EK-Quantum Vector Strix RTX 3080 Backplate User manual

USER GUIDE
EK-Quantum
Vector TUF RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate

This product is intended for installation by expert users only. Please
consult with a qualified technician. Improper installation may result
in damage to your equipment. EK assumes no liability whatsoever,
expressed or implied, for the use of this product or its installation. The
following instructions are subject to change without notice. Please, read
the manual carefully before beginning with the installation process. For
updates, you can visit our official website www.ekwb.com.
Before you start using this product, please follow these basic guidelines:
Carefully read the manual before beginning with the
installation process.
Remove your graphics card from the computer for the safest
mounting process to prevent any possible damage to your
GPU or its circuit board (PCB).
EK Fittings require only a small amount of force to screw
them firmly in place since the liquid seal is ensured with the
rubber O-ring gaskets.
The use of quality market-proven corrosion-inhibiting
coolants is always strongly recommended for any liquid
cooling system.
Do not use pure distilled water as a cooling liquid! For best
results, EK recommends the use of EK-CryoFuel Coolants.
Make sure to bleed air out of your water block thoroughly in
order to reach optimal performance.
EK only guarantees compatibility with included EK-brand
thermal pads. Installation process, cooling performance and
block contacts are tested exclusively with EK-brand thermal
pads. Listed thermal pad thicknesses apply only to thermal
pads included in the package.
EK does not guarantee compatibility with aftermarket
alternatives for thermal interface material.

- 3 -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BOX CONTENTS 4
ACTIVE BACKPLATE DIMENSIONS 5
REQUIRED TOOLS 5
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND PRODUCT PARTS 6
INSTALLING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE 7
PREPARING THE GRAPHICS CARD 7
CUTTING AND PLACING THERMAL PADS 9
REMOVING THE TERMINAL METAL PLATE 10
ATTACHING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE 10
INSTALLING FITTINGS AND TUBING 12
CONNECTING THE D-RGB LED STRIP 12
SUPPORT AND SERVICE 13
SOCIAL MEDIA 13

- 4 -
EK-Loop Multi Allen Key (1 pc)
M2.5x8 AX1 Screw (8 pcs) M2.5x8 AX1 Screw - Nickel (8 pcs)
8 mm 8 mm
2 mm
120 mm
24 mm
1.5 mm
120 mm
24 mm
BOX CONTENTS
Allen Key 2.5 mm (1 pc)EK-Quantum Vector TUF RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate
Thermal PAD G 1.5 mm - (120x24mm) (3 pcs)
Thermal Pad G 2.0 mm - (120x24mm) (3 pcs)
Universal Mounting Mechanism – You may not need every
screw from this package. EAN: 103301

- 5 -
ACTIVE BACKPLATE DIMENSIONS
255 mm
133 mm
144.5 mm
151.5 mm
122.5 mm
119.5 mm
33 mm
6.2 mm
8 mm
Phillips Head Screwdriver Scissors
REQUIRED TOOLS

- 6 -
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND PRODUCT PARTS
Technical Specification:
Dimensions (L x H x W): 255 x 144.5 x 33 mm
D-RGB (Addressable RGB) Cable Length: 500 mm
D-RGB LED Count: 5 (Plexi Version)
D-RGB Connector: Standard 3-Pin (+5V, Data, Blocked, Ground)
Position EAN Description Quantity
1103859 ALU BACKPLATE - NICKEL 1
103860 ALU BACKPLATE - BLACK
2103862 COLDPLATE (Nickel) 1
3103631 AB TERMINAL - PLEXI 1
103630 AB TERMINAL - ACETAL
4103865 TOP PLATE - PLEXI 1
103866 TOP PLATE - ACETAL
5103867
ACETAL STICKOUT 1
68323 M4 x 28 DIN7984 SCREW 6
79047 M2.5 x 4 AX1 SCREW 3
89023 M4x6 DIN7984 SCREW 14
9100199 D-RGB LED STRIP 1
10 104206 MAIN O-RING 1
11 100663 EK BADGE 1
12 5155 TERMINAL O-RING 15 x 1 mm 4
13 4720 TERMINAL METAL PLATE 1
14 103116 PLUG G1/4 CSQ-BRIDGE 1
2
4
11
13
8
10
1
3
14
12
9
5
7
6

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INSTALLING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE
STEP 1
PREPARING THE GRAPHICS CARD
First, complete the installation of your EK-Quantum Vector TUF RTX
3080/3090 water block according to its installation manual. In case
the water block is already installed, remove the five (5) AX1 screws
and their PVC washers, as shown in the image.
STEP 1
Phillips Head Screwdriver
For this Step, you will need:

- 8 -
Allen Key 2.5 mm
For this Step, you will need:
STEP 2
REMOVING THE ORIGINAL TERMINAL
EK-Quantum Vector TUF RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate comes
with its own terminal, meaning the original terminal, along with two
(2) 15 x 1 O-rings, on the EK-Quantum Vector TUF RTX 3080/3090
water block has to be removed. Unscrew the three (3) M4 x 20
DIN7984 screws and detach the terminal from the water block. The
procedure of terminal detachment is shown in the image.
Attention!
In case the EK-Quantum Vector TUF RTX 3080/3090
water block is already filled with coolant, empty the
content of the water block before continuing with this
step. Be careful that the coolant that remained in the
water block does not come in contact with the GPU!
M4 x 20 DIN7984
SCREW
TERMINAL COVER
OR 15 x 1 mm
STEP 2
ORIGINAL
TERMINAL

- 9 -
STEP 3
120 mm
24 mm
1.5 mm
Thermal PAD G 1.5 mm (120 x 24 mm)
120 mm
24 mm
2 mm
Thermal PAD G 2.0 mm (120 x 24 mm)
STEP 3
CUTTING AND PLACING THERMAL PADS
Your Active Backplate comes with thermal pads that have to be cut
into smaller pieces to cover all the VRM components. EK made sure
to provide you with more than an adequate quantity of thermal pads
to complete this Step-s.
Replacement thermal pads:
Thermal PAD G 1.5 mm – (120 x 24 mm) – EAN: 3830046996787
Thermal PAD G 2.0 mm – (120 x 24 mm) – EAN: 3830046996794
EK only guarantees compatibility with included EK-brand
thermal pads. Installation process, cooling performance
and block contacts are tested exclusively with EK-brand
thermal pads. Listed thermal pad thicknesses apply only
to thermal pads included in the package.
EK does not guarantee compatibility with aftermarket
alternatives for thermal interface material.
STEP 4
Once cut to size, thermal pads should be placed on the Active
Backplate, as illustrated below.
RTX™3080/3090
STEP 4
Thermal Pad G 1.5 mm
Thermal Pad G 2 mm
G1.5
G1.5 G1.5 G1.5
G1.5
G2
G2
G2 G2

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STEP 5
REMOVING THE TERMINAL METAL PLATE
The Metal plate attached on the Terminal is meant as a precaution,
to secure the two O-rings to prevent them from falling out of their
sockets during transport and handling. Before the installation of
the Active Backplate, this metal plate has to be removed. Unscrew
the three (3) M4 x 28 DIN7984 screws with the provided 2.5 mm
Allen Key shown on the picture. Keep the screws as they will be
needed in the upcoming step, unlike the metal plate which will not
be needed anymore.
STEP 5
M4 x 28 7984DIN SCREW
TERMINAL METAL PLATE
Allen Key 2.5 mm
For this Step, you will need:
STEP 6
ATTACHING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE
First, make sure the two (2) 15 x 1 O-rings are IN terminal
slots, as shown in the image.
STEP 6

- 11 -
Place the active backplate on the PCB and make sure all holes are
aligned. Position an M2.5 x 8 AX1 screw into each of the five (5)
mounting holes (as shown in the image) and tighten them evenly
with a Phillips head screwdriver.
To avoid using excessive force, you can easily loosen up the three
(3) M4 x 28 7984DIN screws pre-installed on the terminal, but be
careful that two (2) 15 x 1 O-rings remain in their terminal slots.
Also, do not forget to tighten the three (3) loosed M4 x 28 7984DIN
screws back after attaching the Active Backplate.
In order to ensure that the holes in the terminal and the block line up,
the thermal pads near the terminal must be compressed. This can
be achieved by squeezing the block and active backplate together.
This will not damage the PCB as the mounted standoffs prevent
contact at critical locations. This is the only way to guarantee the
promised performance of the components.
Then, position the three (3) M4 x 28 7984DIN screws that were
detached from the GPU water block terminal into each of the three
(3) mounting holes (as shown in the image) and tighten them evenly
with the provided 2.5 mm Allen Key.
Do not use excessive force!
CAUTION: When placing the Active Backplate on the PCB,
the two inserted 15 x 1 O-rings must remain inside their STEP
5 terminal slots. Wrongly positioned O-rings can cause leaks!
STEP 6
M2.5 x 8 AX1
M4 x 28 DIN7984
Allen Key 2.5 mm
For this Step, you will need:
Phillips Head Screwdriver

- 12 -
STEP 1
Screw-in two (2) G1/4 threaded male fittings. Attach liquid cooling
tubes and connect the water block to the cooling loop.
The pre-mounted terminal is positioned for the optimal flow in the
EK-Quantum Vector TUF RTX 3080/3090 water block and in the
EK-Quantum Vector TUF RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate. The
terminal can be shifted for 180 degrees but by using it so, the inlet
and outlet ports are changed.
The plugged port must not be used as inlet/outlet!
EK recommends using EK fittings with all EK water blocks.
CAUTION: When using connectors other than EK fittings,
pay special attention to the length of the fittings’ male G1/4”
thread – 5 mm is the maximum G1/4” thread length allowed!
CONNECTING THE D-RGB LED STRIP
STEP 1
Plug the 4-pin D-RGB connector from the GPU water block to the
D-RGB Header on your motherboard or controller. The LED strip will
work only if the pin layout on the header is as follows: +5V, Data,
Empty, Ground.
Incorrect installation or installation to a wrong header can
damage the LED strip or the header itself!
STEP 1
D-RGB HEADER
RGB HEADER
INSTALLING FITTINGS AND TUBING
STEP 1
EK- PLUG
G1/4
EK-FITTING
TUBING

In case you need assistance or wish to order spare parts or a new
mounting mechanism, please contact:
https://www.ekwb.com/customer-support/
For spare parts orders, refer to the page with “TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS AND PRODUCT PARTS” where you can find the
EAN number of each part you might need.
Include the EAN number with quantity in your request. Mounting
Mechanism EAN can be found under “BOX CONTENTS”
Thermal pads are readily available in the EK shop
EKWaterBlocks
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SUPPORT AND SERVICE
SOCIAL MEDIA