EK Launches its All-in-One Liquid CPU Cooler Line

[btarunr]

Take your first step into the world of liquid-cooling with the new EK-AIO (All-In-One) CPU cooler. Simple to use and easy to install, the EK AIO is a plug-and-play water-cooling solution requiring no assembly or maintenance. Top of its class cooling performance accompanied by fully customizable D-RGB lighting - the EK-AIO is an ideal solution for anyone who requires something more than an ordinary air cooler. The EK-AIO comes in three size variants, each offering different levels of cooling performance.

EK-AIO 120 D-RGB: The single 120 mm radiator version of the EK-AIO is ready to accommodate any mainstream processor on the market while running on its basic settings. It is best used in small form factor PCs where space is limited, where tall air cooling solutions are not an option, but high-performance cooling is still needed. EK-AIO 240 D-RGB: The dual fan EK-AIO with a 240 mm radiator is the perfect all-rounder for standard case sizes. The radiator surface is big enough to combat any mainstream CPU on the market and even has enough headroom for overclocking. An AIO with cooling capacities like this can either provide a super silent PC setup or can help harness the extra performance of an overclocked processor.



EK-AIO 360 D-RGB: This is a mighty triple fan setup, ready to provide ample cooling power for even the toughest processors on the market. Whether you are into heavy overclocking, or you wish to have a silent PC, the 360 mm radiator is able to provide both, even at the same time. An AIO of this size would need an ATX sized case that is ready to fit the 360 mm radiator into it.

Powerful Pump
The robust SPC style pump ensures sufficient coolant flow through a dense copper fin structure, delivering optimal performance for its class of AIO products on the market. A sizeable pump housing indicates the quality of the pump that promises smooth and quiet operation and durability. The frosted cover of the pump unit acts as a perfect light disperser for the integrated addressable D-RGB LEDs.



Fierce Fan
The included Vardar addressable D-RGB fan is a high-static pressure cooling fan, designed and built primarily for radiator use with liquid cooling systems. The perfectly balanced milky colored 7 blade rotor design is optimized for light dispersion and high-pressure operation while maintaining the low noise profile throughout the whole operation range of the fan. Under the motor hub, there are a total of 9 addressable D-RGB LEDs ensuring perfect light diffusion at broad daylight as well.

Robust Radiator
A high-grade 28 mm thick aluminium radiator with 12 channels, is ensuring that all of the cooling is done efficiently. The thickness, or should we say slimness, of the radiator, ensures that the EK-AIO is compatible with the majority of all the popular cases on the market. The stylish black radiator, while being slim, is being efficiently utilized since the radiator core itself is almost the same thickness as the outer body of the radiator itself.

Availability and Pricing
The EK-AIO's are designed in Slovenia and made in China and are available for pre-order through the EK Webshop. The AIO units will start shipping on the 28th of February 2020. In the table below you can see the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) with VAT included.



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[juular]

I thought that integrated pump+coldplate designs are patented by Asetek ? It is licensed ?
Also, how about 280mm version ?

 

[xtreemchaos]

not too pricey too, I like the 360 but not keen on the aluminium rad with copper cold plate.

 

[Chrispy_]

I thought that integrated pump+coldplate designs are patented by Asetek ? It is licensed ?
Also, how about 280mm version ?

The stupid patent covered "pump and block in a single chamber"

Most companies altering their designs to get around this patent have the inlet hose and the outlet hose vertically staggered, because there are two separate chambers internally. One chamber for the pump, and then another separate chamber below for the block, and the pump chamber feeds the block chamber.

Full patent details at https://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/california/candce/3:2013cv00457/262970/249

I guess the prior art on which the patent is based refers to this quote:
"a pump and a cold plate incorporated into a single swirl chamber, which provided no separation between the pumping and the heat exchange functionalities of the liquid cooling device"

 

[MDWiley]

Can’t wait to be able to buy the fans alone. They tick all the boxes for my ideal RGB fan.

not too pricey too, I like the 360 but not keen on the aluminium rad with copper cold plate.

I think that’s the standard for AIO’s. Manufacturers put what’s basically antifreeze in it to prevent corrosion (last I checked).

 

[Tsukiyomi91]

Price on the 240mm model is very reasonable. =O

 

[xtreemchaos]

Manufacturers put what’s basically antifreeze in it to prevent corrosion

yes but it dont work in the ones ive taken apart theres allways been green build up on the fins on the cold plate. but maybe EKs found something what works, ill keep a open mind

 

[Chomiq]

Sadly no 280.

 

[Crazy zookeepster]

Why has no one tried to jam a DDC pump ontop of the block yet? If you look at the image, its close to DDC design, just not size. The biggest pitfall of AIOs is the flow rate of the pump. Also, the size of the pump on the block wont be a concern for those looking for the greatest level of performance from an AIO.

 

[erixx]

made in China... designed in Slovenia... The costs of transportation from there (apart from the pollution by all those stinky megaships) seems to be lower then decent wages for local employees. Even for niche products like this. How sad.

 

[gamefoo21]

Why has no one tried to jam a DDC pump ontop of the block yet? If you look at the image, its close to DDC design, just not size. The biggest pitfall of AIOs is the flow rate of the pump. Also, the size of the pump on the block wont be a concern for those looking for the greatest level of performance from an AIO.

Swiftech has and sells it as the Apogee Drive 2.

Asetek's patent also should be expired now. Patent troll of a company, I flat out refuse to use anything that uses their crap designs.

The AD2 completely crushes the Asstek AIO designs in performance and the pump can actually push through a restrictive high performance block and a full cover GPU cooler and 480mm+ of rads...

Asstek barely handles triple fan rads and single blocks.

made in China... designed in Slovenia... The costs of transportation from there (apart from the pollution by all those stinky megaships) seems to be lower then decent wages for local employees. Even for niche products like this. How sad.

EK relies on it's name to charge their premiums.

They also have to recoup the costs of carpet bombing YouTubers with product.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

The prices look a bit high for the offering, looks to be meant to offset sales pricing. I'll wait for a full review on any of them and more specifics but I'm hoping a full review will justify the bloated price.

 

[Massman]

made in China... designed in Slovenia... The costs of transportation from there (apart from the pollution by all those stinky megaships) seems to be lower then decent wages for local employees. Even for niche products like this. How sad.

To be honest, China's advantage in this is mostly down to supply chain. Specifically sourcing of parts. There's no substitute to having factories that produce the parts for your product be located in the near vicinity of your factory. It helps you do quick problem-solving in case of quality issue, easily find alternative suppliers, fast logistic, etc.

Secondary, of course there's access to raw materials required to produce the parts and raw material costs which are cheaper in China (with the usual environmental cost, though that seems to be changing too).

China's labor cost advantage is slowly eroding, especially for skilled labor, compared to neighbors like Vietnam or Indonesia. If you're looking for cheap labor, China isn't necessarily the right place anymore. Or rather, you could still make the argument for China production despite the rise in labor cost.

 

[enxo218]

What is d-rgb is it better than regular rgb?

 

[londiste]

What is d-rgb is it better than regular rgb?

Digital RGB, individually controllable RGB LEDs.

 

[agatong55]

Swiftech has and sells it as the Apogee Drive 2.

Asetek's patent also should be expired now. Patent troll of a company, I flat out refuse to use anything that uses their crap designs.

The AD2 completely crushes the Asstek AIO designs in performance and the pump can actually push through a restrictive high performance block and a full cover GPU cooler and 480mm+ of rads...

Asstek barely handles triple fan rads and single blocks.



EK relies on it's name to charge their premiums.

They also have to recoup the costs of carpet bombing YouTubers with product.

Just checked the Patents do not expire till 2025, and Asetek has sued almost every company so far it seems like who has tried to make these.

 

[kapone32]

Why has no one tried to jam a DDC pump ontop of the block yet? If you look at the image, its close to DDC design, just not size. The biggest pitfall of AIOs is the flow rate of the pump. Also, the size of the pump on the block wont be a concern for those looking for the greatest level of performance from an AIO.

The Alphacool Eisbaer has exactly what you are talking about.

Sadly no 280.

I don't understand why AIOs think that 280 or 420 rads are not viable.

 

[Chrispy_]

I don't understand why AIOs think that 280 or 420 rads are not viable.

Me neither. 120mm fans in 140mm holes is really wasteful. There's localised low pressure right in front of the fan and localised high pressure right behind the fan/radiator and this completely open air path that's only a short distance between both regions.

It doesn't take a genius to work out where, how, or why the pressure equalises. Voila, your 120mm fans may as well be 92mm fans now because some of the air going through the fan is recycled through the short circuit. I made a huge improvement to temperatures and fan noise in a build with a 240mm rad in a bay for a 280mm rad by making a gasket to seal the gap. Initial testing that confirmed it was worth the effort was done with Gorilla tape, so if you don't care about looks you can just use that :\

 

[kapone32]

Me neither. 120mm fans in 140mm holes is really wasteful. There's localised low pressure right in front of the fan and localised high pressure right behind the fan/radiator and this completely open air path that's only a short distance between both regions.

It doesn't take a genius to work out where, how, or why the pressure equalises. Voila, your 120mm fans may as well be 92mm fans now because some of the air going through the fan is recycled through the short circuit. I made a huge improvement to temperatures and fan noise in a build with a 240mm rad in a bay for a 280mm rad by making a gasket to seal the gap. Initial testing that confirmed it was worth the effort was done with Gorilla tape, so if you don't care about looks you can just use that :\

Excellent I like your findings

That and the fact that 140MM fans are noticeably quieter than 120MM while moving more air. I look directly at the Phanteks 719. I wanted that case until I realized that while it had 3 places for 360MM rads and indeed a 480 could fit in the front they decided that the only place to put a 420MM was one location. If I want that I want the Elite but the Elite costs the same as buying a 2080 Super here in Canada. It really is too bad the boutique case makers are basically gone. I would have gladly spent $400 on a case that would give me all of that nothing but 140MM fan ports.

 

[gamefoo21]

Just checked the Patents do not expire till 2025, and Asetek has sued almost every company so far it seems like who has tried to make these.

Damn, I thought the patent for this expired after 15 years.

Either way the Swiftech Apogee Drive II, quite literally mounts a DDC pump upside down.

It actually makes an end run around the patent because it's not an integrated pump, you can buy it without the pump or replace the MCP35X they can supply. It also comes as a stand alone unit, so you have to add the tubing, radiator and such things.

I actually owned the OG Glacier 240L, I got mine before Asstek sued Cooler Master and Swiftech, getting it banned from North America effectively. That's why Swiftech's preassembled loop has the pump mounted to the radiator, I guess.