Closer Examination

The EK-Quantum Magnitude is available in four options per platform (Intel LGA 115x, Intel LGA 20xx, and AMD AM4) consisting of a copper cold plate and acetal top, a nickel-plated copper cold plate and acetal top, a nickel-plated copper cold plate and plexi top, and a full nickel version which uses a nickel-plated copper cold plate and a nickel-plated brass top. The middle two versions are also d-RGB models by default, so you get a more budget-friendly version with no plating and no RGB and a high-end model with a lot more metal. EK sent me the full nickel variant for LGA 115x, and we immediately see a product design that is very similar to the previous EK CPU blocks and fits in with their Quantum design philosophy they are so proud of.

The top is CNC-machined, and we see the marks under a macro lens, but it is still smooth to the touch. There are two machined BSP G1/4" threaded ports in the brass top, which are done perfectly and 29 mm apart. This spacing is enough to accommodate the large fittings typically used in DIY watercooling today. It is also the exact same distance as on the EK-Vector GPU blocks and has the I/O terminal such that you can now have a parallel tube routing without obsessing about the ports not being aligned. There is an EK badge sticker on the bottom-left corner, and the top has chamfers on the side with less attention to the finishing as the machining marks are more visible and can be felt, which of course is not a deal breaker. As we will see on the next page, the frame here is effectively the mounting bracket in terms of housing the installation hardware and machined out of aluminium with either a natural finish as here or black anodization if you have an acetal top. There is an aluminium accent between the frame and the top that is more customizable, including with d-RGB LEDs for the nickel/acetal or nickel/plexi variants, available as an optional accessory for purchase, also in different color options.


Turning the block around, we see a plastic sticker over the cold plate that protects it during transit, with a warning reminding users to remove it prior to installation. Three of the four variants per platform will have a nickel-plated copper cold plate, which EK says is their first produced with a lathe-turned base for a curvature to better fit the CPU IHS and is another reason there are separate LGA 115x and 20xx blocks in addition to the different jetplates inside. By default, you get a curved cold plate for a typical CPU IHS, marked by the curve on the side of the cold plate and the frame, and there is an optional flat cold plate for a lapped IHS or bare die. As a happy coincidence, the machined marks on the cold plate and frame also help end users identify the correct cold plate orientation during re-assembly.


Disassembly of the block was done after all testing was complete and begins with the removal of the four hex head countersunk screws on the back. The provided Allen key comes in handy here, and the frame and cold plate immediately separate from the rest of the block, which allows for a better look at the aluminium frame with spacing on the corner to accommodate the mounting hardware that is quite light at under 50 grams compared to the usual steel mounting brackets that are thinner and can get warped, as was the case with the Alphacool Eisblock XPX recently. The top, accent, and jet plate are all seen here with more EPDM O-rings to direct coolant flow through the cooling engine without leakage.


Compared to the pre-installed 0.6C jet plate, the 0.7C replacement jet plate has an effect on the overall bow of the cold plate through its curvature, and the thicker of the two is flatter prior to installation. Both jet plates have a notch opening for a more central coolant flow velocity on the smaller die used in the CPUs compatible with the Intel LGA 115x socket. The thicker jet plate is to be used if your specific CPU IHS is curved more than usual, which means the vast majority will want to use the pre-installed jet plate. The accent in my specific sample has blotches that are due the hand assembly done on these early samples which is not a good look for a flagship product that is expected to be disassembled, but also should not be present on the actual production line. EK offers a lot of optional replacements for this piece, including the d-RGB version with 30 addressable LEDs shining inward along the four sides and anodized accents in black, red, blue, green, purple, or gold.


Ah, as with the older EK-Supremacy EVO, we are back to using inserts to help with the desired pressure on the cold plate and CPU IHS! The insert for this LGA 115x block is symmetrical in its flow path to cater to the symmetrical CPU die, which I thus assume is identical to the one in the LGA 20xx block as well. The inserts are all brass in even the plexi and acetal top blocks, since EK points out that the mounting pressure via the cold plate will rely on keeping all other variables to a minimum. As per the company, the AM4 block insert is asymmetrical, which helps customize that block to the Ryzen chiplet design. This means there are a lot of parts specific to the three different CPU socket families, but the top itself is completely interchangeable across the various blocks. The insert is also freely rotatable due to this cooling engine design, so you can have your choice of how you want the in/out ports to be oriented without worrying about any performance hit.


The cold plate has more area dedicated to the machined microfins and microchannels than before, which is good to see after the "feedback" they got for their original sTR4 cold plate design. It is 56.3 mm across and 3.35 mm (3.55 in the contact area) thick, which is above average and can be a larger barrier to heat transfer with all other things being equal. Given the recessed fins and channels relative to the base of the underside of the cold plate, I am unable to reliably measure the thickness of the two as well as the height of the fins, but this does help counter the thicker cold plate in bringing the additional heat transfer surface area closer to the CPU IHS. A cursory examination reveals consistent machining with channels that are thick enough (400 µm rated between 260 µm thick fins) to allow coolant to flow through without as big a pressure drop as one would think upon first glance. The fins occupy an area of 43.1 x 35.3 mm, which does involve some of the staggered steps at the corners and is significantly more than the previous EK CPU blocks for non-HEDT only CPUs.


Above are some stock images from the company to showcase better the various options for the tops, accents, and even a cross-section of the EK-Quantum Magnitude.