The Slovenian manufacturer EK launched a special version of its self-regulated cooling system, EK-Nucleus AIO CR360. The system features a water block designed for direct contact with the chip of Intel’s 12th (Alder Lake), 13th (Raptor Lake), and 14th (Meteor Lake) generation processors, aiming to enhance their cooling efficiency.
Scalping turned Mainstream
Scalping, the practice of removing a processor’s heat-distributing lid, was historically a practice adopted by tech-enthusiasts aiming to lower the operating temperature of the processor. With specialized tools, the procedure has now been simplified, making extreme cooling and overclocking accessible to a broader segment of users. This trend has prompted EK to release a universal liquid cooling system specifically designed for Intel LGA 1700 processors.
The Cooling System Design
EK has developed a special mounting frame for the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Direct Die D-RGB – 1700 to prevent excessive pressure on the processor’s chip. They also include a sponge for insulation against liquid metal when applied to the chip, along with a tube of liquid metal, Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut in the cooling system package.
All critical components of the new cooling system have been developed by EK in collaboration with the German computer enthusiast and overclocker Roman “Der8auer” Hartung.
Cooling with Style
EK has also considered aesthetics in its cooling system design. The cooling system comes with two replaceable covers for the water block. One has a skull, accentuated by RGB lighting; the other comes without a design but features the same lighting.
A More Accessible Way to Cooling
CPU scalping is usually associated with custom liquid cooling systems, typically more expensive and requiring specific experience. The EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Direct Die D-RGB – 1700 offers a much simpler way to implement such cooling. Considering that scalping the same flagship 24-core Intel Core i9-14900K reduces its operating temperature by up to 12 degrees, EK’s new offering seems rather attractive.
The EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Direct Die D-RGB – 1700 is priced at $170 (or €202.90), which is $20 more than the regular version, EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB. Pre-orders for the new variant are now open, with deliveries expected to start in mid-March of this year.
