Can an EKWB backplate be used with an air cooler?

[tolis626]

I'll be honest, I'm just shallow and I want my system to look good. I will almost certainly be going with a PowerColor PCS+ R9 290 (Costs 360€ now, dayum!), and the only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't have a backplate on it. I don't like PCBs showing much in my computer, so that's why I held off until the Maximus VII Formula is available. The only R9 alternatives I know of that have a backplate are the Asus DirectCUII which is bad, the Sapphire Vapor-X that's very expensive for what it offers over a base model (Plus the black, grey and blue doesn't match my build) and then there's the MSI Lightning and the Asus Matrix.

So I figured, what the hell, I'll probably watercool the thing later anyway, why not buy an EK backplate? And that's my question. Could I just buy an EK backplate and slap it on the PCS+ (Or any air cooled card with reference PCB anyway) or must I wait until I have enough for a custom loop?

Thanks in advance!

 

[3DVagabond]

Did they drop the backplate on the 290 PCS+? It used to come with one.

 

[Grooveriding]

It likely won't work. The EK backplates have openings that line up with the holes on your PCB where the matching waterblock is attached. If you try using just the backplate with an air cooler, it might work, but you're going to have to get different screws than what is on your board stock.

 

[chimaxi83]

It's just for show, so I don't see why not. You'd need longer screws like Groove said, and you'd need to make sure the back plate doesn't contact the PCB at all since the holes would be in different places.

 

[tolis626]

Did they drop the backplate on the 290 PCS+? It used to come with one.

Really now? Why was I so sure that the PCS+ didn't have a backplate in the first place? Maybe because the Tri-X doesn't and they are the two cards I'm considering... Anyway, I'm an idiot! Thanks man!

It likely won't work. The EK backplates have openings that line up with the holes on your PCB where the matching waterblock is attached. If you try using just the backplate with an air cooler, it might work, but you're going to have to get different screws than what is on your board stock.

That's what I was thinking. Maybe if I used the correct screws it would work. Still, it isn't necessary now, but I'd like to know about it in the future.

It's just for show, so I don't see why not. You'd need longer screws like Groove said, and you'd need to make sure the back plate doesn't contact the PCB at all since the holes would be in different places.

Yeah, if we were talking about altering functionality I wouldn't even think about it, I'd just wait until I finished WC. But it's just for the sake of looking good. I'll see... I might as well buy the EK backplate before everything else and see if it does fit, just to satisfy my curiosity.

Thanks everyone!

 

[3DVagabond]

Really now? Why was I so sure that the PCS+ didn't have a backplate in the first place? Maybe because the Tri-X doesn't and they are the two cards I'm considering... Anyway, I'm an idiot! Thanks man!

It definitely came with one originally. Doesn't mean that it hasn't been lost in a revision along the way though.

 

[MeldarthX]

I'll be honest, I'm just shallow and I want my system to look good. I will almost certainly be going with a PowerColor PCS+ R9 290 (Costs 360€ now, dayum!), and the only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't have a backplate on it. I don't like PCBs showing much in my computer, so that's why I held off until the Maximus VII Formula is available. The only R9 alternatives I know of that have a backplate are the Asus DirectCUII which is bad, the Sapphire Vapor-X that's very expensive for what it offers over a base model (Plus the black, grey and blue doesn't match my build) and then there's the MSI Lightning and the Asus Matrix.

So I figured, what the hell, I'll probably watercool the thing later anyway, why not buy an EK backplate? And that's my question. Could I just buy an EK backplate and slap it on the PCS+ (Or any air cooled card with reference PCB anyway) or must I wait until I have enough for a custom loop?

Thanks in advance!

http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/3...7-powercolor-pcs -r9-290-4gb-reviewed?start=2

already has one.... I know someone who got one just a couple weeks ago and it had one.....so I'd say safe bet its not gone

yes I hate linking fud but

 

[tolis626]

It definitely came with one originally. Doesn't mean that it hasn't been lost in a revision along the way though.

I think quite a lot of people would bash PowerColor in forums if that was the case, so I bet nothing has changed.

http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/3...7-powercolor-pcs -r9-290-4gb-reviewed?start=2

already has one.... I know someone who got one just a couple weeks ago and it had one.....so I'd say safe bet its not gone

yes I hate linking fud but

Nothing like receiving confirmation. Thanks dude! PCS+ it is!

 

[MeldarthX]

I think quite a lot of people would bash PowerColor in forums if that was the case, so I bet nothing has changed.

Nothing like receiving confirmation. Thanks dude! PCS+ it is!

Gibbo from OCUK says its his favorite cooler even slightly better than tri-x; its the one I'm looking to get soon enough LOL......just got make sure it fits my case

 

[tolis626]

Gibbo from OCUK says its his favorite cooler even slightly better than tri-x; its the one I'm looking to get soon enough LOL......just got make sure it fits my case

Oh, that's one problem I don't have. The Phanteks Enthoo Primo's got me covered.

To be completely honest, I don't really like the Tri-X. Maybe the Vapor-X and its cooler could impress me more if they weren't so much more expensive than the base model. On the other hand the PCS+ does seem to cool better and I've never heard complaints (or praise for that matter) about PowerColor's quality, while some of Sapphire's fans do break occsassionaly.

Plus, it includes a backplate for a lower price than the rest, so it's good.