Fluid Gaming Vector AX User Manual

1st Revision, Mar 22th 2019

VECTOR AX

USER GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENT

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS 3
GENERAL INFORMATIONS 4
PREPARING YOUR GRAPHICS CARD 5
INSTALLING THE WATER BLOCK 8
INSTALLING THE BACKPLATE 9
INSTALLING THE FITTINGS AND TUBING 9
CONNECTING THE D-RGB LED STRIP 10
SUPPORT AND SERVICE 11
SOCIAL MEDIA 11

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IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS

This product is intended for installation by expert users. Please
consult 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 throughly before beginning with
the installation process!

2. Please remove your Graphics card from the computer to assure
safest mounting process in order to prevent any possible damages
to your GPU and/or graphics card circuit board (PCB).

3. The EK-ALU ACF and EK-ALU HDC 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.

This product is made from aluminum and can be only used
with other aluminum liquid cooling components, such as Al
fittings, water blocks and radiators. Mixing aluminum with
copper and brass products can cause galvanic corrosion of
the metal and render liquid cooling equipment useless. Such
misuse is not covered by warranty.

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GENERAL INFORMATIONS

CONTENT:

- EK-AX Vector waterblock

- EK-AX Vector Backplate

- Mounting screws

- Thermal pads

REQUIRED TOOLS:

- Scissors

- Phillips head screwdriver

- 4mm hex socket

- Optional: pliers

BAG CONTENT:

Bag content is universal for all water blocks, you may not need all screws.

M2,5x4 AXI

16 pcs

PVC washer

16 pcs

Replacement mounting mechanism: AC - Tip F (M2,5 x AX1) (E AN: 3831109817100)

M2,5x6 AXI

13 pcs

Thermal grease

1 pc

M2,5x8 AXI

2 pcs

EK plug G1/4 Acetal

2 pcs

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M3x4 DIN7985

2 pcs

2,5 mm Allen key

1 pcs

M2,5 nut

6 pcs

PREPARING YOUR GRAPHICS CARD

STEP 1

STEP 1
REMOVING FACTORY PROVIDED BACKPLATE

Remove all encircled screws using Phillips screwdriver. All heat sink assembly
screws should be removed, including self-adhesive washers on both sides of
the PCB (if present).

STEP 2
REMOVING STOCK COOLER

Remove all encircled screws using Phillips screwdriver (4 spring) and 4mm
hex socket. All heat sink assembly screws should be removed, including self­adhesive washers on both sides of the PCB (if present). After you remove the
housing do not forget to unplug the fans.

STEP 2

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STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 3
CLEANING THE PCB

Carefully detach the original stock cooler after removing all screws securing it to the
board. W ipe off the remains (by using non–abrasive cloth or q-tip, as shown on sam­ple photo) of the original thermal compound until the components and circuit board
are completely clean. EK WB recommends the use of denatured alcohol for remov­ing TIM leftovers.

STEP 4
APPLYING THERMAL COMPOUND

Wipe of f 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 NVIDIA GPU chip with enclosed EK-TIM Ectotherm
thermal grease. EKWB recommends to apply thermal grease in cross form for best
performance (see sample picture).

1: Thermal pad E – 0.5

100

2: Thermal pad F – 1.0

120

3: Thermal pad G – 1.0

120

16

STEP 5

24

STEP 5
CUTTING THERMAL PADS

Your block comes with thermal pads, some of which are already pre-cut.

16

/ 6 /

Remove protective foil from the both sides of the thermal pad prior
to installation.

Replacement thermal pads:
Thermal Pad E – 0.5 (RAM 8x) – (EAN: 3830046996688)
Thermal PAD F 1.0 (120x16mm) – (EAN:3830046996732)
Thermal Pad G – 1.0 (120x24mm) – (EAN: 3830046996770)

RTX 2080

Thermal pad E – 0.5

STEP 6
APPLYING THE THERMAL INTERFACE MATERIAL

Wipe of f the remains of the original thermal compound (by using non-abrasive
cloth or q-tip) until the components and circuit board are completely clean . EKWB
recommends the use of denatured alcohol for removing TIM leftovers.

Apply enclosed thermal grease on the GPU chip. EKWB recommends to apply
thermal grease in cross form for the best performance.

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 MOSFE Ts and drivers.

RTX 2080 Ti

Thermal pad F – 1.0

Thermal pad G – 1.0

Thermal pad E – 0.5

Thermal pad G – 1.0

Thermal pad F – 1.0

STEP 6

PLEASE REMOVE THE PROTECTIVE FOIL FROM BOTH
SIDES OF T HE THERMAL PADS PRIOR TO INSTALL ATION.

Place the thermal pads on the circuit board as shown on the picture below.

MA X 8 mm wide
thermal pad

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INSTALLING THE WATER BLOCK

STEP 1

STEP 1
PLACING THE BLOCK ON TO THE GR APHICS CARD

Carefully position the water block with preinstalled standoffs on to the graphic
card. During this process please make sure you align mounting holes on the
PCB with holes on the water block. Also pay attention not to use too much force.

Plastic washer

STEP 2

Screw M2,5x4 AX1

STEP 2
ATTACHING THE BLOCK TO THE GRAPHICS CARD

Use a Phillips screwdriver,screw with the enclosed M2.5X4 AX1 screws. EKWB
recommends users to start tightening the screws around the GPU core and con­tinue outwards.

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INSTALLING THE BACKPLATE

Screw M2,5x4 AX1

INSTALLING THE FITTINGS AND TUBING

Plug G1/4

Compression fitting

Take enclosed mounting screws and install them as shown on picture below.
Use six (M2.5x4 AX 1) screws, and tighten them using Philips head screwdriver.

Screw in the two G1/4 threaded male fitting. Attach the liquid cooling tubes and
connect the water-block(s) into the cooling circuit. On other two G1/4 openings
attach the enclosed plugs.

You can use any opening as an inlet/outlet port.

Plug G1/4

In case of using connectors other than EK-ALU series compression
fittings, take special attention to the length of the fittings male G 1/4
thread. 5mm is the maximum allowed G1/4 thread length!

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CONNECTING THE D-RGB LED STRIP

Plug the 4-pin connector from Water block’s D-RGB LED light to the DRGB
HEA DER on the motherboard. The LED will work if the pin layout on the header
is as follows: +5V, Digital, empty, Ground.

Please ensure that the arrow indicated on the connector is plugged
into the +5V line as indicated on your motherboard. If you put LED
Diode to the 12V RGB HE ADER you can damage the L EDs.

D-RGB Header

RGB Header

Connector is the same on D-RGB and RGB versions, but D-RGB
version has 3 cables from connector to PCB; RGB version has 4
cables. If you connect D-RGB led to ordinary RGB header you can
damage your motherboard or LED strip.

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SUPPORT AND SERVICE

For assistance please contact:

http://support.ekwb.com/

EKWB d.o.o.
Pod lipami 18
1218 Komenda
Slovenia - EU

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