Question Would EK-KIT X360 pair well with Evga 2080 ti waterblock?

[123364]

What are the general thoughts on EK-KIT X360, is it a good value? This would be my first-time water cooling other than AIO.

My consideration for this has to do with my evga 2080 ti ftw3 hybrid kit. Although it cools fairly well, it is noisy (a common problem in forums). I am thinking of returning this and getting the waterblock instead. Would this pair up well with EK-KIT X360 ?

 

[rubix_1011]

My thoughts are that it is a great kit for a beginner to start out.

What are your thoughts, though? They're the most important because you're the one spending the money.

 

[123364]

My thoughts are that it is a great kit for a beginner to start out.

What are your thoughts, though? They're the most important because you're the one spending the money.

The price is not bad imo, but I don't know if it's a good deal necessary because it is my first time. I am currently using Evga 2080 ti hybrid kit + Kraken x72. I plan on returning the Kraken, and I would have shell out an extra $264-ish for the kit. Then, I plan on RMA the hybrid kit because of noisy and coil whine-and getting the waterblock instead.

 

[rubix_1011]

Is this about it being budget-friendly or about how good the kit is? Most good watercooling isn't cheap.

 

[123364]

Is this about it being budget-friendly or about how good the kit is? Most good watercooling isn't cheap.

A little bit of both. The kit is about $430 with tax and I need something beginner- friendly/affordable to put the 2080 ti waterblock on. The last thing to ask would be does the kit perform well for its price? From youtube, the 240 kit version is already outperforming my current set up. I would imagine the 360 kits would do slightly better?

 

[rubix_1011]

360 radiator is going to hopefully provide more cooling capacity than a 240, but this isn't just down to radiator fan fitment - it also has to do with radiator thickness, number of tubes and fin density, coolant flow and airflow through the rads.

I've used a lot of EK components - in fact most of my loop right now is primarily EK stuff, but I've used a lot of Swiftech, Bitspower and Alphacool components as well.

 

[123364]

Honestly, I think I'm on the right path here. I am not happy with my current set up, and if I am going to make changes I might as well do them now since I still have time to return things. Just really value opinions from experienced enthusiasts. If I wanted to add another radiator, what else would I need?

 

[rubix_1011]

With that setup, you shouldn't need another radiator, but it isn't going to hurt if you do (other than your bank account). Radiators are usually some of the least restrictive components in a loop, so 'over-radding' as we call it is only as detrimental as you make it, although there is a point of diminishing returns - watercooling coolant can never reach lower than ambient room temperatures no matter how many radiators you add.

Make sure when you install the waterblock on the 2080Ti that you get a firm fitment of the block to the GPU die. On my 2080 I didn't get a good mating on the first attempt and load temps got to 80C where they began to throttle the card a bit. Draining the loop, re-seating the card with good paste and re-filling the loop made a lot of difference...now I only see low 40's C temps at load.

 

[123364]

With that setup, you shouldn't need another radiator, but it isn't going to hurt if you do (other than your bank account). Radiators are usually some of the least restrictive components in a loop, so 'over-radding' as we call it is only as detrimental as you make it, although there is a point of diminishing returns - watercooling coolant can never reach lower than ambient room temperatures no matter how many radiators you add.

Make sure when you install the waterblock on the 2080Ti that you get a firm fitment of the block to the GPU die. On my 2080 I didn't get a good mating on the first attempt and load temps got to 80C where they began to throttle the card a bit. Draining the loop, re-seating the card with good paste and re-filling the loop made a lot of difference...now I only see low 40's C temps at load.

Thanks for the heads up. The second radiator was more of a curiosity. This is my first time so this kit looks very attractive to me, and will probably stick to what it ships with.

 

[rubix_1011]

I've watercooled for nearly 17 years, and while I don't know everything, I have seen a thing or two. I also wrote the watercooling sticky on the forums here, linked in my signature line below.

 

[123364]

I've watercooled for nearly 17 years, and while I don't know everything, I have seen a thing or two. I also wrote the watercooling sticky on the forums here, linked in my signature line below.

Thanks. I was also thinking about picking up the Lian Li O11. In this case (get it) where would you mount the radiator: as top exhaust or side intake?

 

[rubix_1011]

Either should work just fine, choose what you like for aesthetics and simplicity.

 

[123364]

Either should work just fine, choose what you like for aesthetics and simplicity.

I do have one last question about metals. I believe the EK-Kit 360 is aluminum (not 100%), and the Evga waterblock is nickel-plated copper as the website description read: " the base plate consists of nickel-plated copper, with an acrylic cover." Is there something to be cautious about here? I know nothing about this topic, but I've seen it mentioned many times so I wanted to ask before I do something stupid like damage the card. Or would I need a gpu waterblock from EK? Need some clarification here.

 

[md83]

the EK kit will def perform better in the long run, and this should have no issues cooling both your cpu and gpu with the pump/rad combo this comes with. The pump alone should be a much better upgrade over the kraken. Its also cheaper to buy the kit rather than individual part (assuming you buy all the EK parts). EK is a top tier brand for water cooling, so you cant go wrong with their kits. The only thing beginner about this kit, is the fact that it comes with soft tubing. You also can swap these out down the road if you want to switch to some hard tubing.

 

[md83]

I do have one last question about metals. I believe the EK-Kit 360 is aluminum (not 100%), and the Evga waterblock is nickel-plated copper as the website description read: " the base plate consists of nickel-plated copper, with an acrylic cover." Is there something to be cautious about here? I know nothing about this topic, but I've seen it mentioned many times so I wanted to ask before I do something stupid like damage the card. Or would I need a gpu waterblock from EK? Need some clarification here.

do not mix metals, will cause corrosion at an accelerated rate. if you choose the kit, just use all components inside, and you should be issue free.

 

[rubix_1011]

You can use the EK Fluid Gaming A (for aluminum) kits as long as you use all aluminum components, i.e. the aluminum blocks that go with it.

Do not begin mixing copper or brass with these kits.

The kit you were mentioning was not the Fluid Gaming kit, correct? Can you provide a link to clarify?

Copper/brass EK Kit X360: https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-kit-x360

Aluminium EK Fluid Gaming A360: https://www.ekfluidgaming.com/ek-kit-a360g

Which is it?

 

[Karadjgne]

There are different kits. The X kit is a 60mm thick 360mm long rad. That's huge. The P kits have a 40mm thick rad, and the cheap kits have slimmer still. The better aios have 38ishmm thick rads, standard rads are closer to 25mm thick.

Figure a standard 360x25mm is good for @ 300w worth of heat, a 280x38 is good for @ 350w, the X360x60mm is upwards of 500w.

Actual temp performance will be highly dependent on the fans themselves, not so much the rad, but those Vardar fans are designed for that rad, you'd need something like Noctua IPPC 3000 to get better results (still debating on that).

Thing about water cooling isn't gaining the lowest temps possible. That's an air cooling newb thing. With water cooling it's all about maintaining a temp. The cpu/gpu could care less if it's 50°C or 70°C. Performance, longetivity, everything is below specs, so that's all that matters. So you just need rad size and ability to get you below safe specs, and keep you there no matter what load.

Ever watch water boil? Takes forever. That's how your loop works, the coolant temp is what's important, the lower it is the better it'll absorb the blocks outputs. So a cpu/gpu can jump around like crazy and it means nothing, their temps get reported about 2x per second. As long as all that jumping around doesn't go upwards of safety limits, you are good, the actual number is meaningless, just what it represents.

So is the X360 kit good? If you bought all those parts seperately, it'd cost quite a bit more, so value is good. Considering it'd cost about the same, for a lower performing loop with parts seperate, value is even better. It's an all inclusive kit. Chances of you forgetting to order 1 fitting? High.

Only downside is it's general fittings. In a custom job, if you wanted a 45° fitting instead, it's not there, just the fittings that come in the kit, you'd have to buy that 45 seperately.

 

[rubix_1011]

Great thing about watercooling, if you buy a kit but still want a few custom fittings, just buy what you want...they should all work and play together assuming you aren't mixing aluminum and brass/copper/nickel.

 

[123364]

Thanks for the reply. It's not the fluid gaming kits, I think. Here is the one I was referring to https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-kit-p360
My bad I should have linked this from the start. However, I've already started collecting my own parts using Ek's configurator instead, basically, like you said lol. For example, I don't need fans as I already have 6 Noctua 120s. Here is my latest configuration link, I'm still messing around with it though. Also, I will be using a water block from Evga instead of the EK one, I just added it in so I would help with configuration.
EK custom loop configurator: https://www.ekwb.com/custom-loop-configurator/shared/oW5d1946eb78ef6 I will most likely add these to cart individually so I can remove the fans since I don't need them.
Noctua fans I have: https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NF-A12x25-PWM-Premium-Quality-Quiet/dp/B07C5VG64V/ref=sr_1_3?crid=9Q4Q8R88OYLQ&keywords=noctua+120mm+fan&qid=1561937988&s=gateway&sprefix=noctua,aps,166&sr=8-3

if I buy all the parts individually without the gpu/back plate or the fans it comes to $ 513.32 https://www.ekwb.com/shop/checkout/cart/
Also, since it looks like I need 10 fittings I might mix in some nicer ones.

 

[123364]

There are different kits. The X kit is a 60mm thick 360mm long rad. That's huge. The P kits have a 40mm thick rad, and the cheap kits have slimmer still. The better aios have 38ishmm thick rads, standard rads are closer to 25mm thick.

Figure a standard 360x25mm is good for @ 300w worth of heat, a 280x38 is good for @ 350w, the X360x60mm is upwards of 500w.

Actual temp performance will be highly dependent on the fans themselves, not so much the rad, but those Vardar fans are designed for that rad, you'd need something like Noctua IPPC 3000 to get better results (still debating on that).

Thing about water cooling isn't gaining the lowest temps possible. That's an air cooling newb thing. With water cooling it's all about maintaining a temp. The cpu/gpu could care less if it's 50°C or 70°C. Performance, longetivity, everything is below specs, so that's all that matters. So you just need rad size and ability to get you below safe specs, and keep you there no matter what load.

Ever watch water boil? Takes forever. That's how your loop works, the coolant temp is what's important, the lower it is the better it'll absorb the blocks outputs. So a cpu/gpu can jump around like crazy and it means nothing, their temps get reported about 2x per second. As long as all that jumping around doesn't go upwards of safety limits, you are good, the actual number is meaningless, just what it represents.

So is the X360 kit good? If you bought all those parts seperately, it'd cost quite a bit more, so value is good. Considering it'd cost about the same, for a lower performing loop with parts seperate, value is even better. It's an all inclusive kit. Chances of you forgetting to order 1 fitting? High.

Only downside is it's general fittings. In a custom job, if you wanted a 45° fitting instead, it's not there, just the fittings that come in the kit, you'd have to buy that 45 seperately.

Ya, after looking around for hours those fitting look mighty nice. This is a new world for me so I am just happy to soak in as much as I can before I start buying parts in a week or so. I still have a lot of basic questions like radiator thickness, pump reservoir combo vs. a separate pump and reservoir, and advantages of a bigger reservoir or 2 reservoirs. Differences in pump size and quality. For the most part though, I think I got it figured out or getting close at least.

 

[Karadjgne]

Keep soaking it in, nothing going to hurt by gaining as much knowledge as possible, far better than making uninformed impulse decisions.

=== Overclocking, Cooling and Water Cooling - Sticky Index ===

This page represents a consolidated listing of Overclocking, Cooling and Water Cooling stickies, FAQs and other important threads. Please use the resources listed here as a start for your questions and research before posting topics in the forums. All content linked below has actively been a...

forums.tomshardware.com

Start here. Go from there.

 

[123364]

Keep soaking it in, nothing going to hurt by gaining as much knowledge as possible, far better than making uninformed impulse decisions.

=== Overclocking, Cooling and Water Cooling - Sticky Index ===

This page represents a consolidated listing of Overclocking, Cooling and Water Cooling stickies, FAQs and other important threads. Please use the resources listed here as a start for your questions and research before posting topics in the forums. All content linked below has actively been a...

forums.tomshardware.com

Start here. Go from there.

Oh ya, Rubix told me about it and forgot.

 

[Karadjgne]

He's a smart man, he is...