Do you need a waterblock to have a backplate?

[Gamepro105]

Hello I have a quick question!

I have an XFX 7950 Graphics card and was wondering if I can put this black plate on it

http://www.ekwb.com/shop/blocks/vga-blocks/fc-backplates/ek-fc7950-backplate-black.html

With out a water block so I can keep my standard DD XFX air cooler on it?

Thanks Luke

 

[JR23]

Hello I have a quick question!

I have an XFX 7950 Graphics card and was wondering if I can put this black plate on it

http://www.ekwb.com/shop/blocks/vga-blocks/fc-backplates/ek-fc7950-backplate-black.html

With out a water block so I can keep my standard DD XFX air cooler on it?

Thanks Luke

You just need to make sure you have the right screws. The ones EK provide will be the correct length for the block, not necessarily the stock cooler. If it were me I would check the thickness of the plate, see how long the stock screws are and then make sure the EK screws are an appropriate length. I'm guessing no more than 1mm over the stock screws. It wouldn't be that hard to find some alternative screws if there is a problem. I can't see any other reason why there might be a problem.

JR

 

[MadShadow]

I'm pretty sure you need a waterblock to fit that backplate on. It is described as being a retention backplate for a waterblock, so yeah.

Edit: Nvm, JR knows more about this than me

 

[JR23]

Well i've only fitted 7 backplates but they can only use whatever holes are on the PCB whether it's for the block or the stock cooler.

The only thing might be if your card had a brace on the back of the GPU itself like you get on a CPU cooler. Some do, some don't. I don't think 7950's do and you could get around it if your thought about it either way. I would imagine the back-plate will just span over the central portion and you will just replace a few of the screws from around the outside. You might find some of the screws that come into the backplate from the wrong side are impossible to install, you would just have to leave them out and possibly remove them from the card so the backplate fits. Just look at your card/cooler and the backplate, from the installation manual you know enough to figure it out.

JR

 

[barnsley]

Those XFX cards aren't reference PCB models if I recall correctly.

 

[paulstung]

What is the exact model of your 7950 ?

 

[Gamepro105]

What is the exact model of your 7950 ?

XFX R7950 DD edition and not the black edition.

Those XFX cards aren't reference PCB models if I recall correctly.

They are not but on EK's comparability website it said it would fit.