Liquid Cooling Kit Review EKWB Slim 240

An open-loop kit is probably the best way to switch to custom fluid cooling. This means you get everything you need in one easy-to-use box. Do not worry you forget one part or another. Do not worry that you accidentally set up a tube of the wrong size or your pump will not work with your reservoir housing. To complete it, the kit is usually cheaper than buying all the same parts with à la carte.

Last year we saw the EK Performance tool line even release the best AIO liquid cooler. Today we see a much cheaper little sister, Slim 240. For only $ 200, the price is not much more expensive than the AIO premium and almost half the price of the Performance 280 and 360. If it can compete with the big boys, we might see our first true value award for liquid cooling.

Specifications

Radiator Model Coolstream SE 240
Thickness 25mm
Width 120mm
Length 280mm
Weight N/A
Fins per Inch 22
Material Fins and tubing - H90 Copper, Chambers - Brass, Housing - Aluminum and steel
Coolant Capacity N/A
Waterblock Model Supremacy MX
Base Material Copper
Intel Sockets Supported 1150/51/55/56, 2011-3
AMD Sockets Supported AM3, AM4, (775, 1366, FM2+ optional)
Misc X

Fan Model F3-120
Max RPM 1850 +/- 10%
Fan PWM Range 20% - 100%
Max Air Flow 107 CMH
Static Pressure 2.24 mmH2O
Rated Noise 29.5 dBA
Bearing Type Double-ball bearing (50,000 hrs MTBF)
Fan Connector Cable 4-pin PWM
Pump Model SPC-60A
RPM 2500
Flow Rate 450 LPH
Head Pressure 3.2m
Wattage 6W
Pump PWM Range
Pump Connector Cable 4-pin PWM
Tubing 13/10mm PrimoChill
Reservoir 125 mL
Warranty 2 Years

Slim Products are low level EK kits, offering three different versions based on radiator size. The Slim 240 we are testing uses a double 120mm radiator. A Slim 120 and Slim 360 are also available. While the Slim kit is the cheapest EK bid, the components in it are the same EK sold separately. This kit uses solid copper water blocks and radiators, not cut parts.

The Slim Kit uses the EK water block Supremacy MX, the same used in the AIO Predator Predator cooler company. It features a cold solid copper plate with a polished mirror down. The top is a clear polymer with black anodized aluminum cover plate. Both ports use common G1 / 4 threading for fitting. This manual clearly shows the exact current direction for the port, although it would be better if the block itself is labeled. Instead of a pre-mounted Intel bracket that comes with predominant predators and MX blocks, the Slim 240 includes a universal EVO mounting kit, which supports LGA 115X, 2011 (-3), 2066, AM3 and AM4 sockets. If you order directly from EK, the company will even install additional mounting hardware for AM2 and FM2, or LGA 775 and 1366 for just one cent.

Radiator Liquid Cooling EKWB SLIM 240

The dual 120mm radiator in Slim 240 is SE SE SE. 240. Using solid copper cores for both fins and tubes, while the end chamber is brass. The exterior frame is steel and aluminum. Like most loop components available today, it uses G1 / 4 threads on two ports at the end. It's worth discussing the thickness of the radiator, or rather thin. Most of the basic radiators from other manufacturers are 30mm thick, but the SE 240 is only 25mm thick. While this slightly reduces the overall surface area for cooling, it makes the radiator a bit easier to adjust to the tight case. To help overcome this lack of thickness, the EK accumulates the core with 22 fins per inch (FPI).

FANS

You need a fan capable to work with a 22 FPI radiator, and Vardars included in a Slim 240 deliver device. This is a variant of the F3-120, not the F4-120ER that comes with the Predator and Performance tool last year. Both share the same seven-blade design, but the F3 has a maximum speed lower than the F4: 1850 RPM versus 2200 RPM. It also does not have an extended PWM range that gives their ER name variant, so the fan can only slow to 50% instead of 25% duty cycle.

Pump

The pumps included in Slim 240 are SPC 60A with 40V reservoir reservoir combos. It looks like a DDC variant, and maybe you can think of it that way. SPC uses the same basic design as DDC and the same dimensions. It's completely compatible with many DDC superiors and volutes.

SPC has two major advantages over DDC. First, it rotates much more slowly and is therefore much quieter. Second, a slower pump motor pulls a maximum of 6W (high-performance DDC and D5 pumps can attract as much as 20W). That means it does not require a Molex connector directly to the power supply. Instead, it uses a single 4-pin PWM cable and draws power from the motherboard. Fewer wires in the case are always welcome. Low power consumption also means lower heat generation, another problem that often affects DDC pumps.

However, lower pump speed also means maximum head pressure and maximum flow rate compared to some pumps. SPC performs roughly the equivalent of a slower DDC pump like the 3.1 series. The DDC 3.2 and D5 pumps can generate twice the pressure and flow rate, but only at high speeds where noise becomes a major problem. When running at a lower speed, this pump will be close to 50% more powerful. However, SPC practically does not sound even at full speed, meaning you do not have to choose between performance and quiet operation. If you want some extra controls, the SPC PWM range is 20% - 100%.

The XRES 100 reservoir has a 125ml volume and features an anti-vortex paddle and foam inserts. The reservoir tube is acrylic, though the rest of the housing and volute are plastic injection, not a POM machine to save costs. The pump has two G1 / 4 ports, clearly labeled "in" and "out". The kit also comes with a 120mm mounting bracket and a vibration damper for the pump.

Tubing & Fittings

Two meters of DuraClear 13/10 EK PVC pipes are included in the kit, all in one long so you can trim it to your specific needs. Six nickel-plated brass compressor fixtures are also in the box to secure the line to individual components. The EK machine fittings on the inside so that large hex wrenches (included) can tighten them in place.

Installation

As I wrote in the Performance 360 reviews, although the kit makes it easy to complete all necessary pieces together, it's still far more time consuming to install a custom loop than AIO. As always, fully rinse the cooling components with distilled water to remove all traces of the manufacturing process, such as acrylic shavings or loose solder clumps. It can and will be caught in the water block microfin and radiator tube, reducing the cooling capacity.

Once everything is clean and reassembled, use the included wrench to attach the fittings to the block, the pump, and the radiator, and decide where you want the radiator and pump to be placed in your case. Since the tubes in the kit are one long, you can cut them according to whatever suits your best case, so you can position the radiator wherever you want in your case, using the fan as a push, pull, intake, or exhaust. This is not always an option with AIO cooling.

After you have set up the parts, measure and cut the tube to fit. We recommend cutting the tube a bit longer and tidy again if necessary. Also, do not try to bend the tube too tight or it will collapse and limit the flow of the cooler. When ready, insert the compression ring of the fittings into the tube (the yarn is facing the end) and gently push the tube firmly into the fitting tray on each component. Tighten the compression ring to hold the tube to the component.