Five years ago, EK Water Blocks (EKWB) introduced the first cooler for M.2 SSDs. Now there is a new cooler with the EK-Quantum Convection M.2 NVMe, which is offered in four variants, including one with gold leaf finishing. “Gold” is now also the order of the day for other coolers from the manufacturer.
EKWB took the first step onto the parquet of SSD coolers with the EK-M.2 NVMe heatsink, which consists of an aluminum sheet equipped with cooling fins for the top and a second, thinner sheet for the bottom of M.2 form factor 2280 SSDs. The inexpensive cooler is now available in numerous color variants and only costs around 10 to 13 euros.
EK-Quantum Convection M.2 NVMe also cools double-sided SSDs
With the new EK-Quantum Convection M.2 NVMe it will be more complex, but also significantly more expensive. The newcomer, which according to the EKWB is 75 mm long, 24 mm wide and 11.3 mm high including the backplate, appears to be of higher quality and bulkier. Aluminum is again used as the material. The cooler is suitable for mounting on both single-sided and double-sided M.2 SSDs in the M.2 2280 form factor (22 mm wide, 80 mm long). The older model only supports single-sided modules.
However, as with its predecessor, EKWB states that the cooler can only be used in M.2 connectors with a height of 4.2 millimeters can be used. Flatter connections with a height of 3.2 or 2.25 millimeters do not leave the passive cooler enough distance to the mainboard.
The look of the Quantum water cooler
Even if this is a matter of taste, the design appears more elegant and chic. The fact that the milled structure is reminiscent of the grooves of a water cooler is probably intentional. However, the surface for heat dissipation will most likely not be larger than that of the cheaper predecessor with its fins. Nevertheless, according to EKWB, the cooler should prevent the temperature-related throttling of the SSD performance as long as there is sufficient air flow in the case. Otherwise, the throttling should at least be delayed.
Three times as expensive as the predecessor
But the price goes up immediately the factor three: EKWB charges a proud 31.90 euros in its own shop for the EK-Quantum Convection M.2 NVMe heatsink, which is supplied with screws and thermal pads. Price is for Black, Silver, and Nickel variants only; 4 euros more are required for the golden cooler.
The cooler is aimed more at those who want to give their system a uniform look with the EKWB coolers from the Quantum series than at those who are only looking for one efficient M.2 SSD coolers.
Gold rush at EKWB
It is understandable that the gold version costs more, because EKWB says it uses a real gold coating on the nickel finish of the aluminum cooler. The gold-plated version is also finding its way into other coolers in the Quantum series, as the following list from the manufacturer shows:
- EK-Quantum Velocity D-RGB – 1700 Nickel + Gold (209.90 euros)
- EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB – AM4 Nickel + Gold (209.90 euros)
- EK-Quantum Convection D5 – Gold (59 .90 euros)
- EK Quantum Convection DDC – Gold (59.90 euros)
- EK Quantum Convection M.2 NVMe – Gold (35.90 euros)