Installation and Lighting

Installing the EK-Quantum Vector² GPU block for your specific GPU begins with removal of the stock cooler. In this case, I had received the PCB only for this water block roundup and it's quite something else to behold in person. For those curious, we have a full review of the ASUS RTX 4090 Strix here. The included manual also goes over the removal of the stock cooler if you were not sure about it. At this point, remove the stock I/O bracket and then install the EK-provided bracket to the GPU block as seen above.


There are no pre-applied thermal pads or paste here and you will have to identify, cut, and install the various thermal pads on the block and backplate yourself. The contact surfaces are at least easy to identify but it's still not as simple or fool-proof as a few other options we have seen. The rest of the installation is straightforward—carefully orient the block from the back and place it over the PCB. Flip the assembly over carefully on a box, such that the I/O bracket hangs past the edge and does not prevent the block from making good contact. We see now that the block is longer than the PCB with that extra acetal section on the right effectively sandwiching the PCB too. Secure the block first around the GPU core and then follow the instructions in the manual to install the backplate with the other screws. The I/O bracket provides extra support to the block and makes better use of the two slots taken up in the case here owing to the nature of the GPU ports themselves. If you are going to use the LEDs on board then also connect the RGB cable to a 3-pin individually addressable RGB LED header on your motherboard which also allows you to sync the block lighting with other devices.


The block fits quite nicely over and around the PCB at this point. I dare say it looks cleaner from the back with the backplate installed so if you are installing the GPU horizontally then you are still going to have a good view. There is plenty of room for the PCIe power connector although the backplate wrapping around towards the front does mean you can't easily access the BIOS switch. As such, make sure you have it set to the BIOS of your choosing before installing the backplate. Another thing to note is that the more traditional placement of the I/O port terminal here on top of an already tall PCB means the entire setup is quite a bit taller than the GPU with the stock cooler, so those with a mid-tower case might struggle with room. It's best to ensure you have the space throughout before purchasing the block.


There are 12 individually addressable RGB LEDs in the EK-Quantum Vector² GPU block for the ASUS RTX 4090 Strix/TUF and this works out quite well since some appear to be positioned on the bottom and others on the right side. This means the taller block is more evenly lit up compared to if they were all firing up from the bottom and the white version of this block also reflects the light better while also acting as a diffuser to make for a brighter light show compared to the black version. Seen above are some photos and a video showing you how the block would look with the LEDs up and running—please be aware I turned down the exposure since my camera isn't the best for videos, the block is more vibrant in real life.