EK FC-5870 installation question

Aarron_C · 3 Sep 2011 at 10:09

Im about to install this block onto my card and noticed that it says to use the back lplate, but I don't have one.. Prior to this i have been using the Setsugen 2 SVG2000 to cool the card and this did not require you to use the stock backplate so they were binned when i swapped over from the stock cooler to the Setsugen 2.

I notice that the blocks are a bit weighty, but do you think there is a lot of risk of installing the cooler without the backplate?

Cheers,

(LONG time member, Postaphobic )

GoogalyMoogaly · 3 Sep 2011 at 11:30

Annoyingly I broke my 5870 when installing one of those blocks (no doubt my fault, nothing to do with the block) and just a few weeks ago I threw away the broken card and backplate. Otherwise I could've sent it to you...

As for fixing it without a backplate, I'm not sure how much support the backplate offered, I've seen cards with waterblocks that have no backplates so it can't be a major issue. I'm wondering if the screws were designed with a backplate in mind though and might not fit too tight without the extra depth the backplate would provide.

Aarron_C · 3 Sep 2011 at 12:04

good point, may have to use plastic spacers on the board to allow for the width of the backplate.

how did you break yours?

GoogalyMoogaly · 3 Sep 2011 at 13:39

Don't really know, it just didn't work after I'd fitted the waterblock.
Not sure if I overtightened something or if something had shorted out or what.
I even put the air cooler back on and it still didn't work.

Aarron_C · 3 Sep 2011 at 16:01

ouch, sorry to hear that, im going to be extra careful with mine now, get off work at 5.30 so its home for a night of swearing and tube cutting

zoomee · 3 Sep 2011 at 19:36

guess your in luck! I'm just about to flog two 5850/5870 backplates I have lying around lol - They'll be appearing on the market soon as I have two Nickel backplates now

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=19986232#post19986232

Anyways - The backplates are only of required use if you have memory on the back of the graphics card. Do a manual check - If there is memory chips there (obolong in size) then you should really use a backplate. If not, then the backplates are purely cosmetic - but I did find them handy in keeping my cards straight whilst mounting with pressure from tubing etc.