Gamers Nexus told me I needed this... so here it is!

JayzTwoCents
7 Apr 202414:43

Summary

TLDRIn this video transcript, the speaker discusses a new EK product, a high-end water cooling distribution block, which is essentially a reservoir and tube system for custom PC builds. The product is designed with 32 options for fluid input and output, and is compatible with custom cases by Falcon Northwest. Despite its hefty price tag of $490, the speaker expresses interest in using it for a future build, noting its premium look and the potential for a streamlined loop design. The discussion also touches on the challenges of fitting and tubing within the distribution block, and the need for specific low-profile fittings to ensure compatibility.

Takeaways

  • 🌟 The discussion revolves around a new EK product, a PC4 exhibit, which is a high-end custom gaming component.
  • 💡 Falcon Northwest is mentioned as a company with over 30 years of experience in building custom gaming PCs, focusing on premium gaming experiences.
  • 🚀 Custom cases from Falcon Northwest undergo rigorous testing and design processes to ensure optimal performance of all components.
  • 🛠️ The EK product is a unique water cooling component that offers 32 different connection options, catering to various configurations and setups.
  • 💸 The EK component is priced at $490 and is designed as a distribution block with a heavy and premium build quality.
  • 🔧 It comes with specific low-profile fittings and hardware, requiring careful assembly and consideration for proper loop design.
  • 🔄 The component allows for creative and complex water cooling setups, but may add extra complexity in determining the loop order.
  • 🎨 The product is available in two colors, silver and black, and the user received both, which they plan to incorporate into a build.
  • 💰 The total cost of the water cooling setup, including the EK component and fittings, can exceed $2,000, reflecting its high-end nature.
  • 📦 The user plans to use the EK component in a build with a case that supports two 140mm fans, such as the Corsair Obsidian 1000D or similar large cases.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of discussion in the transcript?

    -The main topic of discussion is the new EK water cooling product, specifically a PC4 exhibit, which is a high-end custom gaming component.

  • Who is mentioned as having a preference for water cooling in the transcript?

    -Jay is mentioned as someone who likes water cooling.

  • What company has been building custom gaming PCs for over 30 years as discussed in the transcript?

    -Falcon Northwest is the company that has been building custom gaming PCs for over 30 years.

  • What unique feature does the EK product have that sets it apart from traditional water cooling plates?

    -The EK product has 32 different options for fluid distribution, making it more customizable than traditional water cooling plates.

  • What is the significance of the 32 ports on the EK product?

    -The 32 ports provide multiple options for routing the water cooling loop, allowing for greater customization and efficient use of space within the PC case.

  • What is the purpose of the low profile fittings included with the EK product?

    -The low profile fittings are designed to fit within the limited space of the EK product, ensuring a snug fit without interfering with the other components.

  • What is the warranty policy offered by Falcon Northwest for their systems?

    -Falcon Northwest offers a three-year warranty policy and a year of two-way overnight shipping coverage for their systems.

  • What is the primary concern expressed about the EK product in the transcript?

    -The primary concern is the complexity and cost associated with setting up the EK product, as well as the potential long-term durability of the fittings and tubing.

  • What type of tubing is recommended for use with the EK product?

    -12 mm outer diameter tubing is recommended for use with the EK product.

  • What is the estimated cost of a complete water loop setup with the EK product?

    -The estimated cost of a complete water loop setup with the EK product, including fittings, is over $2,000.

  • What is the final verdict on the EK product after the initial examination in the transcript?

    -The final verdict is that the EK product is a premium, high-end component with a lot of customization options, but it comes at a high cost and may require careful planning and consideration for implementation.

Outlines

00:00

🖥️ Introduction to PC4 Exhibit and EK Water Cooling

The paragraph introduces the PC4 exhibit built by Steve, highlighting the new EK water cooling system. It discusses the custom gaming experience provided by Falcon Northwest and emphasizes their 30-year history in building high-end gaming PCs. The focus is on their custom cases with state-of-the-art testing and design for optimal performance. The paragraph also touches on the importance of water cooling in modern high-heat generating components and introduces the EK product, which is a unique take on distribution plates for water cooling systems. The speaker expresses surprise at the product's design and price, noting its heavy weight and the complexity of tube running inside the distribution block.

05:01

🛠️ Detailed Examination of EK Distribution Block Features

This paragraph delves deeper into the features of the EK distribution block. It discusses the 32 different port options and the necessity of using low-profile fittings due to space constraints. The speaker compares the fitting sizes and types, noting compatibility issues with standard fittings. The paragraph also explores the reservoir aspect of the distribution block, explaining how the pump feeds into it and how the reservoir can be filled and drained through specific ports. Concerns about the longevity of the fittings and tubing when submerged in fluid are raised. The speaker also discusses the intricacies of setting up the loop order and the premium aesthetic of the system.

10:02

💡 Unboxing and Initial Impressions of the EK Distribution Block

The speaker shares their initial impressions upon unboxing the EK distribution block. They discuss the components included, such as the tool for tube insertion and the specific fittings required for the system. The paragraph covers the process of inserting the tubing, the challenges of making tight bends with a mandrel, and the loss of access to certain ports once tubing is in place. The speaker expresses a desire to test the system and plans to use it in a build, despite the high cost of the water loop. They invite suggestions on which case to use for the build, emphasizing the need for cases that can accommodate two 140mm fans and have provisions for the reservoir and pump combo.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡EK loopholes

The term 'EK loopholes' refers to the new product features or design elements introduced by EK, a company known for its water cooling systems for PCs. In the context of the video, these loopholes are seen as innovative solutions that may not have an immediately apparent need but offer enhanced customization options for water cooling systems.

💡PC4 exhibit

PC4 exhibit seems to be a reference to a showcase or demonstration of a PC build, specifically one that incorporates the new EK water cooling components. The term implies a display or presentation of a custom gaming PC setup that utilizes the latest in high-end cooling technology.

💡Falcon Northwest

Falcon Northwest is a company that specializes in building custom high-end gaming PCs. They have been in the business for over 30 years and are known for their focus on delivering a premium gaming experience through custom-built systems that undergo rigorous testing and design processes.

💡Water cooling

Water cooling is a method of cooling computer components, typically the CPU and GPU, using a liquid coolant that circulates through a loop of tubes, blocks, and radiators. It has become more necessary in recent times due to the high heat generated by modern components and offers a more aesthetically pleasing and often quieter alternative to air cooling.

💡Dro plates

Dro plates, short for distribution plates, are components used in custom water cooling systems. They distribute the coolant to different parts of the loop and often have ports for connecting tubing. They are an essential part of the water cooling system and can significantly impact the aesthetics and performance of the loop.

💡Custom gaming experience

A custom gaming experience refers to a personalized and tailored gaming setup that is built to meet the specific needs and preferences of a user. This can include custom PC builds with unique configurations, high-end components, and specialized cooling systems to optimize performance and provide a unique visual appeal.

💡Thermal imaging

Thermal imaging is a diagnostic tool that uses infrared imaging and sensing to visualize the heat of objects. In the context of PC building, it is used to test and ensure that all components are performing at their best by detecting hotspots and inefficiencies in the cooling system.

💡Warranty policy

A warranty policy is a guarantee provided by manufacturers or sellers for their products, promising to repair or replace parts that fail due to defects or workmanship. In the context of the video, a three-year warranty policy is mentioned as part of the services offered by Falcon Northwest, providing customers with peace of mind and assurance of product quality.

💡Two-way overnight shipping

Two-way overnight shipping is a logistics service where items are delivered and returned, if necessary, via overnight courier services. This type of shipping ensures that products arrive quickly and that any returns or exchanges are handled with the same expedited service.

💡Distribution block

A distribution block, also known as a manifold, is a component in a water cooling system that serves as a central hub for distributing coolant to various parts of the loop. It is designed to streamline and organize the flow of liquid, improving the efficiency and appearance of the cooling setup.

💡Tube runs

Tube runs refer to the paths that the coolant takes through a water cooling system. These runs are designed to efficiently cool the components while also being aesthetically pleasing. The layout and routing of tube runs can significantly impact the performance and visual appeal of a custom water-cooled PC.

Highlights

Discussion on new EK loopholes and a PC4 exhibit related to water cooling.

Mention of a high-end custom gaming experience provided by Falcon Northwest.

Falcon Northwest's 30-year history of building gaming PCs with a focus on performance and custom cases.

The importance of thermal management in modern high-heat generating components.

The fun and customization aspects of water cooling systems.

Introduction of a unique product with no discernable reason to exist, yet adds to the water cooling experience.

The $490 US price point for a specialized water cooling distribution block.

The weight and design of the distribution block, intended for cases with provisions for two 140mm fans.

The inclusion of 32 options for a D5 plate, offering customization but also complexity.

Concerns about the longevity and performance of fittings and tubing fully submerged in fluid.

The internal structure and design of the distribution block, allowing for intricate tube runs.

The necessity of using specific low-profile fittings due to limited space within the distribution block.

The distribution block functioning as both a reservoir and an internal tube routing system.

The premium appearance and potential for creative loop designs using the distribution block.

The challenge of managing the loop order and the impact on other ports due to tubing routes.

The use of 12mm outer diameter tubes and the considerations for tight bends and mandrel inserts.

The non-compression nature of the fittings and the implications for system security.

The overall cost of the water cooling setup, including the price of fittings and the distribution block.

The decision to use the distribution block in a future build and the considerations for case selection.

Transcripts

00:00

you guys remember when Steve was talking

00:01

about the new EK loopholes and he said

00:04

this so Jay please we need you to build

00:08

a pc4 exhibit to complete the meme yo

00:10

dog we heard you like water cooling so

00:13

we water cooled your water cooling well

00:16

we got them right here never mind the

00:19

condition at which EK sent them to me in

00:23

though for those looking for a high-end

00:25

custom gaming experience look no further

00:27

than Falcon Northwest Falcon Northwest

00:28

has been building PCS made for gamers

00:30

for over 30 years with a focus on a true

00:32

high-end gaming experience custom cases

00:34

available only through Falcon Northwest

00:36

feature state-of-the-art testing and

00:37

design to ensure that every component is

00:39

performing at their best through thermal

00:41

imaging and rigorous lab testing

00:43

designed and overseen by the Falcon

00:44

Northwest founder himself with a

00:46

complete lineup of systems ranging from

00:47

small to large every Falcon Northwest

00:49

system includes a three-year warranty

00:51

policy and a year of two-way overnight

00:52

shipping coverage providing the ultimate

00:54

peace of mind to see all that Falcon

00:56

Northwest has to offer follow the

00:57

sponsored Link in the description below

01:00

to be fair it does say sample but I

01:02

swear to God if anything ever arrived to

01:04

a customer looking like that from Ek I

01:06

would uh well I'd pretty much lose my

01:09

stuff cuz no nothing should ever arrive

01:11

to a customer like that uh this is the

01:13

silver one this is the black one so

01:15

here's the thing the loophole is a

01:17

product that absolutely has

01:19

no discernable reason to exist to be

01:22

honest but neither does a lot of the

01:24

water cooling crap that we all use

01:26

anyway because water cooling as a whole

01:29

although becoming more necessary these

01:31

days because of the high heat that

01:33

components tend to generate these days

01:35

um it's kind of fun to customize your

01:37

loops and do fun stuff so anyway I've

01:39

never seen anything like this it's kind

01:41

of like a take on Dro plates that's like

01:44

hey you know couple of ports aren't

01:46

probably in the right spot for most Dro

01:49

plates depending on the graphics cards

01:51

and stuff that you're using the height

01:52

of your fittings there's to there's too

01:54

many different variations and EK can

01:55

only account for their own products and

01:57

how high their fittings are and all that

01:59

sort of stuff

02:00

so they basically said you know what

02:01

let's give them 32 options let's give

02:04

them 32 options on a Dro plate but let's

02:07

also complicate it as much as we

02:09

possibly can by not making it just a Dro

02:12

plate where fluid goes in it where it's

02:14

a Dro plate where fluid can go in it and

02:17

you have to tube run inside the disto

02:19

plate so this is a

02:22

$490 US option

02:26

for uh a Dro plate SL distribution block

02:29

BL it really is like a distribution

02:31

block rather than a plate D it's weighty

02:34

though it is super heavy um as you can

02:37

see right here on the mounting holes

02:39

there there there and there it's

02:41

designed to basically meet up with any

02:42

case that gives you Provisions for two

02:45

140 mm fans if you have a case that can

02:47

also fit two 140 mm fans on the back

02:50

I'll like fantex Elite you know big

02:53

cases like that you could run two of

02:55

these bad boys if you want and in fact

02:56

that's what I told Steve I was going to

02:58

do I wanted to run two of them the

02:59

problem is is it sent me a silver one

03:00

and a black one which I guess to be fair

03:02

it's fine because that's that were the

03:04

two options that they that they have um

03:06

I would kind of would want them to match

03:07

anyway here's all the hardware that it

03:09

comes with they're Torx instead of okay

03:11

that's a first normally they use Allen

03:13

so that's a Torx so that's you could you

03:15

have to take the cover off anyway to use

03:17

it so as I mentioned there are the 32

03:20

ports now these are just plugs and I

03:22

don't want to scratch this up so let me

03:25

get so these are just little covers that

03:28

are just on top of the actual will Port

03:30

so they're they're nice they're nice

03:31

plugs they're not the El Cheo plastic

03:34

ones they're literally nickel plated

03:36

like brass so and you'll notice how it's

03:40

kind of like hollow inside you're just

03:41

like dude what the freak is the point of

03:43

all of these now I kind of wonder if

03:45

this would work if I were to sort of set

03:47

this up as just a giant manifold if you

03:51

would I kind of wonder if dude I just

03:54

realized all of these EK ones are nearly

03:56

perfectly placed so the EK is the right

03:58

way so if I were to put like one like

04:00

that would it bother you

04:03

Phil it would totally bother me that's

04:05

for sure because the side with all the

04:07

black covers what you're actually going

04:08

to be looking at but anyway because like

04:10

I said it's not a Dro plate in the

04:12

traditional sense of being a Dro plate

04:14

you have to tube run inside of it so

04:17

let's say for instance I wanted to come

04:20

in one of these ports down here and I

04:21

want to go out with one of the ports up

04:23

there I have to use two 90° fittings

04:24

inside and run a tube up to it so it's

04:27

not really simplifying a whole lot

04:31

except for the fact that I guess you're

04:33

making it a lot of these runs kind of

04:37

contained into one area so let me show

04:39

you what I mean they sent over a bunch

04:40

of fittings too and you have to use

04:43

their low profile fittings because

04:44

standard 90° fittings won't work in

04:46

there I don't know if bits power will

04:48

fit that's another popular fitting bits

04:49

power/ Corsair um we'll we'll do a test

04:52

to see but you can see right here if I

04:54

go ahe and take one of these and open

04:56

them up they've got this low profile 90°

04:58

swivel

05:00

fittings here so that's a standard

05:04

that's not a standard but that's that's

05:05

their low profile 90° fitting allow me

05:08

to show you what their regular ones look

05:09

like so here's the torque micro 90° and

05:12

there's a standard torque so you can see

05:15

why those are not going to fit in there

05:17

however if we look at the overall height

05:19

the uh bits power is SL course there cuz

05:22

they're the same odm is a little bit

05:24

taller so we're just going to have to

05:26

see now on how that's going to work so

05:28

you got the the torque that are going

05:30

all the way around the outside so you

05:32

have to take it apart so there's our

05:35

o-ring careful with that guy and then

05:38

this is just a cover so we'll put that

05:40

out of the

05:41

way you can see right here we have one 2

05:46

3 four output options anything within

05:49

this little channel right here is an

05:50

output from the um pump and then the

05:53

pump just feeds from this one fitting

05:57

right here I guess which you could have

05:58

going back into it

06:00

technically or I guess you could put it

06:02

you can't even put a fitting down in

06:03

there so you're still stuck to having to

06:05

go into it at this at one location so

06:07

you can't even really customize that as

06:08

far as I can tell okay so it is

06:10

absolutely a reservoir on top of being

06:13

an internal tube thing so I don't know

06:15

how else to describe it so you can feed

06:18

the pump right here from the reservoir

06:19

you could fill it from any of the top

06:22

ports you can return to it from any of

06:24

the top ports or the bottom I guess

06:27

you'd want to return down here probably

06:29

just for circulation reasons and unless

06:31

you want a waterfall I guess you could

06:32

have a waterfall going in there I'm now

06:34

wondering how well the fittings will

06:36

hold up over time and the tubing being

06:38

fully

06:39

submerged I guess it should be exactly

06:41

the same as tubing with fluid on the

06:43

inside on the outside so there just

06:46

going to be an extra level of

06:47

complication in my opinion on trying to

06:49

figure out the loop order so let's just

06:52

talk about what happens on the inside

06:54

shall we okay so let's say I had one

06:57

right there

07:02

yeah that's cool that's actually pretty

07:03

cool this this is nice cuz now you know

07:05

that fitting is getting all the way down

07:07

in there this is a weird

07:09

tool

07:11

oh okay well I just broke the

07:15

tool is it in there it's a one time use

07:17

now okay don't overtighten like I just

07:19

did but as you can see these rotate in

07:21

there now right I don't think bits power

07:22

will work cuz look that barely clears

07:24

the O-ring so if I put a bits

07:26

power/ Corsair in there yeah it's

07:29

sticking up higher than the than the

07:31

surface so that's not going to work you

07:34

can see by looking at their fitting too

07:35

it's like perfectly set to the height to

07:38

work inside this thing okay so now if I

07:40

were to say I want to have another like

07:44

that's an in and an out like basically

07:46

this is just a pretty way of getting one

07:48

tube to another area by going to another

07:50

area of the case so you'd be like from

07:52

let's say from CPU to loophole through

07:55

the loophole out to GPU or

07:57

something this just takes place of going

08:00

direct from CPU to GPU so it's extra

08:02

tubing fittings and complication but it

08:04

also looks extremely like premium if you

08:08

will there's that so I would do a 90°

08:10

Bend and they are they have to use 12 mm

08:13

outer diameter by the way these are 12

08:14

mm um tubes so it'll be fine if you were

08:18

to use 12 M mm say inside of this and

08:20

then 13 or 14 elsewhere in your system

08:22

it won't be a problem um unless it just

08:25

bothers you knowing

08:27

like these are not the same to tub that

08:29

are elsewhere in your system if you're

08:31

using 13 or 14 so it' be pretty easy you

08:33

just do a 90° Bend right and then trim

08:35

it where you need and we'll do that in a

08:37

second here but then with it you have to

08:39

use their torque micro hdp or hide um

08:44

hard pipe hdp for hard pipe which is

08:47

kind of

08:48

weird and then you have to attach this

08:51

on there as well and then this is just a

08:54

little bitty microf fitting so it

08:56

doesn't even have like a this is the

08:57

thing that's a little concerning about

08:58

it is it does doesn't even have a like a

09:00

clamp or a compression It just fits in

09:04

there so keep that in mind but you can

09:07

see with just how low profile they

09:10

are that's what it's going to take to

09:12

fit in there because if you go with

09:13

something that's larger and you probably

09:15

should put this on before you put them

09:17

in by the way if you go with something

09:19

that's larger it's not going to clear

09:21

the the top right there so this is

09:23

actually pretty convenient too cuz I can

09:24

just hold it right on top and then I'll

09:26

be able to mark my uh my

09:30

cuts and then be able to put it in there

09:33

but we'll we have to see how to get the

09:34

tube in there too once it's done it's it

09:36

might be easy because one of these can

09:38

rotate one thing I want to point out too

09:39

though is that wherever the tubing goes

09:42

on top of any other ports you lose you

09:45

lose the access to those ports so we're

09:46

going to with that 90° run we lose 1 2 3

09:49

4 five options if we needed those on the

09:52

other side so that's why they give you

09:54

32 cuz they're just like well you got 32

09:57

different abil like ways that you can

09:59

run stuff through this so nothing says

10:02

too with the 12 mm you can do some

10:03

pretty tight bends with 12 the wall

10:05

might want to crush so make sure you're

10:06

using a really good um mandrel tube

10:09

insert for it that way it doesn't have

10:11

any slack if it can wiggle around in

10:13

there then when you bend it it'll oval

10:15

out the hole and then the gaps will make

10:17

it look weird so but you might be able

10:19

to like do like an s or something crazy

10:23

in there but I think sticking to 90°

10:25

bends are probably the best idea so that

10:28

should work and like like I said these

10:29

are

10:31

not they're not compressions so I just

10:35

have to try and twist them in there

10:36

without making the O-rings get cut okay

10:38

there's

10:43

one here we

10:46

go I think I did it wrong though I think

10:49

I have to flip it cuz it's

10:52

all I might have actually trimmed it a

10:55

little too short

10:56

too okay I mean I mean

11:00

there's there's there's that but you get

11:03

the idea okay you get the idea of how

11:05

that would go

11:05

inside

11:09

so yeah I I wish that these were

11:11

compressions cuz I just have a better

11:13

piece of mind with compression the the

11:15

the good news is if one of these pops

11:17

off inside it's still contained your

11:19

Loop will just stop flowing it'll just

11:21

bypass itself whatever the lease

11:23

resistance is back to the reservoir once

11:25

it gets pumped back out again but at

11:27

least it won't leak in your system or

11:30

whatever um but yeah just 90° bends is

11:34

what is all you need I think that would

11:36

still actually hold just it's it's in

11:38

both O-rings oh no it's not dang it I

11:42

mean it slightly Too Short what I think

11:44

is interesting though is there silver

11:45

fitting this is their

11:47

titanium the it's exactly the same thing

11:50

for black but only it's not this nice

11:52

neural shape but I mean you get the

11:54

power of the D5 the D5 pump is excellent

11:56

at overcoming um long tube runs and a a

11:59

lot of so they're really good at flow

12:01

they're not the best at um pressure the

12:04

DDC I don't think this doesn't even have

12:06

a DDC version the DDC is really good at

12:08

pressure but doesn't have the best best

12:10

flow rate because it's like a higher RPM

12:12

impeller it's a smaller impeller spins

12:13

faster good for pressure but it's like

12:16

horsepower with no torque well this is

12:18

all torque with no horsepower if that

12:19

makes sense so I think the D5 is

12:21

probably the right move just because it

12:23

I've used d5s and everything I've never

12:25

had an issue with the D5 not being able

12:26

to overcome stuff SATA powered so that's

12:29

nice to see not sleeved just black cable

12:32

so you can't really sleeve it unless you

12:33

can somehow depin this which not really

12:36

going to happen with the sa of plug and

12:38

then same thing with the pwm and RPM

12:40

signal not sleeved would have been nice

12:42

to see these sleeved but especially for

12:44

500 bucks just some nice tight black

12:46

sleeving on there would have been nice

12:48

$490 not including the price of fittings

12:51

now here's the

12:52

kicker these fittings were like $15

12:55

each so we're already at 30 bucks and I

12:59

think they were like 10 for the

13:00

compressions so now we're at 50 bucks in

13:04

fittings just for that one so now we're

13:06

at

13:07

$540 USD before tax for just what you

13:10

see right there I'm going to use it you

13:13

know I'm going to I really want to see

13:15

how this how this looks and feels and is

13:17

to work with with having the reservoir

13:19

pump

13:20

combo also part of this Dr plate thing

13:25

with having 32 options works I want to

13:27

have two of them in a build but then

13:29

we'd be talking like easily $2,000 plus

13:33

worth of water loop for one Loop yikes

13:37

all right there you go just a quick

13:38

unboxing and kind of first look at this

13:40

thing Steve was like Jay you got to do

13:42

something with it and I plan

13:44

to just I guess I got to figure out the

13:47

case I want to use it in like guess said

13:49

I can go in anything that uses 2 140 mm

13:52

um and the thing is like once you put it

13:53

back together the the flat part that's

13:56

the part that faces out like outside

13:58

your your glass or whatever and the pump

14:00

faces in for obvious reasons and this

14:02

pump cover is also metal it's it's

14:04

really heavy duty like this whole thing

14:06

is very heavy all right there you go

14:09

what do you think I should do with it

14:10

what case do you think I should use it

14:11

with I there like the obvious 01

14:14

Dynamic right is that of course they are

14:17

5000 series cases have uh Provisions for

14:19

two 140s like in the front or even on

14:21

the back panel side but give me an idea

14:23

s off down below what case you think I

14:25

should use for this and it'll be

14:27

interesting it might actually make it

14:29

convenient because of the fact that I

14:30

only have to worry about going from

14:31

component the to this

14:34

thing and then I guess RADS to that

14:37

thing then I'm going to run out of space

14:39

in this thing real

14:42

quick

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