EK-XLC Predator 280 AIO CPU & GPU Liquid Cooling review - Product Showcase CPU cooling

Here we have the Vardar high static pressure fans. You get two of these, 140 mm and PWM based as stated. Overall these are very good fans regulated by your motherboard CPU FAN header or fan controller.

When we flip the unit around we can see the radiator a little better. Easy to mount with included screws, most big-tower chassis have pre-fitted holes and space for 360 mm rads these days, either top or front side mounted. Here you are looking directly at the pump. Everything is installed for you, so the tubing mounts to the fittings and coolant is already inserted and sealed. EK delivers their Supremacy MX CPU water-block with this kit, not the cutest looking one but it offers good performance. There is only CPU socket compatibility for Intel LGA-1150/1151/1155/1156 and Intel LGA-2011 (read the notes on the Ek website for compatibility on this please). Again, AMD users can purchase an AMD mounting kit.

Here we have the cooling block. It is machined with a copper base made from very pure copper and is further polished to a mirror finish. Let me remove that protective cover and show you that.

Now check out that reflection - that's what we call a mirror lapped finish. When we flip the CPU cooling block/pump around we see an all copper base. As the results will show, the performance really is good as you'll find out soon enough. The nice thing with EK's implementation of the Predator is that the pump and fan hub are located in the radiator, meaning you will not have any wires leading in and out of the water-block. The end result will be a much cleaner appearance.
  

 
Default tubing from radiator to cooling-block is 400mm (15.75in) - this allows you to install the radiator quite easily in the top or front side of the chassis. This flexible quality tubing is what is called ZMT (Zero Maintainance Tubing) matte black tubing, nice and thick for optimal coolant flow as well.