Does EK have GTX280 and HD4870 FC blocks coming soon ?

[Tyke]

The paper spacer obviously helps to increase the holding area and avoid damaging the screw holes/card for taking the block weight.

Sorry, I don't quite understand what you meant by "the thread on the SLi connectors I used is so short that I could not fit a spacer even on the copper side of the block". Anyhow, it does not sound like to be the cause of card damage.

There are successors who run the card properly even without the back plate. I was also once reminded that the block is designed to leave specific gap distance between the block and the NVIO chip, for GTX280 should be 0.5mm, thats the same thickness of the thermal pad which comes with. It was 1mm thick gap/pad for 8800 instead. Block attachment shall never be too tight causing obvious bending.......Same, this should also not be the issue to cause your problem.....

Other than the card is already short-circulted anyhow, or other significant physical damage to any chips, my last guess will be an excessive TIM was applied on the core which the card was over bended to feed the screws.

Really should re-install the stock fan next and RMA them as first priority if needed and possible. Wish you luck.

According to the instructions you apply thermal paste to the NVIO not a pad?! Is this the problem?

UPDATE: EK confirmed to me that it is thermal paste on the NVIO block