Went down to my local computer store yesterday to pick up a Kuhler 920 for my second GTX 580 and found one of these on the shelf! I have been waiting to get one of these ever since Asetek announced it on their blog (http://www.asetek.com/blog/272-waterchill-2011c-to-be-widely-available-via-partner.html). I couldn't find too many reviews on this product so I thought I'd share my experiences.
A while ago, I purchased an H100 (CoolIT), however it didn't meet my expectations. It was unable to outperform my old Noctua D14 heatsink at the same noise levels. At maximum fan speeds, sure, but this was "maximum", not "medium", not "low", but "maximum". So when I read that rival company Asetek announced their own 240mm cooler, along with a thicker radiator, I knew I had to get my hands on one!
My current cooler is a Silver Arrow SB-E. So I will using it as a reference for cooling performance. Pardon the photo quality, my main camera is broken so I'm using my phone to take photos.
I upgraded to the Silver Arrow SB-E from a Noctua D14. From my tests, the SB-E cools just as well as the Noctua D-14 but is less noisy.
Installation
The instructions are not intuitive, so make sure you read the instructions over a few times before you start installing the unit (especially the step regarding assembling the top mounting bracket, you want your socket type lettering facing outwards). However, if you've installed a similar Asetek product before (e.g. Kuhler 920, 620) the process is the same.
I find that the soft tubes on the Asetek units are a lot easier to work with than the hard tubing found on the CoolIT units like the H100.
For my first configuration, I arranged the fans to intake from the top and pass through the radiator. This didn't work well inside the Haf X because there are only screw holes for each end of the radiator and none in the middle. This caused both fans to droop towards the middle of the radiator instead of lying perfectly flat. Regardless, I still tested the performance in this configuration (see results below).
For my second configuration, I arranged the fans in an exhaust fashion, pushing air through the radiator from the inside of the case and out the top. I mounted the radiator inside the case (as opposed to on the top underneath the plastic cover) and the fans directly below the radiator. I didn't run into any space or motherboard clearance issues doing this. So it is definitely possible to use this cooler in a push/pull configuration with the Haf X. I will likely try installing 2 x 230mm exhaust fans at the top later on.
Testing
CPU: Intel 2600K (4.6 GHz @ 1.35v)
Case: Cooler Master Haf X
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z
PSU: Corsair AX1200
GPU: ASUS Matrix GTX 580 (Kuhler 920 "the mod")
Cooler 1: Silver Arrow SB-E (fans @ maximum speed, PWM disabled)
Cooler 2: Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme (fans @ auto, PWM auto)
Performance
In all test instances, I used the Prime95 Small FFTs torture test. I use Small FFTs for testing cooling performance because it produces more heat than Blend does. Ambient temperature fluctuates between 24-25 degrees.
Here is a graph comparing the average temperatures of both coolers. Overall, it appears that the Water 2.0 Extreme (at low fan speed) cools slightly better than the Silver Arrow SB-E (at max fan speed) by 1-2 degrees.
Noise
Throughout all torture tests, I could not recall a time where I heard the fans spin up. In all my tests, the Silver Arrow SB-E fans were running at full speed whereas the Extreme 2.0 were running at low speed. In other words, the Extreme 2.0 cools a hair better than the SB-E while being a lot quieter. This is in regards to fan noise only.
There is also pump noise. My unit constantly emitted a grinding, rattling sound. Initially I thought this was caused by air bubbles so I uninstalled the unit and gave both the radiator and pump a good shake. This didn't get rid of the noise. Frustrated, I powered the unit using a wall power molex adapter to save having to connect to my power supply to test each "shake". I shook the unit rigorously countless times, but I still could not get rid of the noise. It appears the grinding, rattling noise is here to stay. If anybody knows how to fix this please do share.
Software
I wasn't able to test the software because I already had a Kuhler 920 installed on my GTX 580. How does this prevent me from testing the software for the Thermaltake 2.0 Extreme? Asetek's fan control software only works with a single Asetek unit at a time. I tried installing Thermaltake's fan control software, but when I adjusted the values, it ended up controlling my Kuhler 920 instead!
I also tried unplugging the USB header on the Kuhler 920 but this causes the fans to run at full speed. With the 920 running at full speed it would have made my subjective noise tests difficult to conduct.
My 2 Cents
The Water 2.0 Extreme was able to achieve lower temperatures than the Silver Arrow SB-E (running at maximum fan speed) by 1-2 degrees. This is impressive given that the Thermaltake unit was able to achieve this at a low fan speed. This unit has the the performance I was looking for when I purchased an H100 previously!
In my opinion, the cooler is both quiet (in terms of fan noise) and an excellent performer! However, be aware that there will be pump noise and grinding/clicking/rattling noise.
I do have a pair of Gentle Typhoon AP15 fans lying around, but I didn't feel the need to use them. First off, they aren't PWM and the Thermaltake cooler never actually "ramped up" the fan speeds during my torture tests. Perhaps later I will take another stab at trying to achieve 5.0 GHz using the AP15s.
Pros
- great performance at low fan speeds
- soft tubing is easy to route
- pre-applied thermal paste
- easy to mount once you know how
Cons
- like similar coolers, suffers from the notorious grinding pump noise as described in wlw wl's thread here
- control software can only be used with a single Asetek unit at a time
- instructions not intuitive
- plastic back plate may allow nuts to spin when mount is tightened (brought to my attention by Army of Zin)
Other Thoughts
I picked up a Kuhler 920 for my second GTX 580 at the same time I picked up the Thermaltake. It appears both of the "new" pumps are producing similar grinding/rattling noises. However, my old Kuhler 920 (purchased last week) is very quiet and doesn't make any grinding/clicking/rattling noises at all, only pump noise. With my first 920, I wasn't really paying attention to pump noise, I was too busy trying to do "the mod" to quiet down my GTX 580. It is entirely possible that over the course of a week that the noise may subside.
Edited by tomato16 - 7/3/12 at 8:59pm
A while ago, I purchased an H100 (CoolIT), however it didn't meet my expectations. It was unable to outperform my old Noctua D14 heatsink at the same noise levels. At maximum fan speeds, sure, but this was "maximum", not "medium", not "low", but "maximum". So when I read that rival company Asetek announced their own 240mm cooler, along with a thicker radiator, I knew I had to get my hands on one!
My current cooler is a Silver Arrow SB-E. So I will using it as a reference for cooling performance. Pardon the photo quality, my main camera is broken so I'm using my phone to take photos.
I upgraded to the Silver Arrow SB-E from a Noctua D14. From my tests, the SB-E cools just as well as the Noctua D-14 but is less noisy.
Installation
The instructions are not intuitive, so make sure you read the instructions over a few times before you start installing the unit (especially the step regarding assembling the top mounting bracket, you want your socket type lettering facing outwards). However, if you've installed a similar Asetek product before (e.g. Kuhler 920, 620) the process is the same.
I find that the soft tubes on the Asetek units are a lot easier to work with than the hard tubing found on the CoolIT units like the H100.
For my first configuration, I arranged the fans to intake from the top and pass through the radiator. This didn't work well inside the Haf X because there are only screw holes for each end of the radiator and none in the middle. This caused both fans to droop towards the middle of the radiator instead of lying perfectly flat. Regardless, I still tested the performance in this configuration (see results below).
For my second configuration, I arranged the fans in an exhaust fashion, pushing air through the radiator from the inside of the case and out the top. I mounted the radiator inside the case (as opposed to on the top underneath the plastic cover) and the fans directly below the radiator. I didn't run into any space or motherboard clearance issues doing this. So it is definitely possible to use this cooler in a push/pull configuration with the Haf X. I will likely try installing 2 x 230mm exhaust fans at the top later on.
Testing
CPU: Intel 2600K (4.6 GHz @ 1.35v)
Case: Cooler Master Haf X
Motherboard: ASUS Maximus IV Extreme-Z
PSU: Corsair AX1200
GPU: ASUS Matrix GTX 580 (Kuhler 920 "the mod")
Cooler 1: Silver Arrow SB-E (fans @ maximum speed, PWM disabled)
Cooler 2: Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme (fans @ auto, PWM auto)
Performance
In all test instances, I used the Prime95 Small FFTs torture test. I use Small FFTs for testing cooling performance because it produces more heat than Blend does. Ambient temperature fluctuates between 24-25 degrees.
Here is a graph comparing the average temperatures of both coolers. Overall, it appears that the Water 2.0 Extreme (at low fan speed) cools slightly better than the Silver Arrow SB-E (at max fan speed) by 1-2 degrees.
Noise
Throughout all torture tests, I could not recall a time where I heard the fans spin up. In all my tests, the Silver Arrow SB-E fans were running at full speed whereas the Extreme 2.0 were running at low speed. In other words, the Extreme 2.0 cools a hair better than the SB-E while being a lot quieter. This is in regards to fan noise only.
There is also pump noise. My unit constantly emitted a grinding, rattling sound. Initially I thought this was caused by air bubbles so I uninstalled the unit and gave both the radiator and pump a good shake. This didn't get rid of the noise. Frustrated, I powered the unit using a wall power molex adapter to save having to connect to my power supply to test each "shake". I shook the unit rigorously countless times, but I still could not get rid of the noise. It appears the grinding, rattling noise is here to stay. If anybody knows how to fix this please do share.
Software
I wasn't able to test the software because I already had a Kuhler 920 installed on my GTX 580. How does this prevent me from testing the software for the Thermaltake 2.0 Extreme? Asetek's fan control software only works with a single Asetek unit at a time. I tried installing Thermaltake's fan control software, but when I adjusted the values, it ended up controlling my Kuhler 920 instead!
I also tried unplugging the USB header on the Kuhler 920 but this causes the fans to run at full speed. With the 920 running at full speed it would have made my subjective noise tests difficult to conduct.
My 2 Cents
The Water 2.0 Extreme was able to achieve lower temperatures than the Silver Arrow SB-E (running at maximum fan speed) by 1-2 degrees. This is impressive given that the Thermaltake unit was able to achieve this at a low fan speed. This unit has the the performance I was looking for when I purchased an H100 previously!
In my opinion, the cooler is both quiet (in terms of fan noise) and an excellent performer! However, be aware that there will be pump noise and grinding/clicking/rattling noise.
I do have a pair of Gentle Typhoon AP15 fans lying around, but I didn't feel the need to use them. First off, they aren't PWM and the Thermaltake cooler never actually "ramped up" the fan speeds during my torture tests. Perhaps later I will take another stab at trying to achieve 5.0 GHz using the AP15s.
Pros
- great performance at low fan speeds
- soft tubing is easy to route
- pre-applied thermal paste
- easy to mount once you know how
Cons
- like similar coolers, suffers from the notorious grinding pump noise as described in wlw wl's thread here
- control software can only be used with a single Asetek unit at a time
- instructions not intuitive
- plastic back plate may allow nuts to spin when mount is tightened (brought to my attention by Army of Zin)
Other Thoughts
I picked up a Kuhler 920 for my second GTX 580 at the same time I picked up the Thermaltake. It appears both of the "new" pumps are producing similar grinding/rattling noises. However, my old Kuhler 920 (purchased last week) is very quiet and doesn't make any grinding/clicking/rattling noises at all, only pump noise. With my first 920, I wasn't really paying attention to pump noise, I was too busy trying to do "the mod" to quiet down my GTX 580. It is entirely possible that over the course of a week that the noise may subside.
Edited by tomato16 - 7/3/12 at 8:59pm
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