ekwb EK-FC7970 DCII Guide

All disclosures, notices and warranty conditions are being written on the EKWB website. Please read terms of use. Released on 28th of March, 2012. Revision 1.0
Installation and mounting manual for EK-FC7970 DCII water block
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.ekwaterblocks.com for updates.
Before installation of this product please read important notice, disclosure and warranty conditions printed on the back of the box or our home page.
The barb hose fittings require only a small amount of force to screw them in; otherwise the high flow fittings might break. These fittings do not need to be tightened with much force because the
liquid seal is made using o-rings. The use of an algaecide and corrosion inhibitors is always recommended for any liquid cooling system.
STEP 1: GENERAL INFORMATION.
Sample picture of ASUS HD7970 DC2(T) graphics card
STEP 2: PREPARING YOUR GRAPHIC CARD.
1. REMOVING STOCK COOLER: Remove four encircled
screws on the bracket:
STEP 2 cont.: PREPARING YOUR GRAPHIC CARD
1 cont.. REMOVING STOCK COOLER. Remove all encircled screws. All heat sink assembly
screws should be removed. There are 11 screws on the back of the graphic card.
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 recommend
s the
use of denatured alcohol for removing TIM leftovers.
3. APPLYING THERMAL COMPOUND. Apply thermal
compound: lightly coat AMD GPU chip with for example
Arctic Cooling MX-2 ™ or MX-4 ™ thermal grease. EKWB
recommends to apply thermal grease in cross form for
best performance (see sample picture).
4. CUTTING THERMAL PADS. Your block comes with thermal pads, some of which are already pre-cut. Others have
to be cut to smaller chunks in order to cover all the VRM components such as MOSFETs and drivers. PLEASE REMOVE
THE PROTECTIVE FOIL FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE THERMAL PADS PRIOR TO INSTALLATION.
Replacement thermal pads: 1x Thermal Pad B – 0.5mm (75x50mm), Thermal Pad A – 0.5mm (100x16mm).
STEP 3: INSTALLING WATER BLOCK
1. PLACING THERMAL PADS ON PCB.
Place thermal pads on chips so that numbers on chips match size of thermal pads. EKWB made sure users have more than
enough pads to cover all surfaces that need to be covered to make block fully functional). EKWB 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) in order to even
further improve the thermal performance of the EK-FC7970 DCII series water block.
1: Thickness 0.5mm
(for memory IC):
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2: Thickness 0.5mm
(for VRM Driver & MOSFET IC):
1
1
1
1
2
3
3: Thickness
0.5mm (for
I/O VRM):
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
3
3

All disclosures, notices and warranty conditions are being written on the EKWB website. Please read terms of use. Released on 28th of March, 2012. Revision 1.0
2. PLACING BLOCK TO GRAPHIC CARD
. Carefully position the water block with
preinstalled 2.5mm standoffs on to the graphics card. During this process please make sure
you align mounting holes on PCB with holes on the water block. Also pay attention not to
use too much force by pressing block down to PCB. Chip dies are prone to cracking.
3A. ATTACHING BLOCK AND ASUS BACKPLATE TO GRAPHIC CARD
. By
using Philips screwdriver screw in enclosed M3 DIN7985 screws, washers and M3
nuts. EKWB recommends the following procedure:
1. Start screwing two (2) M3x4 DIN7985 screws on the MOSFET area and
continue outwards. Use a PVC washer underneath both screws!
2. Place the ASUS factory backplate onto the graphics card circuit board
3. Screw in four (4) M3x4 DIN7985 screws around the GPU core and three
(3) surrounding M3x6 DIN7985 screws directly to the standoffs on the
water block.
4. Screw in the remaining four (4) M3x8 DIN7985 screws (which go through
PCB) and secure them with M3 nuts. Use PVC washer underneath each
nut!
3B. ALTERNATIVE MOUNTING OPTION WITHOUT USING ASUS BACKPLATE. By
using Philips screwdriver screw in nine (9) enclosed M3x4 DIN7985 screws into each and
every standoff on the water block. EKWB recommends start screwing the screws around the
GPU core and continue outwards. Always use a PVC washer under each and every screw!
STEP 4: CHECKING FOR CONTACTS
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
substeps in previous section to reattach the block. In case you fail to obtain good contact, please check again your thermal pad thickness or contact our support
service.
STEP 5: REPLACING THE ORIGINAL I/O BRACKET
STEP 6: FITTING POSITIONING
Remove the four (4) screws and four (4) hexagonal nuts securing the original three-
slot I/O bracket to the circuit board. Replace the original I/O bracket with enclosed EK
FC7970 DCII I/O bracket and install it using the original screws.
Screw in the two G1/4 threaded male fittings. Attach the liquid cooling tubes and
connect the water-block(s) into the cooling circuit. EKWB recommends using EK-PSC
fittings with the EK-FC7970 DCII
series water blocks. To ensure that the tubes are
securely attached to the barb/fittings, please use hose clamp
s or an appropriate
substitute.
You can use any opening as an inlet/outlet port.
STEP 7: INSERTING CARD IN YOUR PC CASE
Carefully lift your graphics card with installed block and insert it in your PC’s motherboard PCIe expansion slot. Please bear in mind that your cards is probably heavier than when
it was equipped with original heatsink fan assembly. One needs to be very careful when handling the graphics card. Avoid all un-needed manipulation of the VGA/water block
assembly that might damage your card or water block during final installation.
REQUIRED TOOLS AND MOUNTING SCREWS:
scissors philips screwdriver thermal grease
ASUS factory I/O plate
Tubing
EK-PSC Fitting
Use 2 enclosed
PVC washers
underneath both
M3x4 screws
Use 4 screws M3x4
around the GPU
M3x4 screw
(MOSFET)
M3x6 screw
M3x6 screw
M3 nut