EK, the leading computer cooling solutions provider, releases the latest generation of its TEC solution – the EK-Quantum Delta² TEC – a CPU water block for extreme cooling. In collaboration with Intel, EK has developed a next-generation water block for enthusiasts seeking consistent peak performance and ultimate overclocking of the unlocked 12th Gen Intel Core desktop processors.
This water block is based on Peltier (ThermoElectricCooler) technology and can transport heat using the Peltier effect. Inside the TEC plate, the Peltier effect produces a temperature difference between the two sides by flowing a current through it. This means the cold plate, which is in contact with the CPU, can be lowered to sub-ambient temperatures while the liquid cooling loop cools the hot side of the TEC.
The EK-Quantum Delta² TEC brings further improvements to the original EK-Quantum Delta TEC design. Instead of the one original TEC plate, the new generation has four TEC plates. These are soldered to the bottom of the water block that goes over the CPU, improving the contact and cooling the block and eventually the CPU. Another improvement is that TEC plates are no longer made of aluminium Oxide but aluminium Nitride (AlN). aluminium Nitride (AlN) ceramic plates are cutting-edge thermoelectric plates that significantly improve power efficiency, especially at higher power levels.
The water block features the signature Quantum design, also seen on Velocity² products, along with the controller unit. The controller is now a separate element, intended to be mounted on a nearby 120 mm fan mounting inside the case. As such, it no longer impairs the visual appearance of the water block, which was the case with previous generations of EK TEC products. The control unit can now connect and control the pump and fans of the loop used to cool the TEC plate, making it even more user-friendly.
And this is not where improvements stop. Further updates were made to the insulation that prevents condensation, now with a dense high precision-made rubber frame instead of foam. The water block uses built-in mounting screws already equipped with retention springs. It also has two additional thermal sensors – one on the hot and one on the cold side of the Peltier element – for precise monitoring and control of the TEC plates.
It is exclusively powered by Intel Cryo Cooling Technology, a unique combination of hardware, software, and firmware designed to help unleash extraordinary performance for gamers and those hunting for the highest boost frequencies.
This unique cooler is made for maximum performance and frequencies during heavy loads on a single core or lighter loads across more cores. It is not intended for torture and stress test software that applies heavy synthetic load across all cores, like Prime95.
The EK-Quantum Delta² TEC is built using a purpose-designed large-surface flow-through cooling engine with the Intel Cryo Cooling Technology, bridging aesthetic uniformity and near-silent operation with technological advancements in thermal solutions. The cooler presents an exceptional application of CPU cooling with sub-ambient temperatures by utilizing the Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC) plate while continuously monitoring and adjusting temperatures dynamically, achieving an ideal operating environment for sustained gaming performance.
Liquid coolers are unable to reach temperatures below ambient (room) temperature, while EK-Quantum Delta² TEC uses cutting-edge technology – actively cooling the CPU to sub-ambient temperatures while extracting and dissipating the heat generated from the TEC plate through the traditional liquid cooling loop.
The EK-Quantum Delta² TEC utilizes an innovative two-pronged approach to mitigate condensation, a byproduct that has plagued previous attempts of sub-ambient cooling. The cooler features a compact integrated insulation rubber shroud that isolates all exposed cold surfaces from the environmental conditions inside the PC, while Intel Cryo Cooling Technology continuously monitors the TEC and ambient temperature to adapt itself to those conditions and prevent condensation generated by the cooling process. An additional sensor is located inside the control unit to monitor the humidity inside the chassis and avoid the dew point.
Availability and Pricing
The EK-Quantum Delta² TEC is available for pre-order through the EK Online Store (Editor’s note: It costs $540 in the USA). This product is estimated to ship out in mid-August 2022.
