EK-XLC PREDATOR 360 &
FC 980 Ti Classy KPE
MSRP (Kit): $239.99 | MSRP (FC GPU Block): $162.99 | Website: www.ekwb.com
Test Machine
• INTEL Core i7 5960X
• CORSAIR DOMINATOR
Platinum DDR4 3400
• GIGABYTE X99 Champion
• EVGA GTX 980Ti K|NGP|N
Edition
• CORSAIR AX1500i
C
ooling for DIY
computers has never
been more important
than it is today. Even with
the smaller node GPUs
and CPUs, enthusiasts and
amateur overclockers are
always seeking that extra
performance in whatever they
do, from gaming to of course
overclocking. There is no such
thing as enough cooling or
performance within these
circles.
It is safe to say that as a
whole, the DIY industry has
exhausted traditional air
20 The OverClocker Issue 38 | 2016
cooling mechanisms and we
are firmly in the age of AIO
coolers and of course custom
loops. By far these are the
preferred cooling methods
and systems by enthusiast
the world over. With that said,
few names are as prolific as
EKWB and with products such
as the EK-XLC Predator 360
(Predator from here on), it is
easy to understand why this
praise is more than
warranted.
We find ourselves at a time
where there are not only
numerous competitors in the
AIO market, but so many of
them offering near identical
units. This of course makes
picking one easy enough, but it
also means that few ever
stand out. There are perhaps
less than a handful of
noteworthy units, but for the
most part the rest are just
mediocre by the numbers
offerings that in no way, shape
or form advance the AIO
market.
This is perhaps the single
largest departure point for
the Predator and its other
stable mates. Instead of
making endless promises
about how liquid cooling
will bring down your CPU
operating temperatures and by
extension allowing for higher
overclocking headroom. The
Predator sells itself primarily
as an AIO which has custom
loop expandability and similar
performance minus the
complexity. How this is
achieved is essentially via
tubing that features CPC links.
If you’re not aware, these
CPC links allow the free flow
of coolant when two
corresponding links are
attached and of course seize
the flow when disconnected.
Simple enough, but a life
saver because it means when
expanding the loop, you need
not drain the system. Not
only making it significantly