XC or FTW3?
This Round of HC are very easy to install at least on the RTX 2080 Ti XC and XC Ultra Cards.
I removed all the Screws from the Slot Bracket and the One Back Plate Screw and the Back Plate Screw and Nut.
Then remove all the Screws from the Back Plate and
remember the one under the Black Seal Tape.
I DID NOT Remove the Back Plate from the Graphics Card or PCB.
Then removed the 4 Screws with springs from the GPU.
The Shroud came of easy but the Middle Plate was a little harder and some of the Thermal Pads are so thin they just fall apart.
The LED/Fan Connector came off with the Shroud, easer then the old cards. But Take Care When removing it.
(Do Not Over Tighten the Screws)
Clean it all up and install the (GPU Bracket) with the Black Side Down to the PCB Put in the 4 Screws Chris-Cross on the screws until tight. See (
A) Below
Used some TF8 Spread Method on Top of the GPU and Water Block. Or however you apply TIM.
On a Level and Flat area and you should use a block the size of two DVD cases to level the card and allow the Back I/O (Slot Plate) to hang off on the side this will keep the card Flat.
Place the Water Block Face up (The Cold Plate Side) then remove all the Plastic Film Covers from the Thermal Pads.
Center the Graphics Card PCB on top of the Water Block and lower down aligning the screw holes and connect the RGB Cable.
Take Care here because the Cable lies on the 8-Pin Power Connector.
Did not care for this but it works and the cable can move left and right and is not Pinched anywhere.
Installed all the Back Plate Screws in no real order but to alien all the screws to the Water Block and do not tighten them down.
Aliening all the Screws to Water Block are what you are doing here so do not screw down very far.
Then working from the GPU Out is a Circle Tighten the Screws down, I did this 4 or 5 Times in the same direction till all where tight.
(I did Press Down on the Back Plate as I Tightened the Screws Down) (
A) Re-Check the 4 Screws from the (GPU Bracket) from above.
Then last put back on the Slot Plate and put the last Back Plate screw and the Screw and Nut on but to do tighten them and now install all the screws but one on the XC and XC Ultra Cards and tighten them down then last tighten down the last Back Plate Screw and Screw and Nut.
Hope this helps a little.
On my XC Ultra Card I did use the
2 Slot Bracket for RTX 2080 Ti/2080/2070Link
https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=M022-10-000130I never did use the 4 Black Washers
post edited by bcavnaugh - 2019/02/16 13:12:42