J7SC_Orion

...^ noice - soon, you're out-competing builds like the one below (though definitely choose different GPU blocks ? , and add more serial D5s)

...it's J.S.Bach time !

...you're running out of room for the wine bottles, though ? ...re. PSU custom brackets, I have used the steel strapping below w/ great success. It's just pliable enough to shape, but will then hold its shape, whether PSU or even heavy under-mount rads. ...used it here as well ...steel straps painted black since then, of course...

...some people will always pay that premium for the "latest greatest", though personally, I would skip Rocket Lake altogether and wait for Alder Lake. If I would have to build now, I would prefer a 10-core 10900K...unless PCIe 4.0 would really be a must for the build (multiple, fast storage, or dual PCIe 4 GPUs which would drop to PCIe 4 x8, which in turn equals PCIe 3 x16)

banned coz...I never removed or installed the moon either, but that doesn't mean that it is not there...

...yeah, the blocks are all-cooper (not that flaking Nickel stuff as of late...). O-ring might be an issue; not only are they dried out now, but the high-concentrate cleaner might have done a number on them - but worth checking out. ...you're right on the 2080 Tis and 3090s - while they can use even more power, their performance scales even better, far better... ...with the right NVflash, it should be possible to flash 980 Ti onto that. There's also the Maxwell Bios Tweaker for subsequent 'adjustments', ie. > here

Banned for posting small turbo

...sorry for going on about non-M40s, but wondering about related usefulness of old cards... ... it would be great if I can bring them back, though they are 'pigs on gas watts' - especially two of them (= 4 GPUs), what with a custom bios. Below is a pic before disassembly (next to a 2080 Ti Xtr WB for size comp). As you can see, there's all kind of crud in there...the result of the only time EVER I used a loop cleaning fluid - perhaps a bit too much ?

tz...now, on my ever-expanding list of 'wouldn't it be nice' projects....have some giant copper blocks for it (all stored in a box for years, in desperate need of cleaning). The copper could be worth more than the cards ?

...I have some old Radeon 8990s (which need some attention) - essentially 2x 7970s per card...are they any good for folding these days ? ...Tesla M40s, but with custom coolers ? not really

banned coz...my giant pet moth ate my lotto ticket...?

...thing is for Bitcoin, the more successful it gets in terms of being a regular payment currency at the car dealer, the grocery store etc, the more the pressure will grow for regulation. No government and/or central bank can afford to have unregulated coin spread into the general economy, not least re. taxing and monetary policy such as currency value, interest rates etc...Bitcoin might thus become a victim of its own success, though there are other functions it may have, such as an inflation hedge (like gold) during times when inflationary expectations are high(er). ...Ethereum is a bit of a different animal, but the long-planned switch from 'proof of work' to 'proof of stake' will have other effects, especially on mining - as far as I understand proof of stake, beacon chain etc (which is not saying much)

...very nice and clean ! ? BTW, do you have a link / detail for the ' double sided tape/coolpads' ? Also, perhaps more for other GPU (and even CPU !) water-cooling and folding projects, you might want to keep the item below in mind...I have 8 of them left over from my HWBot days, and they work really, really well (copper base). They can also be transferred between different GPUs and come with adapters for both NVidia and AMD. That said, you'll need a separate VRM fan and VRAM heat sinks

...just a quick fyi... though rare, Bykski also had a recent Nickel flaking issue on a 3090 block (per a 3090 forum post elsewhere, but also taken care of immediately by their RMA). I think may be the pandemic has thrown all kinds of monkey wrenches into supply chains, materials / quality, regular labour force etc. Anyway, I have some Bykski blocked GPUs for several years in service now, no troubles. ...but to top it all of, with an RMA, you get to deal with the same delivery company thrice for the same thing - double trouble, adding insult to injury...?

I have seen some of Vik-On's other 'special projects' before. Not only does that fellow have immense knowledge and skill sets, but also a lot of the necessary equipment - a joy to watch him work. The only fly in the ointment might be to get on-off firm ware and drivers that recognize the unicorn.

..I know how you feel...time for a related multi-rant... Normally, FedEx and other deliveries can be left with the concierge downstairs at our building, but not now, what with the pandemic and all...regular FedEx folks know our phone and buzzer #s, but regular delivery staff is currently away, and new guy knows very little...have had 20+ deliveries over two weeks and a few of them went sideways...'could not deliver / no answer ' door tags when we were here, packages NOT at the subsequent pickup location when they were confirmed to be there, etc etc. Some of these deliveries concerned an RMA, meaning an extra round of back-and-forth shipping within the above framework. Here's an example, a 3090 Strix 'Nickel plated' backplate... ...the front / main block has different issues - right on the GPU 'cold-plate'...now, Ampere's have somewhat more curved IHS and also much more raised lettering than is normal for a GPU or even CPU. That combined with the GPU block's cold plate issues has me concerned - got a new (different-make) 3090 block here now, with much smoother (and thicker) cold plate and cleaner-looking Nickel-plating. I might try to mod the current GPU 'front' block into a backplate cooler by having machined it down to even copper...only concern is weight as both blocks combined plus card weigh > 6 lbs ?

...like the stone gnomes a lot in your collage, but long live Blender !

..as mentioned before, this will likely raise prices of '1st gen, unlimited' Ampere GPUs in the used market place...and while NVidia made a bit of a mockery of the 3060 mining soft-lock they themselves subsequently killed with a driver update, let's not forget they know how to do hardlocks, ie. 'A' vs 'non-A' 2080 Ti GPUs which was never broken over all these years... ...PS, my unlimited Strix 3090 OC w-cooled is not for sale ?

...checking in after another two months...AIO in its 9th year of 24/7 use, and its 9th month or so since its rebuild - everything is as it should be; no deterioration at all of temps, pump speed etc. That said, the TT Coolant 1000 I used for this rebuild and all my other w-cooling projects (some w/ 5 thick 360 rads) is apparently out of production now and I only have a few bottles left. I'll email them to see if their new liquid can be mixed with the TT Coolant 1000

...and a little night-flying action close to where I live now ...flying a Robin cap 10, a highly maneuverable little plane, from Pemberton airport over to Whistler mountain and Whistler village...

...wonder if Chia mining farming will do the expected - lower regular available supply and raise cost for big HDDs. On that...

...air-cooled system, eh ? Both Amazon and AliExpress sell these bigger copper fin 'chunks', sometimes associated with audio amplifiers...I made my own though out of multiple M.2 heat sinks, but next time, I might go for those bigger amp copper fin setups and cut it to size, along with some Thermalright pads ?