I just went through an RMA myself after trying to install a waterblock and having a capacitor rollout literally after first taking off the original cooler! EVGA of course are the rockstars of Customer Service, so the RMA process was painless. But, there is definitely some risk to putting the block on yourself. Plenty of folks do it and have no problems, but then again others do have issues and then they are out of a card for a while. In addition EVGA is using thermal putty this time around and its difficult to go back to stock as you’ll have to buy thick thermal pads to replace (which are also hard to find these days).

FWIW, my advice is to hang tight and enjoy your card until stock improves and you could buy another card if you had to. You should be in the position to accept the risk of not having a card if you move forward. Or, like me, consider getting a HC from EVGA. The 3090 kingpin HC is absolutely gorgeous!

Bruttal88
I'm just worried about damaging it and having to shell out another $2000. I might just go with the HC route to be sure. Now, I need to figure out how to get rid of my EK waterblock and backplate. Thanks for the advice.

Yeah I feel you! I instantly regretted trying it, but mine was sort of a special case. Most folks take off the cooler no problem, but not me apparently. Thank goodness for EVGA; they really have the best customer service in this industry, and beyond really. I haven’t decided what I am going to do with my block, I may try it again depending on how the HC rollout goes, and/or if FTW stock improves.

Yes they did allow for an RMA, but it was a very special case. If you cause physical damage to the card putting on a block then technically you’ve voided your warranty. From what I understand, EVGA warranty does allow you to put on a waterblock, but it doesn’t cover the physical damage you might cause. So I am not sure where folks getting the post-errors would stand exactly. Total RMA time, start to finish, took less than two weeks for me.

Coming from someone who had a random issue, I don’t think it’s worth the risk, at least not until supply and demand settle down. I’ll almost certainly be grabbing a HC when they come out.

DNAJAY
Yes they did allow for an RMA, but it was a very special case. If you cause physical damage to the card putting on a block then technically you’ve voided your warranty. From what I understand, EVGA warranty does allow you to put on a waterblock, but it doesn’t cover the physical damage you might cause. So I am not sure where folks getting the post-errors would stand exactly. Total RMA time, start to finish, took less than two weeks for me.

Coming from someone who had a random issue, I don’t think it’s worth the risk, at least not until supply and demand settle down. I’ll almost certainly be grabbing a HC when they come out.

Ahh good to know. Thanks for the info
 

Hiya, where abouts did you add the extra pads as currently waiting for my ekwb for my ftw3 3090 to turn up.
Thanks.

Did you ever figure out what happened to yours? I just had to rma my 3080 ftw3 for the exact same reason. Installed ek ftw3 block and backplate and card wouldn’t post even after re-installing the air cooler. I managed to get into windows using onboard graphics and device manager would show the card as a rtx 3080, but with an exclamation next to it. As soon as i tried to uninstall and re-install the correct drivers it crashed. This is the 6th waterblock I have installed in my life so I’m not new to this. I followed the thermal pad layout to a “T”, all screws installed, double and triple checked my work 😕.......?

I had pretty much the same thing, error 97 on Asus board and B2 on MSI board. However, my 3080 FTW3 worked fine couple hours after installing the waterblock. Temps were very nice and 3Dmark gave the right points. So I wouldn’t believe I made an error installing the block.

Now I am RMA’ing the card and hoping for the best.

crestline33
My replacement card will be here Thursday. The question then is do I risk trying to install my block again? Waited months to get that block and would hate for it to go to waste 😕

If you decide to install, set the Waterblock onto the PCB without pads or paste, and just make sure the stand offs are level. Evidently a few people with ASUS cards got stand offs that were a tiny bit too long compared to others, so it caused the pcb to flex when installed. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough.

crestline33
My replacement card will be here Thursday. The question then is do I risk trying to install my block again? Waited months to get that block and would hate for it to go to waste 😕

I would install it...
 
Only recommendation I have is when cleaning the old paste off the chip; only clean the top...do not touch the surrounding area...very easily damaged.
 
Also look between the acrylic and backplate after install and make sure everything that should be making contact is; and that anything that shouldn't be making contact isn't.
 
It's pretty fullproof if you follow the instructions.
 
 

crestline33
Thanks for the reply, however, to say it is foolproof lol? I think not. This is the 6th card I have installed a block on and never had a problem with any of my cards in the past. I put money on it that their block touched and shorted out something that they don’t require a thermal pad per the “foolproof” instructions

I don't know - I installed mine using the same set of instructions and didn't have any problems.  Not to say something can't go wrong - it certainly can.

Hi guy, I have exactly the same problem, installed EK waterblock on my FTW3 3080 and since then no post, only debug b2, installed the stock cooler back and still the same issue. I pretty much tried everything but the card still wont wake up. 
 
Did anyone actually find out what happened to their card or all of you got RMA? also did they tell you after RMA what happened to it? 
 
It would be really helpful if anyone can clarify what is happening to all of us. 

crestline33
EVGA did not tell me what was wrong with the card although I suspect either the block or backplate shorted out something. I have also been in contact with EK and they had me take a bunch of pics of the block and backplate to check the milling work and found nothing wrong. I just received my replacement card from EVGA, but no explanation as to what was wrong with the original. I am gonna hold off on installing the block until stock normalizes for the 3080s. I doubt evga, even as good as they are with service would allow me a second RMA for the same issue and i’d rather not risk it until I can be sure I can replace the card. Very disappointed in EK with this block and their install instructions as I almost guarantee either the block or backplate is touching a component that doesn’t call for a thermal pad 😕

Do you think you could ask EVGA what was actually wrong? Well this pissis me off too, because I waited for the EK block since it was announced. I finally made time (took a vacation) this week so I could build the thing and this happened.
 
I also conntacted EK and also asked me for pictures and found nothing wrong. I am just puzzled by this? Now what? I may get the RMA and then I cant watercool the card because of EK?
 
Still doesnt explain how is it that most people have no issues with th block. 

Well, I hope I am in luck then, because my pcb looks without flaw. But on the other had, if I get the repalacment, what about my EK block, will I risk it again installing it? Not sure what to do...

Ok..i have a 3080 ftw3 ultra and i got error 97 on my x570 ace with the ekwb waterblock on.. and i went to the forums to check.. and im scared with what im reading guys.. also this appeared on my waterblock

One of the reasons my last 2 cards were evga was their warranty and customer support. Im a bit devastated rn