Liquid Flow Restriction

I use a Swiftech MCP50X pump with a FrozenQ 400mL cylindrical reservoir. The pump is powered by a direct SATA connection to an EVGA 1300G2 PSU and controlled by an Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 XT. There is a previously calibrated in-line flow meter and Dwyer 490 Series 1 wet-wet manometer to measure the pressure drop of the component being tested—in this case that of each radiator. Every component is connected to the manometer by the way of 1/2" x 3/4" tubing, compression fittings, and two T-fittings.


EKWB sent over many different samples of the new EK-Velocity CPU block, and I decided to test out two version of the cold plates in the absence of a provided full metal top version. As such, I went with the nickel/plexi (RGB version) and copper/plexi versions, noting that there is no real difference between the plexi and acetal tops in practice based on prior testing of similar blocks. Even when it comes to copper and nickel-plated copper coldplates, the plating thickness is not enough to warrant a major difference by itself, but this way, I can account for some sort of statistical testing for two samples.

As it turns out, there is next to no difference between the two when it comes to pressure drop across them (the slightly increased thickness of the plating can cause a slight increase in pressure drop relative to bare copper), and both end up being less restrictive than the older EK-Supremacy EVO, which is as expected. This is mostly due to the simplified cooling engine, but also note that the inlet port being moved closer to the center can cause a larger shift away from an equal distribution of coolant to the left and right sides from the jetplate split in the center, thus allowing some of the coolant to go through a larger amount of microchannels than others, which can also affect this. Overall, the EK-Velocity is a low-medium restriction CPU block, which is nice to see compared to some of the competition that has crammed in a lot of microfins at the expense of coolant flow rate.