Watercool Your Memory: EKWB Updates RAM Water Block Lineup
EK-RAM Monarch X2 blocks are designed to cool two DIMMs at once, and they feature G1/4 threads, allowing them to be connected directly to a water cooling loop. These blocks mount directly to the top of the Dominator DIMMs using the same mounting points as the stock heatsinks. The company offers a heatsink for other memory types that allow for the EK-RAM Monarch blocks to be used with any brand.
EK has released four variants of the EK-RAM Monarch X2 blocks. They are available with clear acrylic tops or black POM Acetal, and each top can be paired with the option of an electrolytic copper base, or nickel-plated electrolytic copper base.
In addition to releasing four new blocks, EK Water Blocks has announced that six previous memory blocks have been discontinued, and the remaining lineup has undergone a name change.
The following products have been designated End Of Life. Once these are sold out, they will not be restocked.
| End Of Life Products | |
|---|---|
| 3831109856604 | EK-RAM Monarch X4 CSQ |
| 3831109856611 | EK-RAM Monarch X4 - Acetal CSQ |
| 3831109856635 | EK-RAM Monarch X4 - Acetal+Nickel CSQ |
| 3831109856642 | EK-RAM Monarch X2 |
| 3831109856659 | EK-RAM Monarch X2 - Acetal |
| 3831109856673 | EK-RAM Monarch X2 - Acetal + Nickel |
EKWB kept one older variant of the X2 blocks that are designed to cool two DIMMs. The company also renamed five versions of EK-RAM Monarch X4 block, which can handle up to four DIMMs with one set of fittings.
| Old Name | New Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 3831109856666 | EK-RAM Monarch X2 - Nickel | EK-RAM Monarch X2 – Nickel (Original CSQ) |
| 3831109856628 | EK-RAM Monarch X4 - Nickel CSQ | EK-RAM Monarch X4 – Nickel (Original CSQ) |
| 3830046992321 | EK-RAM Monarch X4 Clean CSQ | EK-RAM Monarch X4 |
| 3830046992338 | EK-RAM Monarch X4 Clean CSQ - Acetal | EK-RAM Monarch X4 - Acetal |
| 3830046992345 | EK-RAM Monarch X4 Clean CSQ - Nickel | EK-RAM Monarch X4 - Nickel |
| 3830046992352 | EK-RAM Monarch X4 Clean CSQ - Ac+Ni | EK-RAM Monarch X4 - Acetal+Nickel |
EKWB said the new EK-RAM Monarch X2 blocks are readily available. The copper base blocks are priced at $34.99, and the nickel-plated versions are set at $38.99. They can be purchased now from the EK Webshop, and authorized partners.
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Even if you do overclock the ram, you arent decreasing the latency, at best you can push the mhz up a tiny bit,or a large bit but then if its large you have to increase the cas latency, blowing away most of the increase anyway. So, utter waste of time.
I mean i guess if you already spent 1000 on a cpu, 1000 on a gpu, and 1000 on a monitor, not to mention a few thousand on other peripherals, and water cooling for the cpu, gpu, etc, etc. If you have already dumped 10,000 into the system, i mean sure why not overclock/watercool the ram.... It wont have any significant impact on the system performance, but if you've already splurged on a buncha other stuff, why not!
Not true. Remember that RAM timings are measured in clock cycles, not static time. CAS 8 at DDR3-1600 is the exact same amount of latency as CAS 12 at DDR3-2400 and CAS 16 at DDR3-3200. The potential bandwidth goes up with the higher frequencies. Now whether you want to spend extra money on faster rated RAM and whether you have software that can take advantage of the bandwidth are other questions altogether. But no, it's not an utter waste of time.
Also, if you do block every component it looks amazing :P
However - when you are spending $350 for pumps/res/tubing, anywhere from $100-300 on radiators, and $300 for CPU/mobo coverage plus $120 per video card block - the extra $40 to cover the RAM and make it pretty isn't a big deal.