EKWB EK-FC980 Backplate (Black) for MSI Gtx 980. Should I buy?

[Kaenda]

Hey guys, first time posting on your forum. I currently have an MSI GTX980 4Gb Gaming in my system. As some of you may know this card does not come with a stock back plate. The only thing that I am worried about is eventual sag on the PCB. Going through the internet time and time again, I keep getting attracted to EKWB's backplates. I know that they are a trusted company across the water cooling universe. Their back plates are relatively cheap and I plan on water cooling somewhere down the line anyway. So what I really am wondering is if the back plate from EKWB is required to be installed alongside a waterblock for my GPU or can the back plate be attached to the stock cooler?

 

 

[FatPenguin]

Welcome to the forums!

 

No, the Back plate will screw into the back plate mounting holes on the PCB.

[skyress3000]

No, it needs the waterblock with it

[Kaenda]

Well just got to answer, completely the opposite. One saying yes they will just screw into the PCB mouting holes (FatPenguin). and the other the opposite. I sent an email to EKWB as well to inquire about it.

[Hackentosher]

Well just got to answer, completely the opposite. One saying yes they will just screw into the PCB mouting holes (FatPenguin). and the other the opposite. I sent an email to EKWB as well to inquire about it as well.

The waterblocks that EK makes are custom to a specific PCB design, so I would imagine that as long as you get the right plate, it should simply line right up with the holes on the pcb and work just fine.

[Kaenda]

The waterblocks that EK makes are custom to a specific PCB design, so I would imagine that as long as you get the right plate, it should simply line right up with the holes on the pcb and work just fine.

 

See thats what I was thinking. I just asked the question, because I figured I wasn't the only one out there to ask it.

[Hackentosher]

See thats what I was thinking. I just asked the question, because I figured I wasn't the only one out there to ask it.

Well if the holes didn't line up with the PCB, then it wouldn't fit the card with or without a backplate.

[0ld_Chicken]

I dont know... but I could see it being possible that it would require the waterblock.  The mounting hardware that comes with the backplate might be made to fit into the waterblock threads and not the card

edit: looking at them on performance-pcs.com. they say "..., for XXXXXXXXXXX series waterblock" in the description of each one so I'd imaging that unless you are willing to do some tinkering and locating the right size mounting hardware, it will only work with a waterblock to

@Kaenda

[Kaenda]

I dont know... but I could see it being possible that it would require the waterblock.  The mounting hardware that comes with the backplate might be made to fit into the waterblock threads and not the card

edit: looking at them on performance-pcs.com. they say "..., for XXXXXXXXXXX series waterblock" in the description of each one so I'd imaging that unless you are willing to do some tinkering and locating the right size mounting hardware, it will only work with a waterblock to

@Kaenda

 

Well that is a bummer

[Kaenda]

Just got an email back from the EKWB guys and they infact said that the backplate Will not fit without a water block