EK, the leading computer cooling solutions provider, is introducing another addition to the EK Quantum Line. By popular demand, EVGA FTW3 GeForce RTX 3080 and 3090 GPUs get their own active backplate – the EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 – Active Backplate. It is made to complement the existing EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 water blocks and actively cool the backside of the GPU.
EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplates
The EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate comes with a new terminal that replaces the stock terminal arriving with the Vector water block and links the water block and Vector Active Backplate into a single unit. This way, the whole enclosure requires only one inlet and one outlet, removing unnecessary additional tubing and reducing clutter. It is the ultimate aesthetic and performance solution that finds your GPU sandwiched between two water blocks, allowing maximum cooling.
The brand new Vector Active Backplate directly cools all PCB hotspots found on the backside of the GPU core and VRM (voltage regulation module). In the case of FTW3 RTX 3090, the VRAM located on the backside is being cooled, while the PCB on RTX 3080 GPUs is being cooled around the front-mounted VRAM. Cooling liquid is channeled over all these critical areas.
These newly developed active backplates feature a fin array with six wide channels allowing for very low flow restriction. This, in turn, provides overall lower temperatures, while the active backplate itself gets more than sufficient surface area for heat transfer.
The base of the active backplate is CNC-machined out of nickel-plated electrolytic copper, while the top is either CNC-machined out of glass-like cast acrylic or black POM acetal. The rest of the backplate is made of nickel-plated or anodized aluminum, and it doesn’t come in contact with the liquid. These Vector Active Backplates also feature terminals that match the top cover – the Plexi version has an acrylic terminal, while the Acetal boasts the black POM acetal terminal. The watertight sealing is ensured by high-quality EPDM O-rings.
Compatibility
EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplates are compatible with EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 water blocks made for EVGA FTW3 PCB design.
D-RGB Lighting on EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate
On the acrylic model, the aesthetic end-piece is housing the addressable D-RGB LED strip, while the acetal model has no LED lighting. This active backplate boasts a total of nine individually addressable RGB LEDs, and it’s compatible with popular RGB sync technologies from all major motherboard manufacturers. The arrow marking on the 3-pin D-RGB LED connector is to be aligned with the +5V marking on the D-RGB (addressable) header.
Availability and Pricing
The EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX series active backplates are made in Slovenia, Europe, and are already available for pre-order through the EK Online Shop and Partner Reseller Network. They are expected to start shipping in early July 2021. In the table below, you can see the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP), VAT included.
| Name | MSRP (incl. VAT) | |
| EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate – Acetal | 144.90€ | |
| EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate D-RGB – Plexi | 149.90€ |
