EK Predator AIO Review

i still dont get it.
It is cheper than a reasonable full custom loop even when you factor in you can get a dcc delphi pump for £20 brand new if you shop arround "and will need to modify the power connector"
But for the £50-£60 you save instead f going full custom i really dont see why you would go for this rather than one of the larger corsair offerings. (not a fan of aio's in all honesty so my oppinion may be a bit one side)
But if im comparing this to other AIO's at the price point. i could not justify it because there is no point having an expandable loop if the radiator is not going to allow you to really expand any way.

id hate to try and compare it to really good 3rd party HS/F combos because i honestly think that the best heat sinks and fans are probably on par with AIO's cheaper and a lot easier for people to deal with..

the more i post the more i think i just have an issue with AIO's though.
Im in the camp that thinks you should either go full custom loop. or high end HS/f and there is no reason to have an AIO at all lol.
 
Ahh yes, The days I used to run a 120mm AIO, An H80 to be exact, It was pure cack ^_^

Obviously if you're running a case that can take a 240 then get one (heck just go full WC) but I'm not. I don't run a MAD OC BRUH on my 4770K so I don't need more cooling. I just want something so I can run acrylic pipes with WITHOUT getting a bigger case. Atleast for the time being.
 
Obviously if you're running a case that can take a 240 then get one (heck just go full WC) but I'm not. I don't run a MAD OC BRUH on my 4770K so I don't need more cooling. I just want something so I can run acrylic pipes with WITHOUT getting a bigger case. Atleast for the time being.

Whatever tickles your fancy bud but my H80 sounded like a grinder malfunctioning hence the cack comment ^_^
 
Whatever tickles your fancy bud but my H80 sounded like a grinder malfunctioning hence the cack comment ^_^

Can't hear the pump of my H75 at all. My seidon was a different matter but that thing was able to keep an AMD 8320 cool so I guess I could let it slip.
 
I had one dodgy H100 (grindy buzzing) RMA'd and one that has gone nearly four years without an issue.

The Predator is expensive, but when you price out the individual components it's not that bad. I don't mind having the pump on the radiator block although it may cause some clearance issues but it leaves the CPU block looking very swank.

Only thing I don't like about it is the 360 has a funky looking quick disconnect.

Barnsley has a point tho - 120 mm may not be the best solution - but if it fits and does the job then go for it. There's certainly a market there and even though 240, 280 and even 360 native compatibility is becoming more common in new cases there are a lot that don't.

Would be interested to see if they develop a block for the Fury X that can plug straight into this (or more likely the 360) Would be an easy way to do a compact all in one CPU+GPU loop.
 
I would say that if your ONLY going to cool your CPU then its a waste of money. If your planning to cool CPU + GPU then for the price they are asking then its better to start a custom loop.

If a full custom loop is too expensive then use the stock intel cooler on your cpu and put the Predator money to the side and save up. If your planning to cool CPU and GPU dont to a half ass job. Do it right.

AS of the expandability possibilities for a mini itx loop then its good but in some cases that bulky 240 rad wont fit. If you want to go small and cool GPU + CPU then there are other options that are like half the price like some of these:

http://forum.overclock3d.net/showthread.php?t=71242

I would say that Too Expensive for not being the Best.
 
Weirdly over the past couple of weeks i've done a custom build with my two best friends, both in Parvum S2.0's with loads of nice quality toys and a bit of a focus on aesthetics. One went with EK's L240 R2 kit and my other friend opted for the 240mm Predator. They didn't exactly chose based on their own free will tbf, I just told them what would work well with the build.

Considering the relatively small difference in price I was expecting the predator to be just a little better than it was. Or at least a little easier for the less experienced. The whole 115X replacement backplate was a bit of a fuss to fit to the motherboard and I don't see the advantage. Not that I have a problem with it myself but I definitely wouldn't leave any of my less experienced friends alone to fit it on their brand new skylake board. EK's standard Supremacy backplate is so easy in comparison and seems just as good once installed allowing you to painlessly apply an even pressure to the CPU block. By contrast the L240 kit did have a standard Supremacy style mounting, so the usual easy process.

Then there is the tubing, having the predator pre-assembled wasn't a massive help as the hoses are so ridiculously long in a standard case that I disassembled the whole thing anyway. It wasn't particularly well bled from the factory either.


The only real edge the predator had over the kit was the fact there was only two components to install in the case and it meant there was no need to engage brain to mount the pump/res.

Aesthetically I prefer the kit, the radiator is cleaner without all the integrated stuff, the block looks identical once fitted and the reservoir makes a nice feature. Acoustically as well, the standalone pump sitting on nicely isolating mountings is leagues ahead of the pump/rad combination. From that angle the kit is like having a true watercooling setup. The pump on the predator is definitely better than a traditional AIO. But it is NOT silent and it ain't no D5, nor is it on par with the DDC in EK's kits.


I understand why the predator exists, for the experienced user the quality of every part is leagues ahead of any AIO on the market. The feel and look of the thing is exceptional and it goes a long way to justify it's elevated price tag. Although unless you specifically just don't want a separate pump I don't understand why anyone would opt for it over one of EK's traditional kits. It's an option, i'm glad it exists, but it isn't all things to everyone and I can see why Gary/Tom arrived at their conclusion.

When I first read the review I did want to come on here and rage at TTL for missing the point on some things but having had some time with both it and it's direct alternative from EK I completely understand the conclusion. Trolling 120mm radiators however is BS.

JR
 
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