Took apart my Superemacy Evo and saw that the plating was peeling off with no effort. Should I be concerned?
Depends on your country and the shop in question. Manufactures warranties are usually international but you could also try just contacting the store you bough it form and see what they say.
Those are isolated incidents. A small handful of EK blocks get affected by this every year, though the last few months seem to be a bit worse than usual. Koolance had a couple go bad before any of EK's did, too, but again, isolated incidents. Koolance and AC were also better about responding to the issue and keeping it from escalating. I don't know who you'd go to if EK doesn't replace the block, but if you're dead-set on EK, either go with un-plated copper or use corrosion inhibitor.Originally Posted by Ashcroft
They aren't immune
http://www.overclock.net/t/1558227/aquacomputer-titan-blocks-nickel-plating-flaking-off
http://www.overclock.net/t/584302/ocn-water-cooling-club-and-picture-gallery/54300#post_21349081
Most of the time, nickel is fine. Some people will say having a silver coil present as a biocide exacerbates any potential flaking/corrosion, but there's not a lot of proof of that. If you're concerned about any of it, just add some corrosion inhibitor. It won't solve the problem if the block itself came out of the factory wrong, but it will mitigate flaking/corrosion.
The only reason they are "isolated incidents" is because they make and sell far fewer of them.Originally Posted by Chunky_Chimp
Those are isolated incidents. A small handful of EK blocks get affected by this every year, though the last few months seem to be a bit worse than usual. Koolance had a couple go bad before any of EK's did, too, but again, isolated incidents. Koolance and AC were also better about responding to the issue and keeping it from escalating. I don't know who you'd go to if EK doesn't replace the block, but if you're dead-set on EK, either go with un-plated copper or use corrosion inhibitor.
Most of the time, nickel is fine. Some people will say having a silver coil present as a biocide exacerbates any potential flaking/corrosion, but there's not a lot of proof of that. If you're concerned about any of it, just add some corrosion inhibitor. It won't solve the problem if the block itself came out of the factory wrong, but it will mitigate flaking/corrosion.
That has no bearing on it whatsoever, else Swiftech would be ripe with plating issues. A quality company doesn't allow manufacturing volume to overwhelm the metal preppers, platers, quality control staff, etc., and with exception to the big EK incident in the first half of this decade, they haven't had plating issues, not even isolated ones. EK was churning out blocks like cupcakes for the longest time up until then, so again, that doesn't have anything to do with it.
Of course it has a bearing but its nothing to do with quality control. Its simple maths. More blocks in the wild means you will see more incidents of corrosion reported simply because the sample size is larger but the rate of incidence can be exactly the same. There are lot more Toyotas crashed every day than Lamborghinis but that doesn't mean Toyotas are more likely to crashOriginally Posted by Chunky_Chimp
That has no bearing on it whatsoever, else Swiftech would be ripe with plating issues. A quality company doesn't allow manufacturing volume to overwhelm the metal preppers, platers, quality control staff, etc., and with exception to the big EK incident in the first half of this decade, they haven't had plating issues, not even isolated ones. EK was churning out blocks like cupcakes for the longest time up until then, so again, that doesn't have anything to do with it.
Proper nickel plating shouldn't ever do that. The process they use is cost-cut oriented and it reduces a lot the life of the plating.Originally Posted by Ashcroft
Of course it has a bearing but its nothing to do with quality control. Its simple maths. More blocks in the wild means you will see more incidents of corrosion reported simply because the sample size is larger but the rate of incidence can be exactly the same.
Swiftech don't make nickel blocks as far as I know but thats by the by.
There is a common factor in nearlly all genuine corrosion issues we see on these forums and its not manufacturer. Its using home brew coolant containing Silver or copper sulphate and no corrosion inhibitor.
The manufacturers recommend using corrosion protection but still some people won't believe.
Nickel blocks are great. In my opinion, having owner a few of each I will always buy Nickel now, but they need to be taken care of. Not using protection is not a guarantee of trouble but its a risk for sure.
Far out I thought we were past all this stuff. Thats some pretty good inside info there getting the low down on their plating system/technique.
And other:Originally Posted by Jakusonfire
The supposed bad history has always been nothing more than overblown hype and user error.
Just some examples, find the common denominator;
http://www.overclock.net/t/1379838/build-log-first-build-break-down-finding-lots-of-corrosion
Silver and Copper Sulphate
http://www.overclock.net/t/1499504/ek-blocks-3-years-5-months-later
Silver
http://www.overclock.net/t/1558227/aquacomputer-titan-blocks-nickel-plating-flaking-off
Copper Sulphate
http://www.overclock.net/t/584302/ocn-water-cooling-club-and-picture-gallery/79140#post_23509039
Silver
http://www.overclock.net/t/584302/ocn-water-cooling-club-and-picture-gallery/54240#post_21345128
http://www.overclock.net/t/584302/ocn-water-cooling-club-and-picture-gallery/54300#post_21349081
Copper Sulphate
Multiple brands, All, No corrosion inhibitor.
Its fine if people have to learn for themselves the hard way but encouraging others to do the same all based on endlessly repeated internet 'wisdom' is just irresponsible.
Ever heard about passivation? Check it out if you don't know what that is.Originally Posted by Ashcroft
Far out I thought we were past all this stuff. Thats some pretty good inside info there getting the low down on their plating system/technique.
I think this post says it best
http://www.overclock.net/t/1542289/ek-supremacy-evo-nickel-chipping/60#post_24162822
If its cost cutting then it must be all the companies doing it. EK, Aquacomp, Koolance, Heatkiller etc, because they have all had examples of the same type and they are all in on the recommending corrosion protection racket.
Quote:Originally Posted by Ashcroft
There is a common factor in nearly all genuine corrosion issues we see on these forums and its not manufacturer. Its using home brew coolant containing Silver or copper sulphate and no corrosion inhibitor.
The manufacturers recommend using corrosion protection but still some people won't believe.
Then you explain to me why this isn't happening so much more often with every company if it's user error, and explain why it's only EK that's suffered as of these instances. Swiftech is the company supplying eVGA's HydroCopper blocks, and they make plenty of those that don't have their chrome plating flake. If you were correct in that more blocks in the wild = more instances, then by that logic other companies' blocks would have this happen more than once or twice a year, though still less than EK. Again, Koolance and Aquacomputer had isolated incidents that were resolved. EK is pretty consistent in letting blocks slip out into the wild that are prone to this problem, and they don't seem to have addressed the original problem, that being bad plating prep and quality control that doesn't inspect for that. Remember, EK blaming the user is what really got everyone riled up during the original incident because there were blocks out there that were still flaking even with the loop ONLY having distilled+PT Nuke, or even just straight distilled, flaking would occur even without a silver coil. If you were right about the silver coil being the core of the problem, then those blocks wouldn't have had plating flake and this would have been settled a long time ago with no new incidents.Originally Posted by Ashcroft
Far out I thought we were past all this stuff. Thats some pretty good inside info there getting the low down on their plating system/technique.
I think this post says it best
http://www.overclock.net/t/1542289/ek-supremacy-evo-nickel-chipping/60#post_24162822
And other:
http://www.overclock.net/t/1580670/few-problems-with-my-loop-silver-kill-coils-safe
Bitspower and Silver with no corrosion protection. The name for quality fittings
If its cost cutting then it must be all the companies doing it. EK, Aquacomp, Koolance, Heatkiller etc, because they have all had examples of the same type and they are all in on the recommending corrosion protection racket.