A Look Inside

Getting into the system is relatively easy, but may be problematic for some because of how the panels are connected to the chassis. The case EK chose is based on the Lian Li V3000 and uses large metal push pins that secure all the panels. Thus, lifting up on them, you will encounter stiff resistance, but they will let go and remove cleanly. This is how EK managed such a clean look, as no screws are used. With the top panel removed, you can see the four EK Furious Vardar EVO fans, which have a maximum RPM of 3000. These fans blow air down across a 480 mm radiator that is 45 mm thick. Meanwhile, removing the front panel shows no fans in the front. While that could be seen as an issue due to the orientation of the liquid-cooling system, it is not a problem.


Removing the left side panel gives access to most of the system and is on the surface an easy task. However, the chassis has what I would consider a design fault. The panels use metal posts and plastic clips to secure them. Removal and re-installation of the panels can cause the plastic clips to break. This may prove problematic for future maintenance. The system's internals are clean, and the tubing runs nicely spaced. Considering the specifications of the system and its massive liquid-cooling loop, it's a nice surprise to see ample space to make upgrades rather easy. Flipping to the right side, I found the cable runs to be neat to where I felt a bit jealous considering the chaotic spaghetti wiring of my personal system. Suffice it to say, EK Fluid Works paid attention to the minor details with the Studio Series S5000. EK went with a separate fan control hub via the PCB mounted at the top to keep fan wiring under control, which is likely a good call since it makes cable management easier and allows for a simpler PWM control scheme. We see the EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 P2 power supply here as well. Considering the system's potential power draw, this 1600-watt monster should do just fine, as initial tests show the system having an Idle power draw of 240 watts at the wall and between 1000-1250 watts under intense load.


A closer look at the CPU block reveals it is from the EK Quantum Velocity lineup. Meanwhile, while nothing fancy, the system memory is more than suited for the job, with 128 GB installed in total. Furthermore, with four more open DIMM slots, it can easily be doubled to the maximum 256 GB if necessary. Finally, large heatsinks on the ASRock TRX40 Creator keep temperatures in check relatively easily. Moving towards the front of the chassis, EK has placed the reservoir with enough room for access without much trouble. Also note the barb and clamp fittings instead of the usual compression fittings on consumer systems.


The distribution block is an interesting setup; it has some quick disconnect fittings that should help with overall maintenance, which is one of my primary concerns with a system like this. Thankfully, its location at the front with easy access should help immensely for future upgrades or expansion. As for the pumps, they are EK D5 units, and no, that isn't a typo. The system utilizes dual pumps, which should provide more pressure and flow along with a bit of security should a single pump fail, although I have yet to have a D5 pump fail. As for the two Zotac NVIDIA RTX 3090 24 GB graphics cards, they are cooled in parallel via the distribution block. Some quick disconnect fittings for the CPU block would have been nice, as that would make upgrades and a complete system teardown for maintenance even easier. To my surprise, the GPUs are supported by a metal bracket, which means no sag, and best of all, they will remain where they belong despite your favorite shipping firm's best efforts.


As for the back of the system, there are plenty of connectivity options with five USB and two LAN ports, WiFi, and more. While the connectivity isn't the best I have ever seen, it should prove more than enough for any real-world situation. A quick look at the "Furious" EK Vardar fan just because, and finally, the memory from G.Skill rated at DDR4-3200 CL 16-18-18-38.