Thermal Performance

Test System

Test Methodology

A Xylem D5 pump, Aquaero 6 XT controller, and an EK-Quantum Surface X360M radiator with Phanteks T30-120 fans help complete the loop. The CPU is not placed in the loop to make the only source of heat the GPU core/VRM/VRAM, thus limiting testing to the GPU block itself. Average flow rate is set to 1 GPM and calibrated in-line temperature sensors are used to measure the coolant's temperature. Everything required is placed inside an environmental chamber with the ambient temperature set to 25 °C. Thermal paste cure time is taken into account, and three separate mounts/runs are done for statistical accuracy, and to remove chances of any mounting-related anomalies. For each run, a 60 minute loop of 3DMark Time Spy Extreme was done, and temperatures were monitored until a steady state was reached, after which they were recorded. Omega NTC type thermistors were used to measure the temperatures of the nearest VRAM and VRM modules from the top. A delta T of GPU core/VRM/VRAM and loop temperatures was thus calculated for each run, and the average delta T that was then obtained across all three runs. This way, the ambient temperature is taken out of the picture.

Test Results

Every entry here, except for the CORSAIR iCUE Link XG3 universal block, comes with a backplate included. I do not have any active backplates this time, although you can get one with EK. Some blocks also use higher performance thermal pads throughout whereas others don't have any pads on the backplate at all. EK lands in the middle in terms of offering things throughout but ultimately that tweaked cooling engine doesn't outperform the Watercool and Alphacool blocks that were completely re-designed from their previous releases.