By the FlowUP team, gaming PC builder in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 30 September 2026
In brief: at CES 2024, EKWB (EK Water Blocks) showed off its direct die cooling for Intel LGA 1700 processors, developed with overclocker der8auer, a PS5 watercooling monoblock, and its Nucleus AIOs. Since then, the Slovenian brand has gone through serious financial trouble: in 2025, its operations were taken over by a new company, LM TEK, which has revived the EK brand. For a gaming PC, direct die remains a modification reserved for enthusiasts: a good 360 mm AIO is more than enough.
Direct die: what is it?
On a typical processor, the chip (the “die”) is covered by a metal cover, the IHS, which spreads the heat to the air cooler or water block. Direct die involves removing that cover (the “delidding”) to mount the water block directly on the chip, with liquid metal between the two. You gain several degrees, which is especially interesting for overclockers.
At the start of 2023, EKWB launched its EK-Quantum Velocity² Direct Die kits for the Intel LGA 1700 socket, developed together with der8auer, a well-known specialist in delidding. The kits included the water block, a delidding tool, a protective frame and liquid metal. Attention: delidding voids the CPU warranty.
Custom watercooling: EKWB’s playground and that of enthusiasts
What EKWB showed at CES 2024
| Product | In brief |
|---|---|
| Direct die LGA 1700 | Water block mounted directly on the processor die for Intel CPUs on the LGA 1700 socket, designed with der8auer |
| PS5 monoblock | A watercooling block designed to cool a PlayStation 5 |
| EK Nucleus | The AIO (all-in-one watercooling) range from the brand |
| Accessories | New accessories for custom watercooling |
According to the brand’s presentation at the January 2024 CES
What happened to EKWB since then?
In 2024, EKWB faced serious problems: financial difficulties, departures of key employees to Noctua and Thermal Grizzly, and controversy over its management. On 3 March 2025, the company LM TEK, based in Slovenia like EKWB, took over the operation of the online shop and EK activities. The brand then returned to Computex 2025 with a new AIO, the Quantum Surface Kinetics 240.
Direct die, custom or AIO: what should you choose for a gaming PC?
Our assembler’s take: direct die and custom watercooling are enthusiast projects, excellent but demanding in terms of maintenance and risky for warranty. For a gaming PC, an AIO of 280 or 360 mm does the job very well, even on a Ryzen 7 X3D or a Core i7. That’s what we install in our high-end builds, without delidding. The radiator vs watercooling matchup is covered in our guide how to choose your cooling in 2026.
Our PCs with watercooling
Aqua V2 PC: watercooling and RTX 5060 Ti
Cooler Master watercooling, RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB and Core i5 14400F or 14600KF, in the FlowUP H600 Aquavision case
Abyssin PC: 360 mm watercooling
MSI MAG Coreliquid A13 360 mm watercooling, RTX 5070 Ti and Ryzen 5 7500X3D.
Cheetoh PC: Arctic 360 mm watercooling
Arctic Liquid Freezer III Pro 360, Ryzen 7 7800X3D and RTX 5070.
FAQ: EKWB and direct die
What is direct die cooling?
Removing the metal cover from a processor to mount the water block directly on the die, with liquid metal. The temperature improvement is mainly of interest to overclockers.
Does direct die void the warranty?
Yes. Delidding is a physical modification of the processor that voids its warranty.
Does EKWB still exist?
Yes. After its financial difficulties, EK’s activities were taken over in March 2025 by the Slovenian company LM TEK, which revived the brand.
Is there watercooling for the PS5?
EKWB presented a watercooling monoblock for PS5 at CES 2024. It’s an enthusiast product, which involves dismantling the console.
Do you need custom watercooling for a gaming PC?
No. A 280 or 360 mm AIO cools today’s gaming processors very well, without the maintenance of a custom loop.
Sources
- Overclockers, EK Direct Die kits for LGA 1700 (2023)
- Tom's Hardware, key EKWB staff leave (August 2024)
- Vortez, LM TEK takes over EKWB activities (March 2025)
- Overclocking.com, EK is back at Computex 2025
