EK (EK Water Blocks) is pouncing on the AIO liquid cooling market with its new EK-Predator series. The new cooler series combines the company's enthusiast parts into pre-filled and pre-assembled loops ready to cool Intel CPUs (AMD socket support is slated for next year). Specifically, EK is offering up the EK-Predator 240 and EK-Predator 360 which are coolers with a 240mm radiator and a 360mm radiator respectively.
The new coolers use copper radiators and EK Supremacy MX CPU blocks the latter of which has a polished copper base so there is no risk associated with using mixed metals in the loop. A 6W DDC pump drives the loop with the pump and a small reservoir attached to one side of the radiator (allegedly using a vibration dampening mounting system). EK ZMT (Zero Maintenance Tubing) 10/16mm tubing connects the CPU block to the pump/radiator/reservoir combo which uses standard G1/4 threaded ports.
EK pairs the radiator with two or three (depending on the model) EK-Vardar high static pressure fans. The fans and pump are PWM controlled and connect to a hub which is then connected to the PC motherboard's CPU fan header over a single cable. Then, a single SATA power cable from the power supply provides the necessary power to drive the pump and fans.
The EK-Predator 360 further adds quick disconnect (QDC) fittings to allow users to expand the loop to include, for example, GPU blocks. EK Water Blocks is reportedly working on compatible GPU blocks which will be available later this year that users will be able to easily tie into the EK-Predator 360 cooling loop.
Available for pre-order now, the EK-Predator 240 will be available September 23rd with an MSRP of $199 while the larger EK-Predator 360 is slated for an October 19th release at $239 MSRP.
My thoughts:
If the expected performance is there, these units look to be a decent value that will allow enthusiasts to (pun intended) get their feet wet with liquid cooling with the opportunity to expand the loop as their knowledge and interest in water cooling grows. The EK-Predators are not a unique or new idea (other companies have offered water cooling kits for awhile) but coming pre-assembled and pre-filled makes it dead simple to get started and the parts should be of reputable quality. The one drawback I can see from the outset is that users will need to carefully measure their cases as the pump and reservoir being attached to the radiator means users will need more room than usual to fit the radiator. EK states in the PR that the 240mm rad should fit most cases, and is working with vendors on compatible cases for the 360mm radiator version, for what that's worth. Considering I spent a bit under $300 for my custom water cooling loop used, this new kit doesn't seem like a bad value so long as the parts are up to normal EK quality (barring that whole GPU block flaking thing which I luckily have not run into…).
What do you think about EK's foray into AIO water cooling? Are the new coolers predators or prey? (okay, I'll leave the puns to Scott!).
Seems to be the first usable
Seems to be the first usable AIO with EK quality!
If the pumps could run a full
If the pumps could run a full setup w/ GPU cooler then it might be worthwhile, but there are closed loop competitors that destroy this unit on price. And yes, unfortunately price wins over quality in the US market. Then again EK has never been low cost when it comes to this market, but as a GPU waterblock owner they do make nice stuff.
yeah, i actually think they
yeah, i actually think they should come non-filled, with extra tubings, that way, more sales, and easier for us too
If the EK quality is there,
If the EK quality is there, then it will be a winner. I have been sitting on the fence about water-cooling and this might be the unit to get me to venture into this mystical land.
>If EK quality is
>If EK quality is there
Please tell me you’ve said that with a sarcasm. No way in hell you can be THIS inexperienced with this. EK’s products are GARBAGE (in comparison to the GODLIKE products of Swiftech, BitsPower and Alphacool) for people who don’t know/understand jack about quality water cooling. They’re extremely unreliable, they perform worse than other players on the market AND they look HORRENDOUSLY FUGLY.
I’m absolutely NOT trying to
I’m absolutely NOT trying to start a fight here. Please keep that in mind.
But in the several years I’ve been paying attention, and on the several tech forums I’m on (including one I moderate) and on the tech site comment threads I’ve seen, you are literally the first person I’ve seen who had anything bad to say about EK.
this is revolutionary~!!!(i
this is revolutionary~!!!(i know other people has done it before)
but these are the right parts, just open the loop, then extend it)
Dayum, that’s one UGLY MOTHER
Dayum, that’s one UGLY MOTHER F…
Huh looks like they are
Huh looks like they are joining swiftech in this market. Looks like my Swiftech H240x
Don’t you ever dare to say
Don’t you ever dare to say something so asininely stupid every again. This is NOTHING like the GODLIKE products of Swiftech’s, ESPECIALLY such a true top tier AIO as H240-X. You might say that it’s similar because of “pre-assembled customizable kit” architecture, but that’s where the “similarity” ends, ESPECIALLY because H240-X costs WAY LESS than if you’ve bought all of those components separately, so, unlike this EK crap, Swiftech’s H240-X is an actual, true AIO. Sheer quality-wise, EK’s TRASH is simply GARBAGE, while H240-X is a top-notch product assembled of most best performing and most reliable components on the market.
alright you’ve convinced me,
alright you’ve convinced me, I’ll buy EK.
The ugly design of the water
The ugly design of the water block is a big problem for this. Most enthusiasts choose an AIO cooler over air to make their build look better relative to top end air coolers. If you only care about performance, air is cheaper and quieter for nearly the same max cooling performance. The possible performance advantages of this EK cooler over AIO coolers wont make up for the higher price and worse looks. If this is meant for the full custom water cooling enthusiasts, wouldn’t they prefer to immediately jump in to the higher end models? Why buy this over a Corsair H110i GT? Honest question as I’m looking to use a H110i GT in a Skylake build.
This is gorgeous!
This is gorgeous!