Watch our AMD Ryzen Offset Mount benchmark with the Liquid Freezer II: ruclips.net/video/xCxqITPtXXA/видео.html Watch our testing methodology basics walkthrough here to learn how we test: ruclips.net/video/fmTOJP4KOyk/видео.html Grab a GN Modmat, high-quality Mouse Mat, toolkit, shirt, or more to support our work while getting something in return: store.gamersnexus.net/ Like our content? Please consider becoming our Patron to support us. Get access to bonus behind-the-scenes videos and custom desktop wallpapers: www.patreon.com/gamersnexus
Love the single use plastic reduction guys 🙏 great work! And shout out to ekwb as the do pack alot in these, here is australia the basic 360 (all black) version retails for less than the arctic 360. So an easy choice.
I was the biggest fanboy of Arctic! but now im biggest hater! listen this videos - uJZ6qiuBLyU and m6Qko5V7LVU (codes videos for youtube) on youtube in headphones on max volume! and this parasitic sound on any of Arcric P12 and P14 fans on ANY of RPMs in vertical installation!! :\ (on video in my case on top intalled absolute the same 3 Arctic P14 fans on same speed horisontaly - and with fans on top i dont have this problem) on videos it is just ~500RPM :( ...and before my Arctic Liquid Freezer 280 pump brocken after 5 months working, i'm getting back my money, but this is not a problem - i'm just will never buy any of AIO again! :/
@@ph7neutral well thats why noctua fans exist and why everyone i know buys them I have my noctua fan at full speed 24/7 and just putting on my headset muted the fan sound and they do not have noise cancelling its just because of the same plastic of the headset stopping the sound entering the headset
They could compile a video of all the skits dad/tech jokes However I'd imagine they would see it as less serious content, and they take things seriously
6 really good RGB fans and a 360 aio for $200 is suprisingly super reasonable. Considering the fact that the fan costs $25 each on its own, you are looking at a wildly good value if you use the other 3 fans in a different area of your case. This is absolutely an amazing bang for the buck looking at it that way!
yeah cost $25 each but only worth $7.50 each and $5each for them to make. can't compare cost of a single item to bulk buy. 250 grams pack of minced beef might be $5 ($20/kg) but then 1kg pack of same mince might only be $10 as buying in bulk
This was a really well-done review. The little animations on the dimensions were really nice, and the footage of someone taking everything out of the box was also really good. You've outdone yourselves.
Argument: There's a limit to how much daisychaining you can do. Every header on the mobo - from the fan headers, to the addressable ones - has a set voltage it can deliver to each header. I believe the fan headers are 12v, while addressable headers are 5v. When you overload those headers with too many daisychained cables, you run into issues with power delivery. One, it can cause the fans to not get enough power to drive all of them - which could cause issues with PWM control. Two, it can cause issues with the LEDs in the fans, where connected lights display incorrect colors, flicker, etc. This is why fan hubs are a thing. In addition to cable management reasons, the hubs connect externally to the power supply via either molex or SATA connections in order to receive enough power to drive all the devices connected to it. If you daisychain fans, you shouldn't do more than three on one header. If you have a larger case like I do (O11 Dynamic XL) with a lot of fans, you're either gonna need a hub, or you're gonna have to split the load between any extra headers available on your motherboard.
@@haziqtheunique The fans will be fine at lower voltages: even in PWM mode, they'll run at 10V, and the MB fan header shouldn't drop below 11.5 to maintain the standard. The real issue is the current limitations. Fan headers on MBs are not rated for very high current, and daisy chaining fans can easily exceed that. Even really high current ones are usually 1A max. 6*0.18 = 1.08A which exceeds this. You can damage the MB if you exceed the current rating of the fan header. 5V addressable RGB are even lower current, which means overloading them will drop the output voltage too low and you'll have issues, but in this case it's more likely to not work than damage anything. Still not recommended.
Hi Steve, thank you for the review. To note on the packaging issues and overuse of single-use plastic, I'm told that our AIO business unit is working on new packaging for a while now that will change this.
Well done as usual. I really can't get over how well done this channel's coverage is. I'm not a long time viewer but I'm definitely having a good time.
Thanks to Steve's in depth analysis of coolers, I am happily waiting on my EK 360 elite and a tube of hydronaut. Definitely taking the advice of moving 3 of the fans into another part of the system, since those fans, they are not cheap, that's for damn sure
Hey GN, I work in tech and use your screwdriver set often. So far it's been the most reliable one I've ever had; no chipped bits, no strips since you provided all the normal computer bits, and the grip is real nice when I need to torque a bit. Also your deskmat is sitting at my work desk. Really awesome job with everything!
@@wishusknight3009 Cable Mess Cable Mess Fix it with some Hubs Cable Mess Cable Mess Fix it with a Hub Old Mc Donald built a gaming pc EK AIO Old Mcdonald Watercooled it with EK AIO
Excellent timing on this video, just as I was interested in buying one because the included extra fans are some of the best on the market you post this video talking about getting the elite for this very purpose.
Although I yet can't afford to have my own self built pc, I look into these reviews. I really appreciate the fact that you guys take really seriously the problem of single use plastic, which is something that usually isn't very taken care of.
Bought this middle of 2020 for the exact reason you said! I care about led’s and performance. I think its the best deal for a lian li case with no fans. 3 on radiator and 3 on case makes it cost way less than buying 3 additional fans separately.
Just wanted to say that if I was one of the people working there, I would be asking for human resources if steve came up to me with that flying spaghetti monster
The Arctic offset mount was a fantastic innovation. It caused the amount of available open box deals to increase drastically because people sent them back when they interfered with motherboards. I got a "used" Liquid Freezer II 240 for 50€, the plastic film still was on the block and fans.
I felt patrick's response deep in my soul! HAHA! I Just got this cooler this week. wish I would have known that the cables were going to be so excessive prior, but made it work.
Artic Liquid Freezer 2 just released an RGB and A-RGB version on May 13th. I upgraded to a Ryzen 9 5900X recently and needed to revamp my cooling solution so I pre-ordered the A-RGB LF2-360 to replace my Corsair H100i cooler. It arrives today so I'm pretty excited to get it in and do some thermal testing. This EK cooler was my runner up in cooler selection, after seeing that mess of fan wires I am EXTREMELY glad I didn't go with the EK. Great video as always!
I have the NON elite version of this and absolutely love it :) Amazing temps and looks phenomenal in my Lian-Li PC-O11. Cable management was quite easy, you should just connect everything into a HUB like the Lamptron SP901 ARGB Fan Splitter or similar (Elite comes with this already) :)
As an user of this cooler (on an R9 5900X), I'm surprised that nothing is said about the pump noise at full speed (3400RPM), which make quite an annoying whine. I would add that the push-pull configuration looks stunning in some cases. It gives a "reactor" look from outside (in an 011 Dynamic) that looks really good.
I bought one of these last week and my plan is like you described. I'm going to take 3 fans and use them as a side intake for my gpu. Looking forward to putting this in my new build.
I love how when mounting the cpu block bracket you're using the be quiet dark rock 4 pro included screwdriver. I'm right there with you guys. That thing is awesome! It's all I ever use now!
I run a Galahad 360 with 6 Lian Li unifans. Cable management is manageable with only 4 cables. Mounted to the top of the 011 dynamic looks awesome and performs good. Great video very informative.
Awesome cooler just installed mine today. There was a mile of cables but the hub helped. Hooked the pump to the pump 1 header and the fans to the cpu 1 on a z590 ace mb. Have the pump at on pwm and the fans on auto in bios. Only thing you have to watch for is the filler that you are not suppose to use. Couldn’t mount it up top on my nzxt 710i since the little nub is in the way. So I mounted it up front with the 3 stock fans that came with the case in a push pull, and used the other 3 rgb fans up top for exhaust. You can dremel out the thickness of a screw and it will fit but I didn’t want to grind on the bracket. Great aio rgb’s look good all controlled through the mb since the hub runs off of the jrainbow. They do sell a controller like nzxt that has different pump and fan modes, with their software, but bios is good enough for me. I’ll probably keep an eye on all temps and go ahead and grind the bracket and test it up top to see which is better. Thanks for the review, this is the reason I bought a case that would hold this aio, and the quality, with all the rgb fans at this price I’m glad I did 👍. Can’t wait for they’re new stuff coming out in October, the nucleus line looks great, more expensive because of all the flashy rgb. But if the performance is their well worth it.
Kudos to EK and the fact they've named one of their fan lines "Vardar" :) It's a river in Macedonia. Macedonia, as well as Slovenia was once a part of Yugoslavia (SFRJ). The respect and friendship between the two countries is enduring to this day. EK rocks! :) Great review as always btw, keep it up.
I will not stop thanking you for your environmental advocacy in the IT sector! I wish all the other reviewers would do the same. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your platform has significant clout in influencing industry by holding them socially accountable. Keep resisting corporate pressure, I'm also grateful that you practice what you preach.
I just got this cooler for free, was wondering if the 6 fans make any difference compared to 3. Now i have my answer, use 3 on the cooler and put the other 3 in the front of the case. Brilliant. Thanks Steve.
FYI the EK AIO Basic 240 also uses the same mounting mechanism and because the matte black pump looks so much better than the questionable RGB one its value is insanely good in my opinion.
i have the EK AIO Basic 240 and it's amazing for the 5800x on a mid tower case (radiator on top position), i literally save like 30bucks only because of the fancy RGB, the black design is so nice without RGB and the performance it's amazing
lmao at the intro , I just got this aio delivered and unboxed . I put off installing for now cause I don't feel like dealing with that cable mess . glad I get to see this first and Im going from a corsair 240 aio to this ek 360. The black cooler looks much better. Glad I saw this video before installation, think I will only use 3 fans . Thanks Steve , excellent video as always
Love to see a fresh tear down of a new EK aio to see if they’ve fixed the problems spotted found in the initial tear down (discoloured cold plate, gunk and other debris)
in short for people new to this stuff , you need push pull only if the rad is too thick and has dense fins ..you are welcome Suggestion for Arctic use fans like MagLev , change your mounting , use thicker rad , maybe use copper rad/fins and stay away from the z2pid rgb
Thanks for the review Steve. I installed this AIO in my Dark Hero, X5900, Lian Li O11D XL last week. I'm not big on LED either but a little static color doesn't bother me. I used a pull config for the radiator on the side intake, and used the other three fans for top exhaust. I added some 140s on the bottom to move some air over the vertical mount RTX 3090. Not sure if this is the best layout with positive pressure, but I wanted outside air coming over the radiator and figured the 140s on the bottom pushing air over the GPU would make top radiator not as efficient. My temps are good. Just hope this is reliable over the long run.
7:33 thank you for calling this out, I feel a lot of review outlets don't. Also thank you for showing how it's done with your own products, I always love when I open something new and I don't feel like an asshole for throwing away all the plastic.
I just unboxed my @arctic Liquid free 2 420 yesterday for my build and It was such a joy to see ONE cable for the entire beast. just one. I don't think I will ever be cable manage 14 cables of EK AIO ever. for those looking for non-RGB and performance AIO Artic liquid freezer is a great choice.
I bought the EK for looks and function. Very happy. Running on 3 fans and very impressed with performance. Cable management wasn't too bad with the 3 but when i had 6 installed... not only messy but noisier than I would've liked.
My goodness. If I ever own a business, I would pay you to review my product. Your thorough, no-filter reviews continue to be more informative and useful every year.
Get the Liquid Freezer II 420 and put Noctua 3,000 rpm industrial fans on it. Quiet when you want it, insane airflow when you need it. It's about 55 dB when the fans are running flat out and below 24 dB (noise floor) with the fans running at 750 rpm. It sits there running silently until the CPU (5950x) is over 50%, then the fans perk up. With the fans running flat out it keeps the CPU under 90C at 100% (230W PPT) load.
one thing worth noting about the EK AIO coolers is that the screws that attach the correct mounting brackets to the pump/block stick out quite a bit and can cause clearance issues when using delidded CPUs. I ended up super gluing the intel brackets onto my EK AIO because those aforementioned screws would contact the inductors on my motherboard and prevent proper contact with the CPU. I hope that EK can use some sort of countersunk screws on the mounting brackets on their next revision of these coolers. I know that by rotating the pump/block 90 degrees would solve this problem but that introduces other clearance issues with the VRM cooler and memory on my particular motherboard. Then again this might just be a super niche issue that doesn't justify a design revision, I can't imagine a whole lot of people are putting this massive AIO onto a delidded CPU on a mini ITX motherboard.
I wish there was a segment of this channel, dedicate to reviewing built systems by fans and then promoting their top picks for design, efficiency, and power.
Recently got the 280mm unit because it was discounted on Amazon for $122 (the d-RGB was only $90, also discounted), and was very disappointed because there was so much bubbling at the pump despite mounting the radiator correctly and shifting it around. EK took 3 business days (5 actual days) to get back to me after messaging on Amazon, I got impatient and decided to take it apart. Shaking it around the AIO felt very under-filled, and the internals of the AIO was under a lot of pressure when I took the cold plate apart, where there was so much air pressure coolant started to squirt out; this might explain why no matter how I shifted the radiator there was always bubbles at the pump. I slowly filled it with distilled water, this resolved the pump noise, and performance is excellent on a 7800X3D in a SSUPD Meshroom S. If you get this issue, probably just be more patient and get it RMAed by EK, it doesn’t seem to be a major issue, but I’ve heard a lot of complaints on EK’s QC on their AIOs. If you have an idea on how filled an AIO should be (the sound of the coolant sloshing around when shaking the radiator), if you shake it out-of-the-box and it feels under filled, maybe you have a bad unit that might be need RMAing/returning
So for my Phanteks Enthoo 719 case, I needed to buy all of my own fans and went with EK VARDAR EVO D-RGB fans since they are basically the same fans that come with the EK AIO. However, the interesting thing is that the Elite AIO is actually better value than the non-elite AIO. Each fan costs about $25, so if I went with the non-Elite model, I'd have to buy 3 extra fans for my case for $75, totaling around $225. However, getting the Elite model gives me those same 3 extra fans at only $200 (including an RGB hub), and according to EK, the Elite model has a stronger pump than the non-elite model; plus, the Elite model just looks so much better. So overall, I'm very happy with my purchase of the Elite model, even though I don't use the push-pull configuration. I saved $25 for something that performs the best in terms of RGB AIOs.
This cooler with it's 6 Fans is great for the : * Lian Li 011 Dynamic XL Case ✅ There is plenty of room for the 360 radiator at top or on the side And the 3 extra fans for the side or top, which ever configuration you prefer And you have a 6 Fan case 🤩 I will add two more intake fans on the bottom and one exhaust fan at the back Making the case a 9 fan case, 5 intake, 4 exhaust
I remember you saying you were going to review the beQuiet Pure Loop. I recently got it and have pretty good Temps, but what to see how it does in your tests. Love your content!!!! Keep'em commin'
Will be getting the Artic 360 next month, to replace my Artic 280 that DOES not sit well in my new corsair 5000x case. Great video and info as always 👍
Steve is going to flip when Arctic eventually does an RGB AIO (They finally released RGB and ARGB fans so it's not far off). Steve's reaction: 'YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!!!'
I just bought this to replace my old original liquid freezer, and it should arrive tomorrow. The amount of cables is quite obnoxious but I'm fine cable managing it, the price isn't awful and the performance is great. I would ponder getting the liquid freezer II instead of the EKWB, but frankly, in my opinion the liquid freezer II's block looks atrocious. I don't even particularly care about the rgb, even though I do enjoy it, what pushed me to the EK over the liquid freezer really was the look.
I bought one of these for my build because in my opinion this is one of the nicest looking AIOs. Beware if you have an Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero like me. I have 4 Corsair Dominator Platinum modules and this AIO block/tubing does not fit. It pushes against the first memory DIMM. Now I’m stuck with an opened AIO (not cheap either) as EK would not accept it for return. I switched to a Lian Li Galahad and it fits ok.
Why? If the performance is similar, it fills the niche for people who do want RGB. AND if arctic can come up with as good of a cable management solution as they did for their AF2 line, that further differentiates it from other products. More competition is good for us, the consumers.
Plastic wrap is usually there as a moisture barrier. Sure in theory they ship in weatherproof containers or trailers. In practice it is a dice roll. Pallets get left outside. Containers get damaged. Sometimes doors are left open. Sometimes they aren't closed properly. Sure removing single use plastics makes a good headline and all, but writing off a whole pallet of product because it sat on top of a puddle is far less environmentally friendly.
I have the normal 360 drgb ek aio and I have a blacked out build with all my rgb to white and the block with the white light and white acrylic looks pretty good to me. But any other color than white and it doesn't look good. This new pump would also look great in my build too though and would prefer it if I had the choice.
This AIO has daisy chain capabilities integrated. This is able to cool my Ryzen 9 5900x @ 4.7Ghz on all cores 1.4v. Great to finally see Steve review it.
@@senseitetra4318 thats a very high temp for gaming! Since cpu in the games should be 20-30-40 % tops! And gpu is at 99%! Shes doing the work..so having that much high temps on cpu in games is very very bad...mine 5900x with corsair 240 aio sits in games at 50c, and at 78 at 4.5ghz at full load (like cinebench)
I ordered one of these, and also 3x of Noctua's 3000rpm industrial fans. Noise is not an issue for me, as the computer is in a separate room. It'll be interesting to see how well it cools with those industrial, high-speed fans.
I bought this CLC based on your good reviews for the ek 360, figured 3 more fans doesn't change much. Unfortunately... after getting everything else set up, I found the pump is doa. Checking 1 star reviews, I found many other people with the same issue. Now I have a noctua nf9us cooling my 5800x and the rad and all fans still in the case, with the water block wrapped in plastic and just hanging in there. I can't muster the energy to do anything about it right now. God darn it ek. I was really impressed with the fan hub though, with the nice clear top and the argb indicator light (helps with troubleshooting too)
Thanks for the info. We'll keep an eye on the pump and see if it produces a similar failure over long-term use. Thus far, we haven't had any pump issues, but obviously that doesn't mean they aren't happening. We'll keep an eye out and appreciate viewers like you who help us keep an ear to the ground for what's going on at a wider scale. It's a different pump from the original one, so maybe that's some of it.
All we need now is a version featuring a 480 rad w/ 8 fans and the massive no air flow case reviewed by GN which had....what was it 🤔 12-15 fans in it...WTF imagine the cables and hubs needed 🤯🤯🤯!
Watch our AMD Ryzen Offset Mount benchmark with the Liquid Freezer II: ruclips.net/video/xCxqITPtXXA/видео.html
Watch our testing methodology basics walkthrough here to learn how we test: ruclips.net/video/fmTOJP4KOyk/видео.html
Grab a GN Modmat, high-quality Mouse Mat, toolkit, shirt, or more to support our work while getting something in return: store.gamersnexus.net/
Like our content? Please consider becoming our Patron to support us. Get access to bonus behind-the-scenes videos and custom desktop wallpapers: www.patreon.com/gamersnexus
Should have done a joke 6 fan push only where they just pressurise the radiator and have no air flow
Love the single use plastic reduction guys 🙏 great work!
And shout out to ekwb as the do pack alot in these, here is australia the basic 360 (all black) version retails for less than the arctic 360. So an easy choice.
I was the biggest fanboy of Arctic! but now im biggest hater!
listen this videos - uJZ6qiuBLyU and m6Qko5V7LVU (codes videos for youtube) on youtube in headphones on max volume! and this parasitic sound on any of Arcric P12 and P14 fans on ANY of RPMs in vertical installation!! :\ (on video in my case on top intalled absolute the same 3 Arctic P14 fans on same speed horisontaly - and with fans on top i dont have this problem) on videos it is just ~500RPM :(
...and before my Arctic Liquid Freezer 280 pump brocken after 5 months working, i'm getting back my money, but this is not a problem - i'm just will never buy any of AIO again! :/
@@ph7neutral well thats why noctua fans exist and why everyone i know buys them
I have my noctua fan at full speed 24/7 and just putting on my headset muted the fan sound and they do not have noise cancelling its just because of the same plastic of the headset stopping the sound entering the headset
Led and PWM should be one connector already just make it 8 pins ..
Stone hiding behind a stack of bombs is golden🤣🤣🤣
Basically an ERA against eldrich cable horror.
yo wtf my comment and yours is literally the same lmao
@@elloygarcia8155 Holy *gigabyte*. Literally same 🤣
@@saashaa51 zone of Absolute Terror
When u have one if those bombs in ur computer. Heheh I'm in danger
"This is not far off from what I have to cable manage every day."
So when are the GN hair clips coming out?
Don't be ridiculous, we all know he uses cable ties and cable coombs
Normal people when they say "mostly positive": Positive with a few negatives
Steve when he says "mostly positive": "I mean... it wasn't ALL negative!"
Same as "mostly peaceful."
My favorite such award in recent times is "Almost didn't suck"
stone hiding behind a stack of psu's WAS GOLDEN
Stack of explosive PSUs!
there was no one hiding behind that stack
I laughed so damn hard at that.
Oh hell yeah, awake for the launch of a new gn vid? Sign me tf up dude.
@@GamersNexus When are we finally getting the video on that? I wanna see both Gigabyte & Newegg eat dirt for this garbage.
"Hey Stone, can you cable mana..."
*Disappears in a cloud of exploding PSU smoke*
gigabyte psus in a nutshell
PSU smoke or NZXT PCI-e riser cable smoke .......
I guess the latter is more fire than smoke.
Frankly, the Liquid Freezer's "one cable and you're done" approach was the true seller for me.
Because who wants to cable manage fan cables and rgb cables
Same here
Yap yap, especially when this cable nightmare is the competing option.
To be fair, im struggling to get my liquid freezer into a push setup... the rgb cables are too short
@@djlytic4603 no they're not lol
0:06 Websites when I check if there are any GPUs in stock
That or no response at all (as they crash, not coming back up until long after the stock is gone)
I would watch a whole show of Gamers Nexus comedy skits
They can make a chennel out of it
They could compile a video of all the skits dad/tech jokes
However I'd imagine they would see it as less serious content, and they take things seriously
I can't wait for cardboard cutouts of the team to be used for comedy
The Nexus
they need to do a comedy compilation at the end of every year with every back-handed jab, skit, etc.
intro is animation is super clean. thumbs up boiiii.
It's shorter than I'd like it to be :d
Still on the fence about it, think it is a tad dark, more so coming from the old one.
6 really good RGB fans and a 360 aio for $200 is suprisingly super reasonable. Considering the fact that the fan costs $25 each on its own, you are looking at a wildly good value if you use the other 3 fans in a different area of your case. This is absolutely an amazing bang for the buck looking at it that way!
yeah cost $25 each but only worth $7.50 each and $5each for them to make.
can't compare cost of a single item to bulk buy.
250 grams pack of minced beef might be $5 ($20/kg) but then 1kg pack of same mince might only be $10 as buying in bulk
This was a really well-done review. The little animations on the dimensions were really nice, and the footage of someone taking everything out of the box was also really good. You've outdone yourselves.
Stone hated that so much he'd rather hide behind a live grenade
change my mind. all fans should have daisy chain plugs on them
Excellent idea. That would also allow different lengths cables, just like with sata-data, power cables, etc.
No argument here. I'd also be happy if all fans had short cable lengths too--then use an extension for the first fan in the chain.
Argument: There's a limit to how much daisychaining you can do. Every header on the mobo - from the fan headers, to the addressable ones - has a set voltage it can deliver to each header. I believe the fan headers are 12v, while addressable headers are 5v.
When you overload those headers with too many daisychained cables, you run into issues with power delivery. One, it can cause the fans to not get enough power to drive all of them - which could cause issues with PWM control. Two, it can cause issues with the LEDs in the fans, where connected lights display incorrect colors, flicker, etc.
This is why fan hubs are a thing. In addition to cable management reasons, the hubs connect externally to the power supply via either molex or SATA connections in order to receive enough power to drive all the devices connected to it.
If you daisychain fans, you shouldn't do more than three on one header. If you have a larger case like I do (O11 Dynamic XL) with a lot of fans, you're either gonna need a hub, or you're gonna have to split the load between any extra headers available on your motherboard.
@@haziqtheunique The fans will be fine at lower voltages: even in PWM mode, they'll run at 10V, and the MB fan header shouldn't drop below 11.5 to maintain the standard.
The real issue is the current limitations. Fan headers on MBs are not rated for very high current, and daisy chaining fans can easily exceed that. Even really high current ones are usually 1A max. 6*0.18 = 1.08A which exceeds this. You can damage the MB if you exceed the current rating of the fan header.
5V addressable RGB are even lower current, which means overloading them will drop the output voltage too low and you'll have issues, but in this case it's more likely to not work than damage anything. Still not recommended.
Love Arctic's PST fans for this reason, I can use a bunch of them on my cheapo motherboard without buying splitters or hubs.
Hi Steve, thank you for the review. To note on the packaging issues and overuse of single-use plastic, I'm told that our AIO business unit is working on new packaging for a while now that will change this.
Well done as usual. I really can't get over how well done this channel's coverage is. I'm not a long time viewer but I'm definitely having a good time.
Thanks to Steve's in depth analysis of coolers, I am happily waiting on my EK 360 elite and a tube of hydronaut. Definitely taking the advice of moving 3 of the fans into another part of the system, since those fans, they are not cheap, that's for damn sure
Hey GN, I work in tech and use your screwdriver set often. So far it's been the most reliable one I've ever had; no chipped bits, no strips since you provided all the normal computer bits, and the grip is real nice when I need to torque a bit. Also your deskmat is sitting at my work desk. Really awesome job with everything!
Old McDonald built a gaming pc
EK AIO
He watercooled his gaming pc
with EK AIO
with a cable mess here and a cable mess there....
genius!
@@wishusknight3009
Cable Mess Cable Mess Fix it with some Hubs
Cable Mess Cable Mess Fix it with a Hub
Old Mc Donald built a gaming pc
EK AIO
Old Mcdonald Watercooled it with
EK AIO
I like it
"Gaming rig" works better than "Gaming pc".
Excellent timing on this video, just as I was interested in buying one because the included extra fans are some of the best on the market you post this video talking about getting the elite for this very purpose.
Thanks GN. I can't stop smiling.
That opening has made my weekend unbreakable.
Although I yet can't afford to have my own self built pc, I look into these reviews. I really appreciate the fact that you guys take really seriously the problem of single use plastic, which is something that usually isn't very taken care of.
"Where'd he go?" The delivery and timing made that silly joke pretty great
The delivery on that particular line also got me pretty hard
Bought this middle of 2020 for the exact reason you said! I care about led’s and performance. I think its the best deal for a lian li case with no fans. 3 on radiator and 3 on case makes it cost way less than buying 3 additional fans separately.
Brave man hiding behind those P850GM boxes, I'd be worried even the packaging could short & catch fire 🔥😬😁
Just wanted to say that if I was one of the people working there, I would be asking for human resources if steve came up to me with that flying spaghetti monster
The Arctic offset mount was a fantastic innovation. It caused the amount of available open box deals to increase drastically because people sent them back when they interfered with motherboards.
I got a "used" Liquid Freezer II 240 for 50€, the plastic film still was on the block and fans.
NEVER feed the Patrick's after midnight!! Love the opening skit, and fantastic job with the intro/ outro graphics!! Keep up the solid work.
I felt patrick's response deep in my soul! HAHA! I Just got this cooler this week. wish I would have known that the cables were going to be so excessive prior, but made it work.
Stone's ninja hiding skill is legendary.
Artic Liquid Freezer 2 just released an RGB and A-RGB version on May 13th. I upgraded to a Ryzen 9 5900X recently and needed to revamp my cooling solution so I pre-ordered the A-RGB LF2-360 to replace my Corsair H100i cooler. It arrives today so I'm pretty excited to get it in and do some thermal testing. This EK cooler was my runner up in cooler selection, after seeing that mess of fan wires I am EXTREMELY glad I didn't go with the EK. Great video as always!
Bought one of the AIO 360 Elite D-RGB's when they first launched, and i'm very happy with it, it keeps my 9900k nice and cool.
No issue with ur aio ? Or change this ek ;) coz I hear , ek got sone issue with pump
It’s dead
Steve your videos are really sharp & crisp looking now lately
I have the NON elite version of this and absolutely love it :)
Amazing temps and looks phenomenal in my Lian-Li PC-O11.
Cable management was quite easy, you should just connect everything into a HUB like the Lamptron SP901 ARGB Fan Splitter or similar (Elite comes with this already) :)
Is the difference just fans or is the more expensive one slightly better
9:24 the only rapper Eminem is afraid to diss.
Damn spitting 🔥
As an user of this cooler (on an R9 5900X), I'm surprised that nothing is said about the pump noise at full speed (3400RPM), which make quite an annoying whine.
I would add that the push-pull configuration looks stunning in some cases. It gives a "reactor" look from outside (in an 011 Dynamic) that looks really good.
My 5800X3D is hot, looking at new coolers. What kind of temp did you get
New intro is so sick guys. Love the channel. Gotta buy a build mat one of these days
I’ve been waiting for this 😎
I haven't had a chance to watch the few latest videos, so that new intro/outro choice was startling. I like 'em!
I bought one of these last week and my plan is like you described. I'm going to take 3 fans and use them as a side intake for my gpu. Looking forward to putting this in my new build.
Hey man , still using ek 360 elite ? How is it ? No issue with pump after a month ;)?
yo I like the measurment overlays you used. Very slick and super clear and informative.
I love how when mounting the cpu block bracket you're using the be quiet dark rock 4 pro included screwdriver. I'm right there with you guys. That thing is awesome! It's all I ever use now!
Yes, I bought the 3 fan model about 6 weeks ago and I love it. Great cooling, I added 3 additional fans for push pull….and I’m happy.
I run a Galahad 360 with 6 Lian Li unifans. Cable management is manageable with only 4 cables. Mounted to the top of the 011 dynamic looks awesome and performs good. Great video very informative.
Awesome cooler just installed mine today. There was a mile of cables but the hub helped. Hooked the pump to the pump 1 header and the fans to the cpu 1 on a z590 ace mb. Have the pump at on pwm and the fans on auto in bios. Only thing you have to watch for is the filler that you are not suppose to use. Couldn’t mount it up top on my nzxt 710i since the little nub is in the way. So I mounted it up front with the 3 stock fans that came with the case in a push pull, and used the other 3 rgb fans up top for exhaust. You can dremel out the thickness of a screw and it will fit but I didn’t want to grind on the bracket. Great aio rgb’s look good all controlled through the mb since the hub runs off of the jrainbow. They do sell a controller like nzxt that has different pump and fan modes, with their software, but bios is good enough for me. I’ll probably keep an eye on all temps and go ahead and grind the bracket and test it up top to see which is better. Thanks for the review, this is the reason I bought a case that would hold this aio, and the quality, with all the rgb fans at this price I’m glad I did 👍. Can’t wait for they’re new stuff coming out in October, the nucleus line looks great, more expensive because of all the flashy rgb. But if the performance is their well worth it.
Kudos to EK and the fact they've named one of their fan lines "Vardar" :) It's a river in Macedonia. Macedonia, as well as Slovenia was once a part of Yugoslavia (SFRJ). The respect and friendship between the two countries is enduring to this day. EK rocks! :) Great review as always btw, keep it up.
I will not stop thanking you for your environmental advocacy in the IT sector! I wish all the other reviewers would do the same. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your platform has significant clout in influencing industry by holding them socially accountable. Keep resisting corporate pressure, I'm also grateful that you practice what you preach.
I just got this cooler for free, was wondering if the 6 fans make any difference compared to 3. Now i have my answer, use 3 on the cooler and put the other 3 in the front of the case. Brilliant. Thanks Steve.
FYI the EK AIO Basic 240 also uses the same mounting mechanism and because the matte black pump looks so much better than the questionable RGB one its value is insanely good in my opinion.
i have the EK AIO Basic 240 and it's amazing for the 5800x on a mid tower case (radiator on top position), i literally save like 30bucks only because of the fancy RGB, the black design is so nice without RGB and the performance it's amazing
lmao at the intro , I just got this aio delivered and unboxed . I put off installing for now cause I don't feel like dealing with that cable mess . glad I get to see this first and Im going from a corsair 240 aio to this ek 360. The black cooler looks much better. Glad I saw this video before installation, think I will only use 3 fans . Thanks Steve , excellent video as always
That intro sound effect is what I would want to play on my speaker system when I turn it on, literally every time
Love to see a fresh tear down of a new EK aio to see if they’ve fixed the problems spotted found in the initial tear down (discoloured cold plate, gunk and other debris)
Wish socket 2011 mounting style was more common. Swapping coolers on my x79 test bench is the easiest thing ever, I love it.
Loving the new intro guys, just want to show appreciation for it!
in short for people new to this stuff , you need push pull only if the rad is too thick and has dense fins ..you are welcome
Suggestion for Arctic use fans like MagLev , change your mounting , use thicker rad , maybe use copper rad/fins and stay away from the z2pid rgb
Thanks for the review Steve. I installed this AIO in my Dark Hero, X5900, Lian Li O11D XL last week. I'm not big on LED either but a little static color doesn't bother me. I used a pull config for the radiator on the side intake, and used the other three fans for top exhaust. I added some 140s on the bottom to move some air over the vertical mount RTX 3090. Not sure if this is the best layout with positive pressure, but I wanted outside air coming over the radiator and figured the 140s on the bottom pushing air over the GPU would make top radiator not as efficient. My temps are good. Just hope this is reliable over the long run.
This is the most glowing review of an RGB cooler I've ever seen from Steve.
7:33 thank you for calling this out, I feel a lot of review outlets don't. Also thank you for showing how it's done with your own products, I always love when I open something new and I don't feel like an asshole for throwing away all the plastic.
If you're reading this EK. Please sell the fan controller separately. Would love to have one of those!
That intro felt like a skit for a nerd version of the office
I just unboxed my @arctic Liquid free 2 420 yesterday for my build and It was such a joy to see ONE cable for the entire beast. just one. I don't think I will ever be cable manage 14 cables of EK AIO ever. for those looking for non-RGB and performance AIO Artic liquid freezer is a great choice.
The wires go from the fans to the hub, the hub has 1 wire that plugs into the mb. What is there to manage?
I bought the EK for looks and function. Very happy. Running on 3 fans and very impressed with performance. Cable management wasn't too bad with the 3 but when i had 6 installed... not only messy but noisier than I would've liked.
I LIKE that non-elite block, it matches tridentz acrylic covers and some other rgb diffusers
Lets go! I've been looking at picking up an EK cooler for a little while!
Well the video comes right after I got the special gold edition 😃😊
I used a push config
Cable management was a blast in the 5000D air
My goodness. If I ever own a business, I would pay you to review my product. Your thorough, no-filter reviews continue to be more informative and useful every year.
Get the Liquid Freezer II 420 and put Noctua 3,000 rpm industrial fans on it. Quiet when you want it, insane airflow when you need it. It's about 55 dB when the fans are running flat out and below 24 dB (noise floor) with the fans running at 750 rpm. It sits there running silently until the CPU (5950x) is over 50%, then the fans perk up. With the fans running flat out it keeps the CPU under 90C at 100% (230W PPT) load.
I wanted to leave a comment applauding GN's switch from the over use of plastic.
one thing worth noting about the EK AIO coolers is that the screws that attach the correct mounting brackets to the pump/block stick out quite a bit and can cause clearance issues when using delidded CPUs. I ended up super gluing the intel brackets onto my EK AIO because those aforementioned screws would contact the inductors on my motherboard and prevent proper contact with the CPU. I hope that EK can use some sort of countersunk screws on the mounting brackets on their next revision of these coolers. I know that by rotating the pump/block 90 degrees would solve this problem but that introduces other clearance issues with the VRM cooler and memory on my particular motherboard. Then again this might just be a super niche issue that doesn't justify a design revision, I can't imagine a whole lot of people are putting this massive AIO onto a delidded CPU on a mini ITX motherboard.
I would love to see their reaction to this review. They must be so happy
I just got the EK 360 AIO and freaking love it! One thing I wish they did was to make it expandable to work with their GPU water blocks
Their first aio the predator did that ,i have one sitting on a 4790k. It actually was repair friendly even tho ek never marketed it as such
Hey , still using 360 ek ? How is it ? No issue with pump after a month ? I hear ek 360 aio , got issue with pump after few weeks
@@evgenyskokov3090 still going strong no issues so far
Fantastic job on reducing plastic waste. I will check out your store for this alone.
I wish there was a segment of this channel, dedicate to reviewing built systems by fans and then promoting their top picks for design, efficiency, and power.
Recently got the 280mm unit because it was discounted on Amazon for $122 (the d-RGB was only $90, also discounted), and was very disappointed because there was so much bubbling at the pump despite mounting the radiator correctly and shifting it around. EK took 3 business days (5 actual days) to get back to me after messaging on Amazon, I got impatient and decided to take it apart. Shaking it around the AIO felt very under-filled, and the internals of the AIO was under a lot of pressure when I took the cold plate apart, where there was so much air pressure coolant started to squirt out; this might explain why no matter how I shifted the radiator there was always bubbles at the pump. I slowly filled it with distilled water, this resolved the pump noise, and performance is excellent on a 7800X3D in a SSUPD Meshroom S. If you get this issue, probably just be more patient and get it RMAed by EK, it doesn’t seem to be a major issue, but I’ve heard a lot of complaints on EK’s QC on their AIOs. If you have an idea on how filled an AIO should be (the sound of the coolant sloshing around when shaking the radiator), if you shake it out-of-the-box and it feels under filled, maybe you have a bad unit that might be need RMAing/returning
Man the new outro looks slick
So for my Phanteks Enthoo 719 case, I needed to buy all of my own fans and went with EK VARDAR EVO D-RGB fans since they are basically the same fans that come with the EK AIO. However, the interesting thing is that the Elite AIO is actually better value than the non-elite AIO. Each fan costs about $25, so if I went with the non-Elite model, I'd have to buy 3 extra fans for my case for $75, totaling around $225. However, getting the Elite model gives me those same 3 extra fans at only $200 (including an RGB hub), and according to EK, the Elite model has a stronger pump than the non-elite model; plus, the Elite model just looks so much better.
So overall, I'm very happy with my purchase of the Elite model, even though I don't use the push-pull configuration. I saved $25 for something that performs the best in terms of RGB AIOs.
Had my Arctic Freezer II 360 for about 2 years now and never had a problem with it. Used on a 3700X and currently a 5800X.
This cooler with it's 6 Fans is great for the :
* Lian Li 011 Dynamic XL Case ✅
There is plenty of room for the 360 radiator at top or on the side
And the 3 extra fans for the side or top, which ever configuration you prefer
And you have a 6 Fan case 🤩
I will add two more intake fans on the bottom and one exhaust fan at the back
Making the case a 9 fan case, 5 intake, 4 exhaust
I remember you saying you were going to review the beQuiet Pure Loop. I recently got it and have pretty good Temps, but what to see how it does in your tests. Love your content!!!! Keep'em commin'
Will be getting the Artic 360 next month, to replace my Artic 280 that DOES not sit well in my new corsair 5000x case. Great video and info as always 👍
I have this hub without the EK branding, it is pretty good indeed.
Steve is going to flip when Arctic eventually does an RGB AIO (They finally released RGB and ARGB fans so it's not far off). Steve's reaction: 'YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!!!'
Steve's reaction: I've got side cutters. Snip snip.
That's already out and purchasable on amazon (Liquid Freezer II A-RGB)
I just bought this to replace my old original liquid freezer, and it should arrive tomorrow.
The amount of cables is quite obnoxious but I'm fine cable managing it, the price isn't awful and the performance is great.
I would ponder getting the liquid freezer II instead of the EKWB, but frankly, in my opinion the liquid freezer II's block looks atrocious.
I don't even particularly care about the rgb, even though I do enjoy it, what pushed me to the EK over the liquid freezer really was the look.
Always love the intro skits
I applaud you for getting rid of the unnecessary plastics! If everyone would be as forward thinking as you, it'd be awesome. Still, 👏
I bought one of these for my build because in my opinion this is one of the nicest looking AIOs. Beware if you have an Asus ROG Crosshair VIII Dark Hero like me. I have 4 Corsair Dominator Platinum modules and this AIO block/tubing does not fit. It pushes against the first memory DIMM. Now I’m stuck with an opened AIO (not cheap either) as EK would not accept it for return. I switched to a Lian Li Galahad and it fits ok.
I have one of these with Noctua fans on it!
I'm still rocking an Asus ROG 360 push/pull over a year later on an AMD 3970X and it's still running great.
Man so many of these look better on the radiator than my EVGA, but I actually really like the pump block on it thought it could be better.
you know steve is gonna rage when he hears that artic is releasing a RGB version of their aio
Reckon RGB is just white noise for him at this point
Eh, they concentrated performance first. They want an RGB puke version after, that's fine.
Why? If the performance is similar, it fills the niche for people who do want RGB. AND if arctic can come up with as good of a cable management solution as they did for their AF2 line, that further differentiates it from other products.
More competition is good for us, the consumers.
Plastic wrap is usually there as a moisture barrier.
Sure in theory they ship in weatherproof containers or trailers. In practice it is a dice roll.
Pallets get left outside. Containers get damaged. Sometimes doors are left open. Sometimes they aren't closed properly.
Sure removing single use plastics makes a good headline and all, but writing off a whole pallet of product because it sat on top of a puddle is far less environmentally friendly.
bought mine a few months
ago that jungle of cables is a pain but all in all very sleek look and love it!
I have the normal 360 drgb ek aio and I have a blacked out build with all my rgb to white and the block with the white light and white acrylic looks pretty good to me. But any other color than white and it doesn't look good. This new pump would also look great in my build too though and would prefer it if I had the choice.
This AIO has daisy chain capabilities integrated. This is able to cool my Ryzen 9 5900x @ 4.7Ghz on all cores 1.4v. Great to finally see Steve review it.
What are your load temps
@@DC3Refom I haven’t checked in a while. From what I remember 70c-85c gaming and streaming Warzone 1080p.
@@senseitetra4318 thats a very high temp for gaming! Since cpu in the games should be 20-30-40 % tops! And gpu is at 99%! Shes doing the work..so having that much high temps on cpu in games is very very bad...mine 5900x with corsair 240 aio sits in games at 50c, and at 78 at 4.5ghz at full load (like cinebench)
I ordered one of these, and also 3x of Noctua's 3000rpm industrial fans. Noise is not an issue for me, as the computer is in a separate room. It'll be interesting to see how well it cools with those industrial, high-speed fans.
Great video and fire new intro btw
amazing review as always gentleman
I bought this CLC based on your good reviews for the ek 360, figured 3 more fans doesn't change much. Unfortunately... after getting everything else set up, I found the pump is doa. Checking 1 star reviews, I found many other people with the same issue. Now I have a noctua nf9us cooling my 5800x and the rad and all fans still in the case, with the water block wrapped in plastic and just hanging in there. I can't muster the energy to do anything about it right now. God darn it ek.
I was really impressed with the fan hub though, with the nice clear top and the argb indicator light (helps with troubleshooting too)
Thanks for the info. We'll keep an eye on the pump and see if it produces a similar failure over long-term use. Thus far, we haven't had any pump issues, but obviously that doesn't mean they aren't happening. We'll keep an eye out and appreciate viewers like you who help us keep an ear to the ground for what's going on at a wider scale. It's a different pump from the original one, so maybe that's some of it.
All we need now is a version featuring a 480 rad w/ 8 fans and the massive no air flow case reviewed by GN which had....what was it 🤔 12-15 fans in it...WTF imagine the cables and hubs needed 🤯🤯🤯!