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CPU water cooler in the test: five CPU cooling blocks for AMD Ryzen in comparison

Aug 30, 2021

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ComputerBase compares CPU water coolers from Alphacool, Aqua Computer, EK Water Blocks, TechN and Watercool on a Ryzen 9 5950X. Eisblock XPX Aurora, cuplex kryos Next, Quantum Velocity, TechN CPU Waterblock and Heatkiller IV Pro all successfully face the CPU in the test. The differences are revealed in detail.

Table of contents

1 Five CPU cooling blocks for AMD Ryzen in comparison
1. Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora
2. Aqua Computer cuplex kryos Next
3. EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Velocity
4. TechN CPU Waterblock
5. Watercool Heatkiller IV Pro
6. Installation of the cooler
2 Methodology and results
1. Test system and process of measurements
2. Conclusion

The summer leaves a lot to be desired this year, but the hardware in the PC is still getting warm. Last but not least, smaller and smaller chips are responsible for this. In order to be able to test the changed, decentralized structure of the latest Ryzen generation from AMD, ComputerBase updated the test system for CPU coolers some time ago. Now another comparison is due on this new test system with a Ryzen 9 5950X: How do current CPU water coolers for custom water coolers on the Ryzen processor from AMD?

A few years have passed since the last comparison test of this type, so that the test field has also changed. Two new candidates join the selection of coolers and updates have been introduced at least partially for the “old friends”. In comparison, Alphacool, Aqua Computer, EK Water Blocks, TechN and Watercool compete. The CPU cooler from TechN and the model from EKWB, which is part of the Quantum product line, are new to the test field. With the well-known Aqua Computer cuplex kryos Next, the manufacturer has developed an adapted pair of retaining brackets in order to do justice to the decentralized dies under the hood of the Ryzen 3000 and 5000. The Alphacool Eisblock comes in the Aurora version, which comes with a lid made of acrylic glass and LED lighting. Watercool, on the other hand, stays with the tried and tested schemes and leaves the Heatkiller IV Pro untouched.

Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora

The Alphacool Eisblock XPX (test) was first introduced at the end of 2016. The manufacturer relies on a “ramp” at the inlet of the cooler, which is intended to ensure that the flow of liquid reaches the nozzle plate as evenly as possible. In the original test, the Eisblock was able to convince by placing Alphacool at the top of the test field.

The Aurora version of the ice block relies on the same principle on the inside, but on a lid made of acrylic glass and LEDs integrated in the frame. The cooler is available in different design variants, with a black or silver frame and with and without bevels on the side edges.

The Eisblock in the test is the acrylic black version, this model is available in stores from 62 euros. Alphacool thus marks the entry into the test field in terms of price. In return, the buyer receives a cooling block made of nickel-plated copper and (a rarity among cooling blocks for custom water cooling) assembly material for all current sockets from Intel as well as for the AMD socket AM4. Alphacool also supplies thermal paste.

Aqua Computer cuplex kryos Next

Like the Alphacool model, the cuplex kryos Next (test) from Aqua Computer was introduced in 2016. Here, too, the inner workings remain unchanged, but the manufacturer offers an alternative assembly kit with which the cooler is mounted a little offset on the AM4 base: This shifts the center of the cooler to the up to two Ryzen 3000/5000 dies, which no longer sit exactly in the middle under the heat spreader as with older CPU generations. The aim is to optimize the cooling capacity.

In addition, Aqua Computer also increases the number of variants of the cuplex kryos Next. In the test, the cooler is in the PVD/nickel version, which is based on a nickel-plated cooler and a cover made of coated brass. This model costs 100 euros, but everything is possible from 60 euros for uncoated copper with a plastic lid to over 300 euros for the cooling block made of silver, a coated brass lid with display and adjustable pressure distribution on the base plate.

In the photos, the cuplex kryos Next can initially be seen with the “standard” mounting brackets. The set to change for Ryzen 3000/5000 was sent separately by Aqua Computer and the cooler was modified before the tests so that the optimized version was used on the test system. In addition to the mounting accessories for the base AM4, the cooler accessories include a syringe with thermal paste.

EK Water Blocks EK-Quantum Velocity

EKWB divides its range into Classic and Quantum products, the latter series being priced higher. When the EK Supremacy Evo was tested in 2016, this division did not yet exist. At that time, the Supremacy Evo marked the spearhead of EKWB. In the new product series there is an adapted version of the Supremacy heat sink in the Classic cooler, whereas the manufacturer has developed new coolers in the Quantum series. EKWB starts the Quantum series with the Velocity model for 70 euros. In the Velocity series there are also special models for over 150 euros and if that's not enough, you can spend up to 250 euros on a CPU cooler in the Magnitude series created above the Velocity series.

In the test, EKWB is represented by EK-Quantum Velocity D-RGB Nickel + Acetal for 95 euros. The copper cooler is nickel-plated and is closed by a plastic (acetal) cover. RGB LEDs are embedded under a milky-white frame, which can illuminate the cooler in bright colors during operation. The cooler comes with a lot of accessories, but behind it there is nothing more than the necessary accessories: EKWB does not trust the original AM4 backplate and supplies its own backplate. The additional nozzle plate in the accessories is not even mentioned in the assembly instructions. The subject is tested with the pre-installed nozzle plate.

TechN CPU Waterblock

TechN is represented in the ComputerBase test for the first time. The newcomer comes from German production, the manufacturer is based in Berlin. The company's CPU cooling block was simply called “CPU Waterblock” in a minimalist way and is available in versions for Intel and AMD CPUs. Where the marketing is reluctant to name the product, its demands on the cooling capacity are all the more demanding. TechN promises nothing less than “unmatched performance”.

Like all other water coolers, the CPU water block is also made of copper, which can be optionally nickel-plated. The cover of the cooler is made of acrylic glass and framed by a rectangular aluminum frame. This makes the cooler look very large on the outside – on the other hand, the cuplex kryos Next from Aqua Computer looks downright delicate. In addition to the choice of whether the copper cooler should be nickel-plated, the aluminum frame is anodized either black or silver. Depending on this selection, the model costs between 95 and 100 euros.

TechN holds back when it comes to the scope of delivery. In addition to the mandatory, base-specific mounting material including a backplate, there is only a small bag with Arctic MX-2 as thermal paste. As a noticeable difference to the competition, the TechN cooling block is the only one in the test field that does not rely on a mirror-smooth polished CPU surface. With the CPU Waterblock, the user is spared the inevitable and visible scratches on the CPU support surface during the second assembly at the latest.

Watercool Heatkiller IV Pro

The Watercool Heatkiller IV Pro is the oldest member of the comparison test. It was already in the 2016 test as a well-known cooler, but is still the current cooler from Watercool. It is offered in various combinations of (nickel-plated) copper base plate and cover made of acrylic glass, acetal or copper. The luxury version has to prove itself in the test: In the Black Copper variant, both the cooler base and cover are made of nickel-plated copper, with the cover being black. The cooler costs 100 euros in this version. The cheapest entry with the Heatkiller IV Pro is 60 euros for bare copper and acetal or acrylic glass as cover material.

Watercool saves the most of all its competitors in terms of scope of delivery: The Heatkiller IV Pro doesn't even have thermal paste to offer. There are only the screws, washers and springs necessary to assemble the cooler.

assembly of the cooler

Fastening a CPU water cooler to the mainboard is much easier compared to expansive CPU air coolers. All competitors rely on a backplate with which the cooler is screwed. On closer inspection, however, there are differences that affect the user-friendliness: EK Water Blocks and Watercool use a mounting system in which the backplate is first screwed with mounting bolts. In the second step, the CPU cooler is put on and then locked in place with nuts with springs pushed underneath. This simplifies the attachment of the cooler, because it can no longer slip off after being put on before screwing it in.

It is less practical with Alphacool, Aqua Computer and TechN. The three manufacturers have their coolers screwed to the backplate from the front. To do this, the backplate and the CPU cooler must be held in place while the screws are threaded and tightened. Since the cooler can slip, the installation is a bit more frustrating this way.

On the next page: Methodology and results