Uploaded January 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
We all know that used blower 'reference' GPUs are cheaper than their axial fan brethren, but what if you paid so much less for the blower card, you could actually water cool it and still be cheaper, while performing better than the axial prospect?
In this video, I take a Pascal die nVidia GeForce 1080Ti Aero Graphics card with a reference board and pair it with an NZXT Kraken G12 kit and a basic Asetek G550 120mm AIO Gen 4 cooler to significantly reduce temperatures and noise, while improving performance.
Links (ARE affiliate links, fore-warning) to products used:
NZXT Kraken G12: amzn.to/2VH2TaW ($29.99)
Asetek G550 120mm AIO: amzn.to/2M4XTZf ($32.00)
MSI GeForce 1080Ti Aero: amzn.to/2VGp0OW ($460 used)
Arctic Silver V thermal paste: amzn.to/2VHaV3S ($10)
We all know that used blower 'reference' GPUs are cheaper than their axial fan brethren, but what if you paid so much less for the blower card, you could actually water cool it and still be cheaper, while performing better than the axial prospect?
In this video, I take a Pascal die nVidia GeForce 1080Ti Aero Graphics card with a reference board and pair it with an NZXT Kraken G12 kit and a basic Asetek G550 120mm AIO Gen 4 cooler to significantly reduce temperatures and noise, while improving performance.
Links (ARE affiliate links, fore-warning) to products used:
NZXT Kraken G12: amzn.to/2VH2TaW ($29.99)
Asetek G550 120mm AIO: amzn.to/2M4XTZf ($32.00)
MSI GeForce 1080Ti Aero: amzn.to/2VGp0OW ($460 used)
Arctic Silver V thermal paste: amzn.to/2VHaV3S ($10)
