EK-Quantum Surface X360M Radiator

[VSG]

The new EK-Quantum Surface radiators are a great refresh of the lineup. In this review we take a look at the 58-mm thick Surface X360M triple 120 mm radiator with excellent thermal performance, ultra-low coolant flow restriction, and multiple ports to use or choose from—it is modder friendly, too!

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[maxfly]

Finally, something to put HWL on notice. I haven't read the s360 review yet but it sounds even better.
Well done, always look forward to your reviews VSG!

 

[VSG]

Finally, something to put HWL on notice. I haven't read the s360 review yet but it sounds even better.
Well done, always look forward to your reviews VSG!

Yup both these are impressive and much-needed for EK.

 

[Oberon]

I would really have liked to see this compared to the existing XE. I have a feeling there's not much difference at the top end and that the XE would do better at low fan speeds.

Overall I'm not very impressed with this one. The S is a much more impressive product.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Thinner than the xe and thicker than the pe
Guess performance is between the two.

 

[VSG]

I would really have liked to see this compared to the existing XE. I have a feeling there's not much difference at the top end and that the XE would do better at low fan speeds.

Overall I'm not very impressed with this one. The S is a much more impressive product.

Based on my relative findings with otherwise rads, it should be the other way around. Coolstream XE should be worse at lower fan speeds and better at higher fan speeds.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Thought ek was going to dump the extra collar nonsense
Nothing like two possible leak rather than one per fitting to a rad.

 

[Ferrum Master]

Yup both these are impressive and much-needed for EK.

Sure... this one is only on preorder, who knows when...

At least they have the classic one with a known ETA.

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

FYI, the plug fittings that come with the radiator on not called "Hex Heads", they're called "socket heads"....basically, any type of hardware that uses an Allen key is called a "socket head". For example, many people incorrectly call a "flat sockethead screw" a "countersunk screw", but in reality there is no head style on any machine screw referred to as "countersunk", I can see why people call it that as the cutting tool that makes the matching recess is called a "countersink". In international standards, a machine screw is described first by the head style, e.g. "flat", and then by the drive style, e.g. "sockethead", thus you have a "flat sockethead screw". A "hex head" actually refers to the type of hexagonal head that requires a socket wrench to drive.

An example of a "flat sockethead" screw:

 

[VSG]

Sure... this one is only on preorder, who knows when...

At least they have the classic one with a known ETA.

View attachment 251709

They should have a large batch in and being prepped, my reviews were waiting for them to officially launch the radiators too.

 

[Ferrum Master]

An example of a "flat sockethead" screw:

Yykes... those look like imperial thread shoo that plague from here.

They should have a large batch in and being prepped, my reviews were waiting for them to officially launch the radiators too.

I hope so. Also that they won't overdo with the price... in reality. We all know the performance difference is in the hairsplitting realm. Let's speak honestly, how clean these were versus the previous Raijintek Zero Calorie aka Aliexpress Magicool?

 

[Oberon]

Based on my relative findings with otherwise rads, it should be the other way around. Coolstream XE should be worse at lower fan speeds and better at higher fan speeds.

I'm basing my expectation on the ExtremeRigs testing from many years back. The XE was middle of the pack at their lowest RPM of 750 (where the X360M seems to be quite poor to possibly middling) but very quickly overtakes all competitors by a solid margin by 1300 RPM.

 

[VSG]

I'm basing my expectation on the ExtremeRigs testing from many years back. The XE was middle of the pack at their lowest RPM of 750 (where the X360M seems to be quite poor to possibly middling) but very quickly overtakes all competitors by a solid margin by 1300 RPM.

Yeah my own results with the XE 480 was similar, with it only gaining in strength the faster the fans were. Only the Black Ice Nemesis GTR was better in this regard. The new X360M was hitting a sweetspot earlier.

 

[Wakaka]

It doesn't work well on my pc. I compared 2 X360M with the other radiators(2*EK XE 360MM and 2*BLACK ICE NEMSIS GTX 360MM). 1000 to 1500rpm XE is better,＞1500rpm,GTX 360 is better. maybe i should test 600 to 1000rpm?


Test platform 10900K(heatkiller iv copper block) 5.3GHz ; 3090vulcanXOC(aplhacools block) 2025MHz ; 2*lowara d5 pump ; fan 12*gt2150 XPG ver. ; 10/16mm EPDM tube; room temp 20℃ ;total system power 630w? 1 hour later i check the motherboards temp sensor and tanks temp sensor so i decided to sold it

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

It doesn't work well on my pc. I compared 2 X360M with the other radiators(2*EK XE 360MM and 2*BLACK ICE NEMSIS GTX 360MM). 1000 to 1500rpm XE is better,＞1500rpm,GTX 360 is better. maybe i should test 600 to 1000rpm?


Test platform 10900K(heatkiller iv copper block) 5.3GHz ; 3090vulcanXOC(aplhacools block) 2025MHz ; 2*lowara d5 pump ; fan 12*gt2150 XPG ver. ; 10/16mm EPDM tube; room temp 20℃ ;total system power 630w? 1 hour later i check the motherboards temp sensor and tanks temp sensor so i decided to sold it

A think to remember is RPM is not static pressure. Back in ye old days when we were using heatcores ripped from things like cars as radiators we knew this. RADs used to be thick and care about static pressure first and foremost. Many of those brands are now gone and you were using fan brands like delta or sunon which would shred fingers. That all changed. Also the pumps we used were iwaki pumps, these not are not jokes like a D5.

Rather than throwing more RPM at a problem check pressure levels.

 

[Oberon]

Static pressure is proportional to RPM, so even if a fan has a relatively weak maximum static pressure, increasing RPM can compensate. Today's radiators are also MUCH less restrictive to airflow than the heater cores of old, so there's not that same need for 38mm thick Panaflos than can hover to get decent performance.

 

[MRW332]

Any idea of an ETA for when we can anticipate your P360M review? Definitely curious to see how that fits in between these two and the most likely one I'd go if it offers some improvement over the S.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Static pressure is proportional to RPM, so even if a fan has a relatively weak maximum static pressure, increasing RPM can compensate. Today's radiators are also MUCH less restrictive to airflow than the heater cores of old, so there's not that same need for 38mm thick Panaflos than can hover to get decent performance.

In some cases yes. But there are fans that give higher static pressure at the same or lower RPM than other fans. And increasing RPM to make up for it comes with other issues.

As for radiators sadly yes. But that's because the enthusiast/gaming side has moved away from the thicker radiators that still exist today for professional applications. So we have all these low restriction slim lines that honestly don't get you much over air cooling. It's about silence and bling and a lot of that rests on things like turbo'ing CPUs and the nonsense which has lead to the attitude of "if you want to OC, go LN2 or don't bother" that I kinda subscribe to as well.

My liquid cooling only exists because I bought a rack and just rack mounted a ton of stuff, hooked it all up, and shoved the damn thing the closet and ran the cabling through the walls. I'll get some pics at some point it's fun. Still have the desktops but those use AIOs or air cooling because they aren't bling items. Don't tell my condo association, drilling holes in the walls is not allowed, nor is the cat in all the pictures!

 

[HBSound]

I wanted to use the X420 and X280M in a setup. But I want to use 800-1200 RPM for my setup. I believe I keep reading and doing my research to suggest. The X series is not the RAD for that kind of configuration.

 

[VSG]

I wanted to use the X420 and X280M in a setup. But I want to use 800-1200 RPM for my setup. I believe I keep reading and doing my research to suggest. The X series is not the RAD for that kind of configuration.

You can try the P series instead.

 

[HBSound]

You can try the P series instead.

I agree with you!

Thank you so much!

You can try the P series instead.

Thank you for the response. I have mentally ping-poned the EK "P" vs. Alpha Cool HPE. I have read your reviews on them a few times. From your examination, the fan speed is 800 (IDEL)-1200 (max). Which would you consider?

 

[VSG]

I agree with you!

Thank you so much!


Thank you for the response. I have mentally ping-poned the EK "P" vs. Alpha Cool HPE. I have read your reviews on them a few times. From your examination, the fan speed is 800 (IDEL)-1200 (max). Which would you consider?

Both perform within margin errors so just get the one that costs less, unless you want the EK rad for its multiple ports and different color options.

 

[HBSound]

Both perform within margin errors so just get the one that costs less, unless you want the EK rad for its multiple ports and different color options.

Thank you so much!

 

[paysen]

Great review as always. Really appreciate all your watercooling reviews. You have the Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis 360 GTX in those benchmarks, but I can't find a review of it. Is it still coming? Except for the higher restriction it seems to be a better rad for slower fan speeds.

 

[VSG]

Great review as always. Really appreciate all your watercooling reviews. You have the Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis 360 GTX in those benchmarks, but I can't find a review of it. Is it still coming? Except for the higher restriction it seems to be a better rad for slower fan speeds.

It's an extremely old product at this point. I did the review years ago on another website. The OEM version is the Nemesis LX and you can see it reviewed as the Corsair Hydro XR7: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/corsair-hydro-x-series-xr7-360-radiator/