EK Velocity direct die advice please

[dingleweed]

I'm almost ready to finish my custom loop and one of the tasks left is to direct die cool the CPU.

I've noticed that the waterblock is convex. What sort of problem does this pose for mounting? On my CPU (7820X) the die isn't central on one axis.

The sprung thumbscrews are pretty hardcore on this block. I thought I might just get away with not tightening them all the way.

 

[dingleweed]

How convex?

It's pretty convex! It doesn't help that the CPU heat spreader is also convex... You can see the contact they both make with each other from these pics. It's not great.

I'm guessing you have a direct die support frame?

Yup, I have the one which isn't Debaurs? The German OC dude, not his! Although I think there was two of them, I got the one which is for my CPU... Which means there's a chance I've got the wrong one!

Here is the state of the waterblock. From what I read, it's "designed" to be like that...





I'd say it's not excessive? I've no idea to be honest, that's why I'm asking here.

 

[dingleweed]

Yeah, the block was fully tightened. Oh aye, the die is right to left.

I chose this block as it was the new EK beast... that was all! I thought it looked cool, it seemed pretty beefy. I'd assumed that this new Velocity would be better than the previous gen block. I wasn't expecting it to be concave, I thought it'd be perfectly flat as it wasn't inexpensive, but it does make a tremendous contact with the IHS. It would probably be decent if the IHS wasn't concave too! Perhaps ideal for a non x299 Intel CPU. I could get a copper IHS, but I have all the delid stuff, so that's the way I'm going.

I had considered lining up the block with the die when installing it after the delid, that's why I was concerned about the die being off centre on one axis. You're right about the 90 degree thing, but I think I'd be happier with the block lapped... hmm... I didn't really want to do that but I'd feel a lot better about it. I suppose I could lap the die too

 

[dingleweed]

It's been a while now but It seems I had put the Cooling Plate back together with things in the wrong place. Upside down or back to front, can't remember now. When it goes together correctly it's really quite flat.