EK Water Blocks, premium water cooling gear provider, has released two new water blocks - the EK-FB KIT SR-X for EVGA Classified SR-X motherboard and the EK-FC7970 Lightning for MSI's premium R7970 Lightning graphics card.

EK-FB KIT SR-X full-board water block kit is a complete liquid cooling solution for EVGA Classified SR-X (270-SE-W888) motherboard. The water blocks directly cools Intel C606 southbridge (PCH), PLX PEX8784 PCIe lane splitter controller and power regulation (VRM / MOSFETs) module of both CPUs. Please note this water block cools exactly as much heat generating components as EVGA factory cooling solution. It is medium-high to high flow water block that can be easily used with systems using weaker water pumps. It is available in two variants - Nickel and Acetal+Nickel.

The performance lead that MSI's Radeon HD 7970 Lightning maintained over reference HD 7970 was cut down, first by NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680, and then by AMD's own Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, leaving its engineers to go back to the drawing boards, and design an even faster graphics card. The result: a liquid-cooled HD 7970 GHz Edition Lightning graphics card, which could push clock-speeds up even further. The card ships with a pre-installed full-coverage water-block, made by EK WaterBlocks (EKWB). It comes ready for 6-display Eyefinity, with four mini-DisplayPort and two DVI. Here's hoping one of those is a dual-link DVI. More details are awaited.

Update: We've received word that it's not that MSI has a new product in the works, but that EKWB has a water-block tailored for MSI's existing R7970 Lightning.

Swiftech today announced the release of the Apogee Drive II, a CPU waterblock featuring an integrated pump. "Like a phoenix rising from its ashes, the Apogee Drive II returns to take its place at the helm of Swiftech's CPU waterblock product line and it includes all the latest and greatest technological advancements that we have to offer today" said Gabriel Rouchon Swiftech's Chairman and CTA.

Derived in general concept from the company's Apogee Drive initially released in 2007, the Apogee Drive II much differs from the original in terms of its execution. The original was conceived as a moderate cost unit, using plastic injection molding for its body, the entry-level MCP350 pump and it came with bare essentials. In contrast, the Apogee Drive II is conceived as a luxury vessel: its uses the PWM controlled MCP35X, Swiftech's most powerful pump to date, a precision CNC machined water-block body that lends itself to easy upgrades for future socket form factors, adjustable inlet and outlet ports, a heatsink to further cool the pump, LED illuminated logo in a choice of 3 colors, braided cables, and the company's now famous retention system. The only concession to cost and waste-cutting measure the company made was to not bundle all the retention systems into one SKU, and to make 3 separate product versions.

Koolance has now made available the VID-NX690 water block which is compatible with NVIDIA's dual-GPU beast, the GeForce GTX 690. This full cover block measures 25.40 x 12.70 x 1.91 cm, it weights 1.02 kg, and features G 1/4 BSP threading and a nickel-plated solid copper base boasting a high-performance microfin (0.5 mm) design.

The VID-NX690 is currently in stock and costs $144.99.

DangerDen recently announced the worldwide availability of DD-7970, its performance water-block for AMD Radeon HD 7970 (reference design PCBs). The DD-7970 is designed to provide coverage to all hot components on the obverse side of the PCB, including the 28 nm "Tahiti" GPU, 12 GDDR5 memory chips, and the VRM. Its coolant channel passes through the portion of the VRM, the portion over the GPU is ridged to increase surface area of dissipation. Options for the top include clear polycarbonate, and satin-finished copper. The polycarbonate top variant weighs 3 lbs, while the satin-finished copper variant weighs 4 lbs. Both are priced at US $114.95, available through DangerDen's online store.

Galaxy released a picture of a new GeForce GTX 680 graphics card it's working on, a liquid-cooled model that beats EVGA's GTX 680 HydroCopper at being truly single-slot capable. It does this by using the 6-pin and 8-pin PCIe power connectors in the same plane, instead of using an 8+6 pin piggy-backed connector that spans across two expansion slots. Also changed here is the stacked DVI connector cluster, it's replaced by two mini-DisplayPort connectors next to a full-size HDMI and a full-size DisplayPort. The card uses a full-coverage water-block, with its coolant ports protruding outwards on top, so enthusiasts will have plumb out tubing for each card in SLI setups, and can't use conventional multi-port fittings, unless of course, Galaxy has a solution for that. More details are awaited.

Koolance has kicked off this week by making available a full coverage water block for NVIDIA's current flagship graphics card, the Kepler-flavored GeForce GTX 680. Named VID-NX680, Koolance's block weights 680 grams and features G 1/4" threading, an Acetal top cover and a 'high-performance microfin (0.5 mm) design made of solid copper with anti-corrosive nickel plating.'

The VID-NX680 is selling for $119.99.

Not to be out-gunned by Aqua Computer, Ljubljana-based EK Water Blocks has also announced its own liquid cooling offerings for NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680 graphics card. The EK-FC680 GTX series full cover (GPU, RAM, VRM) water blocks are designed to fit standard GTX 680 (and 670 apparently) cards and feature G1/4" threaded fittings can be used on both sides.

There are four blocks listed by EK, two priced at €84.95 that have an electrolytic copper base, and two with an electroless nickel (EN) plated base which cost €94.96. The blocks can have either a POM Acetal or an acrylic cover.

EVGA kicked off its GeForce GTX 680 lineup with no less than five models. The Into, SC, FTW, Classified, and HydroCopper. Intro is the absolute base model, with fanatic adherence to NVIDIA reference clock speeds of 1006/1056/6000 MHz (core/boost/memory effective) and board design; SC (or SuperClocked) is a factory-overclocked model that has slightly higher clock speeds, and augments the NVIDIA reference design with an EVGA-exclusive backplate. Then there's FTW, which features a custom cooler design by EVGA, with even higher clock speeds than SC. The last air-cooled model is the Classified, which our sources tell us will have "astoundingly" high clock speeds. HydroCopper retains the clock profile of Classified, but replaces the cooling assembly with a Swiftech-built copper water-block. EVGA is yet to reveal the design of Classified, and the clock speeds of the factory-overclocked models. There are other variations, such as EVGA's "Signature" design with SuperClocked clock-profile, FTW with 4 GB memory, etc.

XSPC is finally ready with a full-coverage water block for AMD Radeon HD 7970 and HD 7950 graphics cards (AMD reference PCB). The block is design to keep the card within the size specs. of a single expansion slot, while providing liquid cooling to all hot components on the obverse side of the PCB, including the GPU, the 12 GDDR5 memory chips, and the VRM. Measuring 220 x 142 x 9 mm (18 mm at ports), the main portion of the block is milled out of a block of copper, while the portion over the VRM is milled out of aluminum.

The portion of the block that's over the GPU is ridged, making copper micro-fins, that increase dissipation of heat to the coolant. The top is made of CNC-cut stainless steel. The block is ready for CrossFire setups with four G1/4" ports, two G1/4" plugs are included. Listed on the company's online store (currently out of stock), the XSPC Razor 7970 is priced at £82.67 (US $131).

Swiftech is almost ready with a high-end, full-coverage water block for AMD Radeon HD 7970 graphics card, which its makers are touting as being a "real" full coverage block, as it's not only making contacts with all critical hot components of the card, but also physically covering the entire area of the PCB, including its reverse side, with a backplate (something that's not part of the AMD reference design). The company released CGI drawings of its product to the web.

Called the Komodo HD 7970, the block confines itself to the size of one expansion slot with an included single-slot bracket. The monolithic black design adds a lot to the aesthetics of the card, including its fittings area. The primary material of the block is nickel-plated copper. The portion of the block over the GPU has a 0.25x0.25 Micro Pin matrix, which maximizes heat dissipation to the coolant. Unlike other full-coverage blocks where a portion of the block that doesn't have flowing coolant makes contact with the VRM, the Komodo HD 7970 has "active" VRM cooling, where the area over the VRM has its own coolant chamber, and is part of the coolant's primary flow.

Zalman released ZM-OC2011, a retention kit upgrade for WB5 and WB5 Plus water-blocks to support Intel's latest LGA2011 socket, on which Intel's "Sandy Bridge-E" Core i7 and Core i7 Extreme Edition processors are based. The kit consists of brackets that let you use the mount-hole spacing of all previous Intel LGA sockets, including LGA775, LGA1366, LGA1155/1156; nuts and bolts. In Japan it is priced at around $19.

After extensive development work our newest product is on the market available. The Coollaboratory ALPHEOS Liquid Cooler offers by its perfectly co-ordinated aquifer system a brilliant cooling efficiency.

By the multiplicity of the superfine lamellas, which have a small distance too each other, results an extreme flow rate which dissolves the warm-restraining boundary layers. Thereupon the Coollaboratory ALPHEOS Liquid Cooler catapults itself into the best regions of all available water cooler at the market in the matter of cooling performance. It was provided on basis of computational fluid dynamics, therefore all death water zones were eliminated, which additionally affects the cooling performance positively.

Another European company, EK Water Blocks (EKWB), is ready with its full-coverage water block for AMD's Radeon HD 7970 graphics card, the EK-FC7970. Unlike Aqua Computer's AquagrATIx 7900, the EK-FC7970 isn't launched, the company isn't taking orders yet, but it posted a teaser picture on its Facebook page. The picture reveals the block to use copper as its primary material, with an acetal top. It appears to have standard G1/4" threading. As a full-coverage block, it covers all the heat-producing components on the obverse side of the card's PCB, including the GPU, the twelve memory chips, and VRM. EKWB did not give out other specifications, price, or availability.

Aqua Computer is the first in the industry with a water block designed for AMD Radeon HD 7970 graphics card. Called the AquagrATIx 7900, the block provides full-coverage for the obverse side of the AMD Radeon HD 7970 PCB, which is where all the heat-producing components are. Its primary material is copper, with a stainless steel top. Its channel bears a nearly symmetric shape, the portion over the GPU is ridged to increase sub-surface area for improved heat dissipation to the coolant. While the AquagrATIx 7900 doesn't include fittings, it features two standard G1/4" threads (the inlet and outlet). The block is also said to be compatible with Radeon HD 7950. Aqua Computer is accepting orders for this, with estimated delivery time of 21 days. It is priced at €89.90.

Danger Den announced the release for sale the new highest performing CPU waterblock, the DD-M6 CPU Block with shipments beginning January 2nd, 2012.

The DD-M6 CPU Block replaces the long running MC-TDX block improving upon the performance and reliability. Thermal performance is significantly improved while maintaining a low flow restriction design. Available in solid copper and brass parts that are non-plated or nickel plated. A new and improved mounting system is also part of the DD-M6 CPU block package allowing reliable mounting pressure in an attractive package.

Swiftech announced the release for retail sales of their new flagship CPU waterblock, the Apogee HD, concurrently with Revision 3 of the Patent Pending MCRx20 Drive series of PC radiators.

Close to 18 months in the making, the Apogee HD was designed to surpass its predecessor the Award Winning Apogee XT in all critical areas: improved thermal performance, reduced flow restriction, new choices of colors, classic black or fashionable white, fine-tuned mounting system, lower cost, and an exclusive innovative feature that works in conjunction with the new Revision of the MCRx20 Drive PC Radiators: the Multi-port connectivity.

Here is ASUS' top of the line LGA2011 motherboard targeting the gamer-overclocker market, the Republic of Gamers (ROG) Rampage IV Extreme. This board offers all the expansion room and connectivity you'll ever need, plus a wealth of nifty features that help overclockers and ease incremental upgrades. To begin with, the Rampage IV Extreme employs a strong digital PWM circuitry that supports heavy voltage-assisted overclocking with Vdroop control.

The LGA2011 socket is wired to eight DDR3 DIMM slots (two per channel). CPU and memory VRM areas are located along three sides of the socket, all cooled by heatsinks that are connected by heat pipes. These VRM heatsinks share heat with the one over the X79 PCH, which is actively cooled by a fan.

What happens when you mash up a CPU tower-type air-cooler with a water-block? You get PCCooler OC3 W120. This innovative cooler combines a tower-type air cooler design with a water block. First, there's a typical heatsink that has a polished copper base and heat pipes originating from the base, conveying heat to a aluminum fin stack; next, at the top of the stack are fittings that connect the cooler to a liquid-cooling loop. The water tubes pass through the aluminum fin stack just like heat pipes, before reaching the base of the heatsink. At the base, a micro-fin plate and block chamber makes direct contact with the heat pipes and the base below.

The aluminum fin stack holds one 120 mm fan to ventilate it. The fins are of irregular shape and are dimpled to increase surface area and turbulence. With its unique hybrid design, the PCCooler OC3 W120 can handle thermal loads of up to 500W. PCCooler OC3 W120 is made by Chinese company Shenzhen Fluence Technology, its products are exclusively sold in the Asian markets.

No doubt the GeForce GTX 590 is a cracker of a graphics card (no pun intended). It shares a disputed lead with the AMD Radeon HD 6990, where the latter has the reputation of being the more electrically stable of the two. Voltage-assisted overclocking of the GTX 590 has proven to be many an overclocker's $700 misadventure, with the weak VRM circuitry burning up with even the slightest bump in voltages. NVIDIA plans to fix this once and for all with a hardware update of the GTX 590.

In June, NVIDIA plans to release a new revision of the GeForce GTX 590 with a stronger VRM circuitry, stronger inductors, FETs, capacitors, etc. The revision could possibly alter the reference PCB design, at least with the VRM areas, and that could mean water-block manufacturers could have to go back to the drawing boards. Who knows, the new revision of GTX 590 with heightened electrical stability could also create some room for new models from AICs with better overclocked speeds out of the box, to step up competitiveness against the HD 6990.

Danger Den is the next water cooling specialist out with a full-coverage water block for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 graphics card, the Danger Den GPU-6940. The company is sticking to its minimalist and curvy design with meandering water channels over key components such as the GPUs. The block has contact points with all heat-producing components on the obverse side of the PCB, including the two GPUs, the PCIe bridge, memory, and VRM MOSFETs. Its primary material is exposed copper, topped off with black translucent acrylic. The block weighs about 1.6 kg (3.2 lbs), and includes pre-assembled gaskets. Fat Boy High Flow G 1/4 - 1/2", 3/8" or 1/4" OD Fittings are included. The Danger Den GPU-6940 for the GeForce GTX 590 is priced at US $119.95.

EK WaterBlocks is ready with two new full-coverage water blocks for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590, the EK-FC590-GTX-Nickel (with transparent acrylic top), and EK-FC590-GTX-Nickel+Acetal (with opaque acetal top). Tops aside, the two are of the same design. The primary material is copper with nickel plating to minimize corrosion over time. It uses a common channel design with ridges over the two GPU areas, and pressure-building points over the other areas such as the GTX 590's feisty VRM. Overall, the block is rectangular in shape, and rather than finding a way around the cylindrical capacitors, it makes room for them using holes in the block. The EK-FC590-GTX-Nickel is priced at €124.96, while the EK-FC590-GTX-Nickel+Acetal goes for €129.95.

Water cooling expert Koolance is ready with its full-coverage water-block for the dual-GPU AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics card, which was launched a little earlier this month. The VID-AR699 from Koolance covers the obverse side of the PCB, cooling critical components there, including the two AMD Cayman GPUs, memory chips, the 450W-capable VRM, and the PEG bridge chip. Internally, the block is partitioned into three distinct bases, one over each GPU, and one over the VRM. The portions over the GPUs feature ribbed micro-fin structures to improve heat dissipation. The three bases are conjoined by a middle-plate that channels coolant through the three bases. The block is then topped off with acetal.

The VID-AR699 measures 10.1" x 4.8 " x 0.8" (25.7cm x 12.2cm x 2cm), and weighs 2.25 pounds (1kg). Its primary material is copper with nickel-plating that minimizes corrosion over time. Its nozzle threading is standard G 1/4 BSP, though the package doesn't include nozzles. Koolance is pricing it at US $159.99 on its online store, it will be taking orders and shipping only after the 28th of this month. In related news, Koolance also announced that it's working on a full-coverage water block for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590, the VID-NX590, though there are no specifications or photos out, yet.

One of NVIDIA's principal partners, EVGA, released no less than four special edition SKUs for the GeForce GTX 590 graphics card. The SKUs bear EVGA's coveted "Classified" brand extender, which is used on only the most high-end products by the company. First, there's the EVGA GTX 590 Classified Hydro Copper Quad SLI (03G-P3-1599-A2), which is two GeForce GTX 590 graphics cards prepped for water-cooling with HydroCopper water-blocks, packed into one box; next there's the EVGA GeForce GTX 590 Classified Quad SLI (03G-P3-1598-A2), that's two reference design cards in one box; then there are single-card water-cooled (03G-P3-1599-AR) and single-card reference design (03G-P3-1598-AR) packages.

The dual-card (QuadSLI) packages include some EVGA memorabilia, a black t-shirt and a large mousepad. All four SKUs pack cards with the same clock speed profile: 630 MHz core, 1260 MHz CUDA cores, and 864 MHz (3456 MHz effective) memory. The HydroCopper cards feature full-coverage water-blocks. As for pricing, the water-cooled QuadSLI pack is priced at $1,729.99; reference-design QuadSLI pack at $1,429.99; water-cooled single-card at $879.99; and reference-design single-card at $729.99.

MSI's high-end GeForce GTX 580 graphics card that's ready for water-cooling out of the box, the MSI N580GTX HydroGen OC, released in the European retail market, priced at €563. The N580GTX HydroGen uses the same full-coverage water-block as the N480GTX HydroGen, probably sourced from Heatkiller. The block uses a full copper base and composite metal top. It is ready for G 1/4" threads. The card comes slightly overclocked out of the box, but with the kind of cooling at its disposal, it leaves the fun part to you. The GPU is clocked at 823 MHz, CUDA cores at 1645 MHz, and memory at 4276 MHz, against reference speeds of 772/1544/4008 MHz.