EK Introduces New Nucleus AIO – Strictly for Direct Die CPU Cooling

EK, the renowned leader in computer cooling technology, is proud to announce a groundbreaking addition to its AIO lineup: the EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Direct Die D-RGB – 1700. This trailblazing product, a first-of-its-kind in the industry, marks a significant milestone in cooling solutions. The latest Direct Die AIO, while closely resembling the acclaimed 360 mm Lux model in many ways, stands apart with its unique application—it’s expertly designed for direct die cooling. This innovative pump-block combo distinguishes itself with a custom-designed cold plate, exclusively engineered for cooling delidded Intel LGA 1700 socket CPUs. EK’s latest offering expands its esteemed AIO portfolio and sets a new benchmark in specialized cooling performance.

This unique AIO cooling solution is bringing the advantages of direct die cooling to more PC enthusiasts since delidding was mainly reserved for custom loop liquid cooling applications. It required a complete custom loop setup, which was not affordable or attractive to every user. With the launch of the latest AIO, EK is bringing direct die cooling to the mainstream market. The Direct Die AIO now guarantees a seamless experience and a more budget-friendly entry into direct die liquid cooling. Key elements of the new AIO, like its backplate and die-guard, were co-developed with Der8auer, the famous German overclocker and a pioneer in extreme CPU cooling.

Like other EK Nucleus AIOs, the latest solution offers cutting-edge cooling capacity in a sleek, compact unit that guarantees zero maintenance.

EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Direct Die D-RGB
This direct-die AIO will appeal to customers looking to light up their PCs with the help of RGB lighting, which is featured in the fans. Since customers delidding their CPUs demand high-performance cooling as well, only the largest, 360 mm version is available for this AIO. It has a direct-die cooling engine that is LGA 1700 socket-specific.

Using this product requires delidding. The benefit of this process is removing an entire layer of thermal transfer from the CPU die to the IHS, resulting in a significant reduction of overall temperatures and less thermal difference between CPU cores. The cold plate of the AIO is nickel-plated, in contrast to the majority of AIOs on the market, which have bare copper cold plates. The nickel plating ensures the AIO is safe to be used with liquid metal applications, and a pack of Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut is included in the package.

An IHS removal tool to delid the CPU is required for use with this AIO. EK offers such a tool on the EK webshop, but one is not included with the new AIO. A contact frame does come in the package and prevents warping or bending of the CPU and the surrounding area, improving cooling efficiency due to more even pressure applied on the CPU. A protective foam piece is also included to ensure liquid metal doesn’t spill over electrical components outside the CPU die. If you are interested in the process of CPU delidding, you can watch the video by EK on THIS LINK.

AIO Pump Unit
The circular design of the pump unit is not just another purely aesthetical feature – the top allows users to re-orient the EK badge to follow the direction in which the cooler is installed. The logo orientation can be rotated in 90-degree increments. Users can remove the top and position the logo how they see fit, allowing them always to achieve clean and aligned aesthetics regardless of the angle at which the AIO cooler or motherboard is installed.

Fittings and Tubing
The EK-Nucleus AIO comes pre-installed with reinforced and sleeved rubber tubing featuring finer threads, each fitted with an aluminium cover to ensure ultra-durability. Improved fitting positioning allows for easy installation and adjustment of the rubber tubing, making the new EK Nucleus AIO suitable even for the tightest spaces.

Additional Features
A radiator cover has been added to enhance the overall aesthetics of this CPU cooler and more clearly showcase its clean lines and sleek design.

Daisy-Chainable EK Loop FPT Fans
EK-Loop Fan FPT 120 D-RGB is a 120 mm high-static pressure computer cooling fan designed and built primarily for the highest-performance computer liquid cooling systems. FPT fans feature a full-frame design that prevents air from escaping outside the frame, thus achieving better static pressure.

To reduce cable clutter and the number of headers needed for use on the motherboard or fan controller, EK Loop FPT fans allow daisy-chaining through EK-OmniLink technology. EK-OmniLink offers daisy chaining of multiple fans, reducing cable clutter and greatly easing cable management. The OmniLink interconnect ecosystem uses Micro-fit 8-pin connectors between products and will be significantly expanded in the near future, bringing additional benefits. The EK-OmniLink design resolves the cable clutter issues by unifying the connection of multiple fans onto a single PWM and D-RGB header while maintaining complete flexibility if the user wants to remove a single fan from the chain.

Diamond-Cut Brushed Aluminium Side Panels
The latest Nucleus AIO features an aluminium side plate put on a lathe, and part of the panel’s surface is machined off to leave a shiny alloy finish.

Availability and Pricing
The EK-Nucleus AIO Direct Die 1700 is designed in Slovenia, Europe, and is available for pre-order through the EK Webshop. This product is expected to start shipping in mid-March 2024. In the table below, you can see the manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP), VAT included.