Ekwb Barebones Guide

EK-Liquid Cooling Barebone

& Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic D-RGB

Congratulations on taking your ﬁrst steps into liquid cooling with the EK Barebones Kit, designed from the ground up by our

expert team of engineers to be an easy to follow set of instructions that will walk you through every step to assemble your

ﬁrst liquid cooled masterpiece. The following step by step guide will walk you through installing the included water blocks on

your preferred CPU and GPU, and wrapping it all up with assembling your full custom loop in the Lian-LI PC-011 Dynamic Chassis.

Thank you for choosing EK for your Liquid cooling solution, if you run into any issues please don’t hesitate to contact our ﬁrst-class Support.

Please note coolant is NOT included with the EK Barebones Kit and is required BEFORE starting your PC. We recommend 2 Liters of

EK-CryoFuel in your choice of color (CryoFuel solid is not compatible)

INSTALLATION AND ASSEMBLY GUIDE

PLEASE READ FIRST

Check the latest version of this installation

guide by scanning the QR code below.

These instructions apply to both versions of the Barebones:

Barebone - basic Barebone - upgraded version

Distribution Plate

Additional

Radiator

DDC Pump

Additional Fans (mounted by the customer)

SPC Pump

Radiator Fans

Additional

Fans

EK-Liquid Cooling Barebone & Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic D-RGB

Assembly Instructions

Your new EK-Liquid Cooling Barebone & Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic D-RGB is already partly assembled with the radiator, fans, pump

and reservoir securely ﬁtted and tested. All that’s left for you to do now is install your chosen components and ﬁll the loop!

Please, read this entire guide before starting to assemble your computer. We recommend you install each component in the order

outlined in this guide for the safest and most beneﬁcial results.

Tubes for the CPU may need to be shortened to the appropriate length.

You will ﬁnd a list of supported motherboards below.

Caution

The following motherboard compatibility list is mostly based on visual veriﬁcation, so keep in mind that the vertical CPU placement could

vary on some motherboards, but not more than 3 – 5mm in any direction.

Z390 / Z370

ASUS Z390 Strix-E

ASUS Z370 Strix-E

ASUS Z370 Maximus X Hero

ASUS Z370 Maximus X Apex

MSI Z370 Godlike

X470

ASUS ROG STRIX X470-F GAMING (3-5mm)

ASUS PRIME X470-PRO (3-5mm)

ASUS TUF X470-PLUS GAMING (3-5mm)

MSI X470 GAMING M7 AC

MSI X470 GAMING PRO CARBON AC

MSI X470 GAMING PRO CARBON

MSI X470 GAMING PRO (3-5mm)

MSI X470 GAMING PLUS (3-5mm)

MSI X470 GAMING PRO MAX (3-5mm)

MSI X470 GAMING PLUS MAX (3-5mm)

X570

ASUS PRIME X570-PRO (3-5mm)

ASUS PRIME X570-PRO/CSM (3-5mm)

ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR VIII HERO (WI-FI) (3-5mm)

ASUS ROG STRIX X570-F GAMING (3-5mm)

ASUS ROG STRIX X570-E (3-5mm)

ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PLUS (WI-FI) (3-5mm)

ASUS TUF GAMING X570-PLUS (3-5mm)

MSI MPG X570 GAMING EDGE WIFI

MSI MEG X570 ACE

MSI MEG X570 UNIFY

MSI MPG X570 GAMING PLUS

MSI X570-A PRO

MSI MPG X570 GAMING PRO CARBON WIFI (3-5mm)

MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE (3-5mm)

MSI PRESTIGE X570 CREATION (3-5mm)

CONTENTS

I. CPU Intel 115x – Assembly 7

II. CPU AMD AM4 – Assembly 9

III. GPU – ASSEMBLY 11

IV. FINAL ASSEMBLY 12

STEP 4

I. CPU INTEL 115X – ASSEMBLY

STEP 1

Install your CPU and any M.2 drives in accordance with the instructions in

your motherboard manual and then place the mother-board face down on an

even surface.

STEP 2

Preparing backplate rubber gasket: The enclosed rubber gasket is an

essential part of the backplate and mounting system and must be used every

time you install this water block on your motherboard.

The rubber gasket has a partially cut inner part which needs to be removed

when installed on Intel® LGA-115x motherboard. The rubber is held in four

places and can be peeled away by hand.

STEP 3

Install backplate rubber gasket and place metal backplate for Intel LGA-115x

socket to the back of your motherboard RIBBED SIDE UP.(facing away

from the motherboard) Align the holes on the motherboard with holes on

rubber gasket and backplate.

Make sure to align the rubber gasket to ﬁt past the CPU socket ILM backplate.

Carefully rotate the motherboard assembly, front side facing up, with one hand

while holding the backplate and rubber in place with the other hand.

STEP 4

Install four (4) thumb screws onto your motherboard. It is mandatory to put

plastic washer underneath each of the M4 thumb screws. Tighten the screws

to the metal backplate until you reach the end of the thread. Using tools (such

as pliers) is not recommended.

STEP 5

Cleaning the CPU: Wipe the CPU’s contact surface (using the non-abrasive

cloth or Q-tip, as shown in the sample photo).

Applying the thermal compound: EK recommends blob or line method of

applying the enclosed thermal compound to the CPU heat spreader (IHS) -

see sample photo on right.

The quantity of about two rice grains is just about right. There is no need to

cover the whole IHS. Applying too much thermal grease will have a negative

impact on cooling performance!

Thumb Screw

Plastic

Washer

STEP 2

Outer Part

Inner Core

(removable)

Rubber

gasket

Motherboard Metal

Backplate

STEP 3

Non-abrasive

Cloth

IHS

STEP 5

I. CPU Intel 115x – Assembly

STEP 6

Before proceeding with the installation It is mandatory to remove the protective

foil from the backside of the water block.

Align the water block over the mounting screws on the motherboard and posi-

tion it on top of the CPU.

Place an enclosed compression spring and a thumb nut over each of the M4

thumb screws. Tighten the screws evenly by fastening two opposing nuts at the

same time. Do not tighten them fully until all four have been installed. Then – using

your ﬁngers only – screw in all four thumb nuts until you reach the end of thread.

STEP 7

Install a pair of ALU 25mm Extender ﬁttings onto your CPU block. Tighten in a

clockwise direction until the seal underneath is compressed.

STEP 8

Install your RAM modules as prescribed in the motherboard instructions along

with any additional parts that are mounted directly to the motherboard.

STEP 6

Thumb nut

Coiled spring

STEP 7

I. CPU Intel 115x – Assembly

ALU 25mm

Extender ﬁtting

II. CPU AMD AM4 – Assembly

II. CPU AMD AM4 – ASSEMBLY

STEP 1

Removing of the original plastic hold-down clamps and the factory

backplate:

Using Philips-head screwdriver remove the four UNC 6-32 screws securing the

original plastic hold-down clamps around the socket as shown on the sketch.

Remove the original AMD® backplate and the hold-down clamps and store

them away. See sketch for further part identiﬁcation.

STEP 2

Preparing backplate rubber gasket

The enclosed rubber gasket is essential part of the backplate and mounting

system and must be used every time you install this water block on your

motherboard.

With AMD® Sockets you should use whole rubber backplate in-

cluding the inner core.

STEP 3

Install backplate rubber gasket and place metal backplate for AMD® socket

to the back of your motherboard RIBBED SIDE UP. (facing away from the

motherboard) Align the holes on the motherboard with holes on rubber gasket

and backplate.

Carefully rotate motherboard assembly with front side facing up with one hand

while holding the backplate and rubber in place with the other hand.

STEP 4

Install four (4) thumb screws onto your motherboard. It is mandatory to put plas-

tic washer underneath each of the thumb screws. Tighten the screws to the

metal backplate until you reach the end of the thread. Using tools (such as pliers)

is not recommended.

AM4

Metal

Backplate

Rubber

gasket

Motherboard

AMD® factory Backplate

UNC 6-32

Screws

Hold-down

Clamps

Outer Part

Inner Core

(removable)

STEP 1

STEP 3

STEP 4

Plastic Washer

Thumb Screw

STEP 2

STEP 5

Cleaning the CPU: Wipe the CPU’s contact surface (using the non-abrasive

cloth or Q-tip, as shown in the sample photo).

Applying the thermal compound: EK recommends blob or line method

of applying the enclosed thermal compound to the CPU heat spreader (IHS)

- see sample photo on right.

The quantity of about two rice grains is just about right. There is no need to

cover the whole IHS. Applying too much thermal grease will have a negative

impact on cooling performance!

Non-abrasive

Cloth

IHS

STEP 5

II. CPU AMD AM4 – Assembly

STEP 6

Before proceeding with the installation it is mandatory to remove the protective

foil from the backside of the water block.

Align the water block over the mounting screws on the motherboard and

position it on top of the CPU.

Place an enclosed compression spring and a thumb nut over each of the

thumb screws. Tighten the screws evenly by fastening two opposing nuts

at the same time. Do not tighten them fully until all four have been installed.

Then – using your ﬁngers only – screw in all four thumb nuts until you reach

the end of thread.

STEP 6

Thumb nut

Coiled spring

STEP 7

Install a pair of ALU 25mm Extender ﬁttings onto your CPU block. Tighten in a

clockwise direction until the seal underneath is compressed.

STEP 8

Install your RAM modules as prescribed in the motherboard instructions along

with any additional parts that are mounted directly to the motherboard.

STEP 7

ALU 25mm

Extender Fitting

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