ekwb EK-FB ASUS M5E Guide

All disclosures, notices and warranty conditions are being written on EKWB web page. Please check terms of use. Revision 1.0. Published on November 9th 2012
This product is intended for installation only by expert users. Please consult with a qualified technician for installation. Improper installation may result in damage to your equipment. EK Water Blocks assumes no liability
whatsoever, expressed or implied, for the use of these products, nor their installation. The following instructions are subject to change without notice. Please visit our web site at www.ekwb.com for updates. Before
installation of this product please read important notice, disclosure and warranty conditions printed on the back of the box.
Before you start using this product please follow these basic guidelines:
1. Please carefully read the manual before through before beginning with the installation process!
2. Please remove your motherboard from the computer to assure safest mounting process in order to prevent any possible damages to your CPU and/or motherboard’s circuit board (PCB).
3. The EK High Flow and EK-PSC type fittings require only a small amount of force to screw them firmly in place since the liquid seal is ensured by the rubber o-ring gaskets.
4. The use of quality, market proved corrosion inhibiting coolants is always strongly recommended for any liquid cooling system.
STEP 1: GENERAL INFORMATION Sample photo of ASUS Maximus V Extreme motherboard
STEP 2: PREPARING YOUR MOTHERBOARD
1. REMOVING STOCK COOLER. Remove all encircled screws. There are 10 screws
on the back of the motherboard that needs to be removed in order to remove the
factory installed MOSFET- as well as NB/SB heatpipe cooling solution.
2. CLEANING THE PCB. Carefully detach the original stock cooler after removing all
screws securing it to the board. Wipe off the remains (by using non–abrasive cloth or
qtip , as shown on sample photo) of the original thermal compound until the components
and circuit board are completely clean. EKWB recommends the use of denatured alcohol
for removing TIM leftovers.
3. APPLYING THERMAL COMPOUND. Apply thermal compound: lightly coat the
Intel Z77 PCH (SB) as well as PLX PEX 8747 with electrically non-conductive thermal
grease - for example Arctic Cooling MX-2 ™,MX-4 ™ or GELID GC-Extreme ™. EKWB
recommends to apply thermal grease in cross form for best performance (see
sample picture).
4. CUTTING THERMAL PADS. Your block comes with two thermal pads which needs to
be trimmed in order to fit the voltage regulation area (VRM/MOSFET) on the
motherboard’s circuit board. WARNING: DIMENSIONS ON PICTURES BELOW ARE
SCALED!
Replacement thermal pads @ EKWB web shop:
Thermal PAD A 1,0mm - (100x16mm) [EAN: 3830046996626]
5. PLACING THERMAL PADS ON MOTHERBOARD. Place thermal pads you cut on PCB as shown on picture bellow (PLEASE REMOVE THE PROTECTIVE FOIL FROM BOTH
SIDES OF THE THERMAL PADS PRIOR TO INSTALLATION). EK recommends using small drops of electrically non-conductive (for example: Arctic Cooling MX-2 ™,MX-4 ™ or
GELID GC-Extreme ™) thermal grease on each phase regulator (that is being covered with thermal pad; see picture below) in order to even further improve the thermal
performance of the EK-FB ASUS M5E series water block.
Intel Z77 PCH (SB)
CPU socket
Installation and mounting manual for EK-FB ASUS M5E water block:
Place 1.0mm thick thermal pads in larger strips over
marked area and make sure all mosfet chips are
covered.
Mosfets
PLX PEX 8747
PCIe lane splitter

All disclosures, notices and warranty conditions are being written on EKWB web page. Please check terms of use. Revision 1.0. Published on November 9th 2012
STEP 3: PREPARING YOUR WATER BLOCK
1. PLACING SB BLOCK ON MOTHERBOARD. Place the EK-FB ASUS M5E series water block with pre-installed 2.1mm standoffs kit gently to the motherboard or vice versa. Make
sure that mounting holes are aligned.
STEP 4: ATTACHING BLOCK TO MOTHERBOARD
STEP 5: CHECKING FOR CONTACTS
Prior to fastening the screws please make sure the mounting holes on the motherboard’s
circuit board are aligned with water block.
Use eight M2.5x4 DIN7985 and washers: Tighten the screws, beginning near the center of
the board and continue evenly outwards. Do not use excessive force when tightening the
screws!
Re-use ASUS factory (“stock”) backplate and two M2.5x8 to secure the last two mounting
positions. Use the enclosed screws and washers as shown in picture below:
Temporarily r emove the water block to check for uniform surface contact between
the block and the components. Note the pattern of contact on a piece of paper.
Then repeat steps 3 and 4 to reattach the block applying more or less pressure to
the areas where you have found it necessary. Note that there is no need for
perfect thermal pad imprint on the inductors/coils (mentioned in STEP2)
6. POSITIONING FITTINGS AND CONNECTING TO WATER CIRCUIT
Attach the liquid cooling tubes and connect the water-block(s) into the cooling circuit. EKWB recommends using EK-PSC compression fittings with the EK-FB ASUS M5E series
water block. You can use any opening as an inlet/outlet port. Plan your tubing routing in advance!
REQUIRED TOOLS AND MOUNTING SCREWS:
scissors philips screwdriver thermal grease
EK-PSC fitting
Tubing
PVC washer
Chip die thermal grease imprint
Thermal pad imprints
M2.5x8 screw
M2.5x4 screw
ASUS factory backplate
PLEASE NOTE: The largest
compatible fitting is EK-PSC Fitting
12mm. In order to use EK-PSC
Fitting 13mm (or larger 3rd party
connectors) it is mandatory to use
EK-Extender G1/4 (EAN: 3831109845165).
This extender is not enclosed and
must be purchased separately!