Thermal Performance

Test System

Test Methodology

A Xylem D5 pump, Aquaero 6 XT controller, and an EK-Quantum Surface X360M radiator with Phanteks T30-120 fans help complete the loop. The CPU is not placed in the loop to make the only source of heat the GPU core/VRM/VRAM, thus limiting testing to the GPU block itself. Average flow rate is set to 1 GPM and calibrated in-line temperature sensors are used to measure the coolant's temperature. Everything required is placed inside an environmental chamber with the ambient temperature set to 25 °C. Thermal paste cure time is taken into account, and three separate mounts/runs are done for statistical accuracy, and to remove chances of any mounting-related anomalies. For each run, a 60 minute loop of 3DMark Time Spy Extreme was done, and temperatures were monitored until a steady state was reached, after which they were recorded. Omega NTC type thermistors were used to measure the temperatures of the nearest VRAM and VRM modules from the top. A delta T of GPU core/VRM/VRAM and loop temperatures was thus calculated for each run, and the average delta T that was then obtained across all three runs. This way, the ambient temperature is taken out of the picture.

Test Results

Every entry here, except for the CORSAIR iCUE Link XG3 universal block, comes with a backplate included. I do not have any active backplates this time, although some use higher performance thermal pads throughout whereas this particular CORSAIR offering has none at all on the back! The cooling engine which resulted in a relatively lower pressure drop now doesn't impress as much with the GPU core running hotter than the rest, including the same brand's universal block—but that's not a surprise once you see how beefy it's cold plate is in its own separate review down the line. I never had the stock cooler here so I can't tell whether a backplate with thermal pads helps on this specific PCB significantly or not, but clearly this Hydro XG7 isn't doing its best on the VRMs either—could be a result of the series coolant flow with slightly warmer coolant now flowing over the VRMs. That said, this does mean the coolest flow is over the VRAM modules and here we see improved performance. To be honest, I am not fully convinced this is the reason for the different relative performance since the coolant is flowing fast enough to not have significant difference in one part of the loop compared to another, let alone inside the same block. But it is plausible so I figured I should at least mention it.