ekwb EK-Quantum Vector XC3 RTX 3080 D-RGB User manual

USER GUIDE
GPU WATER BLOCK
EK-Quantum
Vector XC3 RTX 3080/3090 D-RGB

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.

- 3 -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BOX CONTENTS 4
REQUIRED TOOLS 5
WATER BLOCK DIMENSIONS 5
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND WATER BLOCK PARTS 6
PREPARING THE GRAPHICS CARD 7
REMOVING THE STOCK COOLER 7
CLEANING THE PCB 8
CUTTING AND PLACING THERMAL PADS 9
APPLYING THERMAL COMPOUND 10
INSTALLING THE WATER BLOCK 11
PLACING THE BLOCK ON THE GRAPHICS CARD 11
ATTACHING THE BLOCK TO THE GRAPHICS CARD 12
ATTACHING THE I/O BRACKET 12
INSERTING THE GRAPHICS CARD INTO THE CHASSIS 13
INSTALLATION OF FITTINGS AND TUBING 13
CONNECTING THE D-RGB LED STRIP 14
TESTING THE LOOP 14
CHECKING FOR CONTACT IN CASE OF HIGH TEMPERATURES 15
SUPPORT AND SERVICE 16
SOCIAL MEDIA 16

- 4 -
BOX CONTENTS
4 mm
4 mm
6 mm
8 mm
M3x4 DIN7985 Screw (2 pcs) EK-Loop Multi Allen Key (1 pc)
M2.5 Nut (2 pcs)
M2.5x6 AX1 Screw (13 pcs)
Allen Key 2.5 mm (1 pc)
Thermal Pad F 1.0 mm (4 pcs)
Thermal Grease (1 pc)
M2.5x8 AX1 Screw (2 pcs)
M2.5x4 AX1 Screw (16 pcs)
EK-Quantum Vector XC3 RTX 3080/3090 D-RGB PVC Washer M2.5 (16 pcs)
120 mm
16 mm
EK-Plug G1/4 (2 pcs)
Universal Mounting Mechanism – You may not need every
screw from this package.

- 5 -
WATER BLOCK DIMENSIONS
99 mm
95 mm
275 mm
124 mm
113 mm
124 mm
20.5 mm
Phillips Head Screwdriver Scissors
REQUIRED TOOLS

- 6 -
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS AND WATER BLOCK PARTS
Technical Specification:
- Dimensions: (LxHxW) - 275 x 124 x 20.5 mm
- D-RGB (Addressable RGB) cable length: 500 mm
- D-RGB LED count: Plexi (5), Acetal (11)
- D-RGB connector standard 3-pin (+5V, Data, Blocked, Ground)
M4 x 8 DIN7984 SCREW
M3.5/M2.5 x 12.6
STANDOFF
M4 x 27 DIN7984
SCREW
TERMINAL
(PLEXI / ACETAL)
O-RING 15x1
INSERT
COLDPLATE
(COPPER / NICKEL)
JE T P L ATE
M3.5/M2.5 x 2.5 STANDOFF
M2.5x8 AX1
SCREW
LED D-RGB
STRIP
UNDER STANDOUT
(BLACK)
EK BADGE
STANDOUT (BLACK / WHITE)
O-RING 122X2
TOP PLATE (PLEXI / ACETAL)

- 7 -
PREPARING THE GRAPHICS CARD
STEP 1
REMOVING THE STOCK COOLER
OPTION 1 – GPU Versions Without a Backplate
Some versions of this GPU don’t have a backplate (e.g., EVGA GeForce
RTX 3080 XC3 BLACK GAMING).
Use the Phillips head screwdriver to remove the eleven marked screws
and the Stock Cooler Backplate from the backside of the GPU. You do
not have to remove the unmarked I/O Bracket screw.
Carefully detach the PCB from the stock cooler and disconnect all
cables connecting the stock cooler to the PCB.
Always remove the stock cooler slowly - it might be firmly
glued to the PCB with thermal pads.
You will need the following tool:
Phillips Head Screwdriver
STEP 1
STOCK COOLER BACKPLATE
OPTION 1
I/O BRACKET SCREW

- 8 -
STEP 2
STEP 2
CLEANING THE PCB
Wipe off the remains of the original thermal compound using a
nonabrasive cloth or Q-tip, as shown in the sample image, until the
components and circuit board are completely clean. EK recommends
the use of denatured alcohol for removing TIM leftovers. After that,
remove all remaining stock thermal pads from the PCB.
OPTION 2 – GPU Versions With a Backplate
Use the Phillips head screwdriver to remove the twelve marked screws
and the Stock Cooler Backplate from the backplate’s side.
Carefully detach the PCB from the stock cooler and the backplate, and
disconnect all cables connecting the stock cooler to the PCB.
Always remove the stock cooler slowly - it might be firmly
glued to the PCB with thermal pads.
STEP 1
OPTION 2
STOCK COOLER BACKPLATE
BAC KP L ATE

- 9 -
STEP 2
STEP 2
Once cut to size, thermal pads should be placed on the PCB, as
illustrated below. EK made sure to provide you with more than an
adequate quantity of thermal pads to complete this Step.
STEP 1
Your GPU water block comes with thermal pads that have to be cut
into smaller pieces to cover all the VRM components, such as COILs,
MOSFETs, and drivers.
You must remove the protective foil from both sides of the
thermal pad before installation.
Thermal pads:
4x Thermal Pad F 1.0 mm – (120 x 16 mm) EAN: 3830046996732
STEP 1
Thermal Pad F – 1.0 mm (120 x 16 mm)
CUTTING AND PLACING THERMAL PADS
120 mm
16 mm
1 mm
Thermal Pad F 1.0mm

- 10 -
Thermal Grease
STEP 1
Apply the enclosed EK-TIM Ectotherm thermal grease (thermal
compound) on the CPU heat spreader – IHS – as shown in the
image. The layer of the thermal compound must be thin and even
over the entire surface of the IHS.
The excessive or uneven application of thermal grease
may lead to poor performance!
STEP 1
APPLYING THERMAL COMPOUND
For this Step, you will need: Thermal Grease - EAN: 3830046998446

- 11 -
For the following steps, you will need:
M 2.5 PVC Washer
13 pcs
M2.5 Nut
1 pcs
M2.5 x 4 AX1
13 pcs
M 2.5 x 6 AX1
2 pcs
Phillips Head
Screwdriver
INSTALLING THE WATER BLOCK
STEP 1
PLACING THE BLOCK ON THE GRAPHICS CARD
Carefully position the water block with preinstalled standoffs on
the graphics card. During this process, make sure you have aligned
mounting holes of the PCB with holes of the water block.
Pay attention not to use too much force when pressing the
block down to the PCB since chip dies are prone to cracking.
STEP 1
6 mm
4 mm

- 12 -
STEP 3
STEP 3
ATTACHING THE I/O BRACKET
After attaching the water block, use two (2) M2.5 X 6 AX1 screws
and one (1) M2.5 nut to secure the I/O bracket to the PCB.
M2.5 x 6 AX1 SCREW
M2.5 NUT
STEP 2
M2.5 x 4 AX1 SCREW PVC WASHER
STEP 2
ATTACHING THE BLOCK TO THE GRAPHICS CARD
Use thirteen (13) M2.5 X 4 AX1 screws and M2.5 PVC washers.
Tighten the screws evenly using the Phillips head screwdriver. EK
recommends you start tightening the screws around the GPU core
first and then continuing outward to prevent damage to the GPU.
Always use a plastic washer under each screw!

- 13 -
INSTALLATION OF FITTINGS AND TUBING
STEP 1
Screw in two (2) G1/4 threaded male fittings. Attach the liquid
cooling tubes and connect the water block(s) to the cooling loop.
Do not forget to plug the remaining two openings with
enclosed EK-Plug G1/4 or its equivalent.
You can use any opening as an inlet/outlet port.
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!
STEP 1
TUBING
EK- PLUG
G1/4
EK-FITTING
INSERTING THE GRAPHICS CARD INTO THE CHASSIS
Carefully lift your graphics card with the installed water block and
insert it into your PC’s motherboard PCIexpress expansion slot.
Please bear in mind that your graphics card is very likely heavier than
before it was equipped with the water block.
You need to be very careful when handling the
graphics card. Avoid all unnecessary manipulation
of the water block assembly that might damage your
card or water block.

- 14 -
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 you power
on the system.
TESTING THE LOOP
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

- 15 -
CHECKING FOR CONTACT IN CASE OF HIGH TEMPERATURES
If necessary, temporarily remove the water block to check for
uniform surface contact between the block and components.
Pay special attention to the VRM section of the graphics card.
Check whether the water block makes contact with the intended
integrated circuit. Then repeat Steps from the previous section to
re-attach the block.
In case you fail to obtain good contact, please check again or contact
our support service at https://www.ekwb.com/customer-support/.

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