GPU with XG7 Corsair water block 2080 FE bent or sagging

[m9x3mos]

Hello all,

I just installed the XG7 waterblock on my 2080 founders edition that I have had for a little.

After installing it though into the system, I noticed that the card seems to be sagging like a huge heavy card does with an air cooler.

On closer inspection and removing the card, it appears that the the waterblock is bending the card a bit down.

I can see that it looks bent or warped when I have it removed and just sitting on a flat surface.

I tried removing and reinstalling the water block to no change.

The card out of the water block is perfectly flat as well as it was in the stock cooler.

Is this somewhat normal or is there maybe an issue with my waterblock that I was sent?

Any advice you can all provide is greatly appreciated.

[m9x3mos]

Anyone have any idea? Don't think this is normal. 

[Tristerin]

Is the backplate bent, or the PCB of the video card?  Backplate looks wonky for sure.  Also, GPU sag exists and looks like you have it.  Also looks like you don't have the top mounting screw on holding it forward on the case - Id do that as well to ensure its properly supported "forward"

[Mick Naughty]

What’s the issue exactly? 

 

If the pcb is bending, the block isn’t installed right. Can’t really tell with the card not installed completely. 

[m9x3mos]

1 hour ago, Mick Naughty said:

What’s the issue exactly? 

 

If the pcb is bending, the block isn’t installed right. Can’t really tell with the card not installed completely. 

@Mick NaughtyIt does look like the PCB is bending. Right around where the gpu is the high point and the front and back angle down from that one. From where the GPU is to the front of the case, that part appears pretty flat with a ruler beyond the GPU part of the card and from the GPU to the back is where I notice the most bending.

With these blocks, not sure how I could have installed it incorrectly. It comes with the thermal pads and thermal paste preinstalled and then I placed the bare (fully cleaned) gpu pcb on top the water block with the back plate on top and screwed the back plate down to get what you see there.

Here was their video on how to install it. Did I maybe miss something?

 

1 hour ago, Tristerin said:

Is the backplate bent, or the PCB of the video card?  Backplate looks wonky for sure.  Also, GPU sag exists and looks like you have it.  Also looks like you don't have the top mounting screw on holding it forward on the case - Id do that as well to ensure its properly supported "forward"

The backplate and pcb appear to be bending. Around where the GPU is, is where it appears to be pushing up on. Almost as if something is push to hard on that component and then when tightening down the backplate it bends the card down around the GPU.

It appears like this even with it out of the case. It is easier to tell when it is installed though. I installed the screws and tried to lift the card up while putting the screws in to alleviate a general sag problem. 

When it is disassembled, the pcb and backplate are perfectly flat on my desk. Due to the layout of the block and the outer black shroud, I can't really check the block itself. It appears to be okay, but the block is also only about half the length of the card.

I tried lifting up on the back of the card and to get it straight, it would require so much force I would worry about breaking something.

Here is a picture of the card fully installed (short of the psu wires).

[m9x3mos]

forgot to @Tristerin on that last one.

[Tristerin]

21 minutes ago, m9x3mos said:

forgot to @Tristerin on that last one.

 

If its around the GPU die I would assume its tightened down potentially to hard (monkey tight, not gorilla tight) causing a warp - the card Ive liquid cooled Ive done with DIY aluminum blocks, and I also bent my PCB slightly when tightening down but was not what I would call too tight.

 

If you have the time disassemble and remount (maybe see how your thermal paste spread) but tighten down less, after you run some benchmarks with it as is and see if it affects thermals?  Does it post?

[m9x3mos]

Hello @Tristerin,

Sorry for the late response. Between work and the holiday it has been crazy. I did take it apart and resemble with it being a little looser. When I took it apart, the thermal paste on the die wasn't spread out well. 

With it back together a little loser and fresh compound, does not seem to make a difference with the bending. 

It posts and runs just fine. Under loud it maxed out at 48c. Sort of concerned with the thermal paste not getting spread. 

Probably going to contact corsair to see if I can get another one. 

[Mick Naughty]

Wonder if the pads are messed up. They come for applied on those blocks right?

[m9x3mos]

1 hour ago, Mick Naughty said:

Wonder if the pads are messed up. They come for applied on those blocks right?

@Mick Naughty, yeah they come already installed on the block. 

[m9x3mos]

For a follow up in case anyone else finds this. 

I got a new block from corsair and the new one looks better. There is still a little bending in it which is normal after I have done some research, but not as much as it was before.