EK 290X Waterblock leak

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Had some random distortion come up on my soundcard earlier, didn't know what it was so I just ignored it.

Got my order of 3 GT's to add onto a radiator, and a bitfenix cable for my gpu.

After looking around I saw damage to the soundcard - lots of blue everywhere (even though I have white coolant), anyway cleaned it up with a toothbrush, and then thought I'd check the waterblock to see where it came from.

http://imgur.com/a/CBrhN

Well that doesn't look good...

Any ideas where it could be coming from? Looks like the shiny metal plate probably houses an Oring that lose or something?

Either way, not impressed, may have killed my soundcard completely - not exactly a cheap one either being a Asus Xonar Xense..!

I didn't buy it from here, but I'm already in talks with the place I bought it from who will be contacting EK.


note: During leak test there were absolutely 0 leaks, so it's not from a fitting or anything, and this is after fitting it on Wednesday.
 
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I've just gone round all the screws on the silver plate and tightened them up a bit - there were none that felt "loose", so don't expect it to help but we'll see if that makes any difference.
 
Can't really tell without taking the block apart. Could be a clipped o-ring, a crack in the plexi or even a manufacturing defect?
 
Yep that's the next job, I'm working at the moment though so it will have to wait until later and I'll keep checking it!
 
Being in work sucks :( Just got a parcel through the post from OCUK and it's just sat next to me, staring me in the face.

THERE'S A PACK OF HARIBO IN THAR!!! :O
 
That's not even the worst of it - I'm working from home, so have to use this PC!

I'd fix it right now, but can't!
 
Just had another check now, definitely leaking.

There's water around the very edge of the black/silver plate if you look at the gpu from the side, and also on this picture:

wVzO5TE.jpg


There's more water from the middle screw at the very back towards the motherboard.



I'm wondering where EK stand in terms of compensation/replacement not only of the block if it is faulty, but of the soundcard. Surely we can't be expected to check every single screw for tight when they don't supply the alan keys to do so?

If it was leaking from a fitting then I'd take full responsibility, but when it's the block itself and it passes the leak test, it's a bit bizzare.
 
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Yeah it'll be interesting to the least - naturally the place I bought it from has no more in stock, and won't have any until at least next Thursday. I can't really be bothered to put the stock GPU cooler back on, so until then I'll probably be using the 4770k's GPU, that'll be fun.

I will be able to start draining the loop at around 4, so I'll report back then - but so far I'm pretty annoyed - it's not even the first problem I've had with EK either.

I bought a EK Res which on one of the ports to add a fitting had no threads whatsoever, and the hole was too big to even thread it myself, and had another Res that would not seal without leaking.
 
The place I have purchased it from have told me to not touch it until instructed to do so by EK, so I will not be taking it apart unless directed to do so.

I've sent EK an email outlining the issues faced, but more importantly the issue with my potential graveyard soundcard.

I use EK Koolant Clear as well for my fluid, so presume it's non-conductive - so maybe ok with the soundcard? But to be honest with how it looked before I cleaned it up (I really should have taken a picture first but didn't think - I was more worried about the soundcard), who knows. There was a giant gloop of "blue" looking goo around where the main spill is.

I wonder if anyone else has had the same issues?
 
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Sorry to see / hear this.

Regarding your soundcard best thing to do is clean it up best you can and let it dry out for around a week (airing cupboard if you have one) then test it, sometimes they'll come back from the dead.
 
Sound card may be fine, I've spilt mayhems on all sorts of things that have survived of cleaned well enough :)

To me it sounds like an oring around one of the screws either isn't seated correctly or has been nicked during assembly. Either way I would at least be demanding full refund plus a new block.
 
Giggz said:
Sorry to see / hear this.

Regarding your soundcard best thing to do is clean it up best you can and let it dry out for around a week (airing cupboard if you have one) then test it, sometimes they'll come back from the dead.
Click to expand...

Yeah this is why I don't know what to make of it - as I say I heard interference when listening to music earlier - presumably when the soundcard was dripped on - but sound continued to play and the interference went after 10 seconds or so.

I've cleaned it up as best I can, and the coolant is EK's own non-conductive stuff, so I maybe I'm ok in regards with it.

I think for now I'll have to take out the GPU and run with my 4770k's onboard GPU, no BF4 for me :(.


pgi947 said:
Sound card may be fine, I've spilt mayhems on all sorts of things that have survived of cleaned well enough :)

To me it sounds like an oring around one of the screws either isn't seated correctly or has been nicked during assembly. Either way I would at least be demanding full refund plus a new block.
Click to expand...



Yeah I'm hoping for the same, kinda wish I had waited before sending EK an email now, as I had even forgot to put what "Koolant" I am using, and the soundcard may indeed be fine.

A free block would serve nicely as a gesture of good will, but we will see what happens. Currently I'm checking it every 15mins to ensure it hasn't got worse or anything, as I require use of the computer until at least 4pm!
 
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That's a bugger as Paul said it sounds like the o ring is crimped and not seating properly. Let us know what EK come back with.
I've used a lot of EK parts and the only problem I've had was my tube res cracked in a few places, but it didn't leak at all.
 
That must be really annoying - sorry to hear that OP

It just seems EK have gone down the pan in recent years
 
Yeah it is frustrating, as long as it's resolved in a good way I'm happy.

84xu0hf.jpg

Intel HD graphics are OP!!!


I'd like to say the soundcard is fine, but surely if I heard interference when it had leaked onto it, then it was conducting? There's probably some certain mode that won't work, whether it's one I use or not we won't know for a while.


I've just been running it outside the pc with just the pump/res and gpu only, with my D5 on 5 to see where it leaks, after about 20min there was quid a puddle around the bottom left screw, so I'd say something is definitely foobar'd.


edit: Soundcard is dead. :(.
 
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Ahh that really sucks... Got me checking my own block (I have the plexi copper)... Sorry to hear about your soundcard, the Xense is not cheap. Do let us know what EK come back with.
 
I'm going to be watercooling my 290x in the near future, hope I don't have this issue.
if you don't mind me asking what fittings are you using? I have the maximus vi formula and thinking about going watercooling with it as well, I have the 750d rather than the 540 so it's 360 in the roof and 240 in the front/bottom.
 
its the risk we all take when watercooling is that some how it might leak and get on other stuff :( I hope u get it sorted lest it wasn't the 290 that died I only just build my loop and waterblocked my 290 i think i will have a close look at the waterblock as it is a EK one :)
Touch wood wont be any problems done 5 of them and never had a problem
 
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