The Importances of Standoff's on FC blocks.

[NaeKuh]

Okey sorry, i was gonna use photoshop to add text, but i dont seem i can find the time.

Standoffs, what are they and why are they so important?
Standoff's are elevated parts on the block that allow you to screw something into the them.

Why are they important?
To accurately see why they help we need to look at 2 blocks.
The first block has no standoff's as shown:


As you can see if you tighten this screw, the card will warp gaurentee'd:


As you overtighten a series of them the entire card becomes warp because now you got more then 1 torque point in which the card bends:


How does standoff's save you card?
By preventing you from overtightening your card. The standoff's limit the amount you can clamp your card onto the block.



When you have a lot of them, they do there job, here i tightened my screws to the point where they wouldnt move, and look NO WARPING:





So in short, Standoffs on FC blocks = FTW!

I'll add text tomorrow as i free up sometime.

[MomijiTMO]

Do they come with them? You do need to get the right height or you'll have crappy contact with the core and other parts.

You can't exactly use washers or you'll be using like 5 per screw. Definitely need to do something like this OR watch carefully when tightening the screws and stop at the first sign of resistance.

[NaeKuh]

I can hear the sheep coming now...

i left out vendors names for ya personally

But we all know what they are. :X

Do they come with them? You do need to get the right height or you'll have crappy contact with the core and other parts.

there part of the block momi, as are all the new blocks that are FC.

[MomijiTMO]

Ohh ok so some companies don't have them?

[NaeKuh]

Let me guess....

2 letters vs. 8 letters

Former Eastern Block vs. SK

WC PrOn vs. Rusted Plugs

Copper vs. Aluminum

keep going there, and i can say this.

DEAD CARD vs WORKING.

[MomijiTMO]

Thanks for hint RRR.

Well let's be honest. Less than half of the people who buy stuff read the instructions and would promptly tighten down the screws so it is a big issue. This of course assumes that it gets a mention in the instructions . . . do they come with instructions? lol

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I'm using washers on my EK FC 4800 if it bends.... no good


seriously though, shouldn't the entire block be milled with steps measured from the start point of the PCB= X-Y plane; this seems like lazy/improper design IMO.
Give me the measurements of a card and I will CAD it up correctly

[NaeKuh]

im hoping that this will tell vendors that we know whats good. So keep on bringing them.



Future standoff's on all FC blocks. FTW!

[MomijiTMO]

im hoping that this will tell vendors that we know whats good. So keep on bringing them.

Well considering what has happened with threads here and reps randomly appearing out of no where, I hope they consider this. If YOU killed your card, I imagine there are a hell of a lot more people with paper weights.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

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

[dengyong]

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

send a message.

[tayto_-]

I take it that's the Koolance block that doesn't warp then ? What block is that ? It's not the VID-487X2 by any chance? doesn't look like it

[NaeKuh]

I take it that's the Koolance block that doesn't warp then ? What block is that ? It's not the VID-487X2 by any chance? doesn't look like it

nah, thats my 9800GX2 block. DD was too expensive for that card, and its my backup system anyhow.

Koolance was the next contender so i bit.

I would of gotten the DD tho, as i like there stuff a little bit more.

[IanY]

How much does 20 stand off cost in terms of material costs? $2?

[coolmiester]

How much does 20 stand off cost in terms of material costs? $2?

Surely that would depend on what material was used.

I would much rather see nylon or anodised aluminium standoffs so there was no chance of shorting tbh

Having said that, this problem could easily have been avoided all together in the design stage with added standoff milled in the beginning

[dengyong]

Nylon stand-offs would be soooooooo easy to make it's pitiful they were left out in the first place.

Come on, give us some stand-offs or I'll switch over to the 8 letter company...

What's wrong with the four letter company, shouldn't their higher quality and lower price be rewarded ?

[skinnee]

Thanks for raising another highly important issue NaeKuh!

[tayto_-]

8 letter company....4 letter company

Oh what the hell.. Is there any reason why i shouldn't buy this block .....


Sorry i know it's slightly off topic

[nikhsub1]

Ok, call me crazy but... I see the significance of standoffs but can't you just mount a block WITHOUT standoffs and just not tighten it so tight that it warps? In any case, I'm sure I have some nylon standoffs to do the job perfectly for my 'non standoffish block'

[NaeKuh]

Having said that, this problem could easily have been avoided all together in the design stage with added standoff milled in the beginning

Yup, like so:

[MomijiTMO]

and just not tighten it so tight that it warps?

Yeah that's how I was thinking but I mean I can only imagine how many people have stuffed their cards tightening the screws all the way down.

[NaeKuh]

Ok, call me crazy but... I see the significance of standoffs but can't you just mount a block WITHOUT standoffs and just not tighten it so tight that it warps? In any case, I'm sure I have some nylon standoffs to do the job perfectly for my 'non standoffish block'

Scott, problem is blown on XS.
Almost 1 a week. :T

I told ya you would be okey, but not many of us here have as much experience as you.

Oh and the bending is always from the Mosfet/vreg cooler. Almost impossible to excape this one.

Watch.

[coolmiester]

Ok, call me crazy but... I see the significance of standoffs but can't you just mount a block WITHOUT standoffs and just not tighten it so tight that it warps? In any case, I'm sure I have some nylon standoffs to do the job perfectly for my 'non standoffish block'

For sure, you pays your money, you takes your chances!

Yup, like so:

Precisely

[jtf2]

bowing of the blocks has always weirded me out,and i have made sure to not overtighten.
i think i will try and use some thicker small rubber washers-they will have a little give,but still be a stop for the screws.

i will try it out on a spare 8800 gts with an ek fc block

[Demthios]

jtf2 let me know how that goes I'm currently looking for a block for the 8800GTS and was wondering this my self.