I just ordered the Z590 Dark motherboard, and have a question about clearance for EK-Quantum Vector FE RTX 3090 Active Backplate.
 
Just looking at photos of the top x16 slot on reviews,.. the active backplate requires at least one slot above them to be empty as they stand 16.8mm tall from the PCB across the whole GPU.
 
Does not look like I will have the clearance, can anyone confirm this. Thanks.
 

 
 
 PLEASE NOTE:
              These newly developed active backplates require at least one slot above them to be empty as they stand 16.8mm tall from the PCB across the whole GPU.

Well, I guess I'll leave my 3090 FTW3 SLI setup on air then since both cards will mounted directly on the Dark with the 4 slot NVLink bridge.
 
A real shame that only the 11900K will be cooled by the dual 480 rads in my ThermalTake Core 9 case where the board is mounted horizontally to begin with, so riser cables were never an option.
 
Might have to get out the dremel...

I understand the active backplate is an option with the Quantum Vector kit.  I'm currently running heatsinks with fans on the backplates on my 3090's to keep the backside VRAM cool.  This is why I definitely want the active backplates.  I have another rig with an Asus Crosshair VIII Formula with a 3090 KingPin HC.  I'm waiting on the Optimus KP kit for it, which has a massive active backplate as well.  I think that will fit however since the active backplate doesn't get "thick" until you get about an inch or so up from the PCIe slot, so it will clear the DIMM module sockets.
 
I should be getting my Z590 Dark today, so I'll be able to take a closer look to see how the design of it differs from the Crosshair as far as clearance above PCIe slot #1.

Got my Dark today.  There is some clearance on a bare back GPU and that black top cover on the copper heatsink:

 
At least it looks like quite a bit of clearance can be gained by either removing the black top place or trimming it a bit.

pclausen
Went ahead and ordered a pair of the EK-Quantum Vector front and back blocks for my pair of 3090 FTW3s.  Hopefully I won't have to do too much trimming on the mobo/backplate closest to the CPU.  They will likely ship directly from EKWB from Europe on 10/4.

 
Looking forward to seeing your results.
 
Removing and trimming the heat sink, black shield/cover is indeed an option, could be done quickly on the bench with a cut-off wheel.
 
Still undecided if I'm going with a riser cable on the Z590 Dark build. 
 
I have a pair of RTX 2080 TI cards with single-slot full-copper HeatKiller IV blocks,.. thinking about utilizing those cards on the Z590 Dark, should look nice when finished.
 
Have lot's of options to consider, the riser cable is not at the top of my list.  
 
 

I should receive my backplate 7 October 2021 Via DHL Express with tracking. Thought it was delivered yesterday, but was some fittings from EKWB.
 
My block and backplate was a bit more expensive than yours, you must know someone at EKWB. 
 
 
 
 
I plan on pulling my heat sink this weekend, cutting it down, and reinstalling,.. 
 
will be cutting to provide 11/16 inch which converts to 17.48mm clearance from cards PCB. 
 
I have no worries about pulling heat sink, and trimming it on the bench. Touch-up the Matt Black shroud on the cut edge, done deal. 
 
The base of the heat sink is 11/16 inch from inside edge of x16 slot, which would be cards PCB edge.
 
So basically just trimming protruding copper fins/shroud along the base of heat sink will provide plenty of clearance.
 
 
 
 
 
 

I'm cutting mine in the morning!
 
Trimming off the front copper fins & screw tab flush with the base, and trimming down the shroud just past the tape,..
 
will get everything back together and take another photo, if all goes well. 
 

 
 
 

MoonOverMcNally
I asked evga if I could buy another heatsink assembly for the dark. I have the Optimus kp block coming and it's definitely not going to fit. I didn't want to trim the original in case an rma needed to be done with the dark.
But evga said no they don't have the heatsinks.

I understand your concern about voiding your RMA, but that's a gamble you take if you choose to modify your heat sink.
 
Personally I have never had to RMA a motherboard in over 40 years building custom rigs, so I'm willing to take the risk.
 
Optimus KP Block with the Black Cerakote looks sweet, just received email that all KP pre-orders now have option for White, Black, or Nickel Cerakote free of charge. 
 

I like what you guys are doing. I had the same issue but backed down to just the standard backplate instead of active. Would love to see the final product

That looks really good, honestly evga never should of put that little bit sticking out.

I did everything with a dremel tool, used a thin cutting wheel for cutting fins. Stand the heat sink up on it's end, and you can go down through the fins one at a time, with a slight angle on the cutting wheel so you son't touch the front of short fins, worked great.
 
I used a piece of 180, 400, and 500 grit sandpaper folded in half to remove the burrs, by sliding sandpaper back and forth between fins, and to remove cutting wheel marks on front edge of fins.
 
Also used a polishing wheel & metal polish to clean up, buff all the copper afterwards.
 
 

rangerscott
Are those real copper fins or just copper coated aluminum fins?

Seem to be solid copper, the base plate is also solid copper as well.

Trimming turned out good, got two coats of epoxy on the inside of IO shroud, and one coat on outside. I installed shroud for referance photo, will remove it one last time to complete epoxy, drill. 
 
I need to apply one more thick coat of epoxy on inside, and two more light coats on the top,..
 
than drill out the motherboard stand-off hole, touch up around hole. The epoxy tends to turn white when you drill or sand it, so will need touch-up after drilling. 
 
     

B0baganoosh
That looks really nice. well done!

Thanks Bob,.. it was a fun project.
I'm vary happy with the results, being able to run my card without a riser cable.

Great job!
 
I reached out to EKWB about still being on schedule and sadly, the dates have been pushed out as follows:
 
EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 Active Backplate D-RGB - Plexi (3831109849644) was moved to October 15th. 
EK-Quantum Vector FTW3 RTX 3080/3090 D-RGB - Nickel + Plexi (3831109832981) is estimated to become available on October 8th.  
 
Don't know if the active backplate for the FE version was pushed back as well, but I would imagine so.
 
Bummer...