Hi all !
 
I have a problem with EK WB 780 Ti waterblocks.
 
I got 3 of them for a 3-way SLI, and theses blocks came with screws and nylon washers. Most of them do *not* fit ! They are all M3x4 mm, but most of the standoffs installed on the waterblock are M2.5 threaded, particularly those around the GPU !!! I made several mounting tests, and I could get a correct result reusing M2.5 x 4.5 mm screws from the stock cooler, plus 0.5 mm washers in order to compensate (stock screws are slighty too long, waterblock holes being blind threaded).
 
Did someone ran in such problem ?
 
I found workarounds, but this is absolutely not normal ! It sucks !
 
Am I the only one ?
 
Some pics :
 

 
M3 screws wont fit M2.5 threaded standoffs !
 

 
Workarounds :
 
Using stock M2.5x4.5mm screws in place of provided M3x4mm need 0.5 mm washers in order to correctly tighten them.
For GPU screws, I had to use 2 x 0.5 mm washers in order to get a correct spring load (by visualy comparing with a stock EVGA GTX 780 Ti). I used M3 washers.
 

 
 [EDIT]
 
It is *very* important to use steel washers :
 
- 1 - not doing so, the stock M2.5 x 4.5 mm screws stop turning before the block is correctly tightened against the GPU, VRMs, etc. ; I detected this issue using a strong hallogen light : a thin space was visible between the VRMs pads and the block (sorry for my bad english)
 
- 2 - the nylon washers tend to yield because of the smaller screw heads : they are needed to spread the pressure
 

Yes, I have seen your thread, searching the forum for such problems. Could Hydro Copper be made by EK WB ? Or at least they could have the same supplier for the standoffs : M3 labels on the boxes, M2.5 inside ?
 
I forgot to say that my 3 waterblocks came from two different resellers.
 
Strange...
 
More strange : I did not find related problems with Google... Maybe because it is rather easy to fix.
 
Why would I hide my S/N ? (the last 4 digits are not visible)

schmorblatz
Why would I hide my S/N ? (the last 4 digits are not visible)

 
Best Practice Per EVGA.

hello rjbarker,
 
I did not ask you about this problem because reading your post, I thought you had'nt any problem, and because your post is rig mod related.
 
I will send a message to EK WB technical support, at least to know if the workaround is acceptable. They will maybe prefer to send me M3 standoffs, but they are in Slovenia, and I live in France. It should be long to receive replacement ones, particularly if blocs are made and assembled in China ! Or worse : ask me to RMA them !
 
I will keep you all informed.
 
[EDIT] ticket submitted on EKWB support. Wait and see. Probably tomorrow.
 
"Sure the correct screws should have come with the block. But they didn't. Since you know what size you need, why not spend $1.50 at your local hardware store to do it right?"
 
because I can only get M2.5x4mm screws on request and by at least 1000 pieces or so (boxes) ! Such screws will be available here only from industrial supplies, and with a minimum buy of 100€. I live in a small town ! The smallest screws available here in local hardware supplies for common people are M3x10mm (I mean stores like Sears, Home Depot, etc.)
 
I have a small stock of M2.5x10 and M2.5x15, purchased on the web from electronics hobby stores, but cutting them properly and chanfering the end with the lathe is a pain in the ass ! And my lathes are far too big ! It would need a watchmaker lathe. The risk with quick and dirty shortened screws is that they could ruin the standoffs threads.