ekwb EK-Quantum Momentum Aorus Z490 Master D-RGB User manual

USER GUIDE
MONOBLOCK
EK-Quantum
Momentum Aorus Z490 Xtreme D-RGB
1st Revision – December 15, 2020

This product is intended for installation by expert users only. Please
consult with a qualified technician since improper installation may
result in damage to equipment. EK assumes no liability whatsoever,
expressed or implied, for the use of this product, nor its installation.
The following instructions are subject to change without notice. Please
visit our website at www.ekwb.com for updates. Before installing this
product, please read the important notice, disclosure, and warranty
stipulation printed on the back of the box.
Before you start using this product, please follow these basic guidelines:
Carefully read the manual before beginning with the
installation process!
Remove your motherboard from the chassis for the safest
mounting process and to prevent damaging your CPU or
motherboard’s 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.
Some 3D models in this installation manual were created for
illustrative purposes only. They are just approximations of
the actual motherboard elements.

- 3 -
TABLE OF CONTENT
BOX CONTENTS 4
MONOBLOCK DIMENSIONS 5
INSTALLATION GUIDE 6
SUPPORT AND SERVICE 18
SOCIAL MEDIA 18

- 4 -
BOX CONTENTS
Spinner Head With Hex 4 and Hex 5
Adapters (1x)
Plasic Washer (4x)
Bridge Extenders (2x)
Thermal Grease (1x)
Rubber Gasket (1x)Backplate (1x)
VRM Water Block (1x)CPU Water Block (1x)
Standoff (1x)
CPU Screw (4x) Spring (4x)
120 mm
16 mm
Thermal Pad F 120 x 16 x 1.0 mm (2x)

- 5 -
MONOBLOCK DIMENSIONS
154 mm
134 mm
39 mm

- 6 -
INSTALLATION GUIDE
STEP 1
Install your CPU first to prevent damaging the socket during
monoblock installation.
STEP 2
STEP 2
Once you remove eight screws as illustrated in the image (three
M2x5 on the left and five M2x9 on the right), you can proceed to
remove two front covers from the motherboard. Keep all these
screws someplace safe since you will need them later.
5x
3x

- 7 -
STEP 3
Remove all thirteen screws that are holding the motherboard
backplate and remove the backplate itself. Watch for the thermal
pads – they might fall off in the process.
Keep all these screws someplace safe since you will need them later.
STEP 4
Remove the 3 standoffs illustrated below with the enclosed spinner
handle and hex 4 and 5 adapters, and three screws under the
backplate for the vertical I/O cover and I/O shield to come off.
Then, disconnect the I/O cover’s RGB cable from the motherboard.
Save all of the standoffs and screws for later.
STEP 3
STEP 4
13x
3x
3x
I/O Shield
I/O Cover

- 8 -
STEP 5
To remove the VRM heatsink from the motherboard, you must first
remove the three standoffs and three screws.
Save them all for later.
STEP 6
The rubber gasket is an essential part of the mounting mechanism
and must be used. The inner core of the gasket must be removed!
STEP 5
3x
3x
VRM
Heatsink
Outer part
Inner core
(removable)
STEP 6

- 9 -
STEP 7
Turn your motherboard face-down and position the rubber gasket
and backplate directly in line with the mounting holes. The ribbed
side of the backplate should be facing up!
STEP 8
Loosely install all four standoffs and plastic washers before
proceeding to tighten them completely. It is mandatory to install the
Plastic Washers as they prevent damage to the motherboard PCB.
Using pliers or similar tools is not recommended.
STEP 7
Rubber
gasket
Motherboard
Metal Backplate
STEP 8
Standoff - M4 x 21mm
Plastic
Washer

- 10 -
STEP 9
Remove the six standoffs (2 shorter and 4 longer ones) from the
stock VRM heatsink and install them to the VRM block.
STEP 9
4x
4x
2x
2x

- 11 -
STEP 10
Your monoblock comes with thermal pads that need to be trimmed
to fit the voltage regulation area (MOSFET) on the motherboard’s
circuit board.
Place larger strips of thermal pads over the marked area and make
sure all marked chips are covered, as shown in the picture.
CAUTION: Remove the protective foil from both sides of
the thermal pad before installation.
STEP 10
16
Thermal Pad F 1.0 mm - (120 x 16 mm)
120 1 mm
Thermal Pad F 1.0 mm

- 12 -
STEP 11
Place the VRM block on the motherboard. Turn the motherboard
face-down while holding the VRM block and install the three
standoffs and three screws you saved in Step 4.
STEP 12
Place the two bridge extenders (fittings) on the VRM block, and
double-check that O-rings are in place.
STEP 11
STEP 12
3x3x

- 13 -
STEP 13
Reassemble all of the motherboard covers.
STEP 13a
I/O shield, I/O cover, and I/O cover’s RGB cable with three
standoffs and three screws:
STEP 13a
3x
2x
3x

- 14 -
STEP 13b
Motherboard backplate with thirteen screws:
STEP 13c
Both front horizontal covers with eight screws:
STEP 13b
STEP 13c
5x
13x
3x

- 15 -
STEP 14
Apply the enclosed EK-TIM Ectotherm thermal grease (thermal
compound) on the CPU heat spreader – IHS – as shown in the image.
The thermal compound layer must be thin and even in thickness over
the entire surface of the IHS. The excessive or uneven application of
thermal grease may lead to poor performance!
STEP 15
Remove the protective sticker and position the CPU water block
onto the bridge fittings.
Align the coldplate with the CPU and carefully place the CPU block.
Pay attention to position it onto the bridge fittings properly.
CAUTION: The protective sticker must be removed from
the coldplate.
STEP 14
STEP 15
CPU Water Block

- 16 -
STEP 16
Insert all four springs inside the marked holes on the CPU water block.
STEP 17
Loosely insert all four CPU screws before proceeding to tighten
them two revolutions at once in a cross pattern. When tightening the
screws, do not use excessive force!
STEP 16
STEP 17
CPU Screw
Spring

- 17 -
STEP 18
D-RGB Header
RGB Header
STEP 18
Plug the 4-pin D-RGB connector from your CPU water block in a
D-RGB header on your motherboard or controller. The LEDs will
work only if the pin layout on the header is as follows: +5V, Data,
Empty, Ground.
Incorrect installation or installation to the wrong header
can result in damage to the LED Strip or the header itself!

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