EK Releases Quantum Kinetic TBE Series Products With DDC-Powered Variants
EK is adding more options to its Quantum Line Kinetic TBE products with DDC pump-based combo units. These new DDC-powered combos offer very high head pressure and good flow rates in a small footprint, oh and they sell at 180 EUR a piece.
This makes them very convenient for smaller cases that house powerful hardware with multiple water blocks. EK-Quantum products come with sophisticated addressable D-RGB 5 V LEDs that can be controlled through your motherboard's RGB control software or EK-Loop Connect controller unit. Besides the upgraded loop routing capabilities of the new small form factor combo units, EK is putting a lot of emphasis on the D-RGB implementation with no visible LED hotspots.
The most popular small form factor cylindrical pump-res combo on the market is redesigned, upgraded, and better in every way. The top is now featuring three G1/4" ports. One of the ports can be used with the included nickel-plated brass internal tube, which helps prevent the splashing of the coolant inside the reservoir if the top is to be used as an inlet. This reduces the chances of air being sucked in by the pump and foaming of the coolant as well. Any of these ports can also be used for filling the system or adding additional upcoming accessories (thermal probes, LEDs, etc.) The internal tube can not be used in conjunction with the anti-Vortex insert on 120 models due to height restrictions.
Another three industry-standard G1/4" ports are available in the bottom combo housing. Aside from the main front-placed In and Out ports, it features a backside port usable as either an optional inlet or a drain port. Mounting is done through four pillars on the bottom of the pump-reservoir combo unit. The addressable LEDs are placed in a ring directed toward the coolant. Any unwanted hotspot of the D-RGB LED of the combo unit is covered by a CNC-machined aluminium piece.
The tube itself remains unchanged, with a diameter of 60 mm. This means that it remains compatible with the previous generation of EK cylindrical reservoir tubes. The anti-cyclone insert is pre-attached, modernized, and more discrete.
For its small footprint, the DDC 3.2 pump offers great hydraulic characteristics with flow rates of up to 1000L/h with a maximum head pressure of 5.2 m. The DDC motor is cooled by the integrated heatsink on the bottom of the enclosure.
The EK-Quantum Kinetic TBE DDC tubular pump and reservoir combo units are available in four versions - two height variants marked with 120 and 160 (representing the total height of the unit in millimeters) and two material choices for each of the size variants.
The EK-Quantum Kinetic TBE comes in black POM acetal and cast acrylic (plexi) variants, both having addressable D-RGB implementation inside the housing.
Inside these combo units, a digital (addressable) 3-pin 5 V D-RGB LED strip is installed and it connects to the motherboard's 3-pin LED header or can be connected to any other supported 5 V 3-pin addressable D-RGB LED controller. This product is compatible with all major motherboard manufacturers' D-RGB control software. The arrow marking on the 3-pin LED connector is to be aligned with the +5 V marking on the D-RGB header.
Availability and Pricing
EK-Quantum Kinetic TBE pump-reservoir combos are made in Slovenia, Europe, and are available for purchase through the EK Webshop and Partner Reseller Network. MSRP, VAT included are 169 and 179 EUR.
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Senior Member
Posts: 1813
Joined: 2012-04-30
For now i gave up on custom, especially since ryzen is transfer limited and most custom loops get similar performance as a proper 280 AIO,
especially after realising how nice/easy and quick i can remove the block/pump from my Eisbaer to work on the rig,
instead of having to remove almost everything for a loop (or risking bend tubing etc).
Senior Member
Posts: 2641
Joined: 2015-03-20
wonder if these new DDC's and the previously released VTX variant (apparanetly like a DDC but 100l/h higher flow rate and .1 higher head pressure and no heatsync required) are able to match your avg D5 yet when it comes to noise at a specific flow rate. (yes the D5 can pump at a higher flow rate though with less head pressure but acc to my findings so far running a D5 at max speed is a waste of it's silent potential for a at best 1-2 degree better temp under load then having it at 25% and i'm guesing the same can be said for the DDC/VTX pumps)
would be nice if they could due to how compact they are compared to a D5.
Hi there
D5 is still probably more reliable than DDC pump, I have experienced two DDC pump failures, both have been EK DDC 3.2 PWM Elite edition, on one of them PCB burned and on second one wires which are going to PCB as well been burnt
Currently running 2*Laing DDC 3.25 18W pumps and they are been pretty reliable, no issues with them, other DDC pump is EK DDC 3.2 PWM Elite edition and thos one is now at 2 year and seems too no issues
If you are looking for a reliability then I recommend D5 pump, I got two D5 pumps and one of them is now 5 year old and running like new one etc
Regarding the flow rate, that quoted flow rate is without the restrictions like fitting or radiator etc, in normal loop with 2 radiators and CPU and GPU block you will be getting something around 1.0-1.25GPM at full speed and at half you should be in 0.5-0.75GPM depending on loop
D5 is more suitable for loop which is not so complex, in complex loops I prefer to use DDC pumps as they have higher head pressure than D5
Hope this helps
Thanks, Jura
Senior Member
Posts: 140
Joined: 2009-03-21
Hi there
D5 is still probably more reliable than DDC pump, I have experienced two DDC pump failures, both have been EK DDC 3.2 PWM Elite edition, on one of them PCB burned and on second one wires which are going to PCB as well been burnt
Currently running 2*Laing DDC 3.25 18W pumps and they are been pretty reliable, no issues with them, other DDC pump is EK DDC 3.2 PWM Elite edition and thos one is now at 2 year and seems too no issues
If you are looking for a reliability then I recommend D5 pump, I got two D5 pumps and one of them is now 5 year old and running like new one etc
Regarding the flow rate, that quoted flow rate is without the restrictions like fitting or radiator etc, in normal loop with 2 radiators and CPU and GPU block you will be getting something around 1.0-1.25GPM at full speed and at half you should be in 0.5-0.75GPM depending on loop
D5 is more suitable for loop which is not so complex, in complex loops I prefer to use DDC pumps as they have higher head pressure than D5
Hope this helps
Thanks, Jura
ah didn't realize/know they had reliability issue's. currently have a aquacomputer D5 usb about 4 years old. in my current loop maxed out it can reach about 0.97 GPM, on my previous loop about 1gpm maxed out so i already figured that the on the box flow rate is unobstructed which is why i thought DDC's might be more even then expected in an actual loop (with cpu and gpu blocks). my day to day flowrate with my D5 is "only" 0.26gpm as i run the pump at 20% (any higher and i start to hear the pump's vibration and even at 0.97gpm the temp difference is about 1 maybe 2 degree's so i prefer to run the pump quiet and hopefully give it a chance at living long).
was mainly hoping the DDC's / VTX's could match it at there lowest setting noise/flow wise wile being a smaller/easier to hide package.
they also seem the go to's for those front panel reservoirs which i really like the look of but if there maybe realiable at best that's just not something i'm willing to deal with :p
this hobby is already unjustifiably expensive without stuff breaking and needing to be replaced, don't get me wrong i love how my pc looks and i love the watercooling in it but i prefer not to add up all the order's i placed.
(been watercooling for......13 years now haven't had anything watercooling related die on me yet would like to keep that track record :p)
Senior Member
Posts: 2641
Joined: 2015-03-20
ah didn't realize/know they had reliability issue's. currently have a aquacomputer D5 usb about 4 years old. in my current loop maxed out it can reach about 0.97 GPM, on my previous loop about 1gpm maxed out so i already figured that the on the box flow rate is unobstructed which is why i thought DDC's might be more even then expected in an actual loop (with cpu and gpu blocks). my day to day flowrate with my D5 is "only" 0.26gpm as i run the pump at 20% (any higher and i start to hear the pump's vibration and even at 0.97gpm the temp difference is about 1 maybe 2 degree's so i prefer to run the pump quiet and hopefully give it a chance at living long).
was mainly hoping the DDC's / VTX's could match it at there lowest setting noise/flow wise wile being a smaller/easier to hide package.
they also seem the go to's for those front panel reservoirs which i really like the look of but if there maybe realiable at best that's just not something i'm willing to deal with :p
this hobby is already unjustifiably expensive without stuff breaking and needing to be replaced, don't get me wrong i love how my pc looks and i love the watercooling in it but i prefer not to add up all the order's i placed.
(been watercooling for......13 years now haven't had anything watercooling related die on me yet would like to keep that track record :p)
Hi there
Aquacomputer D5 are my favourite D5, their Next version is one of better D5 although most of them are same, just difference between them are features like display like D5, USB like in your case
D5 are usually most reliable pumps, DDC can match them in reliability, really depending on situation
I have used several DDC pumps and most of them are still working, DDC I prefer to use in more complex loops
In my case I'm running dual DDC pumps with Aquacomputer DDC dual pump top and at full speed they're quiet pumps, in other build I have used DDC pump and in that build DDC at full speed is quite noisy, due this I'm running there pump just at 60-70% beyond that pump noise is quite high although its still bearable
If I would switch to DDC in your loop, hard to say, I would probably try it at least if it makes any difference, in my case I'm running dual DDC pumps which are helping me with better flow rate, I done tests with dual D5 and with DDC my flow rate is pretty nice
Front panel reservoir something like for Lian-Li cases, I built only two loops with such reservoirs and not sure if I would be have such reservoir in my loop
You can have look on dual DDC pump top, get two Laing DDC 18W and run them at 40-50% at such RPM they should be okay there
Hope this helps
Thanks, Jura
Senior Member
Posts: 140
Joined: 2009-03-21
wonder if these new DDC's and the previously released VTX variant (apparanetly like a DDC but 100l/h higher flow rate and .1 higher head pressure and no heatsync required) are able to match your avg D5 yet when it comes to noise at a specific flow rate. (yes the D5 can pump at a higher flow rate though with less head pressure but acc to my findings so far running a D5 at max speed is a waste of it's silent potential for a at best 1-2 degree better temp under load then having it at 25% and i'm guesing the same can be said for the DDC/VTX pumps)
would be nice if they could due to how compact they are compared to a D5.