EVGA RTX 2080 Ti Kingpin Hydro Copper Review

In this review we looked at the new Hydro Copper waterblock for the EVGA RTX 2080 Ti Kingpin video card.  This is an EVGA designed waterblock with allowances to cool the entire RTX 2080 Ti video card while still retaining the OLED display and giving users the flexibility they need to install this waterblock into their loop. 

When I started this review I had several reservations about the waterblock design given that the four spring screws around the GPU were not being used.  Of course after the block was installed I found that the mounting method was better than expected and actually supported the PCB much better than what you might get from a similar EK waterblock. 

Some of this can be attributed to EVGA building the RTX 2080 TI KPE to support Hybrid cooling and allowing them more options when it came to installing their Hydro Copper block.

Installation was extremely easy though, I will admit, it took awhile given how many screws needed to be installed.  I also reinstalled the block three times to ensure that I had good thermal paste coverage and to check the thermal pads on the memory given the higher than expected temperature.  After each reinstall the system was retested and much to my surprise the temperatures were identical indicating that everything was working as it should.

Overall the block performance was what you would expect from a full coverage waterblock and allowed me the ability to integrate the EVGA RTX 2080 TI Kingpin Edition into my water loop.  The three position manifold gives you plenty of options when it comes to planning your tubing runs and most importantly a way to watercool two cards in SLI.

I did not notice any issues with back pressure given the flow though the waterblock was extremely fast.  In looking at the fin array you will notice that it is not restrictive and would explain why the Hybrid cooler offered better GPU cooling performance over the Hydro Copper.  Sadly, a higher flow rate is required in a DIY application to prevent glogs and ensure consistent cooling performance for the entire life of the card.

Retains OLED Display
Excellent Full Card Cooling
Eye Catching Style
Full Coverage Cooling for the KPE
Smoke Acrylic

Lots of small screws to install
GPU thermals aren’t as good as Hybrid cooler
Really expected some RGB lights on the block