EK-Quantum Vector Strix RTX 3080Ti User manual

USER GUIDE
EK-Quantum
Vector FTW3 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
REQUIRED TOOLS 5
ACTIVE BACKPLATE DIMENSIONS 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 12
ATTACHING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE 12
INSTALLING FITTINGS AND TUBING 14
CONNECTING THE D-RGB LED STRIP 14
TESTING THE LOOP 15
SUPPORT AND SERVICE 16
SOCIAL MEDIA 16

- 4 -
3830046996213 EK-Loop Multi Allen Key (6 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm) (1 pc)
M2.5x8 AX1 Screw (8 pcs) M2.5x8 AX1 Screw - Nickel (8 pcs)
120 mm
16 mm
120 mm
16 mm
8 mm 8 mm
120 mm
24 mm
BOX CONTENTS
Allen Key 2.5 mm (1 pc) EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3080Ti/3090 Active Backplate Thermal PAD F 1.0 mm - (120x16mm) (2 pcs)
Thermal Pad G 1.5 mm - (120x24mm) (1 pc) Thermal PAD F 2.0 mm - (120x16mm) (3 pcs)
Universal Mounting Mechanism – You may not need every
screw from this package. EAN: 103301

- 5 -
ACTIVE BACKPLATE DIMENSIONS
303 mm
211 mm
182 mm
151 mm
139 mm
126 mm
6.20 mm
37.25 mm
Phillips Head Screwdriver Scissors
REQUIRED TOOLS

- 6 -
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND PRODUCT PARTS
Technical Specification:
Dimensions (L x H x W): 303 x 151 x 37.25 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
1100006 M4x27 DIN7984 Screw 6
2103831 Plexi FC Terminal 1
103830 Acetal FC Terminal
35155 O-ring 15x1 EPDM50 4
49013
M4x8 DIN7984 Screw 12
5103832
TOP Plexi FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 AB
1
103833
TOP Acetal FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 AB
6103834 TOP Acetal - Under Stickout 1
79058 M2.5x6 AX1 Screw 3
8103825 ALU Backplate - Nickel 1
103826 ALU Backplate - Black
9100663 EK - Badge 1
10 103829 Coldplate 1
11 5134 O-ring 132x2 NBR70 1
12 100199 D-RGB LED Strip 1
13 4720 Terminal Metal Blank 1
14 102639 MS - Quantum Plug - Ni 1
114
2
13
5
10
8
34
6
12
11
7
9

- 7 -
INSTALLING THE ACTIVE BACKPLATE
STEP 1
PREPARING THE GRAPHICS CARD
First, complete the installation of your EK-Quantum Vector FTW3
RTX 3080/3080Ti/3090 water block according to its installation
manual. In case the water block is already installed, remove the
seven (7) AX1 screws and their PVC washers, as shown in the image.
Phillips Head Screwdriver
For this Step, you will need:

- 8 -
EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate comes
with its own terminal, meaning the original terminal, along with two
(2) 15x1 O-rings, on the EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 3080/3090
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 the terminal detachment is shown below.
Attention!
In case the EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 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
FC TERMINAL
OR 15 x 1 mm
STEP 1
Allen Key 2.5 mm
For this Step, you will need:

- 9 -
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 these steps.
Replacement thermal pads:
Thermal PAD F 1.0 mm – (120 x 16 mm) – EAN: 3830046996732
Thermal PAD G 1.5 mm – (120 x 24 mm) – EAN: 3830046996787
Thermal PAD F 2.0 mm – (120 x 16 mm) – EAN: 3830046996756
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
1.5 mm
Thermal PAD G 1.5 mm (120 x 24 mm)
1 mm
120 mm
16 mm
Thermal PAD F 1.0 mm (120 x 16 mm)
2 mm
120 mm
16 mm
Thermal PAD F 2.0 mm (120 x 16 mm)

- 10 -
STEP 3
Once cut to size, thermal pads should be placed on the backplate/
PCB, as illustrated below.
First, place the thermal pads on to the PCB as illustatrated.
3080/3080 Ti Version
F2 F2
F2
F2
After placing the thermal pads on to the PCB, a few more needs to
be placed on to the Backplate, as illustrated.
3080/3080 Ti Version
STEP 3
G1.5
Thermal Pad G 1.5 mm
Thermal Pad F 2 mm
G1.5
F2
Thermal Pad F 2 mm
F2
F2 F2

- 11 -
STEP 3
First, place the thermal pads on to the PCB as illustatrated.
3090 Version
F1 F1
F1
G1.5
After placing the thermal pads on to the PCB, a few more needs to
be placed on to the Backplate, as illustrated.
3090 Version
STEP 3
Thermal Pad G 1.5 mm
Thermal Pad F 2 mm
Thermal Pad G 1.5 mm
Thermal Pad F 1 mm
G1.5
G1.5
F2
F1
G1.5
F2 F2

- 12 -
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 2.5 mm
Allen Key shown on the picture. Keep the screws as they will be
needed in the next steps, unlike the metal plate which will not be
needed anymore.
STEP 4
M4 x 27 7984DIN SCREW
TERMINAL METAL PLATE
Allen Key 2.5 mm
For this Step, you will need:
STEP 5
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 5

- 13 -
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 seven (7) 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) 15x1
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 2.5 mm
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 STEP
5 terminal slots. Wrongly positioned O-rings can cause leaks!
STEP 5
M2.5 x 8 AX1
Allen Key 2.5 mm
For this Step, you will need:
Phillips Head Screwdriver

- 14 -
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 FTW3 RTX 3080/3080Ti/3090 water block and
in the EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 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.
The plugged port is not mentioned to 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 – 5mm 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

- 15 -
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 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
@EKWaterBlocks
ekwaterblocks
ekwaterblocks
EKWBofficial
SUPPORT AND SERVICE
SOCIAL MEDIA