Backplate air cooled GPU's

[CRYSIS82]

Hi guys.

 

I recently purchased two ASUS R9 280x DCU2 Top cards and custom painted the shroud white (but kept the red and black stickers). I was wondering if anyone knows if I can install the EK-FC R9-280X DCII without the waterblock (I will be painting them white also. I know it is compatible as stated on the EK site, but always says "The backplate does not serve as a standalone unit!"

 

I know the heatsink fins are rather close to the PCB and components but I can cope with that. I just want to know if it is possible.

 

I will be taking off the heatsink to put better thermal compound on so can install it then and then put it all back together with the white backplate.

 

If anyone has done this I would love to hear from them.

[Murdoch]

Check the install manual.

http://www.ekwb.com/shop/EK-IM/EK-IM-3831109868720.pdf

They're designed to screw into the waterblock. But I see no reason why you couldn't screw in the backplate and tighten with just washers / nuts if there are enough spare holes for the backplate to be held on. Looking at a picture of the back of the Asus card it looks like there are 4 spare that align with the backplate. So you might be able to get away with it.

[CRYSIS82]

This is true.

 

I know the backplate fits. I was just worried that using the same screws from behind the GPU chip into the heatsink of the stock ASUS cooler might not be long enough to go through the backplate through the pcb and then into the mounts on the heatsink.

[CRYSIS82]

Cancel that. 

 

They don't even go through the backplate. So it would be just a clearance issue with the existing screws at the back of the pcb.

[Murdoch]

Have a good look at the install manual and see exactly which screw holes the backplate uses. They seem to use some holes to 'clip' the shroud into the card. So those would be no good for screwing in. Might not have enough spare to make it work by the looks of things.

[CRYSIS82]

Indeed.

 

I notice the heatsink for the vrm uses the same screw to position the metal spine running down the side of the card. But I may not need to remove these and just use the other mounting points.

 

I think I may just bite the bullet and buy one backplate and see if it works.

 

It's only money right. 

[Murdoch]

Indeed.

 

I notice the heatsink for the vrm uses the same screw to position the metal spine running down the side of the card. But I may not need to remove these and just use the other mounting points.

 

I think I may just bite the bullet and buy one backplate and see if it works.

 

It's only money right. 

Yeah looks like a clearance issue there too. You could always file the back of the backplate down a bit

What we do for aesthetics huh?

[CRYSIS82]

So true.

 

I even took off the heat spreaders from my for corsair vengeance CL9 kits and painted them white to go with my white NZXT Phantom 820 and my BitFenix Spertre Pro White 120 and 140 fans.

 

Where will this madness end.  :lol:

[CRYSIS82]

 

 

 

 

 

Thought I would let you know how I was progressing.

 

Only one more card to go as well as painting the crossfire bridge.