water blocks | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Mon, 21 Jun 2021 09:55:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png water blocks | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 EK blends wood with water cooling in the new Lignum line of components https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/joao-silva/ek-blends-wood-with-water-cooling-in-the-new-lignum-line-of-components/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/joao-silva/ek-blends-wood-with-water-cooling-in-the-new-lignum-line-of-components/#respond Mon, 21 Jun 2021 09:55:05 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=520609 EK is launching a unique line of water blocks and fittings this week. The EK Lignum line blends the modern aesthetics of water cooling components with wood finishes. Each block has its own wood pattern too, making each one different to the next.  Based on the EK-Quantum Vector RE water block for the RTX 3080 …

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EK is launching a unique line of water blocks and fittings this week. The EK Lignum line blends the modern aesthetics of water cooling components with wood finishes. Each block has its own wood pattern too, making each one different to the next. 

Based on the EK-Quantum Vector RE water block for the RTX 3080 and 3090 cards, the Lignum GPU water block was designed to prevent the wood from shrinking and expanding by not letting the wood contact the coolant. For increased compatibility, the EK-Quantum Vector RTX 3080-3090 Lignum water block was designed to feature a thick copper base. This way, users may mount it on most RTX 3080 and 3090 graphics cards, including reference designs and Zotac Trinity cards.

All the critical components of the card, such as the GPU, VRAM, VRM, MOSFETs and chokes, are covered for better cooling, consequently reducing the chances of coil whine. Like the Quantum Vector RE blocks, it also features optimized flow paths and enables the terminal to be screwed directly onto the cold plate. Moreover, a full-cover backplate in anodized black is also included.

The EK-Quantum Vector RTX 3080/3090 Lignum Edition is now available for pre-order, priced at €349.90.

KitGuru says: The wood finish on these Lignum blocks and fittings would make for a very unique build, but there is also a price premium. What do you all think of EK's new Lignum line-up?

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Corsair launches Hydro X GPU water blocks for RTX 30 series graphics cards https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/corsair-launches-hydro-x-gpu-water-blocks-for-rtx-30-series-graphics-cards/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/joao-silva/corsair-launches-hydro-x-gpu-water-blocks-for-rtx-30-series-graphics-cards/#respond Wed, 16 Dec 2020 08:33:10 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=498222 Corsair is expanding its Hydro X series of custom cooling components with new water blocks for RTX 3080/3090 graphics cards. There are blocks for reference design cards, Asus Strix, MSI Ventus, and Founders Edition models, as well as the Asus RTX 3060Ti and RTX 3070 Strix graphics cards. The Hydro X Series XG7 RGB GPU water blocks …

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Corsair is expanding its Hydro X series of custom cooling components with new water blocks for RTX 3080/3090 graphics cards. There are blocks for reference design cards, Asus Strix, MSI Ventus, and Founders Edition models, as well as the Asus RTX 3060Ti and RTX 3070 Strix graphics cards.

The Hydro X Series XG7 RGB GPU water blocks are equipped with over 50 cooling fins, a full-cover aluminium backplate and shroud, and 16x ARGB LEDs that users can customise to their liking through Corsair iCUE software. By covering the critical components of the graphics card and through the use of a nickel-plated copper cold plate, these water blocks will ensure that your GPU is kept at low temperatures, even at continuous loads. The design of these water blocks was “inspired by the iconic look of Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB memory”, featuring a more industrial look compared to the GPU water blocks from other companies.

These water blocks come with pre-applied thermal material and thermal pads for an easier and quicker installation process. The Hydro X Series XG7 RGB GPU water blocks are divided into five models, offering compatibility for over 70 different RTX 30 series graphics cards models from multiple brands.

The Hydro X Series XG7 RGB GPU water blocks are available now for £154.99, except for the 3080 FE variant which is being sold for £144.99. All water blocks are backed by a 3-year warranty. You can learn more about these water blocks HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you planning on building a custom loop using an RTX 3080/3090? Would you consider the Corsair Hydro X Series XG7 RGB GPU water blocks?

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EKWB launch new EK-Vardar X3M 120ER fans https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/ekwb-launch-new-ek-vardar-x3m-120er-fans/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/ekwb-launch-new-ek-vardar-x3m-120er-fans/#respond Fri, 14 Feb 2020 10:15:04 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=451873 EK Water Blocks has introduced another update to the popular EK-Vardar fans, the new X3M 120ER versions now come with built-in ARGB lighting, revised rotors and removable rubber dampers to reduce noise and add a bit of customisation to your rig. The brand new EK-Vardar X3M 120ER high static pressure fans feature upgrades to the …

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EK Water Blocks has introduced another update to the popular EK-Vardar fans, the new X3M 120ER versions now come with built-in ARGB lighting, revised rotors and removable rubber dampers to reduce noise and add a bit of customisation to your rig.

The brand new EK-Vardar X3M 120ER high static pressure fans feature upgrades to the lighting, new rotors and interchangeable rubber noise-reducing dampers on the four corners that are available in a series of different colours to add your own personal touch to your system. The rubber vibration dampers can be mounted for both push or pull airflow configuration and can be purchased separately in red, blue, yellow, orange, green, and purple.

X3M 120ER fans are built with durable Dual-Ball Bearings and feature a Start-Stop function for a zero dB silent operating mode. Below 25% duty cycle, power is cut to the fans and a zero RPM operating mode kicks in, once temperature increases and the fan duty cycle ramps up, the X3M fans start spinning again.

EKWB has equipped the X3M fans with an updated rotor that features a seven blade design optimised for high static pressure while keeping noise levels to a minimum. The fan rotor and frame are available in different colour options too, with various combinations of black and white frame and blades to choose from, either with or without integrated RGB lighting.

The EK-Vardar X3M 120ER fans and rubber damper kits are available to purchase from the EK Webstore now. The X3M fans are priced from €19.90 for the regular versions and €24.00 for the ARGB type. The rubber damper kits are also available in the six different colour options for €8.90.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: EK-Vardar fans have offered great performance when used with water cooling radiators in the past, this new design adds more options to customise the fans to suit your PC system. What do you guys think of the new ARGB EK-Vardar X3M fans?

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The new EK-AIO is available to pre-order now https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/the-new-ek-aio-is-available-to-pre-order-now/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/cooling/james-dawson/the-new-ek-aio-is-available-to-pre-order-now/#respond Mon, 27 Jan 2020 10:39:35 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=448812 EKWB has officially launched its new EK-AIO all-in-one closed loop liquid CPU cooler series. We got our first look at the EK-AIO range during CES 2020, the company has now made them available to pre-order from the EK Water Blocks online webstore. The EK-AIO series is available in three radiators size options, a single fan 120mm …

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EKWB has officially launched its new EK-AIO all-in-one closed loop liquid CPU cooler series. We got our first look at the EK-AIO range during CES 2020, the company has now made them available to pre-order from the EK Water Blocks online webstore.

The EK-AIO series is available in three radiators size options, a single fan 120mm version, the EK-AIO 120 D-RGB is aimed at cooling any mainstream desktop CPU running at stock frequency, especially in small form factor chassis where space is limited, as it utilises a single 120mm fan mounting location and fits where tall air coolers will not.

A dual 120mm fan EK-AIO 240 D-RGB is designed to meet the requirements of cooling mainstream CPUs with headroom for overclocking. The 240mm version is the perfect all-rounder to install in most modern, standard ATX cases. The EK-AIO 240 D-RGB could be used either to create a silent PC setup or to unleash the full potential of an overclocked processor.

The range-topping EK-AIO 360 D-RGB is a triple 120mm fan variant designed to provide ample thermal dissipation performance for even the toughest and most high powered desktop processors on the market. Whether you are looking for extreme overclocking or building a high power, low noise system, the EK-AIO 360 D-RGB can provide both, just as long as you chose the right case to house the 360mm radiator.

EKWB has equipped the EK-AIO with a robust and powerful SPC style pump that promises smooth and quiet performance. The pump housing features a frosted top cover with D-RGB lighting and at the base is a copper micro fin thermal transfer plate. Fans included with the EK-AIO are the excellent EK-Vardar addressable RGB versions that provide high static pressure. A 28mm thick radiator with 12 channels ensures all the cooling is handled efficiently while being compatible with all the popular cases on the market.

The new EK-AIO’s are available for pre-order through the EK Webshop now and are expected to start shipping on 28th February 2020. Prices start from €74.90 for the 120mm version, €124.90 for the 240mm and €149.90 for the flagship EK-AIO 360mm version. EKWB is currently offering 10% off pre-orders so be quick if you want to pick one up at this special introductory offer price.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: The new EK-AIO is one of the best looking AIOs we have seen for a while, it will be interesting to see how well they perform. What do you guys think of this new AIO CPU cooler series from EKWB?

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Exclusive interview with LN2 OC Guru Petri Korhonen https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/faith/exclusive-interview-with-ln2-oc-guru-petri-korhonen/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/graphic-cards/faith/exclusive-interview-with-ln2-oc-guru-petri-korhonen/#comments Thu, 05 Dec 2013 08:20:41 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=165805 Two days ago, KitGuru Lab staff cast their eyes over a photo of a brand new product. It looked amazing and seemed to offer a level of flexibility in LN2 cooling that you don't often see. That product is the EK-SF3D Critical Point. We have been lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with co-creator …

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Two days ago, KitGuru Lab staff cast their eyes over a photo of a brand new product. It looked amazing and seemed to offer a level of flexibility in LN2 cooling that you don't often see. That product is the EK-SF3D Critical Point. We have been lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with co-creator Petri Korhonen. KitGuru dons the safety gear and begins the questioning.

First, a very short grounder on cooling. When you put electricity into components, they get hot. In general terms, more performance means more power and more heat. At the low end, you can leave CPUs, GPUs etc to fend for themselves (passive cooling with heatpipes and fins). One step up involves a fan. Next you have liquid cooling, using materials that are not likely to harm a toddler. At the very high end, when the amount of current being used would fry most chips for dinner, you have liquid nitrogen. LN2.

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB0JodKgZ0A']

Second, let's  have a quick look at EK. In 1999, Edvard König got hold of his first PC and quickly realised that ‘passive' and ‘air' were not for him. Over the next 4 years, while he was studying, Edvard began working on water block prototypes – aptly named EK-1, EK-2 and EK-3. From there grew one of the most respected specialist cooling companies in the world. Just how good are they?  Well, when YOYOTech wanted to create the Aurum 24K with a custom liquid cooling solution for £8,000 – EK was their first and only choice. As well as KitGuru's own gallery on that stunning looking system, you can also find it on Forbes.

That brings us to the focus of our piece, Petri Korhonen AKA SF3D and the EK-SF3D Critical Point solution for LN2 record breakers.

He is probably most famous for his part in the AMD ‘Experiment' in Las Vegas on 10th January 2009, when he used liquid helium for the first time in public to take a quad core processor past 6.5GHz and smashed the record for 3DMark 05 with a score that passed 45,000 – as the temperature close to key components approached absolute zero. Impressive stuff.

With that kind of history, it's easy to see what attracted EK to the partnership.

KG: So what was the driving force behind this inspired new design?
PK: “I have been using my own LN2 cooler designs since I started to use LN2 more frequently. After that they have evolved and first commercial product was launched in 2009. We made a cooperation deal with EKWB in the end of 2012 and first EK-SF3D products saw daylight in spring 2013. EKWB can produce very high quality products and the price is still competitive. This company is the only one who can really produce this type of devices properly”.

This little beauty is the result of a special collaboration between Petri and EK
This little beauty is the result of a special collaboration between Petri and EK.  To be honest, one look at Petri and the heat probably just leaves voluntarily.

KG: We have seen people try and create universal sittings before, but then the graphic card companies make changes to the board and they are redundant. How ‘flexible' is this design?
PK: “We offer the mounting system for most common graphics card types and in the future if something changes, we can deliver the new bracket with very low cost. Most of the mounting hole distances are covered, so I believe there will be no issues with mounting in the future”.

KG: From the first time you ‘sat down' with a pen and paper – how long did it take to get (a) the initial samples ready and (b) the final solution  ready to sell?
PK: “First we did some online meetings about Memory LN2 cooler and CPU LN2 cooler. During CEbit 2013 we made final design for GPU LN2 cooler and made launch schedule for the products. We have been able to launch them all during this year and there is something new coming out shortly”.

KG: Sometimes in life, you trade flexibility for ‘straight line speed' do you expect world records to be set with this unit?
PK: “Memory LN2 cooler have been already used in WR setups and there will be records coming with the other units as well, because they can handle whatever you like to do with them. We make no compromises, so we have a plan to win the whole race”.

KG: Any unusually difficult technical problems you had to overcome?
PK: “The new mounting system for CPU pot was a bit difficult to create but we did overcome those things fast. We wanted to avoid basic errors there have been in previous products and we can offer for example highest pressure over CPU to LN2 cooler contact and always 100% similar and accurate contact”.

KG: At low temperatures, is Gelid GC-Extreme really the best?
PK: It is one of the best there are at the moment. It have worked very well in many different situations and never failed very badly. LN2 cooling and extreme heatloads are combination which would need product designed only for that situation and it is not commercially usable product. That is the reason we won’t see that type of “LN2 only” thermal pastes on market.

After a quick visit from Mr Freeze
After a quick visit from Mr Freeze

KG: For you, what part of this product makes you most proud?
PK: Every part of it! The quality, design, looks and performance.

Petri first began collaborating with EK back in 2010, but it became more serious in 2012. So what got him started and what makes this multi-record-breaking designer tick?

KG: So what was your proudest moment in overclocking?
PK: “There are plenty of moments to be proud of and none of them can be named separately. Best moments are the AMD ‘Experiment' in Las Vegas where we used Liquid Helium first time on computer parts and broke 3Dmark05 world record. Later first 7GHz AMD result and so on. All the World records which have been broken make me still proud. I have been also competing in many live competitions etc. and those have been best moments of the career”.

KG: What was your first job ever?
PK: “Hard question! First job where I got some money was in 1997 and I was helping my dad in some building projects”.

KG: What was your first PC ever?
PK: “I think it was 1988 when my dad bought our first PC. There was really nothing to do with it at that point, so it took years to get something better. I think it was 1993 when I started to play games and after that I have been using PC’s quite a lot”.

Finland produces some amazing drivers and overclockers - add a little Slovenian precision engineering and you have a potent mix
Finland produces some amazing drivers and overclockers – add a little Slovenian precision engineering from EK and you have a potent mix

Enough of that – time to get very personal

KG: If you have to impress friends, what would YOU cook?
PK: “Depends a lot about which friends they are, but I can make very good BBQ food or some Asian dishes. I really love to make food so I actually cook a lot to my friends as well. My wife really likes this side of me”.

KG: What do you LOVE eating, but cannot cook – so you need to go to a restaurant?
PK: “Sometimes it is nice to go restaurant just to do nothing but eat. But I am not so interested to make sushi, so that is what I need to get from restaurants”.

KG: If you were driving in the perfect car, along the Pacific highway. What would the car be?  What track is playing on the radio? Who is the passenger?
PK: “This is hard question. I have AUDI now, so it would be R8 or RS6. The song from the radio is some decent dance/trance which suits for that moment. Passenger is my wife of course” [Safe choices! – Ed]

KG: Brings us onto our last question: If you could invent anything, what would it be?
PK: “In related to computers it would be automatic LN2 cooling devices which could control temperature in milliseconds and the system would monitor all possible things on setup. If I could invent anything what could be possible I would do first working fusion nuclear reactor which would solve the energy issues we will have in the future. That would be good enough I think.”

KitGuru says: There you have it – insight into the co-designer of the EK-SF3D Critical Point cooling solution. Now all you need is a tray of expensive processors, 200Kg of LN2 and some spare fingers. BIG THANKS to Petri for answering our questions.

If you want to know more about the serious end of overclocking, please join KitGuru over on Facebook. Discuss this interview over here.

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