EK-Quantum Vector Strix RTX 3080 Backplate User manual

USER GUIDE
PLEXI / ACETAL
EK-Quantum
Vector RE RTX 3080/3080Ti/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
ACTIVE BACKPLATE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAIN PARTS 6
INSTALLING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE 7
PREPARING THE GRAPHICS CARD 7
CUTTING AND PLACING THERMAL PADS 8
REMOVING THE TERMINAL METAL PLATE 10
ATTACHING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE 10
INSTALLING FITTINGS AND TUBING 12
CONNECTING THE D-RGB LED STRIP 13
TESTING THE LOOP 13
SUPPORT AND SERVICE 14
SOCIAL MEDIA 14

- 4 -
BOX CONTENTS
EK-Quantum Vector RE RTX 3080/3080Ti/3090 Active Backplate
M2.5x8 AX1 Screw (8 pcs)
8 mm
120 mm
24 mm
120 mm
24 mm
120 mm
24 mm
Allen Key 2.5 mm (1 pc)
Thermal Pad G 1.0 mm (2 pcs)
Thermal Pad G 1.5 mm (1 pc) Thermal Pad G 2.0 mm (2 pcs)
Universal Mounting Mechanism – You may not need every
screw from this package.

- 5 -
ACTIVE BACKPLATE DIMENSIONS
124.3 mm
222.7 mm
99.5 mm
128.5 mm
112.8 mm
33.4 mm
Phillips Head Screwdriver Scissors
REQUIRED TOOLS

- 6 -
ACTIVE BACKPLATE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAIN PARTS
Technical Specifications:
Dimensions (L x H x W): 223 x 124 x 33.4 mm
D-RGB (Addressable RGB) Cable Length: 500 mm
D-RGB LED Count: 9
D-RGB Connector: Standard 3-Pin (+5V, Data, Blocked, Ground)
ACTIVE BACKPLATE
TERMINAL
ACTIVE BACKPLATE
COLDPLATE (COPPER/NICKEL)
TOP PL ATE (PLEXI/ACETAL)
EK RGB BADGE
LED D-RGB
STRIP
M2.5 x 4 AX1
SCREW
EK-PLUG G1
M4 x 6 DIN7984 SCREW
M4 x 8 DIN7984 SCREW
M4 x 27 DIN7984 SCREW
O-RING 15x1
TERMINAL METAL PLATE
STANDOUT
(BLACK/WHITE)
O-RING 171x2

- 7 -
INSTALLING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE
STEP 1
PREPARING THE GRAPHICS CARD
First, complete the installation of your EK-Quantum Vector RE RTX
3080/3080Ti/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.
EK-Quantum Vector RE RTX 3080/3080Ti/3090 Active Backplate
comes with its own terminal, meaning the original terminal, along
with two (2) 15x1 O-rings, on the EK-Quantum Vector RE RTX
3080/3080Ti/3090 water block has to be removed.
Unscrew the three (3) M4 x 27 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 RE RTX 3080/3080Ti/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 27 DIN7984
SCREW
ORIGINAL GPU
TERMINAL
O-RING 15 x 1
STEP 1

- 8 -
STEP 2
CUTTING AND PLACING THERMAL PADS
Your 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.
You must remove the protective foil from both sides of the
thermal pad before installation.
Replacement thermal pads:
2x Thermal PAD G 1.0 mm - (120 x 24 mm) – EAN: 33830046996770
1x Thermal PAD G 1.5 mm - (120 x 24 mm) – EAN: 3830046996787
2x 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 2
120 mm
24 mm
1 mm
Thermal PAD G 1.0 mm (120 x 24 mm)
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)

- 9 -
3090 Version
Thermal Pad G 1.0 mm
Thermal Pad G 1.5 mm
Thermal Pad G 2.0 mm STEP 3
STEP 3
Once cut to size, thermal pads should be placed on the backplate,
as illustrated below.
3080/3080Ti Version
Thermal Pad G 1.5 mm
Thermal Pad G 2.0 mm

- 10 -
STEP 5
STEP 5
ATTACHING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE
For this Step, you will need:
First, make sure the two (2) 15x1 O-rings are IN terminal
slots, as shown in the image.
M2.5 x 8 AX1
5 pcs
8 mm
Phillips Head
Screwdriver
STEP 4
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 27 DIN7984 screws with the provided 2.5mm
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 4
M4 x 27 7984DIN SCREW
TERMINAL METAL PLATE

- 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 27
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 27 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 27 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
2.5mm Allen Key.
Do not use excessive force!
CAUTION: When placing the Active Backplate on the PCB,
the two inserted 15x1 O-rings must remain inside their
terminal slots. Wrongly positioned O-rings can cause leaks!
STEP 5
M2.5 x 8 AX1 SCREW
M4 x 27 DIN7984
Allen Key 2.5 mm
For this Step, you will need:
Phillips Head Screwdriver

- 12 -
INSTALLING FITTINGS AND TUBING
STEP 1
EK- PLUG
G1/4
EK-FITTING
TUBING
STEP 1
Screw-in two (2) G1/4 threaded male fittings. Attach liquid cooling
tubes and connect the water block to the cooling loop.
Do not forget to plug the remaining opening with enclosed
EK-Plug G1/4 or its equivalent.
You can use any opening as an inlet/outlet port. The pre-mounted
terminal is positioned for the optimal flow in the EK-Quantum Vector
RE RTX 3080/3080Ti/3090 water block and in the EK-Quantum
Vector RE RTX 3080/3080Ti/3090 Active Backplate. The terminal
can be shifted for 180 degrees but by using it so, the inlet and outlet
ports are changed.
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 – 5mm is the maximum G1/4” thread
length allowed!

- 13 -
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
TESTING THE LOOP
To ensure the installation of EK components was successful, we
recommend you perform a 24-hour leak test.
When your loop is complete and filled with coolant, connect the
pump to a PSU outside your system. Do not connect power to any
of the other components. Turn on the PSU and let the pump run
continuously.
Inspect all parts of the loop, and in case the coolant leaks, fix the issue
and repeat the testing process. To prevent possible damage, please
ensure that all hardware is dry before the system is powered on.

In case you need assistance, please contact:
https://www.ekwb.com/customer-support/
EKWB d.o.o.
Pod lipami 18
1218 Komenda
Slovenia - EU
EKWaterBlocks
@EKWaterBlocks
ekwaterblocks
ekwaterblocks
EKWBofficial
SUPPORT AND SERVICE
SOCIAL MEDIA