INTRODUCTION

   Usually when people choose an dual/tri-fan 240/280/360mm AIO (all-in-one) liquid CPU cooler over a "regular" CPU air cooler it is because they are after higher cooling efficiency and in some cases even looks (especially when we talk about RGB models). Still those are not always the reasons people prefer AIO solutions and so single-fan 120/140mm models are often ideal for use in very small micro-ATX/Mini-ITX cases where size and noise levels play a very large role. For good or bad it's been a while since we've seen something really new in the single-fan AIO market but the wait is over since Antec (among others) just released their latest Kuhler H2O All-In-One Liquid CPU Cooler line including the K120 which is here with us today.

   Antec, Inc. is the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets. Founded in 1986, Antec is recognized as a pioneer in the industry and has maintained its position as a worldwide market leader and international provider of quiet, efficient and innovative products. Antec has also achieved great success in the distribution channel, meeting the demands of quality-conscious system builders, VARs and integrators. Antec’s offering of enclosures includes a wide range of cases, such as its advanced Performance One Series, economical New Solution Series and VERIS family of media components designed for the home theater PC market. Antec’s products also include front line power supplies, such as its premium Signature Series, powerful TruePower Quattro Series and EarthWatts, one of the most environmentally friendly power supplies available. PC gamers are an increasingly significant consumer of performance components, and many Antec products are designed for the gaming demographic, like the premier gamer enclosure: the Nine Hundred. Antec also offers a line of computer accessories comprising many original products, including its patented LED fans and notebook cooling solutions. Antec is headquartered in Fremont, California, with additional offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, as well as in the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, China and Taiwan. The company’s products are sold in more than 40 countries throughout the world.

   The K120 All-In-One Liquid CPU Cooler by Antec may look like most single-fan 120/140mm models in the market today but it has one large difference, its rather high-performance eSATA powered ceramic pump (1m+-0.2m pressure with 1.5 liters/min flow) is integrated with the radiator. We have seen that in the past with a few dual/tri-fan AIO models (primarily by EKWB) but at least for us this is the first single-fan AIO with that feature. Antec has also used two 315mm long Teflon sleeved tubings, low-profile 50mm thick copper water block and a 120mm high-performance PWM blue LED fan (1800RPM+-10%/73.31CFM/30dBA).

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

A large product picture is placed at the front of the box right over the main product features and beneath the company logo.

Contact information about Antec is placed at the base of the box.

The specifications table is located at the rear of the box in 8 languages.

As usual the entire bundle is wrapped inside plastic bags and inside a formed piece of cardboard.

Along with the K120 AIO liquid CPU cooler you will also get a 120mm PWM blue LED fan, backplate, installation instructions and all the necessary bits and pieces to mount the cooler onto Intel LGA 775/1150/1151/1155/1156/1366/2011/2011-3/2066 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/FM1/FM2/FM2+/AM4 mainboards.

THE KUHLER H2O K120

Just as always the K120 is nothing new in terms of design, basically just a radiator connected to a waterblock via two tubes.

The radiator is 27mm thick and features an FPI (fins per inch) count of 16 (Antec says 17 so perhaps it varies slightly from sample to sample).

What makes the K120 stand out from most AIO coolers in the market is the fact that its water pump is integrated with the radiator (first thing to notice since the eSATA power connector exits from that area).

Both rubber tubes are sleeved with Teflon so you don’t have to worry about durability.

The water block has the company logo on it but unfortunately it's not illuminated.

Antec ships the K120 with a thin layer of thermal conductive material on the copper water block.

Typically both tubes can be rotated from the water block to further simplify installation.

The 120mm PWM blue LED fan Antec has used can reach speeds of up to 1800RPM (+-10%) to produce up to 73.31CFM of airflow with just 30dBA of noise.

This fan features specially designed blades for optimal airflow and anti-vibration rubber pads on all 4 corners.

With the fan mounted the thickness of the coolers goes up to just under 51mm.

A single color LED fan may feel a bit off since RGB lighting is very popular now but still we think it looks great (as always we recommend turning on the unit prior to mounting it to test for possible leaks).

TEST BED

TESTING METHODOLOGY

   Testing complete water cooling kits or individual radiators is no different than testing CPU Coolers and since we want all of you to be able to compare similar products we created new and separate charts (you can still cross-compare results however since we are using the same test rig). So once again single (120/140mm) watercooling solutions are tested with the radiator mounted at the rear of our test rig while dual/triple/quad (240/260/280/360/420/480/560mm) solutions with the radiator mounted at the top. For the dBA tests complete water cooling kits or radiators with bundled fans are measured both while on idle mode or with the fan controller in the minimum setting and while on extreme load or with the fan controller all the way to the highest possible setting (PWM fans do that on their own without our intervention). Every single test takes place in a temperature controlled room of 23 degrees Celsius Ambient Temp with the help of two AC units placed diagonally inside the room. When testing complete water cooling kits we use the Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste. Finally much like when testing CPU Coolers it's very important to point out that just because a water cooling kit outperforms another when tested with our test rig (when we test complete water cooling kits) that does not necessarily mean that the same performance differences will apply 100% for other CPU models and in other situations (such as different ambient temps and system configurations).

     To successfully record the load temperatures we use the latest OCCT application for around 6-10 minutes to push the processor to its limits and after that is done and the temperatures are recorded we wait for about 10-20 minutes for the CPU to cool down and record the idle temperatures. This is done to allow time for the thermal conductive material to achieve the optimal performance level. Same procedure is then repeated with the Passmark BurnIn Test as a failsafe just in case the OCCT results are wrong. This procedure takes a lot more time than the usual peltier/thermometer tests but this way not only can we deliver real world results to our readers based on real CPUs but we can also triple check the results using a variety of programs. Last but not least the temperatures were recorded using both the latest versions of AIDA64 and RealTemp while the noise level tests (when fans exist in the bundle) are performed using a high precision ExTech HD600 Decibel Meter placed about 10-15cm above the radiator. Still although the same testing procedure applies to all units do take into consideration that unlike the official numbers which are measured in special noise isolated labs with just the fans here we also have both the rest of the cooler and the rest of the system (although all system fans are turned off when recording noise levels).

TEST RESULTS

CONCLUSION

   Since there’s very little reason for people (especially gamers, enthusiasts and professionals) with midi and full towers to use small single-fan 120/140mm AIO models it goes without saying that their cooling performance is nowhere near what you can get from a dual/tri-fan 240/280/360mm model. Such models however are a one way for people with small HTPC cases and although in terms of cooling efficiency the Kuhler H2O K120 doesn’t bring anything new on the table when compared to its predecessor the H600 Pro (mainly due to the higher CFM fan and the water pump located on the waterblock) it still looks slightly better, comes with Teflon sleeved tubings and has a lower-profile water block.

   As I type these lines although the Kuhler H2O K120 AIO liquid CPU cooler by Antec is not available in the US (that may not change) it still has a very balanced price tag of just 54.90Euros attached to it inside the EU (Amazon UK). Overall the Kuhler K120 may not offer enough for us to recommend it to owners of its predecessor the H600 Pro but if you’re in the market looking to get a brand new 120/140mm AIO it’s certainly worth checking out.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Blue LED Fan
- Teflon Sleeved Tubings
- Compatibility (120mm AIO Model)
- Easy Installation
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Cooling Performance (Compared To The H600 Pro)
- Current Availability (USA)