EVGA and EK parted ways a GPU generation ago when it came to manufacturing the Hydro Copper series of GPU waterblocks, but whoever made this one has done a good job with sticking to EVGA's design and requests. It looks no different from the previous generation of waterblocks from EVGA, right down to the integrated lighting and six-port manifold.

There are a few things offered here that make it worth considering - the integration of lighting is possibly the biggest one. Only two other blocks here offer it, and while both do RGB, they come with at least two cables and need compatible cases/motherboards or the included hardware controller to control it. The solution here is easily the neatest, and I am still surprised at how few waterblock makers have gone this route. Installation is a piece of cake too because of pre-cut, pre-installed thermal pads and a detailed manual EVGA combined with well-labeled mounting hardware. The I/O port manifold also offers more options than nearly every other block here and does not consume a lot more space while doing so.

I do not think this merits a $150 price tag, however, especially with the actual cooling engine using an older design and similar design blocks coming in at the sub-$100 price point now. This hurt performance testing throughout and had the EVGA Hydro Copper come in at the weaker half of the table with flow restriction and thermal performance of the GPU core and VRMs alike. Compatibility with the NVIDIA and EVGA backplates is a nice touch, but most waterblocks will work with at least one or even both.

There are thus some things I definitely like and some I definitely do not. The EVGA branding front and center as well as on the manifold is subjective, but adds that to the latter list for me personally. Overall, I feel unless you like the integrated lighting and six-port option, there are better blocks available for the money. EVGA needs to do more to merit a global recommendation from me at this point.