow the heat sinks position to be fully adjusted to match the VRM location on the PCB in both the X and Y directions

The heat sinks can slide anywhere along the rods to give X position adjustment

By using alternative slots in the heat sink, its possible to adjust the Y position

Nylon Spacer

Install the nylon spacers onto the upper coldplate screws

VRM Mounting Bracket

Nylon Spacer

Adjust the relative position of the heat sinks and mounting brackets so that they align with the coldplate and VRM thermal pads.

If your card only has a single row of VRMs on one side, just use a single heat sink

Nylon Spacer

Lower the heat sink assembly onto the card ensuring the heat sinks align with the thermal pads and the mounting bracket slides onto the nylon spacers.

Make sure the heat sinks are only making contact with the thermal pads and no other components on the PCB.

Spring loaded thumbscrew

Secure the assembly onto the card using the spring loaded thumbscrews.

VRM Heat Sink

This completes the VRM cooling section of the GPU assembly.

Step 3 - Case & Evaporator Fitting

The final step of installing the GPU is securing it inside the case and fitting the evaporator

GPU Assembly

Diagonal Bracket

The GPU assembly (PCB + Coldplate +VRM Heat Sink + Brackets) should be mounted onto the diagonal brackets located at the front side of the case. Two brackets are needed and their location and spacing should already be correct.

Die Location

Cable Connection Area

The exact location of the GPU will depend on the size of the card and DIE location on the PCB. This can be adjusted later but the aim is to position that card so there is enough clearance for cable at the bottom without the DIE being too high for the evaporator to reach.

Clip

Secure the GPU to the diagonal bracket using the clips that attached to the GPU bracket

GPU location

Make final adjustment to the location of the GPU on the diagonal bracket then fully tighten the screws on the clips to lock it in place.

Backplate

Adjust the position of the Evaporator by carefully bending the tubes and lining it up with the coldplate. The plastic protective cover should be removed from the evaporator and thermal paste applied to the CPU DIE

As the tolerances are extremely tight and good contact with the die is critical, we recommend applying a small dab of thermal paste first to the die and attaching the evaporator to "test" contact is being made.

GPU Bracket

After testing good contact with the DIE, add the correct amount of thermal paste and secure the evaporator to the coldplate using the HEX M2.5 screws.

The screws do NOT screw into the evaporator but into the coldplate, so make sure to use the correct ones. Use the M2.5 NOT M3 screws. Also make sure that you have removed the protective plastic film on the evaporator before installation.

Flexible riser cable for PCI

This completes the GPU installation. Double-check that the VRM heat sinks have not shifted and connect the flexible riser cable to the GPU.

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