Making a custom copper GPU heatsink

Hello!
Sorry it's been a while - holiday and a few hardware failures have kept this one from being finished off! What we have here is a video of me making a customer copper heatsink for the now naked memory chips on my AGP HD 3850. No idea what i'm doing which I think comes through quite well, but it worked just as i'd pictured it in my mind! Well.. maybe a bit more wonky - but working!
'Stage 1' Music by SubspaceAudio under CC0 license: opengameart.org/content/4-chi...
Background image by Kurtkaiser under CC0 license: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
'Vibing Cat' by.. I have no idea - but whoever it was - thanks!
Also attribution required for Magical Trevor - just because. • Magical Trevor : Episo...

[@remembermebymyvoice2256]

You sir, have a golden voice

[@RetroKomodo]

Why thank you!

[@zerriox]

i like the kinda smooth and calming way your commenting, besides the content ofc. Somehow your voice and how you're emphasizing sounds so much like the the german overcommenting voice actor of james may imo.. :D

[@RetroKomodo]

Thanks! I suppose I do a bit! 😀

[@jasonpeachey2535]

The reason no one has heard of a nibbler is because of the famous hack saw, a much better cutting tool. The needle sharp crescents will be with you for years!

[@RetroKomodo]

A hacksaw would have been cheaper - but a lot less fun ;)

[@yaminsiddiqui4690]

nice video I got recommended.

[@KingPeachful]

And a fun way to make caltrops

[@RetroKomodo]

You knows it

[@MadeleineTakam]

I have to be honest. I used a jigsaw and a hand file for my custom heatsink on my 7950GT. I think the nibbler, although having a cute name is a pain.

[@RetroKomodo]

The nibbler was indeed a massive pain in the backside. I'm still finding the occasional nibble.. Had I realised, I would have gone full hacksaw - but I think the nibbler proved a bit more fun for the video ;)

[@CrustyCowboy]

You mentioned Stargate, you are a cool dude

[@RetroKomodo]

Indeed. Well it does doesn't it? :)

[@manuelmunoz4054]

thanks for answer! I suspect this video card can be upgraded to 1gb vram with qimonda chips maybe with other brands also but must be socket bga 136, there’s a sapphire 3850 1gb with same pcb despite the connector and that model of memory is capable of going above 1000mhz easily, we are talking of about 63-64/gbps (hd 4850 levels) on this gpu with twice the amount of actual vram, quite interesting because if is a success we could test now some recent games (not directx 12 ones) like gta v where the stuttering caused by the lack of vram is terribly

[@RetroKomodo]

Well Manuel, I can tell you it uses Qimonda HYB18H512321BF-10 chips. The second line says HVV06130, and this may be what you are looking for : datasheetspdf.com/datasheet/HYB18H512321BF-10.html

[@RetroKomodo]

@manuelmunoz4054 here it is th-cam.com/video/DYXKNu39H4c/w-d-xo.html

[@1NIGHTMAREGAMER]

Woahh

[@RetroKomodo]

It seems I could have saved myself the trouble though, and just picked up a second hand powercolor version of the card as they thought of this too.. encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTWoSQsiJAhYQEiD8hCkZT5pynCwFq506KMuw&usqp=CAU

[@AudreyRobinel]

Hello there!
You seem a bit unexperienced with your tools, so here are two advices :
-get a rotary tool like a dremel, with cut off disks, you'd have had a easier and cleaner cut, you can get non dremel branded ones for way cheaper, and use the dremel disks nonetheless. They also have sanding drums to carve corners and curves.
-the drillbit you used looked like a bradboint drill bit. It is meant for wood. Even in softish metals like copper, you will dull it super fast. You should try proper metal drill bits, they have a v shape point, and do much better. You can even add a little bit of oil, or wd40 on the point you are drilling to lubricate and cool it, and your bits will last a long time. Metal drillbits are often way more precise for metal drillbits than the bradpoint would be.

[@RetroKomodo]

You're absolute correct - I mostly have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to my modifications. But let's face it - my ineptitude is what amused me most in this one, so I figure it'd do the same for others. I do have a rotary tool.. but it's only really any good as a grinder 😞
The takeaway from this video is more that any idiot with time on their hands and a silly idea can do this sort of thing. Does it look good? Not particularly - were mistakes made? Of course! Did I have fun doing it? Yes - and that's probably how I'd do it again! If you think that was painful to watch you should see me soldering 😜 What's the saying? 'All the gear and no idea'? I absolutely take your suggestions on board though, and the next time I do something like this it should (hopefully) be less janky!

[@RetroKomodo]

Also it was worth it just to use the nibbler.

[@manuelmunoz4054]

Hi mate which brand and model is your vram chips? Because I need to find the datasheet of the agp version.

[@RetroKomodo]

Hi! Someone has asked me to test the card with a different cooler, so when it turns up and I fit it I should be able to get that info for you :)

[@RetroKomodo]

here it is th-cam.com/video/DYXKNu39H4c/w-d-xo.html

[@j.m.p.8739]

I thought you'll make a copper vapor chamber.

[@RetroKomodo]

Yeah.. In hindsight I probably should have put 'Making a custom copper GPU ramsink'..

[@yosuhara]

Jesus, why not just use a jigsaw, this "nibbling" looks horrible.

[@RetroKomodo]

Absolutely. Never again. But also I don't have a jigsaw ;)