The Importances of Standoff's on FC blocks.

[IanY]

I didnt see any stereotyping or bashing in what he said. He just wants to be able to oversee the products he is selling.

I can name any number of companies with foreign sourced manufacturing, invariably in Asia, that have both high product quality and quality consistency. With a few exceptions,those companies bring great products to market and yet maintain price leadership. Its a sustainable source of competitive advantage, and if someone doesn't seize on opportunity, its his loss.

Over 90% of the content in your computer is either Asian manufactured, Asian EMS sourced, or manufactured by companies headquartered in Western countries under Asian management.

[jollyjoker]

No one said anything about Asia not producing quality products.

[ward0]

the EK 9800X2 bended my XFX 9800GX2 had to rma it i followed the instructions etc. still it was bending... If you look at the card it has some spacers at the outer sides of the card near the power plugs, you should concider making somthing like that? Because ATI is easy 2 cores on 1 side but nvidia has 1 core on eatch side so the card will auto bend at little at start.

[Eddie3dfx]

I am not sure I follow.
Aren't blocks specifically designed that they can't be overtightened and crush the gpu?
If you install a standoff, wouldn't the gpu not be touching the block?

[AndrewZorn]

It's more like trying to get the 'lowest points' of the block to be the right height. If they are too short, fully tightening the screws will bow the block. If they are too long, then yes, tightening will mean poor GPU contact.

[coolmiester]

the EK 9800X2 bended my XFX 9800GX2 had to rma it i followed the instructions etc. still it was bending... If you look at the card it has some spacers at the outer sides of the card near the power plugs, you should concider making somthing like that? Because ATI is easy 2 cores on 1 side but nvidia has 1 core on eatch side so the card will auto bend at little at start.

Exactly the reason i made some spacers for that end of the cards to ensure the two cards remain parallel

Taken from this post

[NaeKuh]

Exactly the reason i made some spacers for that end of the cards to ensure the two cards remain parallel

Taken from this post

Another reason why i picked koolance is because they have a THICK arylic back support:



Remember CM when they were designing it and we were all asking vendors to make that middle an extended thick arcylic.

Kinda funny how koolance listened to us, yet no one gave them credit.

Also, CM you really need to try that block out if your bored. It comes with 4 LED's that plug directly into your video card fan header (a koolance First) , so you can keep the wiring internal if your customer is wanting that LED bling!

[Eddie3dfx]

Would an ek g92 block need one and any recommendations on standoff sizes?
So far I'm just seeing the gx2 ones that need them.

[IanY]

Another reason why i picked koolance is because they have a THICK arylic back support:

Remember CM when they were designing it and we were all asking vendors to make that middle a thick arcylic.

Kinda funny how koolance listened to us, yet no one gave them credit.

Also, CM you really need to try that block out if your bored. It comes with 4 LED's that plug directly into your video card fan header (a koolance First) , so you can keep the wiring internal if your customer is wanting that LED bling!

Naekuh,

Come on now. You are starting to sound like you're on the payroll, and I know that you're not.

Let's be enthusiastic about brands and products, but let's have some restraint

[NaeKuh]

Naekuh,

Come on now. You are starting to sound like you're on the payroll, and I know that you're not.

Let's be enthusiastic about brands and products, but let's have some restraint

ahahhahaha..

well he was talking about the rear supports, and when i was block shopping, i actually put that into consideration.

[Eddy_EK]

Woah!! Take it easy on the Asia stereotyping and outright bashing there. That's about as sweeping a generalization as I have ever seen. Are you insinuating that there's poor quality in all Asian made products? Or that its impossible to ensure quality consistency if products are manufactured in Asia?

Where you choose to manufacture your blocks obviously has direct bearing on labour and production costs. Its your own decision where to manufacture.

I won't go further than that, although I can write a whole novel in response. That can be construed as highly offensive. This xenophobia and hatred is not smart. Remember that you have a lot of Asian customers.

RRR will whip out some Vincent blocks and we can take it from there.

I did not say it is impossible but it is hard... Don't go so hard on me

[LeeH]

Suggestion from an old fart?
What about a simple round holed plastic insert sized properly and dropped in the parts bag with a simple diagram on where they go for the uninformed.
That should keep your end down and satisfy the crazed folks here..
Yes? No? Go back and crawl in my hole?

I went down to my local True Value Hardware and picked up a bunch of nylon parts to use as standoffs when I was having trouble getting screws the right length to attach fans to my radiator with a shroud. Works great and real cheap. I don't have any holes in my radiator.

It is true that the FC blocks should cover that issue and no block should have that problem. However, the type of experimenters we are should see the issue, advise the manufacturer and then find our own work around solution. Is this any different than the nylon standoffs provided with a RadBox?

Cordially,

Another old fart.

[Manicdan]

Im with EK that there are many good reasons for not having built in standoffs

the DD full coverage block i bought for my 2900 had them machined on, and i wasnt happy with the pressure being put on the core. so i dremeled them down about .5mm and applied pressure as i saw fit.

for the 4 screws near the core i wouldnt recommend using standoffs, theres not enough of a gap to really control a .1mm difference, and there should be enough support so that you really cant overtighten unless you think a powerdrill is how you install a block. for the rest of the screws the standoffs shown in the koolance pic a few posts back are pretty simple, and if they were shipped with two sizes and people could swap them out as needed, it should be plenty.

end of lesson is that its the owners job to know how much pressure it should take to keep it on. if anything they should send those tiny screwdrivers for fixing glasses with the block, and say in the instructions "if u cant make it any tighter with this, then its tight enough"

[AndrewZorn]

I agree, especially with the increased cost, built-in may not be a good idea. But include nylons, which are so cheap there's hardly a reason to not.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I agree, especially with the increased cost, built-in may not be a good idea. But include nylons, which are so cheap there's hardly a reason to not.

as I said in my email to eddy, I would prefer nylon standoffs fro their ability to keep a uniform plane on the PCB and still allow variable pressure...


also I just thought of the possibility of using springs on longer mounting screws. This could create a viable, non-card warping, system for mounting.

[IanY]

I did not say it is impossible but it is hard... Don't go so hard on me

OK. I apologize to you

[shabranigdo]

Another reason why i picked koolance is because they have a THICK arylic back support:



Remember CM when they were designing it and we were all asking vendors to make that middle an extended thick arcylic.

Kinda funny how koolance listened to us, yet no one gave them credit.

Also, CM you really need to try that block out if your bored. It comes with 4 LED's that plug directly into your video card fan header (a koolance First) , so you can keep the wiring internal if your customer is wanting that LED bling!

I have to say I think this was the best use of that big space left in the x2 by removing the fan. I did not even think of the benefit of keeping the cards in line. I think this is a good topic showing what some consumers want as part of a full cover block for gpu's. Look at how well the included GTZ mounting hardware and backplate were received. It took the guesswork out of is it too tight or tight enough. It also allowed consistent mounts to be easily reproduced. And in the end it cost them very little for all the positives they got out of it. And as consumer we get a product that takes out the concerns out of getting it just right.

[tgm_of_xxl]

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

[septim]

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

[SkOrPn]

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.

[Eddy_EK]

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

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

[Broken]

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?

[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.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

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.

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

[zuess]

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