All disclosures, notices and warranty conditions are being written on the EKWB website. Please read terms of use. Released on 2
nd
of April 2014. Revision 1.0
Installation and mounting manual for EK-FC R9-290X Lightning
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
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 corrosion inhibiting coolants is always recommended for any liquid cooling system.
STEP 1: GENERAL INFORMATION.
Sample picture of MSI R9 290X Lightning graphics card
series graphics card.
STEP 2: PREPARING YOUR GRAPHIC CARD.
1. REMOVING STOCK COOLER: Remove four (4) encircled screws on
the back of the PCB:
STEP 2 cont.: PREPARING YOUR GRAPHIC CARD
1 cont... REMOVING STOCK COOLER.
Remove the stock GPU HSF assembly. Remove two (2)
encircled screws attaching the metal plate to the circuit board as well as two (2) screws attaching the I/O
bracket to the HSF. All heat sink assembly screws should be removed.
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.
Wipe off the remains
(by using non–abrasive cloth or
q-tip
) of the original thermal
compound until the components and circuit board are
completely clean. Apply thermal compound: lightly coat
AMD
GPU chip with enclosed EK-TIM Ectotherm 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:
Thermal Pad D – 0.5mm (RAM 16x),
Thermal Pad A – 1.0 mm (100x16mm)
STEP 3: INSTALLING THE WATER BLOCK
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: EK-
TIM Ectotherm, 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-FC R9-290X Lightning block.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1:
Thermal pad D – 0.5mm
(for memory IC):
2:
Thermal pad A – 1.0mm
(for VDD VRM):
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2
2
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