EK Water Blocks, the leading premium liquid cooling gear manufacturer, announces the expansion and global availability of newly released Classic Product Lineup. The Classic Lineup is directly addressing price-conscious users while reusing some of the key technological solutions that set the EK as the market leader in the PC liquid cooling industry. The packaging, just as the products themselves are streamlined and simplified, making Classic Line Products the pure essence of liquid cooling. And now, it's available for everyone.

The portfolio is now bearing all the relevant parts that a user needs to complete his liquid cooling loop. The existing combo unit, CPU block and GPU block are now joined with Classic Line radiators, fittings and even a GPU block for the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics card. The Classic Lineup is implementing EK's market-proven technologies that ensure high-quality and high-performance liquid cooling products at a more accessible price. Available at about 3/4 of the price of leading EK Quantum series products, our products can now reach more liquid cooling enthusiasts that desire efficient cooling with EK's guaranteed quality and excellent customer support.

Bitspower, a leading supplier of water-cooling equipment for performance computers, has announced the release of their latest Intel CPU block, the Bitspower Touchaqua CPU Block Summit MS OLED for Intel Platform. This product combines the best of both performance and aesthetics to give you an ideal cooling solution for LGA 115x and LGA 2066 socket CPUs. In addition to a CNC-machined block top made of hardwearing acrylic and base made of high-quality copper, the block features a digital thermal sensor and a bright OLED display so you can monitor your water-cooling loop temperature in real time, as well as dazzling DRGB lighting.

The block incorporates a single piece of wiring that runs power to both the DRGB lighting, as well as the temperature gauge - ensuring that you can keep the design of your build as clean as possible. Furthermore, the water block's RGB LED Strip has been certified by ASUS AURA Sync, GIGABYTE RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light Sync, ASRock Polychrome and Razer Chroma-so it's highly compatible with a range of setups. Bitspower Touchaqua range offers the same quality as Bitspower's regular product lines, but features a range of unique functions and designs.

Update April 4th: This post has been corrected based on new information provided by ASUS, EKWB, as well as other parties. The original story mentioned a silent change to the glue used on the PCB which, as we now believe, is no longer the case in that ASUS is not to blame.

Update April 5th: ASUS has confirmed to us that there has been no PCB change (in terms of components and their heights), it's only a problem of tolerances due to the glue being liquid during production.

ASUS has glued the GPU die to the PCB for many generations, which helps ensure contact and avoids microfractures in the solder balls from physical force or thermal expansion. The nature of this glue, typically an epoxy resin, means that aftermarket cooling solutions, such as full cover or die-only water blocks, have to accommodate for this around the holes around the die. Previous graphics cards had no issue here, because the mounting holes were far away from the GPU die. With RTX 2080 Ti and its super large GPU chip this has changed, and there's only a few millimeters of space left. If a waterblock uses wider standoffs than the design merits, or if the glue spreads out farther than intended, it can result in poor/inconsistent contact between waterblock and the GPU, which in turn can lead to worse thermal performance than ideal.

This time, EK Waterblocks alerted us that the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 Ti had poor contact and fitting issues with their GPU water block for the same, as seen in images below provided by their customer T. Hilal, which interferes with the four standoffs surrounding the package. EK recommends removing these standoffs to ensure a good fit and thermal paste spread, and this does not affect water block performance much in their internal testing. In previous such occasions, EK and others have had to come up with a second version of the block for added compatibility, however it remains to be seen if the ROG Strix GeForce RTX 2080 Ti will merit a similar treatment this time round. As an external reference, Phanteks has separately confirmed to us that their water block remains compatible.

EK Water Blocks, the leading premium computer liquid cooling gear manufacturer, is releasing the EK-Velocity WS, a robust premium grade water block for narrow ILM LGA 3647 (Socket P) Intel processors, and the EK-VRM ASUS ROG Dominus Extreme, a VRM water block tailor-made for the ROG Dominus Extreme motherboard. Both are all metal water blocks with nickel plated copper cold plates and nickel plated brass tops. No compromise on quality, durability, and performance!

EK Water Blocks, the market leader in PC custom liquid cooling, is announcing the expansion of their Fluid Gaming aluminum based custom loop liquid cooling line. With price and performance in mind, EK Fluid Gaming is an inexpensive ticket to the custom liquid cooling world. Following the release of copper blocks for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and 2080Ti cards, EK is now launching one aluminum water block that is cross-compatible with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and 2080Ti cards which use the reference PCB and layout.

The EK-AC GeForce RTX is a full-cover water block designed and developed in cooperation with NVIDIA and it fits several high-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards. This water block directly cools the GPU, RAM as well as VRM (voltage regulation module) as water flows directly over these critical areas, thus allowing the graphics card to reach higher boost frequencies. The loud stock fan gets to be replaced by a slim-line minimalistic water block that will not only make your PC look better, but also make the graphics card perform better. Finally, you will be able to enjoy your favorite games in silence. This water block also comes with a sleek matte black backplate.

The dream of addressable Digital RGB
The Eisblock GPX Plexi Light cooler comes from Alphacool's high-end series and perfectly reflects Alphacool's philosophy. High performance, outstanding aesthetics, and the latest technology are all bundled together to create a fantastic cooler.

The Alphacool Plexi Light graphic cards water cooler is characterized by several design features. The clear Plexiglas allows you to see the water flow. The cooling block is made of solid copper, and is then completely nickel-plated. The generous water flow covers all important components of the graphics card. Not only the GPU, but also the voltage converters, the V-Ram and other components that generate heat are actively cooled with water.

When we first had a glance of the CORSAIR Hydro X custom watercooling loop parts in action, we suspected they might have a CES debut. CES has come and gone since, with no word of the company's entry into this field. Their direct competitors, including Phanteks and Thermaltake, have since added to their respective product portfolios comprising fans, water blocks, coolants and radiators. Perhaps CORSAIR wanted the launch to not be overshadowed by the other product launches at the recent trade show, and perhaps the listings of the Hydro X products on Digitech.ch is a sign of things to come sooner than later. Read past the break for a more in-depth discussion on the various parts listed, based on our experience with this industry as a whole.

Phanteks today announced the launch of two new Glacier series GPU blocks, corresponding backplates, a vertical GPU bracket and flat riser cables to add to their product portfolio. This includes the Glacier G2080Ti XTREME and the Glacier G2080Ti STRIX for the Gigabyte AORUS Extreme RTX 2080/2080 Ti and the ASUS Strix RTX 2080/2080 Ti respectively. Both of these blocks use a minimalist design that extends the length of the PCB, allowing for a full cover fit to cool the GPU, VRAM and VRMs alike. Integrated digital RGB lighting coupled with an anodized or chrome-plate cover plate, a polished acrylic top, and a nickel-plated copper cold plate round off the aesthetics.

Phanteks made sure to give some love to the NVIDIA Founders Edition RTX 2080(Ti) cards as well with Glacier G2080Ti backplate that is designed to work with their own Glacier G2080TiFE water block, since the AIC cards come with their own backplate that can be re-used with the GPU blocks mentioned above. We get two color options here, and the backplate extends the entire length of the PCB again. The GPU blocks will be available for $149.99 each and the backplate costs $29.99/39.99 for the black/chrome versions towards the end of this month. Read past the break for more on their new accessories.

TechPowerUp met over 50 brands at CES this year, more than anyone else we know of, and thus our coverage of the trade show continues on. EK Water Blocks (EKWB) had a grand showing at Computex last year, with a room full of updates and new products. Some of these showed up in a different form at CES, and others presumably are still being developed. As it turned out, EK had another room full of products this time too, including some products that we were not expecting necessarily.

Beginning our tour was a demo of the Quantum Distro PC 305 system, an EK-assembled system sold at Microcenter stores in the USA. As the name suggests, this uses an InWin 305 case and the current setup has an Intel Core i9-9900K on an ASUS ROG Maximus XI Hero combined with an NVIDIA RTX 2080 Ti. These systems are not budget friendly, but if you wanted to get an EK-distribution plate then this is currently the only way to do so. Next to these was the EK-Connect, which appears to be the final version of the long awaited fan controller project they had teased years back. The EK-Connect, as 2019 demands it, is a combination LED and fan controller, and will be supported by a software driver when ready. At the trade show, the setup just showed multiple different LED strips and fans connected, and it appears to be powered by an in-set SATA connector for power. Read past the break for more!

Thermaltake, a world renowned PC DIY components manufacturer announced the release of four high-quality water cooling kits today at the Venetian Hotel Veronese 2402 Suite from January 8th (Tue) to 11th (Fri), including Pacific C240 DDC Hard Tube Water Cooling Kit, Pacific C360 DDC Hard Tube Water Cooling Kit, Pacific C360 DDC Soft Tube Water Cooling Kit and Pacific C240 DDC Soft Tube Water Cooling Kit. All kits are efficient and high-quality combo kits that can sync with ASUS Aura Sync, GIGABYTE RGB, MSI Mystic Light Sync and ASRock Polychrome.

Pacific C240/C360 Hard Tube Water Cooling Kit includes Pure 12 ARGB Sync Radiator Fans, a Pacific W4 ARGB CPU Water Block, Pacific PR15-DDC Pump/Reservoir Combo, Pacific C240/C360 Radiator, a bottle of T1000 Coolant Pure Clear, six C-Pro G14 PETG 16mm OD Compressions, eight V-Tubler PETG Tubes, an ARGB LED controller, and other accessories. As for Pacific C240/C360 Soft Tube Water Cooling Kit, it includes Pure 12 ARGB Sync Radiator Fans, a Pacific W4 ARGB CPU Water Block, Pacific PR15-DDC Pump/Reservoir Combo, Pacific C240/C360 Radiator, a bottle of T1000 Coolant Pure Clear, six Pacific 1/2'' ID x 3/4'' OD Compressions, two meters of V-tubler 4T 1/2''(12.7mm) ID x 3/4''(19mm) OD Transparent Tube, an ARGB LED controller, and other accessories.

CORSAIR, a world leader in PC gaming peripherals and enthusiast components, today launched the latest in its line of best-selling Hydro Series all-in-one liquid CPU coolers, the CORSAIR Hydro Series H100i RGB PLATINUM and CORSAIR Hydro Series H115i RGB PLATINUM. The new pair of coolers take the Hydro Series to new heights in both cooling performance and dazzling RGB lighting across both the fans and pump head.

Each of the new entries in the acclaimed Hydro Series range is cooled by a pair of CORSAIR ML PRO Series RGB magnetic levitation PWM fans, delivering the superb airflow and high static pressure needed to cool today's hottest CPUs. Thanks to the ultra-low friction of their magnetic bearings, they also generate less noise than traditional bearing fans even when spinning at higher RPMs. The H100i RGB PLATINUM comes equipped with two 120mm fans and a 240mm radiator, while the H115i RGB PLATINUM is cooled by two 140mm fans and a 280mm radiator.

Swiftech is proud to announce the latest advances in All-in-one Liquid Cooling CPU Cooler, the Drive X3. The new X3 AIO series has received a number of improvements, along with a new sizing and naming convention as well.

The Swiftech X3 will be available in two radiator sizes, dual 120mm fans and triple 120mm fans at the time of the release. These will include a new 120mm fan design that include improved static pressure and maximum discharge, lower operation noise level, and Swiftech IRIS compatible addressable RGB's built into the frame of the fans.

XSPC has announced their all-new TX Series ultra thin radiators, billed as the world's thinnest available PC radiators at just 20.5 mm thick. Tailored for systems where space is at a premium, the TX series is offered in 120 mm, 240 mm, 360 mm and 480 mm sizes. To put the radiator thickness into perspective, it is 20% thinner when compared to a typical 120 mm fan (25 mm) and a full 40% thinner than XSPC's own EX-series radiators. If paired with slim 15 mm fans, the total radiator and fan thickness can be reduced to all of 35.5 mm, allowing for a proper liquid cooling loop in even the smallest of spaces.

The TX series uses a high performance copper and brass core, with welded seam tubes and high density splitter fins. In order to further improve cooling performance, the fins protrude past the tubing to make use of the space available between the tubing and the radiator frame. This allows for an increase in fin volume for heat dissipation without affecting the overall dimensions of the radiator. In a bid to further boost performance XSPC has increased fin density with the TX line to 22 FPI (fins per inch). They claim performance remains excellent even with low speed fans thanks to the radiators ultra thin nature, although we will be sure to put it that to the test in due time. No launch date has been specified, but XSPC expects the TX series radiators to be available next month by their network of retailers.

The world-renowned company, Alphacool, now offers special mining solutions for industry and end customer use. In addition to mining the well-known crypto currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, systems very similar are also increasingly being used in research, development and other areas. These systems generate a lot of heat due to the mass of components used in enclosed spaces. Now, Alphacool has met the demands from the industry and has created cost-effective water cooling solutions and systems. Starting with cases for e.g. server racks and full cover graphic card coolers up to complete mining systems including hardware and preinstalled software.

The products are all cost effective, particularly the graphics card coolers! Extremely low prices are possible which can compete, or even beat the prices of air cooling, without compromising on quality. For even more reliability, there are graphics card coolers with include an integrated pump. Since there are usually several GPUs in a circuit, if one pump does fail, the other pumps can easily keep the liquid flowing ensuring that the system stays cool.

The Orcus and Orcus Core RGB models are Raijinktek's latest release of AiO water cooling solutions. The 240 mm radiator of the Orcus RGB is cooled by two IRIS 12 fans, with it's main improvement from the previous Triton series being the external pump which allows more flexibility when installing the heatsink on the CPU.


The Orcus RGB 240mm AIO - £99.95
The Orcus and Orcus Core RGB models are Raijinktek's latest release of AiO water cooling solutions. The 240 mm radiator of the Orcus RGB is cooled by two IRIS 12 fans, with it's main improvement from the previous Triton series being the external pump which allows more flexibility when installing the heatsink on the CPU.

Alphacool, the renowned watercooling and accessories company, took to CES 2018 to showcase their watercooling product and accessory lineup. The company's Eisstation cooling blocks made a welcome, "LEDy" appearance, as did the company's full-coverage waterblocks for your choice of VGA. The company also demonstrated a hybrid, water and air cooling solution via its dressed-up radiators; a good-looking maintenance kit; and the company's distinct Eisbecher Helix and Helix Light watercooling "bling".

It was a month ago that TechPowerUp broke the news about EK Water Blocks parting ways with then CEO, CTO and Head of Marketing, among others. Speculations arose from readers concerning what could have happened behind the scenes to result in such a dramatic change to what was otherwise a successful time period for the company. Since then, EKWB did just what they promised and delivered new products in time including additions to their Fluid Gaming lineup as well as introducing a new modular AIO MLC series. It appears that in the short term at least, they have continued on unaffected.

Today we can let everyone know what happened to those who left the company, and this news has deeper potential implications to the PC DIY market. Both Mark Tanko, ex-CEO, and Niko Tivadar, ex-CTO, confirmed to us that they have officially joined CORSAIR. Mark is now "Vice President & BU General Manager at CORSAIR", whereas Niko is "Director Of Engineering at CORSAIR". We contacted them for a statement, and it can be seen following the break.

Premium custom PC case maker CaseLabs announced today a new revision to the Magnum SMA8 case which is easily the company's most popular and best-selling case. The original Magnum SMA8 was released two years ago, and it has become the preferred case for many water-cooling aficionados. The Magnum SMA8 A Revision (SMA8-A) has been refined to make the build process even more enjoyable, and more personalized than ever before! The new revision will be available for pre-order soon.

EK Water Blocks, the market leader in PC custom liquid cooling, is launching its new brand created for PC gamers called EK Fluid Gaming. Bringing the best price/performance ratio imaginable, it's set to change how water cooling is perceived. This is real EKWB water cooling at an affordable price thanks to innovative patent pending technology.

The benefits of liquid cooling of CPUs and especially GPUs have never been so obvious as air cooling solutions are struggling to cope with cooling demands of modern PC hardware. Air-cooled PCs tend to suffer from loud noise and overheating, something that no gamer wants to hear and see as it degrades performance of hardware, furthermore preventing any serious overclocking! Liquid cooling is the best solution for rapid heat removal due to its unmatched thermal heat dissipation. It is the only solution that allows successful heat removal from critical spots with zero noise pollution!

The EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti SC2 GAMING HYBRID w/ iCX Technology combines the cooling advancements of the EVGA GTX 1080 FTW Hybrid cooler with EVGA's exclusive iCX Technology. Featuring a total of 11 global patents, iCX is the very definition of Interactive Cooling. With EVGA's iCX Technology, users will have a better understanding of their graphics card's operation. This includes temperature monitoring on key components (not just GPU) and targeted cooling, which provides better overclocking capabilities.

On top of that, we took our award-winning HYBRID solution and cranked it up a notch by including a dedicated memory cooling plate that makes direct contact with the cooling block. The VRM area of the card is covered by a dedicated heatsink/fan that keeps the power areas of the card cool, even during a long gaming session. Of course, the HYBRID water cooling solution gives you unbelievable GPU temperatures, sometimes cutting your GPU load temperatures in half! Best of all? The water cooler is completely self-contained, with an included 120mm radiator and fan, no filling, no custom tubing, and no maintenance. Just plug and play! All backed by EVGA's legendary Warranty. The choice is simple: EVGA HYBRID products are truly water-cooled perfection.

Fractal Design has announced the immediate availability of free AM4 upgrade kits to Kelvin series customers ensuring that owners wanting to upgrade to the latest AMD line of processors will be able to continue to use their multi award-winning All in One Water Cooling unit.

Owners of the Kelvin T12, S24 and S36 choosing to update to the new AM4 socket processor from AMD will be able to apply online via our Support Ticket System. Kelvin users requesting an upgrade kit will be required to upload a copy of their AMD Ryzen CPU or AM4 supported motherboard receipt via "attach a file."

Phanteks, the award-winning thermal cooling and chassis manfacturer, has expanded their products into water cooling. Designed to compliment and work seamlessly with their chassis, GPU and CPU water block, Phanteks is excited to announce their new line-up of Glacier Series Fittings. Consisting of soft tube and hard tube fittings, the fittings are ready for any style of watercooling.

The fittings are made from premium materials according to the finest standards of craftsmanship from Phanteks. The Glacier Fittings are CNC-machined from solid brass and precisely engineered to create a high flow design for extreme water cooling performance. VITON sealing from the Automotive and Aerospace Industries ensure the best reliability and longevity.

Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd announces the CB-01 CPU Water Block. Manufactured by Lian Li in partnership with cooling experts from Overclockers, UK, a world-record overclocking team, this is Lian Li's first water block ever. With their passion for quality materials, the CB-01 is made to the same exacting standards as Lian Li's outstanding cases. The cold plate has a heart of solid copper in a nickel coating and a final layer of tin-cobalt for extra cooling, durability, and corrosion resistance. The top is a translucent acrylic block that visibly guides the cooling waters through the microchannels. The simple yet sturdy mounting fit s virtually all modern and past motherboard sockets securely. For a bit of flare, there are holes pre-drilled for 5mm LED lights.

The CB-01 uses a standard G1/4" thread so most DIY water cooling components will easily fit the inlet and outlet ports. The inlet is deliberately offset against the outlet to allow the coolest water to enter the block in direct contact with the middle of the hottest CPU core. It then flows across the other cores and vents on the opposite side. The microchannels have an area of 32.2mm by 27.3mm but because they are contoured with precision grooves, they provide a greater overall surface area. While not the largest, these dimensions were deliberately chosen to strike a balance between high restriction and high flow for the best cooling for its size. Lian Li used their precision manufacturing to ensure the microchannels are as thin as possible for maximum performance.

Arctic announces the Accelero Hybrid III-140 graphics card cooling solution. The highly efficient Accelero Hybrid III-140 is the all-in-one package for real performance junkies. It combines Water Cooling Solution for the GPU with a 140 mm radiator and a special VRM and RAM cooling for outstanding power.

With a cooling capacity of 300 watts this powerhouse lowers the temperature of even the most powerful GPU. A particularly large water contact surface ensures that the heat can be dissipated quickly. Special attention is given to the voltage regulator module: Individually made VRM heatsinks for NVIDIA and AMD graphic boards and an 80 mm fan provide not only a long service life but especially a better VRM cooling than ever before. And the random access memory also receives a special treatment: A smaller, specially adapted back plate cools the RAM separately to guarantee best efficiency. A gluing of heatsinks on the graphic card is not necessary.

Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd today launches the PC-O8 dual-compartment chassis. Comprised of aluminum and tempered glass, the PC-O8 allows DIY builders to show off their high-end, intricate setups, while hiding cables and less eye catching components in the large compartment behind the motherboard tray.

Through the front glass panel, the PC-O8 is divided into two zones. Zone 1 allows DIY enthusiasts to show off their motherboard and graphics cards through the edge-to-edge side panel windows. On the other side of the motherboard tray, Zone 2 gives plenty of room for cables and less eye-catching components such as hard drives and the power supply.