EK CoolStream CE 420 Radiator Review

Technical specifications: as listed by EK.

Technical details:
Material:
– Copper fins
– 90% copper tubing (H90)
– Brass chambers
– Aluminum/Steel housing

Dimensions: 460 x 145 x 45mm (L x W x H)
Weight: 1.59kg
Liquid Capacity: ~370mL
FPI: 16
Port threads: 2x G1/4
Fan compatibility: any standard size 140x140x25mm fan; UNC 6-32 thread tapping
Pressure tested: 1bar(g)
The following technical drawings are of the CE140.

Note the top image has the extra 5.5mm (-+ .05) section which is the amount the port extenders sit proud of the casing. On the review sample this measured 5.3mm.

Dimensions Measured on the Radiator Tested:

Radiator Core Dimensions:

The core is made up of 2 rows of 15 tubes arranged in the standard U-Flow configuration. The fin arrangement is made of single non louvered fins with an 18 FPI count. The high fin count and medium thickness core should equate to some excellent medium fan speed results.

The following picture is a reference which shows a typical U-Flow coolant flow path, where the coolant travels up all the tubes on one side (left in pic) of the rad and then returns down the other side. U-Flow is most easily recognized when the port end has 2 separate tanks.

The CE 420 has a brass plate inside it’s port end tank and is covered by the external casing so is difficult to distinguish the U-Flow path without dis-assembling and closer inspection.

The single louvered fins are spaced extremely evenly between the tubes for such a high fin count.
Our 18 FPI count is higher than the 16FPI in the specifications provided by EK.

Previously I mention the fins being non louvered, this is true for all the fins except the outside row on each side which are louvered for some reason and have a much lower fin count.

Finish and Features

The CE 420 has a Satin Black finish which looks great and is very smooth to touch. Close inspection shows the finish is actually quite bumpy. In any case the finish is excellent and looks great.

At the non-port end is the seemingly mandatory branding we find on almost all of our gear. At least it’s in an inconspicuous spot and tastefully done.

The fan mount spacing is the standard 15mm.

The fan mounting holes are not located directly above tubes; however they are very close so it’s unusual that EK have chose not to incorporate screw protection plates.

The CE 420 come equipped with just 2 ports in total, 1 inlet and 1 outlet.

Technically these are port extenders which have the dual purpose of helping keep the core from moving around inside the casing.

The extenders often unscrew when removing fittings, and it is the 9mm allen key (missing from the review sample) which is used to tighten them back up.

As mentioned previously there are no alternative port options on the CE 420.

Unfortunately there is no dedicated fill/bleeder port on the return end tank either.

The CE 420 is looking great and ready for business.

After testing was complete I dis-assembled the CE 420 for an inspection of the end tanks and was pleased to find nothing out of the ordinary.

The relative ease at which the CE 420 comes apart makes it an ideal candidate for custom paintwork of the casing panels.

So here we have a 45mm thick radiator with a high FPI count that has just 2 ports on no protection plates. The build quality and finish on the sample was excellent.

Let’s see how it performs…