Monday, September 5th 2022
EK Reveals AM5 Compatibility Roadmap for All CPU Cooling Products
EK, the market leader in high-end water cooling for PC products, wishes to inform existing and future customers regarding the compatibility of our existing cooling solutions with the highly anticipated AMD Socket AM5 platform. Compared to Socket AM4, the backplate mounting hole pattern is still 54 x 90 mm and uses UNC 6-32 threads, but the AM5 motherboards now have an integrated CPU-socket backplate. The stock backplate is best kept untouched since removing it also means fiddling with the CPU loading mechanism and exposing the socket pins. To avoid such risks, some EK products need to be updated, but fear not, as compatibility is handled for all existing EK products.
EK-AIO AND EK-NUCLEUS AIO
All current AIO coolers from the EK product lineup fully support the Ryzen 7000-series processors and Socket AM5 motherboards out of the box. The integrated UNC 6-32 standoffs are compatible with the new AM5 CPU-socket backplate.
Fully Compatible EK-AIOs:
Fully Compatible EK-Nucleus AIOs:
The original Velocity and now legacy water block will also not be forgotten and will get its own chance to find a home in future AM5-based builds. EK will provide a set of water block standoffs that will work with the integrated AM5 socket backplate, thus allowing the original Velocity water block to be used on Socket AM5 motherboards. The availability of these standoffs has not yet been specified, but you'll likely be able to find them on the EK webshop by the end of the month and get them at a symbolic price.
Affected EK-Quantum Velocity products:
While Velocity² water blocks are designed to be socket-specific, owners of AM4 water block versions will be offered an upgrade kit to prevent their EK-Quantum Velocity² AM4 water blocks from ending up as paperweight. The upgrade kit will come in the form of a backplate that will require the customer to remove the stock AM5 backplate. While this is not recommended and should be handled by expert users only at their own risk, it still feels like the right decision to offer customers such an option. EK will do its best to prepare a detailed guide on how the user can perform the backplate swap, minimizing the risk of damaging CPU socket pins.
Considering the slight difference in coldplate thickness between AM4 and AM5 and the need to fiddle with the CPU socket backplate, it's recommended to simply opt for the Socket AM5 version of the EK-Quantum Velocity² water block. Even AMD itself presented the AM5 socket to be long-lived (2025+), which is another argument supporting this claim. The availability of the EK-ExactMount AM4 to AM5 backplate has not yet been specified but should find itself on the EK website by the end of the month.
Affected EK-Quantum Velocity² AM4 products:
While Magnitude CPU water blocks are also socket-specific, the AM4 version will have no issues handling anything that Ryzen 7000 series CPUs throw at them. EK will provide a set of water block standoffs for the Magnitude, making it compatible with the integrated AM5 socket backplate and thus fit for use on AM5 socket motherboards. The availability of these standoffs has not been specified yet, but you should be able to find them on the EK website by the end of the month and get them at a symbolic price. EK-Quantum Magnitude AM4 water blocks assembled from this point on will be delivered with the added AM5 compatible standoffs. We'll also update the product pages to address AM5 compatibility.
Affected EK-Quantum Magnitude AM4 products:
Another legacy EK product that still packs a punch when it comes to cooling. While the Classic Supremacy AMD water block is EOL, all owners of this water block can directly migrate to Socket AM5 motherboards. The offered Classic AMD mounting kit available in the EK store can transform any Intel-based EK-Classic Supremacy CPU water block into an AM5-compatible product.
EK-Classic AM5 upgrade kit for Intel-Based Supremacy:
EK's latest generation CPU water blocks, Velocity², already got an AM5-specific model that you can pre-order. The cooling engine of these AM5-specific water blocks is optimized to get every ounce of cooling possible to push the new Ryzen 7000-series CPUs to new heights.
These new mounting systems will be a state-of-the-art one-piece product with no additional screws, brackets, backplates, etc. The spring-loaded Torx screws are integrated into the water block and are screwed by counter-clockwise rotation into the stock backplate of the motherboard. We've also implemented another fool-proof mechanism - failsafe stop. When the screws and springs are in the optimal position, they will lock out and prevent the user from over-torquing the water block and potentially damaging their motherboard and/or CPU.
All current AIO coolers from the EK product lineup fully support the Ryzen 7000-series processors and Socket AM5 motherboards out of the box. The integrated UNC 6-32 standoffs are compatible with the new AM5 CPU-socket backplate.
Fully Compatible EK-AIOs:
- EK-AIO Basic 240
- EK-AIO Basic 360
- EK-AIO 120 D-RGB
- EK-AIO 240 D-RGB
- EK-AIO 280 D-RGB
- EK-AIO 360 D-RGB
- EK-AIO Elite 280 D-RGB
- EK-AIO Elite 360 D-RGB
- EK-AIO Elite Aurum 360 D-RGB
Fully Compatible EK-Nucleus AIOs:
- EK-Nucleus AIO CR120 Lux D-RGB
- EK-Nucleus AIO CR240 Lux D-RGB
- EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB
- EK-Nucleus AIO CR240 Vision D-RGB
- EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Vision D-RGB
The original Velocity and now legacy water block will also not be forgotten and will get its own chance to find a home in future AM5-based builds. EK will provide a set of water block standoffs that will work with the integrated AM5 socket backplate, thus allowing the original Velocity water block to be used on Socket AM5 motherboards. The availability of these standoffs has not yet been specified, but you'll likely be able to find them on the EK webshop by the end of the month and get them at a symbolic price.
Affected EK-Quantum Velocity products:
- EK-Quantum Velocity D-RGB - AMD Nickel + Plexi
- EK-Quantum Velocity D-RGB - AMD Nickel + Acetal
- EK-Quantum Velocity D-RGB - AMD Nickel + Frosted Plexi
- EK-Quantum Velocity - AMD Nickel + Plexi
- EK-Quantum Velocity - AMD Nickel + Acetal
- EK-Quantum Velocity Honor D-RGB - AMD Black Nickel + Stars & Stripes
- EK-Quantum Velocity Strike RGB - Matte Black + Silver
- EK-Quantum Velocity Strike D-RGB - Black Nickel + Black
While Velocity² water blocks are designed to be socket-specific, owners of AM4 water block versions will be offered an upgrade kit to prevent their EK-Quantum Velocity² AM4 water blocks from ending up as paperweight. The upgrade kit will come in the form of a backplate that will require the customer to remove the stock AM5 backplate. While this is not recommended and should be handled by expert users only at their own risk, it still feels like the right decision to offer customers such an option. EK will do its best to prepare a detailed guide on how the user can perform the backplate swap, minimizing the risk of damaging CPU socket pins.
Considering the slight difference in coldplate thickness between AM4 and AM5 and the need to fiddle with the CPU socket backplate, it's recommended to simply opt for the Socket AM5 version of the EK-Quantum Velocity² water block. Even AMD itself presented the AM5 socket to be long-lived (2025+), which is another argument supporting this claim. The availability of the EK-ExactMount AM4 to AM5 backplate has not yet been specified but should find itself on the EK website by the end of the month.
Affected EK-Quantum Velocity² AM4 products:
- EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB - AM4 Nickel + Plexi
- EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB - AM4 Nickel + Acetal
- EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB - AM4 Copper + Acetal
- EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB - AM4 Nickel + Satin Titanium
- EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB - AM4 Full Nickel
- EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB - AM4 Nickel + Gold
- EK-Quantum Velocity² - AM4 Lignum Edition - Walnut
While Magnitude CPU water blocks are also socket-specific, the AM4 version will have no issues handling anything that Ryzen 7000 series CPUs throw at them. EK will provide a set of water block standoffs for the Magnitude, making it compatible with the integrated AM5 socket backplate and thus fit for use on AM5 socket motherboards. The availability of these standoffs has not been specified yet, but you should be able to find them on the EK website by the end of the month and get them at a symbolic price. EK-Quantum Magnitude AM4 water blocks assembled from this point on will be delivered with the added AM5 compatible standoffs. We'll also update the product pages to address AM5 compatibility.
Affected EK-Quantum Magnitude AM4 products:
- EK-Quantum Magnitude D-RGB - AM4 Nickel + Plexi
- EK-Quantum Magnitude D-RGB - AM4 Nickel + Acetal
- EK-Quantum Magnitude - AM4 Full Nickel
- EK-Quantum Magnitude - AM4 Copper + Acetal
- EK-Quantum Magnitude - AM4 Lignum Edition - Walnut
Another legacy EK product that still packs a punch when it comes to cooling. While the Classic Supremacy AMD water block is EOL, all owners of this water block can directly migrate to Socket AM5 motherboards. The offered Classic AMD mounting kit available in the EK store can transform any Intel-based EK-Classic Supremacy CPU water block into an AM5-compatible product.
EK-Classic AM5 upgrade kit for Intel-Based Supremacy:
- EK-Classic Mounting Kit - AMD
EK's latest generation CPU water blocks, Velocity², already got an AM5-specific model that you can pre-order. The cooling engine of these AM5-specific water blocks is optimized to get every ounce of cooling possible to push the new Ryzen 7000-series CPUs to new heights.
These new mounting systems will be a state-of-the-art one-piece product with no additional screws, brackets, backplates, etc. The spring-loaded Torx screws are integrated into the water block and are screwed by counter-clockwise rotation into the stock backplate of the motherboard. We've also implemented another fool-proof mechanism - failsafe stop. When the screws and springs are in the optimal position, they will lock out and prevent the user from over-torquing the water block and potentially damaging their motherboard and/or CPU.
12 Comments on EK Reveals AM5 Compatibility Roadmap for All CPU Cooling Products
AMD engineered the new socket layout to be backwards compatible with the AM4.
Latest ek cpu blocks have very little wiggle room unlike other venders
So ek often shoots themselves in the foot trying to be cute doing this for looks not flexibility so ek got lucky that's about all this time.
Intel sockets wise every ek block is different so one can't use the same cpu water block from .../ 1200 on 1700/...
Unless ek offers a different mounting plate but only at ek store in Germany so expensive shipping.
I've never been a fan of EKs blocks, then again, I've never had the chance to use them.
Well if you started out with the largest intel socket, say x299 or now 1700 not sure which one is the larger square hole pattern "they might be the same" all you'd need to do is drill press another hole spread and use a different mounting studs/ nut system so no dremel needed
Which I've switched off using the silly spring systems and just ghetto studs/ washers/ nuts systems and use finger pressure with no springs.
Works out fine.
Off topic - how durable are the acetal tops? Never used one myself (only metal ones so far) but I've heard stories where acetal develops cracks over time.
They crack if you overdo it with the fittings.Sorry, i was thinking about plexi.
I don't think acetal top crack in general.
Yep g1/4" threads are pretty aggressive and plexi is brittle
Acrylic is supposed to be tougher.
Plexi is just a shortening from Plexiglas, which is a brand name, just like Velcro.
The difference that exists is extruded and cast acrylic... where extruded is NOT good and far more prone to cracking.
While Magnitude CPU water blocks are also socket-specific, the AM4 version will have no issues handling anything that Ryzen 7000 series CPUs throw at them. EK will provide a set of water block standoffs for the Magnitude, making it compatible with the integrated AM5 socket backplate and thus fit for use on AM5 socket motherboards. The availability of these standoffs has not been specified yet, but you should be able to find them on the EK website by the end of the month and get them at a symbolic price. EK-Quantum Magnitude AM4 water blocks assembled from this point on will be delivered with the added AM5 compatible standoffs. We'll also update the product pages to address AM5 compatibility.
This information was released by EK on 2 September 2022 but to date no block standoffs are available on the EK website. Has anyone tried installing this water block on AM5? Should I try or just return it? Who knows if any standoff will be released given that EK has not kept to their expected timeline.