Introduction

I would like to thank EKWB for supplying the review sample.

From the EKWB website:

EK Water Blocks bears the name of its founder Edvard König, who started experimenting with liquid cooling in 1999. From humble beginnings in the early years of the previous decade, the company grew steadily to become a global premium liquid cooling gear manufacturer.

Today, EKWB offers a complete range of products for liquid cooling, from the renowned Supremacy line of CPU water blocks to a wide range of CoolStream radiators; from in-house developed Vardar high pressure fans to the market-proven DDC series of liquid cooling pumps, and thus provides overclocking enthusiasts and dedicated gamers with the best of what the market can offer. With continuous research and design, we'll always strive to bring extreme liquid cooling performance to our customers all around the world.

EKWB is a watercooling juggernaut that started as just a man's simple idea. Cut to the present and, well, you could say they are one of the top manufacturers of liquid-cooling PC components. They have earned numerous awards and gained an exceptionally large following thanks in part due to exceptional quality and attention to detail. Other than a few hiccups along the way, EKWB has been wildly successful and now looks to bring custom watercooling to even the most hesitant users with the EK-MLC Phoenix, which replaces the now EOL Predator series.

In today's review, we will be utilizing a completely new test bench. Packing an Intel i7 8700K that has not been delidded, we will be comparing coolers as most consumers will use them, which in some situations means that the only reason a cooler fails is due to the TIM Intel utilizes under the IHS. However, that does not change the fact for many users that the temperatures seen here are what they can expect in the worst-possible situation on Intel's mainstream platform.

So, to start things off today, we will take a look at the new EK-MLC Phoenix kit based on the Intel/AM4 block and 360 mm radiator module. Very similar to the Predator series that came before it, this new offering is more streamlined for ease of use by budding enthusiasts wanting to dip their toes into the possibilities of proper watercooling. The question is whether it proves to be a worthy successor or falls flat. Let's take a closer look!

Packaging

As the EKWB MLC-Phoenix liquid cooler is a modular system, it comes in multiple boxes depending on your configuration. Since all I am testing today is the CPU-cooling aspect, you will see the exceptionally large radiator module box and the box for the CPU block.


Looking at the front of the radiator module box, you will notice some fancy graphics and a yellow phoenix. Otherwise, there is nothing to see here. The left side mentions that you should not mix aluminum and copper in a loop, and the back of the box details all individual modules, quick disconnect fittings, and breaks down EKWB's ideals behind the entire modular liquid-cooling lineup that is the Phoenix brand of products.


A 3-sided selection wheel on the right side details what is the box, which, based on its size, should be rather obvious for most. Looking at the top, it's more gray scale imagery, while the bottom details how much room the radiator requires and what is included in the box.


Starting off with the front of the CPU-cooling module, the EK logo and Phoenix branding is readily apparent, taking center stage. On the left side is another warning about not mixing copper and aluminum, as well as a paragraph which goes over the modular cooling design and its two-year warranty. Moving on to the back, we find the various modules detailed again, just as on the radiator's box.


The right side goes over what module is in the box, which, again, quite obviously is the CPU block. Meanwhile, the top and bottom are quite plain, with the bottom listing which CPU block is in the box.

Contents

Unlike the Predator units that came before it in plastic trays, the Phoenix kit comes encased in foam—a lot of foam, which definitely made me smile. Colorful packaging is nice and all, but knowing components are packed safely and securely is just a great way of instilling some peace of mind. Definitely glad to see the packaging upgrade EKWB implemented with these new kits.


Everything needed for just about every modern socket is present. Those wanting Threadripper support, however, will need to purchase a separate CPU-cooling module.

Common parts supplied for mounting include:

• 12x Fan screws
• 12x Short radiator screws
• 5x Mounting arm screws
• 5x Washers
• 4x M4-threaded thumb screws
• 4x LGA 2011-threaded mounting studs
• 4x AM4-threaded mounting studs
• 4x Springs
• 4x M4-threaded thumb nuts
• 3x EK Vardar 120 mm fans
• 2x AMD mounting plates
• 1x Universal backplate
• 1x Rubber gasket
• 1x 360 mm pre-filled Radiator module
• 1x Pre-filled CPU block
• 1x User manual
• 1x SATA power cable