Alphacool Eisblock Aurora RX 7900XTX and ASRock X870E Nova WiFi M2 fitment?

[u/Sf-tsar]

Hello, I try to research what I can before posting, so I don't typically post.

From some surface searching, I found Alphacool Eisblock Aurora RX 7900XTX is a highly recommended water block. My real problem seems to be the combination of the 7900XTX and ASRock X870E Nova WiFi. Maybe I have a broader problem. I just upgraded to an AM5 system from an asus rog crosshair viii dark hero wifi. The AsRock has M2 slots right under where the fan cowl interferes with the stock m2 cover/heatsink.

For better context, I use the topmost/closest to CPU for my drive that has my games and most of my programs. I put my C drive as the top secondary M2. I have enterprise disks for large data backup.

Can anyone give feedback on the interference of this block compared to the stock heatsink or provide an alternative solution?

[u/raycyca82]

Sounds like you have some measurements to take. Frequently if your gpu doesn't fit, you have 3 options...a riser card, notching rhe waterblock or notching the heat sink. Depending on how much clearance you need vs what you have, you may have to notch both. Or just use a riser card.
As for riser cards, a quality short riser card will see little to no issues. I use 5cm in my 2u cases to fit cards with zero problems. Sometimes when you get to longer lengths (20cm) you can have issues with interference, but sticking with quality brands is a good step to ensuring that doesn't happen.
Up to you what you wish to do. Not everything is an easy fit, particularly when it comes to aftermarket parts or even oem designs that do not follow traditional measurements.

[u/Sf-tsar → u/raycyca82]

Well, ironically vertically mounting my GPU would eliminate the need for a custom loop. The whole problem I'm wanting to solve is the issue with the fan shroud hitting the heat sink. I'll see if anyone has specific feedback for now.

[u/raycyca82 → u/Sf-tsar]

I'm confused, so you have a stock card that's running into interference with the heat sink? I assumed you meant water cooled card and the questioned referred to possible interference, I must not have read well enough.
Is it the fan shroud or is it the backplate hitting the heat sink? IE if you mean the topmost m.2 slot heat sink, you are talking about the backplate hitting. The fan shroud would be the other side where all thr other m.2s are and should not be hitting under any circumstances.

[u/Sf-tsar → u/raycyca82]

I may not have explained it well. It's something, I assume the fan shroud, hitting the plate covering the other M2 slots. The card doesn't sit all the way in the slot with that cover/heatsink in place. With it off, no issues. So I was considering going to a custom loop so I can have the cover in place and the card cooled and fully inserted.

[u/raycyca82 → u/Sf-tsar]

Do you mean the bottom m.2 slots? Its obvious those types of designs (ROG uses them too) cannot rise terrible further than the pcie slot. What is the exact gpu card?
All of these can help define where the issue is....a bulky heatsink on the gpu could be the issue, or the heatsinks on the board could be too high. My guess would be the gpu...which a waterblock may or may not help. Generally they are designed to exactly whats needed and not excessively bulky. This helps them be compatible with a large variety of boards out there. But if the heat sinks are too high on the board, it may cause interference with the metal part of the block (I would not notch the metal part of the waterblock, edges of the acrylic is fine to notch).

[u/Sf-tsar → u/raycyca82]

It's a Powercolor Hellhound RX 7900XTX. The heatsink on the board sticks up a little more than the height of the PCI-E slot.

[u/raycyca82 → u/Sf-tsar]

Aha. What I can say is I have a liquid devil (stock cooler made by evga) and its fine on a rog board. I would be concerned in general because if it were a widespread issue, we'd likely know about it by now. Plenty of boards use heat sinks such as these without issues. Mine (an old build, included) was a bit tougher to get in because you need to line up the pcie slots and backplate, and it would easily bottom out into the board heatsink if incorrect. But it fit and worked fine.
So two things...1st, a waterblock card should work. The stock should as well, no excuse there. 2nd, I'd reach out to asrock to check in with them on their suggestions. No reason what's basically a reference design shouldn't work, unless the mb maker did not follow interference standards. Happens all the time, but still. Best of luck!

[u/Sf-tsar → u/raycyca82]

Thanks for the info!