Quote Originally Posted by PuffinMyLye View Post
This thread is awesome and so helpful thanks a ton!

You say the passive AC backplate works with the EK block? Did you the test Rev. 1 or Rev. 2 of the EK block? Reason I'm asking is my card (MSI Twin Frozr) only works with Rev. 2 of the EK block.

Also if the passive backplate works shouldn't the active one work as well since the screws holes are the same?
I tested rev 1, in the past I have tried the rev 2 and saw no real difference, usually it's more about resolving clearance issues. I think the MSI has glue on top of the inductors and so VRM results may get worse in general.

I believe that the active one is the passive one plus the heatpipe that connects to the bridge. The heatpipe will be compatible with the backplate, but the bridge which needs to connect to the block is extremely unlikely to be compatible with the EK block.


Quote Originally Posted by Jakusonfire View Post
More great detailed info. Any thoughts on the possibility of closing the gap between the EK and AC backplates by just replicating the extra thermal padding of the AC plate on the EK plate?
The EK plate seems to make only a marginal improvement.
I do think it would close the gap but not sure how much - the thermal pads will most likely have to be thicker as the AC backplate comes closer to the PCB in those areas I think. Thicker is of course more thermally resistive, but you could counter this by buying better thermal pad quality to lower the resistance.