The Importances of Standoff's on FC blocks.

I've got an email from Eddy:
"Hi!

I understand there is a thread on xsys forums.
We dont have any standoffs prepared for the current cards.
I am sure there is no need for your blocks the standoffs.
Some other cards dont have such optimal mounting holes positions and it
bends the card more.

Eddy"

I know it's hard to make some stand offs and send them to all the people who bought FC blocks from EK, but my cards are already warped, and i didn't tighten the screws hard... so ...

I will come back with pictures

just grab a few rubber washers, stack em or trim em to height...

I ordered M3 Nylon washers from mcmaster, part# 95610A130. You get a 100 pack for $2.61

Seems like they would work great if you use several at a time as standoffs. But not sure as I have not tried it yet. I am also ordering some MUCH higher quality zinc-plated M3x8mm screws for this block as well since the 6mm ones barely grab the threads with these Nylon washers (some didn't grab at all). I just need to figure out the thread pitch first, but not sure how yet.

Be nice if EK would give us the metric dimensions between the block and pcb so us Enthusiasts could make our own standoffs. I'm sure they have that info somewhere. It's probably programed into the machine that cut the blocks, I would think.

EDIT: I just realized this thread is not about EK FC blocks only, just FC blocks in general. My bad.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SNiiPE_DoGG

XSPC can do it right for 99$ .... why?, Eddy, why? :shakes: I am seriously considering sending back my nickel FC's right now :( and I really REALLY don't want to have to :(

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/7...870szf1.th.jpghttp://img263.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif

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Hi!

I have just realized the XSPC does not have standoffs.
It just looks like but in fact they are just in the plane of the RAM coolers.
This is just for your information.
This does not anyhow change my mind that we will have them with our next block.
And this might be very soon :up:

I can understand why standoff's are a good thing, but why all of the sudden is it OMG this suxors, or 3p1c fa17!!!!!? None of the earlier blocks had standoffs, my EK 8800GTX blocks caused a little bending, same with my Alphacool OTC Flat 8800GTX. Cards worked just fine. Am I missing something or is it just time for another witch hunt?

The watercooling community is spreading also amongst newbies, unexperienced users, and can easily break the cards when overtightening.
This will prevent overtighting and breaking the cards.
I am for the standoffs that can be used, or removed, as experienced users can achieve better temps and contact without the standoffs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eddy_EK

The watercooling community is spreading also amongst newbies, unexperienced users, and can easily break the cards when overtightening.
This will prevent overtighting and breaking the cards.
I am for the standoffs that can be used, or removed, as experienced users can achieve better temps and contact without the standoffs.

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agreed, I think a flexible standoff will maybe make both possible? either way everyone should be happy :)

I have a Ek full cover block on order and after reading this thread i sent Eddy an email.

He responded this morning, he stated that the accurate thickness for the standoff's
would be 4mm.

Thanks for that link SNiiPE_DoGG

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eddy_EK

I am for the standoffs that can be used, or removed, as experienced users can achieve better temps and contact without the standoffs.

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Glad to see you stepping up and going out of the way for us eddie.

:up:

He went a little further than that for me and said he will send me standoffs.

My question is which screws do you use the standoffs on? Seems to me like the six around the GPU would be snugged down first. Can you bend the card with only the six screws around the GPU without using a lot of force with a jewelers screwdriver? There are two screws on the Video I/O side and three on the VReg side which I would guess these 5 are the ones you would use the standoffs on?