EKWB Alternatives

Alphacool, huge range over the years I think, individual ram chip blocks etc but I could be combining Aquacomputer into the same range in my memory.
Aquacomputer
Watercool Heatkiller, limited range of blocks but very nice ones without breaking the bank.
Bykski, these cover everything including lower power GPUs, more budget friendly.
Barrow, mid range? Not really looked into them.
Singularity, high end premium boutique stuff I think.
Monsoon, fittings + accessories.
Bitspower, fittings + more maybe?
Others I've forgotten...
 
From personal experience: (overall components not just fittings), and only those i would/have use/d in a build

Premium Quality Budget Friendly
Barrow & BarrowCH - OEM of Bitspower
Bykski
Primochill
XSPC
Monsoon
Iceman
Techn
Thermaltake

Premium Quality Reasonable Prices
Aquacomputer
AlphaCool
Watercool
Thermal Grizzly
Koolance
Stealkey Customs
Phanteks

Premium Quality Premium Prices
Singularity
Bitspower
Optimus
Corsair
EKWB - now debatable
HardwareLabs
Lian Li

My go-to/most common brands:
Radiators - HardwareLabs
Pumps - D5 Vario or DDC PWM.. obviously made by Laing but there are knockoffs floating about - usually EKWB, Aquacomputer or Alphacool
Blocks - Various.. but was EKWB. currently TG DD and an Alphacool Core as a backup
Reservoir - Was EKWB, now Alphacool
Fittings - Previously EKWB, now Barrow/Bykski.. tend to stay away from Alphacool fittings and tubing
Tubing - Soft i would go for something like Clearflex or Tygon zmt. Hard i'd use Acrylic/PMMA any brand
 
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Honestly anything that has an actual brand name on it is as good or better than EK. Been playing with a lot of Barrow kit recently as I plan a few projects and it's every bit as good as the (older) EK stuff I have. Got a couple of Bykski GPU blocks as well and they're solid.

And I've yet to be dissuaded from Alphacool radiators.
 
Just upgraded to x870e/7900x from x570e/5900x and I have to admit I will really miss the EK Monoblock I had for the X570. With that said for the new rig I went for the Optimus Foundation CPU water block and it's a work of art. Really impressed with what they did with this so I can recommend them for a CPU block.

I also have XSPC cpu water blocks and reservoirs, no problems and excellent quality
Always used D5 pumps by Alphacool
Radiators by Alphacool
I have a mix of EK and Barrow fittings which are all great.
Currently got Alphacool 7900xtx GPU block which is working brilliantly.
Koolance quick disconnects are the best thing I bought for my external rad setup but expensive.
Optimus Foundation CPU block check out those micro fins. :cool:
 
Thats some great lists here.
I would second the following:
Hardware Labs
Koolance (compression fittings)
Bitspower (especially 45/90 rotary fittings)
Aquacomputer
Corsair (XR rads)
Laing

I think tubing is by far one area that there is a lot more challenges now - difficult to source older brands like Clearflex and Tygon. I'm about to buy few meters of 13/19mm stuff and still haven't decided where and what :D what is Corsair stuff like?
 
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qbazdz said:
Thats some great lists here.
I would second the following:
Hardware Labs
Koolance (compression fittings)
Bitspower (especially 45/90 rotary fittings)
Aquacomputer
Corsair (XR rads)
Laing

I think tubing is by far one area that there is a lot more challenges now - difficult to source older brands like Clearflex and Tygon. I'm about to buy few meters of 13/19mm stuff and still haven't decided where and what :D what is Corsair stuff like?
Click to expand...
Clear?
Or coloured?
You can actually get good tubing
If you have a local car factors/parts shop
They do all sorts
Clear pvc,epdm,reinforced stuff for higher temperatures/pressure
Silicone in various colours
Wouldn't be the first time I wanted tubing immediately
And popped into my local one
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Clear?
Or coloured?
You can actually get good tubing
If you have a local car factors/parts shop
They do all sorts
Clear pvc,epdm,reinforced stuff for higher temperatures/pressure
Silicone in various colours
Wouldn't be the first time I wanted tubing immediately
And popped into my local one
Click to expand...
I may end up with clear this time round, but once I got the kid laid out, I will have a think if maybe black is not a better looking way to go.
Did you mean places like Euro CP or more specialist?
I'm not desperate lol so can pre-order ready for the build:)
 
qbazdz said:
I may end up with clear this time round, but once I got the kid laid out, I will have a think if maybe black is not a better looking way to go.
Did you mean places like Euro CP or more specialist?
I'm not desperate lol so can pre-order ready for the build:)
Click to expand...
Ek zmt is very good in matte black
Basically epdm
And pay a bit extra for ek name
Similar with corsair probably someone else makes it
Shoves ek,corsair name on it and adds a premium

I use local independent car factors
Some of their stuff does come from euro car parts
If you want something they don't have in stock
They get same day delivery from ècp if they have it
There's quite a few local car factors near me luckily
Price usually works out cheaper as no ek,corsair etc name shoved
On the tubing too
 
qbazdz said:
Thats some great lists here.
I would second the following:
Hardware Labs
Koolance (compression fittings)
Bitspower (especially 45/90 rotary fittings)
Aquacomputer
Corsair (XR rads)
Laing

I think tubing is by far one area that there is a lot more challenges now - difficult to source older brands like Clearflex and Tygon. I'm about to buy few meters of 13/19mm stuff and still haven't decided where and what :D what is Corsair stuff like?
Click to expand...
The other alternative to the EK Zmt is the Alphacool EPDM tubing. I use this in 10/13mm for my rig but what I will say is that the side walls are quite thin and they give up on very tight bends but otherwise it's not too bad.
 
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Shilz said:
The other alternative to the EK Zmt is the Alphacool EPDM tubing. I use this in 10/13mm for my rig but what I will say is that the side walls are quite thin and they give up on very tight bends but otherwise it's not too bad.
Click to expand...
The ek zmt in 16/11mm is the same very flimsy
Yet the ek zmt in 16/10mm is totally different
Much much better even though it seems like that tiny amount
Wouldn't make much difference
 
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