EKWB Launches Gigabyte Z170X Monoblock

News
By Kevin Carbotte
published

Over the course of the last year, EK Water Blocks established several partnerships with top hardware manufacturers. Motherboard and graphics card designers are now willing to work with EKWB to ensure that its blocks are compatible with their hardware. Gigabyte’s GA-Z170X-Ultra Gaming and GA-Z170X-UD3 Ultra are the latest beneficiaries of the Gigabyte EKWB partnership. EKWB designed a monoblock that will fit on both boards.

The EK-FB G Z170X Ultra Monoblock features EKWB’s EK-Supremacy EVO cooling engine, which offers direct contact to the CPU and power regulation (MOSFET) modules. Liquid flows directly over both heat-generating components as it passes through the block.  

The two motherboards that the EK-FB G Z170X Ultra Monoblock is compatible with have similar layouts, including the location of the M.2 SSD connector, which you can find next to the CPU socket. EKWB took care to ensure that the monoblock does not impede the M.2 socket in any way.

The EK-FB G Z170X Ultra Monoblock is available now through the EK Webshop or the company’s reseller network. There are two versions available: You can get it with a clear acrylic top or with a black POM Acetal top, both of which feature a nickel-plated electrolytic copper base. EK Water Blocks is asking $136.99 for each version.

Kevin Carbotte

 Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware. He has been writing for us for more than four years. 

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • thundervore
    We need these predator compatible
    Reply
  • n0ns3ns3
    18564760 said:
    We need these predator compatible

    It is compatible as predator is simply pre-assembled custom kit :)
    may be you want the QDC version ?
    Reply
  • thundervore
    18580583 said:
    18564760 said:
    We need these predator compatible

    It is compatible as predator is simply pre-assembled custom kit :)
    may be you want the QDC version ?

    Predator compatible means it comes with quick disconnects and prefilled, similar to the Predator GPU blocks wher eit is just attach the block to the GPU and connect it to the loop
    Reply
  • n0ns3ns3
    it can not be done that way, because predator comes with CPU block and can be expanded with GPU block.
    this monoblock includes the CPU block - it is just a larger one that covers VRM as well. so it's a replacement, not expansion.
    Reply
  • thundervore
    18589848 said:
    it can not be done that way, because predator comes with CPU block and can be expanded with GPU block.
    this monoblock includes the CPU block - it is just a larger one that covers VRM as well. so it's a replacement, not expansion.

    You know, now that im actually reading what you wrote it makes 100% sense!

    I've been looking at these monoblocks for a while and wondering why they are not prefilled with quick disconnects and completely forgetting that the predator already comes with the CPU block attached.

    So the only solution is to sell the radiator with quick disconnects prefilled and the CPU blocks separate, prefilled to give customers more option to mix and match.
    Reply
  • n0ns3ns3
    ^ it will make it unnecessarily complicated, ugly and more expensive.
    Liquid cooling is a niche and full cover blocks for MB is a niche of a niche. There is no much market for those things.
    So a potential buyer will have no problem to get the parts of this loop separately, assemble it (with less ugly tubing) and fill it with coolant of his choice.
    Reply