EVGA Announces Liquid-Cooled GeForce RTX 30-series Graphics Cards

[btarunr]

EVGA over the weekend launched an extensive lineup of GeForce RTX 30-series graphics cards that either feature liquid cooling, or come with preparation for DIY liquid cooling. The EVGA Hydro Copper line of graphics cards include the RTX 3090 FTW3 Hydro Copper, RTX 3090 XC3 Hydro Copper, RTX 3080 FTW3 Hydro Copper, and RTX 3080 XC3 Hydro Copper. These are essentially the same FTW3 or XC3 graphics cards EVGA debuted its RTX 3090 and RTX 3080 lineups with, but come with factory-fitted, full-coverage water blocks. These blocks are made of nickel-plated copper, with clear acrylic tops that have a plastic top-plate with a printed pattern similar to the one found on the back-plates. The tops are studded with addressable RGB LEDs which are connected directly to RGB controllers on the PCB, and can be controlled via the Precision X1 software. These cards have the same factory-overclocked speeds as their air-cooled siblings, but are priced about $150-200 higher.

Next up, are the Hybrid Cooling line of graphics cards, which feature factory-fitted, all-in-one, closed-loop, liquid cooling solutions. Much like the FTW3 and XC3 Hydro Copper series, we see EVGA reuse its RTX 3090 and RTX 3080 FTW3 and XC3 PCBs to carve out their Hybrid Cooling variants. The FTW3 Hybrid Cooling cards feature addressable RGB illumination on the radiator fans, while the XC3 Hybrid Cooling series cards lack illumination on the cards. All four variants feature 240 mm x 120 mm radiators, and a pair of included 120 mm fans. The cooling solution features a pump-block cooling the GPU, while a series of heatsinks and a lateral fan cool the memory and VRM components. These cards have a similar $150-200 premium over the air-cooled FTW3 and XC3 cards.



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[MachineLearning]

The hybrid cards look absolutely fantastic. However, I'm surprised that EVGA didn't learn its lesson with the red accents from their standard FTW3 card. People seem to generally dislike it. I have to assume that they already ordered that part in that color forever ago, and just need to sell through it to justify the bulk purchase.

 

[BArms]

The hybrid cards look absolutely fantastic. However, I'm surprised that EVGA didn't learn its lesson with the red accents from their standard FTW3 card. People seem to generally dislike it. I have to assume that they already ordered that part in that color forever ago, and just need to sell through it to justify the bulk purchase.

I can kind of understand why someone would not like the red "lips" on the FTW cards, but my Give-a-Crap meter barely registers a reading to be honest. It's a lot more subtle on these Hydro's vs FTW though so I'm guessing only the vainest of the vain will care.

 

[Manoa]

I whant to buy this :x
whay 150/200$ higher ? it is so expencive to crate a water cooler compare to air cooler ?
this is a replacement not a supplement no ?

 

[Mussels]

Glad i cancelled my 3080 FTW3, even if i dont go a 6800XT at least i have these options to look forward to

 

[ratirt]

Glad i cancelled my 3080 FTW3, even if i dont go a 6800XT at least i have these options to look forward to

I'm thinking about water cooling this time around as well but it does seem that these water solutions for graphics are getting higher prices than usual.

 

[Mussels]

I'm thinking about water cooling this time around as well but it does seem that these water solutions for graphics are getting higher prices than usual.

for sure - but as someone who's enjoyed a GTX 1080 with 40C load temps on an ugly as F kraken G12 + H110 setup, i don't want to go back to pure air. hybrid seems like a good in between.

 

[ratirt]

for sure - but as someone who's enjoyed a GTX 1080 with 40C load temps on an ugly as F kraken G12 + H110 setup, i don't want to go back to pure air. hybrid seems like a good in between.

I won't be getting hybrid but instead I wanna get the fully fledged liquid for the GPU. This G12 is ugly though but if it gets the job done the aesthetics can be put aside.
It all comes down to the performance improvement if I go liquid. If there isn't any then I might as well skip it. Time will tell how the 6800XT non-XT performs and if the liquid is actually I good idea.
I might have to change my chassis to fit everything inside. A lot of unknowns at this point.

 

[Mussels]

I'm not opposed to one of the pure water units, if i can find a decent beginners kit with the rest of the parts i need cheap enough.

I just... hate the concept of needing to redo the water every 6 months or whatever, corroding parts etc. too much effort.

 

[ratirt]

I'm not opposed to one of the pure water units, if i can find a decent beginners kit with the rest of the parts i need cheap enough.

I just... hate the concept of needing to redo the water every 6 months or whatever, corroding parts etc. too much effort.

I don't have a water loop for the GPU so I will just pick whatever I find good enough and just go with it

 

[Waldorf]

the hybrids are ok if you dont want to deal with a setup, dont have a cpu cooler that allows to add it.
problem is they are NOT designed as gpu coolers (same for kraken/msi and even those no-name china clone kits),
and wont reach he low temps of a full block, as their blocks are designed for HS of cpus.
and it also removes the need to have the space for a 120mm rad/fan combo.
the only way i (and many others) can mount a rad on the rear (and another rad on top),
was to run the rad with the hoses on the top (not bottom), which can lead to probs with cooling,
with best case the air in the rad preventing best heat transfer, worst case getting to the pump lowering perf/possibly overheating it.

i sold my 2080S FTW as the pump whine (to me) was unacceptable, and got a card with full block.
even that i run it after my 3700 (pbo on), and its "only" a aio (eisbaer 280), not a custom loop with D5,
temps are 5-10 lower than the hybrid at same noise level (with throttled pump/fan).

so yes, anything that dumps the heat outside the case and prevents a (cpu) gpu to re-breath warm air (from cpu/gpu/other components inside the case),
will lower temps a lot (thus increasing boost clocks) but unless you dont care about noise, a full block is better.