EK®, the premium liquid cooling gear manufacturer, is releasing yet another unique pump-reservoir-water block combo. This time for AMD® AM5 Socket, Ryzen™ 7000-series CPUs, and AM5 socket-based motherboards. It features the latest socket-specific EK-Quantum Velocity² cooling engine, while the CPU water block has an integrated DDC 4.2 PWM pump that is cooled by the metal part of the water block acting as a heatsink. The combo is the perfect companion for ITX (SFF) builds where space for a dedicated pump and reservoir is an issue. This product effectively combines four different products into a single small enclosure for ultimate space-saving.

EK-Quantum Velocity² DDC 4.2 PWM D-RGB – AM5 Nickel + Plexi

The product combines a Velocity² CPU water block, a genuine DDC 4.2 PWM pump with a reservoir, and a DDC heatsink.

All this is contained in an assembly significantly smaller than the sum of its parts. A total of four products in a footprint of a hefty CPU water block that fits perfectly.

EK-Quantum Velocity² 1700 on the left, and the EK-Quantum Velocity² DDC 4.2 PWM D-RGB – AM5 Nickel + Plexi on the right

EK-Quantum Velocity² series CPU water blocks embed the next-generation cooling engine. They use a specific combination of mounting pressure and coldplate geometry tailored for the IHS and chiplet layout of AMD AM5 socket processors. Low hydraulic flow restriction enables these products to be used in setups with weaker water pumps or lower pump speeds for added silent operation while still being able to easily achieve top performance. The lathe-turned coldplate is made with precision to cover the IHS effectively and put pressure on the die area.

Using a dedicated reservoir is not required with this water block, as it incorporates a small reservoir to ease the filling process and ensure the water-lubricated DDC pump always has sufficient coolant so it doesn’t run dry. It has two G1/4″ fill ports to account for both vertical and horizontal motherboard mounting and two sets of inlets and outlets.

The coldplate is manufactured out of the highest-grade, 99.99%-pure electrolytic copper, machined with precision for the best possible contact and heat transfer, and is subsequently nickel-plated. The middle section is made of glass-like CNC-machined cast acrylic. On top of it stands the DDC pump with the block top made of CNC-machined nickel-plated brass.

Since DDC pumps benefit from additional cooling to ensure longer life and fewer issues, the nickel-plated brass top is used as a heatsink for the pump housing, with the heat being transferred away from the pump via thermal pads. The brass top features two fill ports, while the two sets of G1/4″ inlets and outlets are located on the side of the block made of durable black acetal.

EK-Quantum Velocity² Patent-Pending Mounting

Because of the integrated, sturdy stock backplate arriving with AM5 motherboards, the patent-pending EK-ExactMount mounting system was re-engineered for an even simpler installation process. The end result is an even easier-to-use and “invisible” mounting mechanism since the entire mounting system is inside the water block, and now it is a true single-piece product. The backplate is factory-mounted on the motherboard, and the spring-loaded Torx screws are integrated into the water block and are screwed by counter-clockwise rotation into the stock backplate of the motherboard.

The integrated mounting screws are engineered with a hard-stop design, so once screws reach the end of the thread, the block is perfectly mounted and tensioned. This removes the risks of over-torquing the water block and potentially damaging your motherboard and/or CPU.

Compatibility

New EK-Quantum Velocity² AM5 CPU water blocks are socket-specific, compatible only with AMD AM5 sockets and Ryzen 7000-series CPUs.

D-RGB Compatibility

This product is compatible with all popular addressable-RGB sync technologies from all major motherboard manufacturers. The arrow marking on the 3-pin D-RGB LED connector is to be aligned with the +5V marking on the D-RGB header. The block’s middle section is made of glass-like acrylic and lit with 14 addressable LEDs.

Availability and Pricing

The EK-Quantum Velocity² DDC 4.2 PWM D-RGB – AM5 Nickel + Plexi combo water blocks are made in Slovenia, Europe, and are available for pre-order through the EK Webshop and Partner Reseller Network. The product is expected to start shipping in late January 2023. The table below shows the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) with VAT included.