rblaes_99
just got notified my kingpin block just shipped.  Order #OP5452

bavor
After having the cards for a while, I've run into a bunch of clearance and useability issues with the Optimus KP 3090 waterblocks.  I'm almost at the point where I'm considering asking Optimus if I can return the waterblocks for a full refund.  I have so many clearance and mounting issues on several different motherboards that I might be better off going back to the HydroCopper blocks and figuring out my own backplate cooling.  I bought the blocks for both daily use and overclocking use with chilled coolant.  My plan was to use them in multiple systems, depending on the benchmark, during the days I'm overclocking because some benchmarks yield higher scores with certain CPUs.  After running into some issues, I tried the KP 3090s with the Optimus waterblocks in multiple Asus and MSI motherboards with Ryzen 9 CPUs, Threadripper CPUs, 10th gen Intel CPUs, and 12th gen Intel CPUs.
 

• In motherboards that have a SSD heatsink near the top PCIEX16 slot, its impossible for me to remove the card with the Optimus 3090 KP block installed without removing the SSD heatsink because there is no way to reach the release tab on the back of the slot.  This is because the acrylic for the backplate cooling sticks out so far for me to even see the tab on the back of the PCIEx16 slot and there is no room to get anything in there to release the card.  I have to remove the SSD heatsink on the motherboard to remove the card.  However, the EKWB blocks with active backplate cooling for other 3090 graphics card models have room to hit the release tab in the same motherboard.
• In some Asus motherboards with the DIMM.2 card for mounting two NVMe SSDs(next to the RAM), the acrylic of the backplate cooling sticks out too far for me to use the DIMM.2 card to mount SSDs, so I lose the ability to use two SSDs in those systems.
• On some motherboards that have the tabs at both the top and bottom of the RAM slots, I can't fully release the tabs on the bottom of the slots if I have to change the ram when the Optimus KP 3090 waterblock is installed because the acrylic on the backplate sticks out so far that it blocks reaching the tab or the copper backplane blocks the full movement of the tabs.
• Because the terminals are so wide compared to other waterblocks with active backplate cooling, you have to use a short connector piece to connect the cards and can't use any other fittings, even with 4 slot spacing.  Because of this, I always have one card that runs 3-5C hotter than the other.  With the EKWB waterblocks on 3090 cards with active backplate cooling, I can use low profile 90 degree connectors and split the coolant flow between the cards so both run at the same temperature.  I can't do that with the Optimus blocks.
• I can't see the tab on the back of the PCIEx16 slot of the lower card when I run the cards in SLI on several motherboards.  This is because the acrylic backplate sticks out too far and many newer motherboards have a NVMe SSD heatsink and/or chipset heatsink near that area.  To remove the lower card, I have to remove the top card, which involves draining the loop, unscrewing the connector fitting between the cards, removing the fitting, removing the SSD heatsink, removing the top card, then using a popsicle stick or something else to get under the acrylic of the active backplate cooling of the block on the lower card to press on the tab.  After all of that, I can remove the lower card.  With an EKWB blocks with active backplate cooling in the same slot, I have no issues seeing the release tab on the back of the PCIEx16 slot and pressing it to get the card out.
• Installing two card in SLI can be a pain because you have to connect them with a short connector piece ahead of time and install both cards at the same time.  It doesn't sound difficult, but have you ever tried to handle two cards that weight over 15 lbs combined while trying to line everything up perfectly so that both cards go into the PCIEx16 slots at the same time?  Even on an open test bench it takes multiple tries.

 
Overall, it seems that the people at Optimus didn't think about the fact that people have to be able to use the card in a wide variety of motherboards and that people have to be able to both install and remove the cards.  It seems that the water blocks were designed by people who never thought about how they would be used on graphics cards designed for overclocking.
 
I guess my other option is to wait for the next generation of CPUs from AMD and Intel and hope that the Asus motherboards that have the button on the edge of the motherboard to release cards from the PCIEx16 slots are available and the CPUs and boards support SLI/NVLink and hope that all the little issues with Windows 11 are resolved by then.

Maverickyao

Nereus
 
Anyone else notice that the block on the new 3090 Ti FTW3 Hydrocopper (link) looks a lot like an Optimus block? That might explain some of the delays for people waiting for individual blocks...

 

It's definitely possible that Optimus provided this design but it's unlikely that Optimus manufactures this because recently Optimus is picking up the fulfilling speed. It's even faster than what Optimus claims on its website.

Maverickyao
 
It's definitely possible that Optimus provided this design.

transiently
Is it worth to get this block or just step up to a 3090 ti with better memory temps?

zippytek

tbrown7552

Maverickyao
 
It's definitely possible that Optimus provided this design.

lol no. This is a poor ripoff of optimus design.

From what I’ve seen of the kpe block it’s not a design worth ripping off too much. If anything they could only improve on it with a bunch of basic changes. Which given evga has a much larger base of knowledge and r&d cash, really wouldn’t be all that surprising

ShawnB420

zippytek

tbrown7552

Maverickyao
 
It's definitely possible that Optimus provided this design.

lol no. This is a poor ripoff of optimus design.

From what I’ve seen of the kpe block it’s not a design worth ripping off too much. If anything they could only improve on it with a bunch of basic changes. Which given evga has a much larger base of knowledge and r&d cash, really wouldn’t be all that surprising

Since EVGA doesn’t make their blocks I doubt no amount of r&d or whatever knowledge base you claim they have could they improve upon the Optimus block.

You obviously haven’t seen very much if anything if you don’t think it’s a design worth ripping off. It beats the Hydrocopper delta by about 10 degrees, but I’m sure EVGA can improve upon that with their vast knowledge of having others make blocks for them

😂😂😂

kram36

transiently
Is it worth to get this block or just step up to a 3090 ti with better memory temps?

If you have room for the beefy cooler of the 3090 Ti FTW3 card, the temps are kept well within reason. I personally would Step-Up to the 3090 Ti over getting this block. However if EVGA releases an XOC bios that allows more power to the card and you use it, you may start to see temp issues and might need a block.

fragility_V1
 

kraade
EK just announced the 3090 ti blocks will be ready "soon" , no mention of KPE so probably a dead end there.

Grey_Beard
I did not order the KP block, as mine are FTW3, but here is the message I received this morning.
 
”Right now, we are anticipating a 6-7 week lead time. However, there is a very good chance it won't take that long. Thanks for hanging in there!”
 
The site still says 4-5 weeks for these blocks.  I will post when these are being shipped.  I ordered them on March 3rd.  Would think mid-to-late April, but not sure.