Water cooler only, no GPU

Purchased October 2022.

This is EKWB’s top-line waterblock for the 4090 FE it features active water cooling to the back of the GPU in addition to the die side to keep temps even lower. Now discontinued.

Was $500 when new.

OVERVIEW This ultimate cooling set consists of a high-performance GPU water block and the latest generation of Active Backplate cooling solutions as a single enclosure. The GPU backside cooling is now provided by a full-blown water block with its own copper cold plate and a full-length acrylic top. The connectivity is also taken to another level with the "Direct Link" terminals that implement a conventional 4-port layout that allows serial and parallel connections from adjacent or opposing sides of the block.

The New Vector 2 water blocks effortlessly solve the issue of excessive heat generation, during high load, on both the GPU core, voltage regulation module, and the GDDR6X VRAM of the Founders Edition RTX 4090 graphic cards.

TECHNICAL AND VISUAL MASTER PIECE

The new look of the next-gen water blocks is dominated by minimalistic straight lines. An 11mm thick copper cold plate and a full-sized backplate water block are used for all Vector 2 GPU Active Backplate cooling enclosures. For Plexi versions, D-RGB Lighting is now deployed on the longest edge of both the front and backside water blocks for improved fidelity and brightness from every viewing angle. The LED PCB is concealed inside clean aluminum extrusions.

The EK-Quantum Vector 2 FE RTX 4090 ABP Set D-RGB GPU water block enclosure is compatible with Founders Edition (FE) RTX 4090 graphics cards. The Vector 2 water block actively cools the GPU, VRAM, and power stages, as well as the PCB hotspots that are found on the backside of the GPU core, VRAM, and the VRM (voltage regulation module). Cooling liquid is channeled over all these critical areas.

The implemented 3rd-generation Vector cooling engine uses a novel 3D machined acrylic insert to improve flow distribution and thermal performance. This new cooling engine is based on an Open Split-Flow design, but the asymmetric shape of the jet insert helps distribute an even flow between the first and last copper fins. The fin structure geometry has been optimized to provide even flow distribution with minimal losses and optimal performances even when used in reversed water flow scenarios. It is also characterized by low hydraulic flow restriction, meaning it can be used with weaker water pumps or pumps running on low-speed settings and still achieve top performance.

Great care was taken to achieve a symmetrical flow domain by utilizing an internal bridge to secondary components. This was done to ensure the cooling of secondary components without sacrificing flow distribution over the GPU core.

All Vector 2 GPU water blocks use a thick 11mm copper coldplate with an acetal terminal attached directly to it to create a robust assembly. A single o-ring design is used to create a seal between the cold plate and the water block top, reducing the number of failure points. This also means that you have seen the end of stainless steel bridge plates that were utilized on GPU water blocks before. This simple construction provides confidence during customization and maintenance.

Both cold plates of this GPU water block and the active backplate are CNC-machined out of high-quality, pure electrolytic copper which is then nickel-plated, while its top is CNC-machined out of glass-like cast acrylic. A black-anodized aluminum side cover is included with every active backplate to conceal the entire PCB and create a seamless enclosure.