This is the answer: Companies such as Swiftech that respect/follow the thermal and mechanical design guidelines established by the chip makers do not HAVE to use a back plate simply because the clamping pressure of our cooling devices to the CPU are on specs and therefore do not pose a threat to the motherboard integrity.Originally Posted by Virtualrain:
What amazes me is that current water block solutions for Intel motherboards do NOT include any kind of backplate to stop the motherboard from warping or cracking under mounting pressure. How can you possibly get a good mount without a proper backing plate!?!
We have observed a number of products available on the market right now that cause significant warpage to the area directly underneath the socket. This is due to the fact that these products use extra stiff springs, and do not include a safety mechanism in the mounting system to prevent users from clamping the devices above specs, and I will add that this is a common cause to motherboard instability and/or complete failure. One example I could use was the dramatic mishap that happened to us at the CES challenge which caused our EVGA board to die prematurely. This only happened because for convenience reasons (multiple mounts of various water-blocks) we did not use our stock mounting mechanism –which again IS safe.
The above being said, we have been conducting extensive research and testing since CES, and we do recognize the desirability of a back plate as a means to enhance the clamping pressure safely. As a result, we do have a back plate in production right now, and will hopefully be able to release it by the end of April. It will be included with all existing and upcoming swiftech water-blocks. I would like to take this opportunity to ask the members of this forum to appreciate the fact that this project was not as simple as it looks from the outside. In effect, since there is no specification for a back-plate in Intel's 775 motherboards, manufacturers have been free to place all kind of surface mount components at the back of their motherboards… and they obviously don’t put them at the same place! So if you use the wrong back plate you risk crushing the SMC’s and destroying your motherboard in the process. A good back plate then is one that will be compatible with the majority of the popular motherboards (read "overclockers" models) available today.
In conclusion all I can say at this time is that we do the best we can with the tools at hand, and hope that motherboard manufacturers will keep this particular problem in mind next time they release their newest and greatest!
A final word to all Apogee GT and GTX owners: when the back plate becomes available we will also offer it for free to all who will ask (proof of purchase required) for a period of 30 days after release of the product.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks