TheOverclocker Issue 38 | Page 20

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