We will try to be brief and above all that each one values for himself, since it is a complicated subject. What makes one company better than another? Well, it is personal criteria, but what we are sure of is that there are several guidelines to follow to determine it.
EKWB and its hardware designs for RL Custom
Although more and more teams are seen with RL Custom, the market continues to be for AIOs, for this and for its concept we cannot exclude them from liquid cooling as such. The first point to be discussed here comes in here: the variety of products.
EKWB is undoubtedly the one that puts the greatest variety of blocks on the market, perhaps not as many accessories or gadgets as other companies it is true, but in market coverage it is difficult not to find a block for CPU, GPU, pump or fan that is not in your catalog. In such a selective world, variety is a virtue and here we believe that it is far ahead of the rest.
The second point to address is the overall quality. It is true that brands such as Bitspower or Alphacool, without forgetting Aquacomputer or Koolance, among others, have very high quality standards. Chinese brands have improved, but if you are already a veteran in this world, you will appreciate the minor problems that still reflect in some of their designs.
On the other hand, is quality synonymous with performance? It does not have to, what we have here are two well differentiated factors, so in terms of quality we could put EKWB perfectly on the podium, perhaps only surpassed by Aquacomputer, where its finishes are really exquisite.
Price and innovation
Finally, innovation must be treated as an important point, since the sector advances very slowly because it is really difficult to offer technology that improves what is present at a price, no longer competent, but high. Improving a degree is a daunting task that many do not value, but it involves millions of euros in R&D. There shouldn’t be much discussion here, at least in blocks, since EK’s Quantum series has been a complete set, especially with the magnitude and its performance.
The problem is that Aquacomputer is so close with the Kryos NEXT RGBpx and Vision that it is difficult to opt for pure performance or extra features. Difficult decision.
Price-wise, EKWB isn’t exactly cheap, although it does have very attractive liquid-cooling hardware. The problem is that the average user sees this sector extremely expensive and therefore usually opts for Chinese brands such as Barrow or Bykski, which, not being what they were before (a disaster in quality), have also had to increase prices, although these are still more lower than TOP brands.
Here the decision as to whether EKWB is the best brand of hardware for liquid cooling remains a little up in the air, since 1 degree or 5 is not a representative standard of improvement necessary for the average user and the perception is that with half the money has a decent or good performance. The problem is that to scratch those extra grades, investment in all areas grows a lot, so if you don’t want to spend so much, of course EKWB in this section is not even in the top 5, but if you want it, it is the best performance there enters to compete strongly for him.
