Alphacool Block Asus 5090 Astral IO Bracket by Astral LC

Slash

New member
i ordered the Alphacool Block for the Asus 5090 Astral for my Astral 5090 LC (the one with the AIO)

Now i already disassembled my GPU to take a look on the PCB and everything.

The PCB is exactly the same like the "air Cooled" Astral. So the Waterblock should fit without any problems...

but...

i did take a look on the Manual of the Water block, and then i saw that the Air Cooled Astral, and the LC (AIO Cooled) Astral does not use the same "IO Bracket"!

on the Manual is point:
Screenshot 2025-03-23 113943.png
where i should put the parts J, K and L...
but the IO Bracket on the Astral LC does not have that folded lips (red marked on the picture)!

20250323_114324.jpg

Is this a problem? if i dont use this screws?
I think the Block will still fit perfectly fine, but without these "folded" lips there will be a litle less Support for the PCB, and the whole wheigt will be on the Connections.

but I think that it should not be a problem if I otherwise support the graphics card well enough?

what is your opinion on this?
 

Eddy

Iceman
Staff member
I don't see a problem there. Then the cover will just be held by the screws at the monitor ports.
 

Slash

New member
Hi Eddy thanks for your reply.. and your opinion.

I was thinking the same.

I just was a bit unsure about it.

Then ill try it :) if the block arrives.

Ill make sure that i will support the GPU with a support bracket as much as possible.

To take the force away from the io bracket. Then it should be safe enough :)

can hardly wait for the block to arrive :)
 

Teletha

New member
I don't see a problem there. Then the cover will just be held by the screws at the monitor ports.
wait what, how is this OK. all weight on the monitor ports and the pcie slot? no direct connection with the board and IO bracket? Isnt monitor ports held on with just solder? Will Alphacool pay for damaged pcb if it brakes? Why does Alphacool not include a custom black IO panel like EK does or at least have them able to be bought separately.
 

Teletha

New member
i ordered the Alphacool Block for the Asus 5090 Astral for my Astral 5090 LC (the one with the AIO)

Now i already disassembled my GPU to take a look on the PCB and everything.

The PCB is exactly the same like the "air Cooled" Astral. So the Waterblock should fit without any problems...

but...

i did take a look on the Manual of the Water block, and then i saw that the Air Cooled Astral, and the LC (AIO Cooled) Astral does not use the same "IO Bracket"!

on the Manual is point:
View attachment 6498
where i should put the parts J, K and L...
but the IO Bracket on the Astral LC does not have that folded lips (red marked on the picture)!

View attachment 6500

Is this a problem? if i dont use this screws?
I think the Block will still fit perfectly fine, but without these "folded" lips there will be a litle less Support for the PCB, and the whole wheigt will be on the Connections.

but I think that it should not be a problem if I otherwise support the graphics card well enough?

what is your opinion on this?
but why does it not have the bent parts? in this PCB pic it does from https://en.overclocking.com/review-rog-astral-lc-rtx-5090/2/
Did they use the air version for the PCB pic maybe? but they do say that its the LC in the title for the pic tho, guess they didnt vet the pic fully: We haven’t disassembled our copy, as it will be leaving for other colleagues



1744290423524.jpeg
 

Slash

New member
I have pics of mine... and there are definitly not the bent parts!
20250323_114312.jpg20250323_114324.jpg

wait what, how is this OK. all weight on the monitor ports and the pcie slot? no direct connection with the board and IO bracket? Isnt monitor ports held on with just solder? Will Alphacool pay for damaged pcb if it brakes? Why does Alphacool not include a custom black IO panel like EK does or at least have them able to be bought separately
On the rtx 4090 strix they were all like that, just held on the ports! And ot was never a problem!

Here... manual of 4090 strix! Only screwed on the ports! No screws on the pcb... and it worked.
Screenshot_20250410_151650_Word.jpg

So i think its ok.
 

Teletha

New member
I have pics of mine... and there are definitly not the bent parts!
View attachment 6524View attachment 6525


On the rtx 4090 strix they were all like that, just held on the ports! And ot was never a problem!

Here... manual of 4090 strix! Only screwed on the ports! No screws on the pcb... and it worked.
View attachment 6526

So i think its ok.
i see, well if there was no PCB damage from the 4090's guess that it's at least some proof of it not being destructive.
 

Teletha

New member
can someone explain the reasoning for not covering the middle of the gpu core on backside with thermal pads?

1747488269493.png
 
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