Monday, March 27th 2023

EK Introduces New EK Quantum Impulse Fans

EK, the premium liquid cooling solutions manufacturer, is introducing brand-new magnetic levitation fans, the EK-Quantum Impulse 120 D-RGB. These premium Impulse fans feature EK's most abundant RGB implementation to date, with two LED-lit zones in the frame carrying 12 LEDs each, with another inside the rotor. These fans offer an optimized and balanced performance-to-noise ratio on the wide fan operational range.

EK-Quantum Impulse are 120 mm PC radiator and case fans optimized for rich and lush D-RGB effects while maintaining very silent operation across their entire operational range. There is one LED-lit zone around the frame on both sides of the fan, so no matter which fan orientation you require, you'll get the rich illumination of the addressable RGB diffused through a milky white cover. The rotor is also illuminated by its own D-RGB strip for stylish aesthetics while spinning.
These fans use VAPO bearing, designed to virtually eliminate wobbling, so it stays incredibly stable in all applications. VAPO bearing adds a magnetic effect (magnetic levitation) to the bearing to reduce noise and increase shaft stability. Unlike the traditional ball-bearing fans that get noisier with time, VAPO bearings are dust-resistant and don't dry out. The operating range for these fans is from 400-1800 RPM.
As with FPT fans, Impulse fans also allow daisy-chaining, ultimately reducing cable clutter and easing cable routing through the EK-OmniLink, an 8-pin Micro-Fit connector ecosystem. All the signal and power wiring for the PWM and D-RGB runs on a single cable and connector, which then utilizes another single cable to connect to the source.

Thick rubber corners can be found on both sides of the fan to reduce vibration transfer to the rest of the PC. The fan itself is 26 mm thick, with rubber corners protruding 1.5 mm on each side for a total of 29 mm in depth, bearing in mind that these rubber corners will squish down as you tighten the screws. Unlike fans with circular or incomplete frames, this fan's square frame reduces side air leakage.
Most importantly, the EK-OmniLink ecosystem doesn't require any special controllers since the connection ends in the standard motherboard connectors - a 4-pin PWM for the fan power and a 3-pin 5 V D-RGB for the connectors.

EK-OmniLink
EK-OmniLink solution allows daisy chaining of multiple fans, reducing cable clutter and greatly easing cable management. The Omni-Link interconnect ecosystem will be significantly expanded in the near future for additional benefits. It uses Micro-Fit 8-pin connectors between products, but standard 4-pin for PWM and 3-pin for 5 V addressable RGB at the end of the daisy chain.
3-Zone LED Illumination on EK-Quantum Impulse 120 PC Fan
One of the main features the new EK-Quantum Impulse 120 fan offers is its simplicity. It utilizes the standard 3-pin 5 V D-RGB connection, meaning you can use it with any standard 3-pin 5 V addressable RGB controller or any of the popular RGB sync technologies from all major motherboard manufacturers. The arrow marking on the 3-pin LED connector should be aligned with the +5V marking on the D-RGB (ARGB) header.

EK-Quantum Impulse 120 D-RGB Key Features
  • Three Premium LED-Lit Zones
    Unlike other EK fans, which have LEDs exclusively in the rotor, Impulse fans have additional LEDs on both sides of the frame.
  • MagLev and VAPO Bearing
    The VAPO bearing adds a magnetic effect (magnetic levitation) to the bearing to reduce noise and increase shaft stability.
  • Square Frame for Airflow Focusing
    The practical square shape of the fan frame provides optimal performance in either the pull or push regime without hydraulic losses, which ensures the optimal cooling capacity of your liquid cooling radiators.
  • Standard D-RGB Connectors
    The EK-Quantum Impulse 120 fan's D-RGB lighting does not require any fancy or expensive additional controller for you to enjoy vibrant light effects. A simple 3-pin 5 V addressable D-RGB connection for standard controllers or any popular D-RGB (ARGB) sync technology from major motherboard manufacturers is all you need.
  • OmniLink
    The ability to daisy chain fan power, D-RGB, and even pump power across a single cable gives you the ultimate flexibility while reducing cable clutter. All the cables are flat ribbon style with no additional sleeving for an even better cable routing experience.
Availability and Pricing
The EK-Quantum Impulse 120 D-RGB - Black fans are readily available through the EK Webshop and Partner Reseller Network. In the table below, you can see the manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP), including VAT.
Source: EKWB
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14 Comments on EK Introduces New EK Quantum Impulse Fans

#1
MDWiley
Neat! They’re not for me personally but I think EK has been doing well with their fans lately. The price looks… ok. If I had to choose between these and Corsair QL’s I’d still go with EK.
Posted on Reply
#2
Leiesoldat
lazy gamer & woodworker
Unfortunately they still have the cables in a world where the Lian-Li UniFan exists. Don't misunderstand me, these fans look good, but if I were to choose today on choosing 3 more fans for an additional radiator the choice would be Lian-Li.
Posted on Reply
#3
ZoneDymo
for those impulsive buyers
Posted on Reply
#4
Broken Processor
They look ok but do you get a 8 pin to pwm and RGB adapter for each fan so per fan addressing can happen if not then I personally won't buy.
Posted on Reply
#5
A Computer Guy
I won't be satisfied until they have impeller driven RGB fans. You should be able to have them connected in your loop and fan speeds vary by your pump speed. :kookoo:
Posted on Reply
#6
Haile Selassie
"MagLev" they say.

Sunon's lawyers are already warming up.
Posted on Reply
#7
sLowEnd
Haile Selassie"MagLev" they say.

Sunon's lawyers are already warming up.
Vapo bearing is a Sunon trademark, so the OEM for these fans is likely Sunon. I don't see why they would want to sue one of their own clients.

Edit: Looks like Sunon has a video detailing the bearing
www.sunonusa.com/technology/vapo-bearing/

They say their bearing shouldn't be used in dirty environments or in a horizontal orientation, but is pretty great otherwise.
Posted on Reply
#8
zlobby
26 a pop? They nuts?
Posted on Reply
#9
Hxx
I see a ton of led hotspots . It just doesnt make sense for a $26 fan. I own better looking fans from TR or ID cooling that cost half as much. EK must be drunk or something. Lian Li may be criticized for how pricey their premium fans are but they nail the aesthetics.
Posted on Reply
#10
maxfly
zlobby26 a pop? They nuts?
Don't forget shipping from bumfugged Slovenia @ $20ish a pop (im guessing) but likely not far off lol.
Posted on Reply
#11
Minus Infinity
I did not realise I have been missing out on "rich and lush" RGB lighting. For moment I thought we were talking about hair shampoo.
Posted on Reply
#12
RH92
'' VAPO bearings are dust-resistant and don't dry out '' .

This statement from EK pretty much contradicts SUNON ( manufacturer ) which state that lubricant leakage can occur when mounted horizontaly as an exhaust and that the bearing is not particularly resistant to dust ...

Posted on Reply
#13
Haile Selassie
Well that's becuase it's a ripoff of Sunon IP and a really half-botched one at that.
Posted on Reply
#14
Calenhad
virtually eliminate wobbling
Does that mean it won't actually eliminate wobbling?

That being said, nice to finally see an EK fan design which does not look like something from the last millennia. But it will be interesting to see how big of a lie that statement about the fan bearing is. I was under the impression that one weakness of a magnetic bearing design is that they can't really work in a horizontal position with the fan blowing upwards.
Posted on Reply
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