Is this the Best RTX 4090? - Optimus Signature Strix

➤ Parts 🔴 Official Affiliate of FrozenCPU 🔴 www.frozencpu.com/VectorNetwork
🔴 Optimus Signature 4090 STRIX/TUF GPU Waterblock | www.frozencpu.com/17ubcq
🔴 IceMan Cooler ICE-F40 Glass Filter | www.frozencpu.com/rfdcby
🔴 Koolance QD3 Female Quick Disconnect for 10mm x 16mm | www.frozencpu.com/vowfnz
🔴 EK-Quantum Torque Rotary 90° - Satin Titanium | www.frozencpu.com/lm2tod
🔴 Watercool HEATKILLER EPDM Tubing 16/10 | www.frozencpu.com/yaut8r
🔴 Optimus Flex Compression Soft Tube Fitting 10/16MM | www.frozencpu.com/kkhwus
🔴 Watercool HEATKILLER Tube 200 MP Reservoir | www.frozencpu.com/s9ud9d
🔴 Aquacomputer Flow Sensor High Flow NEXT, G1/4 | www.frozencpu.com/vcxhxy
🔴 Aquacomputer OCTO Fan Controller for PWM Fans | www.frozencpu.com/rdz1hg
➤ Chapters
🟡00:01 Intro
🟡00:42 Optimus Signature Strix 4090 Water Block
🟡03:09 ASUS ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC
🟡05:28 Teardown
🟡07:46 Installation
🟡10:04 Testing
🟡10:29 [Chart] Strix RTX 4090 | Stock Cooler
🟡10:59 [Chart] Strix RTX 4090 | Optimus Signature Strix Water Block Rev. 2
🟡11:41 [Chart] RTX 4090 Water Block Temps (Alphacool, Bitspower, Watercool, Optimus)
🟡13:08 Outro
||Xenogenesis
TheFatRat||
Items linking to FrozenCPU are a part of the FrozenCPU Affiliate program in which I and my KZbin channel participate. This way you're directly contributing to the channel (with no additional cost for you) and helping me improve the content.

[@vectornetwork]

Please enjoy watching 🙏

[@MrSethGr]

thank you, very informative video!

[@Wunnabeanbag]

I don’t know what the hell this is, but I like it and it was recommended

[@fire23wong]

I wish they make one for the 7900XTX🤤

[@norteal7110]

if this was for 4080/super&ti it would make sense.

[@dreamshooter90]

Same.

[@PhjshBljtch]

I have no clue why ur channel hasn't blown up yet. The effort is amazingm

[@matacachorro4090]

I find this very strange too

[@khvichamakadze2903]

Great video, liked and subbed of course.

[@ScottGrammer]

Subscribed. Amazing work for a channel with only 2,200 subs. I'm sure there will be more soon.

[@zeNUKEify]

Optimus has for sure the best engineers in the watercooling world

[@Simon_Denmark]

Marketing though…

[@TheJjjoj]

I think it's more that they have a different approach than most companies when it comes to their products. Most products are made with a price point in mind. Optimus doesn't seem to focus on price at all for their development and simply tries to build the best version of the product, then set the price. Their manufacturing abilities are what really set them apart.

[@000hitec000]

Can you test the new ultrathin plate from Watercool for RTX 4090 water blocks?

[@vectornetwork]

Thanks for your comment 🙏 Yes, that is the plan. I have been meaning to test this block since it was released, but I didn't have a Strix and was waiting for the FE version. When I finally got all the parts needed to test it, Watercool released their Ultra plate. So, Ideally, I would test this Optimus block against the Strix Ultra plate and also the Regular plate (for comparisons). I would be interested in seeing the results of the showdown.

[@szabozoltan3165]

Always on the point. Really well detailed review. I hope one day you'll get that attention you deserve

[@Gifted_ID10T]

I can confirm this to be accurate based on my testing, as well. My TUF 4090 hits 3045MHz and just stays flat at 3045MHz with occasional dips to 3030MHz. Granted, my setup is a dedicated GPU loop with a 560 and a 280 rad. It is separate from the CPU loop (which uses a 480 rad and the V3 signature block). Point is, yes, I see the same 40°C to 44°C from 4+ hour long sessions of gaming. Benchmarks? Most benchmarks are too short, in duration, and, many times, I see 39°C or less. My ambient is 72°F (22.2...°C). If you have disposable income, then yes, this waterblock seems to be the best out there. It is pricey but worth it. Otherwise, any of the other brands are still good. But... then again, if you are custom watercooling and have invested in a 4090, then you have disposable income. This block becomes justified then.

[@sayit1196]

do you use thermal paste or liquid metal for the gpu ? I have been doing experiments on my 3060, not sure if my 4090 is ready yet hha

[@Gifted_ID10T]

@sayit1196 I used the included KPX. I used (and I still have a syringe each of Coollaboratory Liquid Metal Pro and Thermal Grizzly) liquid metal more when I was younger. Now, I'm just too impatient to dedicate using a Tamiya triangle cotton swab to apply the liquid metal, apply clear nail polish on SMDs, and clean die surfaces with acetone and a make-up cotton pad. I am sure that liquid metal would have helped; however, would it help enough to get another boost tier of 15MHz (for the 4090)? That part is debatable. I am satisfied with the KPX. Obviously, Vince Lucido's TIM is good. First time I've used it, and I'm happy with it. Otherwise, it would have been either Prolimatech PK-3 or Arctic MX-5.

[@sayit1196]

@@Gifted_ID10T i don't think it will get you far beyond the 3ghz mark, the matrix doesn't go futher than that either

[@matacachorro4090]

Dazmode made a comparison video with other waterblocks and heatkiller and alphacool core had better results overall than this block.

[@Penguinishy]

I use cerakote stuff daily, and while there is a cerakote option for thermal transfer, ive seen cerakote fail in moving water environment cases. Nickel plating is generally better in this application because its atomically bonded. Whereas you have to think of cerakote as more of a paint. the parts are sandblasted in a specific way so it creates the right side of peaks and valleys for the cerakote to bond to. But once moving water finds its way under the cerakote then it will still peel or chip like paint. You can also find examples of cerakote plated water blocks that have failed this exact way on various watercooling forums/subreddits

[@Simon_Denmark]

So over time it can start to flake. I really doubt that Optimus will care if this happens to someone though. Bad nickel plating exists too and starts to flake. Bare copper is the most simple if you don’t care about the tarnishing over time. You can polish it too though.

[@bot2k6]

I love how they give you kingpin thermal paste

[@memey7442]

one of the best watercooling channel.. very under rated.. hope u get more subs...

[@Accuaro]

Would be sick if there was a block for the 7900 XTX Nitro+

[@AB-bu8ti]

Nice review but hardly an objective comparison to other blocks when you're not measuring water temp.

[@CloudyCreamer]

I loved my Optimus water block Just posted the block on eBay 👌🏽

[@Colt357TW]

strix 4090? hmmm, a showdown would be more interesting, wouldnt it??

[@vectornetwork]

Thanks for your comment 🙏 A showdown between this Optimus Strix 4090 and the Strix 4090 in the Watercool Heatkiller V Pro block with the newly released Ultra plate is tenatively on the docket.

[@bumperxx1]

You could have the best water 💧 block and the card can still burn 🔥 up and melt the power connector

[@hichamlrazwani9201]

❤❤❤

[@annebokma4637]

Making the best 4090 is easy. Replace that fire risk powerplug with something save.. no matter what the cooling is, as long as it is reasonable that 4090 will be the best.

[@wilkuuu4016]

You're saying, that Optimus block is 6-7 degrees cooler, but you forgot to mention that you're using totally different paste. It's not how it should be done.

[@NightZ3r0]

Entirely different gpu even

[@vectornetwork]

Thanks for your comment 🙏 You're flat out right. I have been waiting to test the Optimus block since it was released nearly 2 years ago. I had been waiting for the FE version. I didn't intend to compare it to the FE HK block, but the difference was unexpected and noticeable. It ended up being something I wanted to include in the video, as I thought it was worth mentioning. As for the paste, I got some criticism for using Noctua paste in lieu of all the different pastes that come with the blocks. I was using Noctua for ease of application and consistency for comparisons sake. For this block, I used the KP paste because the instructions called for it and because I was trying to address the feedback. Having said that, I am interested to see what the results would be like if the Watercool Heatkiller V Pro block for the Strix 4090 was test, along with the newly released Ultra plate. I hope to be able to produce that showdown video. Thanks again for your feedback

[@vectornetwork]

Thanks for your comment 🙏 Yep, I had actually been waiting for to test the Optimus block since it was released, waiting for the FE version. The FE version never came and I never intended to show the comparison. But when I tested it, it was clear to me that their was a difference. I tested several of these water blocks for 4090s and 4080s and they all seem to perform the same. The difference here was enough for me to show it. I recognize this isn't apples to apples and that Watercool just release a brand new "Ultra" cold plate for their Heatkiller V pro blocks. I want to see how the Strix 4090 Heatkiller V Pro block in both the regular and ultra plates compare with the Optimus block. I hope to produce that video sooner than later.

[@jake..A]

I think the new heatkiller v ultra might be better than the optimus v2.

[@matacachorro4090]

Do you know any site or KZbin channel that made a review of this block?

[@jake..A]

@@matacachorro4090 youtube deleted my links but dazmode on youtube has a review comparing them but his heatkiller is the v pro not the v ultra. There is a v ultra review by a german website if you google "Vergleichstest: 4 Wasserkühler für die ASUS RTX 4090 TUF / Strix" but this is vs the optimus v1 & not the newer v2.

[@Simon_Denmark]

@@matacachorro4090Hardware-Helden at least, Watercool is referencing the article for the new cold plate.

[@S-I-R-E]

using imerial side of the ruler to measure in metric.... mind blown

[@post-leftluddite]

FYI - They're not called "hex screws", they're called "sockethead screws"

[@jj6540]

there rev 2 midblock is made of brass not copper the original version was copper, the only copper on the rev 2 block is the cold plate

[@tomekdargiewicz6397]

best rtx 4090 air flow kard ist ,, galax rtx 4090 hof 3,1ghz 666watt tdp ,,

[@vectornetwork]

Thanks for your comment 🙏 Agreed. I did qualify when I said the Strix is the best air-cooled card "offered by ASUS", as I was comparing it to their Matrix. The Galax is the best air-cooled 4090. If the Galax had a water block, I would teardown the Galax (to see the PCB, usually they have really customized PCBs) and then put it on the block, to really see how far we can boost it. Thanks again for the comment

[@PA5cAl1]

If only it wasn't an asus card 😜

[@dev-mag]

The product is very nice, but when you do this to such an expensive product, ASUS voids the warranty for the graphics card. You are left alone in the slightest problem.

[@Eskoxo]

Why do people even care about this stuff overclocking these chips basically does almost nothing besides some dumb benchmark you will get 95% out of 4090 from most basic air cooled designs that cost 3x less. I guess go get this to get that 1% and have 5090 rek it in a few months.

[@seppeseppe-jq7nr]

couple mounths its old waste tech 😂😂😂 5000 series kick this old gpu in ass

[@dontsleephungry716]

Sure the product is great but they are so cocky and they use shady marketing tactic. Actively calling der8auer out lmao.

[@Personalinfo404]

immediately bottlenecks the gpu with a low tier cpu. seems legit.

[@Thomas_Thiel]

It makes no sense to cool GPUs with water these days because it is almost impossible to overclock them. What's more, you can hardly resell a graphics card that has been modified in this way.

[@Simon_Denmark]

The point is to get lower temperatures and noise not just overclocking. And what do you mean hardly resell? You can always attach the aircooler back and resell the GPU.

[@Thomas_Thiel]

@@Simon_Denmark Would you risk spending $1300 on a used 4090 that has been wrecked several times and is out of warranty? Not me

[@Simon_Denmark]

@@Thomas_Thiel ”Wrecked several” times. What do you even mean with that? You don’t wreck anything with a waterblock. Attaching a waterblock doesn’t take your warranty. Well depends where you live and if you have bad consumer protection rights. The manufacturer has to prove that you destroyed the card by attaching the block. Why did you even comment? You obviously don’t do custom watercooling.

[@ufukpolat3480]

The thing about such setups involving the niche products based off of high end components is that if you avoid spending the extra money on the bells and whistles edition of everything, couple of years down the line you'll be enjoying a much faster system with just the money you saved. It would be one thing if computer hardware generations leaped in every four years but as things stand you're either robbing yourself of a significantly better experience down the line or you're spending borderline proper workstation levels of money on consumer hardware. Overclocker motherboards come to mind, they are objectively worse than workstation boards in every metric except for bios options for tuning and the average gamer will not benefit much from it until they become obsessed with tinkering and exotic cooling solutions. But these boards cost as much as a workstation board that has more PCIe connectivity, more and faster usb ports, more and faster networking, better power delivery (to feed the HEDT monsters), often come with remote management hardware, lots more storage options etc. Any extreme liquid cooled GPU is the same, it'll just be an additional $600-700 which would probably cover half the cost of a RTX 5080 that will be 50% faster than a heavily overclocked 4090.

[@sayit1196]

true, the only thing that would be an argument is near silent operation, better operation if you have very hot summers, some people also just like the process and the pieces they create for what they are beyond Pc functionality, why do people spent thousands to make thei car look cooler, same concept

[@ufukpolat3480]

@@sayit1196 sure, I agree that it's a hobby and people are interested in it for all kinds of reasons. I'm a workstation minded pc builder so my priorities are a little different. I made the mistake of having hardline tubing on a system which was my main work PC, which resulted in a downtime of one day when I had to replace a faulty memory stick. Nowadays, it's separate soft tube loops or air cooling only. To make a car analogy, my point is that a souped up Subaru WRX might cost more than an M3 and it'll be less reliable, less comfortable and might perform only slightly better on the track. The cooling solutions on modern high end GPUs are already overkill, like the 500HP+ engine on the BMW M3, I'd rather spend the money on more luxury than power at that stage of diminishing returns.