EKWB has certainly produced one of the best all-in-one liquid coolers available when it comes to the Predator 240. It offers extreme cooling performance with an acceptable noise profile. Not only that, but it just exudes quality from down to the Vadar fans or CoolStream radiator and on to the compression fittings, EPDM rubber tubing, and Supremacy MX CPU block; this is not your typical AIO. It is all extremely well thought out—the cable routing and PWM controller for the fans, or the pump and overall design. It also doesn't hurt that it is expandable for up to 3 blocks and 2 radiators, which means the included DDC pump has plenty of power to actually drive a custom loop, unlike the more typical pumps used in many closed-loop coolers today, with their wimpy gurgling and whirling. Also, unlike the Swiftech H220-X and H240-X, the EK Predator 240 can be properly configured in a push-pull configuration for maximum cooling performance. Offering top-tier quality, performance, and acceptable noise levels, the EKWB Predator 240 has set itself apart from the competition. Someone else has finally entered the arena of high quality expandable all-in-one liquid coolers. Way to go, EKWB! The Predator 240 is certainly a monster.

Its not all smooth sailing, however, as a few issues are readily apparent. The $199 price tag is the biggest as its a massive barrier of entry. This is especially true when you consider the fact that the Swiftech H220-X is roughly $50 cheaper and Corsair's H105 is nearly $70-$95 cheaper. Thus, the price premium is quite high, and while I feel the quality makes up for it, there is still no denying that cheaper alternatives exist. The fans are also a bit loud at full speed, hitting 50 decibels. While not ear-splitting or headache-inducing, I would have liked the kit to fall into the sub-50 decibels range at full tilt. While the installation is generally easy and straightforward, I find the need to remove the Intel retention mechanism to install the CPU block to be a huge miss. No other air or liquid cooler I have tested required such a step. As such, a revision would be nice, one that further simplifies the process. I have also never been a fan of hex screws, and that hasn't changed. EKWB utilizes them, and much to my dismay, these are short ones. I wouldn't have minded as much if they were full-length screws capable of holding the fan and radiator in place. I say this because reversing the fans, which, while unnecessary in terms of performance, is a pain as it requires getting these incredibly short hex screws out and back in place. Currently, the Predator 240 does not support AMD sockets; however, a kit for AMD will hopefully materialize at a later date. A lack of extras, like a hex key for the hex screws, would have also been nice. Extra screws for a push-pull setup would have even been nicer. The two year warranty is a bit lacking as Swiftech offers three and Corsair AIOs have a five year warranty. Considering the quality of all the parts used in this kit, a better warranty would have been a nice addition.

Overall, I feel the EK Predator is a fantastic product, and while it may seem as though I am being overly critical of the cooler, I must also say that I absolutely love what it offers. Yes, the price is high, but it is made out of premium components, so that is to be expected. You get what you pay for and most cheap closed-loop coolers are mixed metal loops without any expandability. EKWB has a kit here that can handle an entire system should you wish to expand it. The fact that the Predator goes toe-to-toe with the Swiftech H220-X and H240-X is fantastic as there is finally some competition in the extreme cooling category. All that said, a few small changes would drastically improve the EK Predator 240 in my eyes. Standard 6/32 radiator screws would have been fantastic. If hex screws have to be used, at least include a hex key. Make the backplate easier to install, and you have a near-perfect cooler. The simple fact is that this design is elegant and tasteful while offering high levels of performance. In terms of quality, no other liquid cooler can rival the Predator 240—it really is that good. The only concern to keep in mind is that at 295 mm in length and 68 mm thick, the radiator may not fit into as many cases as the more traditional all-in-one liquid coolers will.

In summation, if cost is not a concern and you want the highest level of performance and build quality you can get from a liquid cooler, the EKWB EK-XLC Predator 240 is the only option without going fully custom.