I went with the hard tube cause I didn't know how long the build would be using an air cooled card.  Here's a photo of the build while it was going through a whole system pressure test:
 

 
It is built around a O11 Dynamic, two medium thickness 360mm rads, EK Pump(D5)/res combo, X570 Strix E, 5800X CPU, EVGA 1300 gold psu, Lian Li SL 120 unifans, 500GB primary NVME Drive, 1TB NVME secondary drive from his current pc, 1tb SSD drive, Lian Li Strimmer cables for the mobo and gpu, and Optimus blocks for the CPU and GPU once completed.  The RAM will come from my son's current PC and the GPU will be his 3070 until his step up comes through for a 3080FTW3 Ultra which I will convert to water using the White cerakote Optimus block I ordered this past week for the FTW3 models.  
 
I am thinking of pulling the top rad so I can paint it white, but since it's for my son and not for someone else I'm thinking of leaving it since I really don't think he cares that it's black.  It does contrast the white build nicely though and matches up with the board too.  
 
I used the hard tube for the entire system.  The front tube I made a small mistake and cut it a bit short, but since that one is going to be replaced when the water blocked GPU is added I just left it since the system passed a full pressure test already.  
 
The selling of the preorders without having the materials was cool to me, but the release date thing via the email a month or so ago was the thing that got me.  They gave us a release date but didn't have the materials in stock which kinda left me shaking my head.  Their communications and release info sometimes can be a head scratcher but I guess I'm used to it with them to be honest.  I do think they are better than a year or so ago when they were getting ready to release the FTW blocks.  
 
I also know for sure and plan around when I see in stock on their website it really means they have the materials in house but they still need to manufacture the block and prep it for shipping.  This is why I ordered my son's block already so that by the time 6 to 8 weeks period is up I should have been able to test his new GPU on air or he should be finishing up his step up.  
 
But I do like their products and even ordered another FTW3 block for this build and still do recommend their products to others who I either do builds for or friends who ask me for help planning their builds.  
 
Here's hoping to get those KP blocks out as soon as possible.  I'd love to get my KP card water blocked and into my system so I can be done with it until the next gen stuff comes out.  

My order is a little over 200 ahead of yours (I got my order in on the release day).  It might not matter much since this is a limited release gpu and since they took pre-orders with payments they should have been able to secure the materials for most if not all their early pre-orders I'm thinking.  We will wait to see, but I wouldn't be surprised if your block is sent out early with the rest of the day 1 orders to be honest.  I'm just hoping for all of us who ordered early that the blocks will be sent out later this week or at worst early next week.  

Gotspeed_2000
My order is a little over 200 ahead of yours (I got my order in on the release day).  It might not matter much since this is a limited release gpu and since they took pre-orders with payments they should have been able to secure the materials for most if not all their early pre-orders I'm thinking.  We will wait to see, but I wouldn't be surprised if your block is sent out early with the rest of the day 1 orders to be honest.  I'm just hoping for all of us who ordered early that the blocks will be sent out later this week or at worst early next week.  

I think that all depends on if they track kingpin orders consecutively.
I ordered one, and later ordered a cpu block.
They seemed to just use the same type numbering system for all orders.

Its the end of the week ! If its standard operating procedure I would guess end of next week ?

I guess they missed their mark for shipping the blocks out...
 
What concerns me more is that they haven't posted any pictures of anything real yet.  I'd feel a bit better if they did then atleast we'd know for sure that they are working on something.  My boss would be pissed if I missed as many target dates for projects that they do.  Love their products still, but these missed dates are like getting stood up on a date with someone you really wanted to go out with.  
 
Here's hoping for a better week next week.  Be safe guys.  

Yup, Bjohannes called it.  Posted to twitter a actual picture minus the intake/outlet ports.  Looks great, but it's not very encouraging when it was supposed to ship out to customers this week and they can't even post a picture of a complete item.  check back next friday another update....

I'm cancelling. Picked up a 3080Ti for $2100 (Canadian) with an EK block already installed.

November 26th

November 12th

Gotspeed_2000
Sorry but I need to amuse myself as I'm tired of waiting for the block to ship.  
 
Anyone what to guess when we might see the block ship?  I'm guessing best case sometime next week if we are extremely lucky.  
 
Any takers?  

I’m tired as well. As usual, they don’t respond to emails and tweets. So my guess is, when pigs fly.

 
I can't believe people are still waiting on these blocks. Top quality performance blocks certainly, but not much use if you can't use it. I had an order in, cancelled and got an EK block instead and have been up and running for months. I'd probably still be waiting otherwise.
 
edit: my bad, mine was the 3090 FTW3 Ultra, just realized this was the Optimus KP thread, sorry. 
 

mech9t5

Nereus
I can't believe people are still waiting on these blocks. Top quality performance blocks certainly, but not much use if you can't use it. I had an order in, cancelled and got an EK block instead and have been up and running for months. I'd probably still be waiting otherwise.
 

I would too, if the block that I am waiting for is not for the KPE.  EK does not supply KPE blocks, AFAIK.

Oh true, mine was the 3090 FTW3 Ultra, just realized this was the KP thread, sorry.
 

Gotspeed_2000
Anyone what to guess when we might see the block ship?  I'm guessing best case sometime next week if we are extremely lucky.  
 
Any takers?  

They will arrive just before Christmas.  
 
Notice I didn't mention what year. 

No twitter update today.  Not good news.

Did optimus release any info about the dimensions of the block?  I have a feeling some people not gonna be able to fit it in to their motherboard.