New CPU block to replace an EK

MikeTimbers · 29 Jun 2024 at 14:36

I have an old PC with a 7700K cooled by an EK block with hair cracks around the inlet. It doesn't leak but it could so really it should be replaced. Given we all hate EKWB these days, what's a good alternative given it must support 115x as well as future upgrades?

What's the block of choice?

Lighting is not critical but being able to support 115x is critical. And no, I'm not going to upgrade my cpu any time soon.

MikeTimbers · 30 Jun 2024 at 10:46

Cob said:
Mike I have a nickel acetal EK Supremacy Evo you can have for free. It’s been sat forgotten in a cupboard for a couple of years after failing to sell on the MM. Has 115x, 2011 and AM4 fittings.

PM me if you’re interested and I can post it out on Monday.

Wait….

Are you actually in Thailand lol

Mighty decent of you. Yes, I am in Thailand. The Evo is what I have now and it is the acetal top that is cracked so I'm not keen on another one but thx for the thought.

MikeTimbers · 4 Jul 2024 at 09:35

cjgardens said:
Probably cracked because you over tightened the fitting.

Been used with multiple CPU over many years and uncounted rebuilds. As you say, user fault not manufacturer.

MikeTimbers · 4 Jul 2024 at 09:45

newuser said:
Got mine from here and been happy with it. Keeps a stock 13700k with a contact frame to about 80c package temp after ten minutes of cinebench R24.
After I fitted it I found out that they recommend using the stock Intel ILM. Mine was already swapped, works fine.
Had the Corsair one before, works ok, looks cheap, hard to mount because of chubby thumbscrews close to the VRM.

I find modern cpu temperatures utterly terrifying. The idea that 80c is considered a good temperature under load is quite extraordinary to me (not having a go at you!). I got into water-cooling because I was too scared to use tec cooling but wanted low noise and was overclocking single-core cpu by as much as running a 1333 MHZ cpu at 2400MHZ (the legendary XP1500), Now with automatic over-clocking and thermal management, 80C is seen as a good result of a water-cooled system!

I suppose I will need to upgrade from my 7700K at some point but given it would mean new RAM, new PSU, new block I can't see it happening unless forced.

MikeTimbers · 4 Jul 2024 at 12:21

what worries me about these temps is they show how much power is actually being used. Vast amounts of electricity producing enormous amounts of waste heat so we can play "games" (mostly) instead of going outside and doing something useful.