NVIDIA, this is NOT ok! - EKWB Active Backplates
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Description
Check out kiwico.com for 50% off your first month of any crate! Many members of the PC community have started to notice a glaring issue with their RTX 3080 and 3090 series cards - excessive vRAM temperatures. Fortunately, the boys over at EKWB have cooked up an interesting solution to the problem with their own actively watercooled backplate. Let's see if it fixes NVIDIA's mistake!
Promos
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The video opens by highlighting a severe thermal issue observed on high-end RTX cards, specifically the RTX 3090, where memory chips on the back of the card reach dangerously high temperatures. The host uses a thermal camera to illustrate temperatures peaking around or above 100 C on memory modules when stock cooling is used, explaining that the GDDR6X memory on these GPUs consumes a lot of power and generates significant heat in a compact space. The discussion then shifts to a practical solution from EKWB: an active back plate that adds direct water cooling to the rear memory chips. The host explains how the EK back plate integrates with existing EK water blocks, requires careful alignment of holes and compression of thermal pads, and is not a standalone product but a complementary upgrade. After installing the back plate, temperature tests show meaningful improvements under gaming and synthetic loads, with memory temperatures staying well below dangerous thresholds and the GPU core benefiting from increased contact area. The video also notes that Nvidia has already addressed memory cooling concerns on newer revisions, but mining and extreme workloads may still push temperatures high; EKWB’s solution is framed as a targeted remedy for those scenarios, particularly for users who run crypto mining or sustained high-load usage. The host closes by suggesting that for typical gamers with standard cards, an active back plate may not be necessary, but for power users and miners, the upgrade offers tangible cooling gains, extended component longevity, and added headroom for overclocking. The segment ends with a reminder about the sponsor and a brief tease of related content, including a more affordable graphics card review and additional Linus Tech Tips resources. Overall, the video combines a tech teardown, practical installation notes, and test results to assess whether the EKWB active back plate effectively mitigates RAM temperature issues on RTX 3090 class GPUs.
Topics · technology · hardware · review · GPU cooling · computer hardware
Questions answered
- What problem does EKWB's active back plate aim to solve on RTX 3090 class GPUs?
- It targets high memory temperatures from back-mounted RAM chips by adding active water cooling to the rear memory, reducing the risk of thermal throttling and potential damage under heavy workloads.
- Is the EKWB active back plate a standalone cooling solution for the GPU core?
- No, it is designed to be used with an existing EK water block, replacing or adjusting the terminal piece and adding thermal pads to compress heat transfer across the back plate and memory chips.