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The purpose of this thread is to help those people who have read the tutorial stickies and know the basics of water cooling, and just need help in picking out the components. This thread will be updated monthly based on availability of old, current, and new parts.
Components are ordered in terms of overall performance.
Pumps (12V DC):
CPU Waterblocks:
GPU Waterblocks:
Chipset Waterblocks:
Radiators:
NOTE: The radiators will be ranked in terms of absolute performance first with high power fans (>90cfm rated), with secondary ordering for performance in low noise conditions.
High power fans (e.g. San Ace 120mm, Delta FFB/TFB, Panaflo H1A/U1A 120x38mm):
In high airflow applications, note that the temperature differences between radiators of similar fan and surface area arrangements will be quite small, such as 1C or less.
Low power fans (e.g. undervolted Panaflo L1A 120mm, Delta EFB, 120x25mm fans):
In these applications, the thickness of the radiator will determine best performance, where thinner is better because of the lower pressure capabilities of these fans. Coupled with the higher air resistance of thicker radiators, they perform worse with slower fans. It should be realized that for quiet operation, your priorities should be frontal area of the radiator followed by thickness, which should be lower for less restriction with a low pressure fan. For high power fans, thickness and total surface area is desired. Please keep in mind that performance numbers are hard to relate to current articles available and lack of testbeds for radiator testing, so this is going off of my knowledge of what works and what doesn't work so well. In other words, don't take it as The Word.
Ranking for low noise applications:
Resources:
http://www.procooling.com/html/pro_testing.php - interactive waterblock testing results
http://www.overclockers.com waterblock testing
http://www.systemcooling.com for Laing DDC mod
BillA and Greenman100 for radiator clarification.
Voodoo Rufus at Overclockers/OCForums for original thread & format
Reputable retailers in the United States that carry these products:
Components are ordered in terms of overall performance.
Pumps (12V DC):
- Laing DDC Rev.2 "Plus" 18w (orange impeller) ~cost $75 (~$105 with Alphacool Acrylic DDC top)
Pros: Very good pressure capability (an unbelievable 20ft of head pressure), very low noise (Eheim 1048 level).
Cons: only native 3/8" barbs - can purchase an Alphacool Acrylic DDC top which increases head pressure to 22ft as well as increases flowrate, gives user choice of 1/2" or 3/8" barbs (G1/4 thread) (the acrylic top adds another $30 to the pump price, but with the alphacool top, it is the absolute best pump currently available)
[*]Laing D5 (AKA Swiftech MCP655), cost ~$75
Pros: Good free flow performance, good reliability, adjustable speed, now a low noise pump with the D5 revision.
Cons: A bit bulky for some possibly.
[*]Laing DDC 10w (black impeller) (AKA Swiftech MCP350), cost ~$70
Pros: Very good pressure capability, very low noise (Eheim 1048 level).
Cons: Low free flow rate (can be helped from this mod LINK or with an Alphacool Acrylic DDC top)
[*]Aquaxtreme 50Z (AKA Swiftech MCP600 Rev. 2), cost ~$80
Pros: Good free flow performance, reasonably low noise, 2 year warranty.
Cons: Less pressure than DDC, less overall performance of a modded DDC, only runs down to 10V or so. A bit less overall performance than the D5. No reason to get this over the MCP655 now for noise and performance.
[*]Danger Den MAG II LE, cost ~$45
Pros: Cheapest pump currently available with decent performance, extremely small and compact.
Cons: Least powerful pump (lacks both flowrate and pressure), has a tendency to vibrate alot, potential reliability issue.
CPU Waterblocks:
- Swiftech Storm Rev.2, ~$75 Swiftech
Pros: Best current performance, universal mounting.
Cons: Design causes high amount of restriction in loop, Cost.
[*]Dtek AquaXtreme MP-05, cost ~$50-65 (depending on model)
Pros: Performance & design similar to the European-made AlphaCool Nexxos XP block, uses larger 1/2" fittings, optional jet plates are available, universal mounting, different models depending on desired performance and budget. Performance is equal to or greater than the Swiftech Storm blocks.
Cons: Design causes a fair amount of restriction in loop.
[*]Swiftech Apogee, cost ~$50
Pros: Good availability, excellent performance over wide flow range,
universal mounting (now with AM2 support). Best performing block with low flow/low pressure pumps.
Cons: Replaces the more affordable 600X series blocks.
[*]Dtek Whitewater, cost ~$55
Pros: Excellent performance, universal mounting.
Cons: 3 barb arrangement can make tubing routing more difficult.
[*]Danger Den RBX (3 barb), TDX (2 barb), cost ~$55
Pros: Good performance, tweakability (different nozzles).
Cons: Less performance than other blocks, tweakability (if you don’t like dismantling the system to change nozzles).
GPU Waterblocks:
- Dtek AquaXtreme MP-1, ~$45
Pros: Performance & design similar to the European-made AlphaCool GPU blocks, cheaper than the Fusion HL, uses 1/2" barbs.
Cons: Probably the most restrictive GPU block out, so a strong pump is necessary for optimal performance.
[*]Silverprop Cyclone Fusion HL/SL, ~$60
Pros: Excellent performance, good construction.
Cons: Pricey as it is produced in Australia, mounting for Nvidia cards could be improved, Availability.
[*]Swiftech MCW60, ~$50
Pros: Has interchangable threaded barbs for 3/8" and 1/2" tubing, has acetal/delrin top.
Cons: RAMsinks must be cut down when using block with 1/2" barbs & larger tubing
[*]Danger Den Maze4, ~$45 Acetal top, $50 Brass top, $70 Chrome top
Pros: Good performance, cheaper than the Fusion, less pressure drop for 1 gpm flowrate, choose between 3/8†and 1/2" barbs, can choose between acetal/delrin top or optional brass or chrome tops (costs extra), and comes in a low-profile version for SLI configurations.
Cons: Low profile version requires RAMsinks under the barbs to be cut down (Zalman RAMsinks fit without modification)
[*]Danger Den Full Cover Blocks (NV-68/78, ATI-X18, Tyee, Koosah), ~$130
Pros: Cools the RAM chips in addition to the core.
Cons: Price, not compatible with SLI systems with single-slot PCI-E spacing, weight may cause card to sag, block may be difficult to get mounted with good conact due to size.
Chipset Waterblocks:
- Silverprop Nexus SX/LX, ~$50
Pros: Excellent performance, good construction.
Cons: Pricey as it is produced in Australia, Availability.
[*]Danger Den Maze4 Chipset, ~$40, or ~$46 for brass top
Pros: Good performance, cheaper than the Nexus, less pressure drop for 1 gpm flowrate.
Cons: Brass top costs more, making the Nexus more appealing.
[*]Swiftech MCW30, ~$30
Pros: Cheaper than the Nexus, least restrictive design (flat inner base surface).
Cons: Least performance of the three.
Radiators:
NOTE: The radiators will be ranked in terms of absolute performance first with high power fans (>90cfm rated), with secondary ordering for performance in low noise conditions.
High power fans (e.g. San Ace 120mm, Delta FFB/TFB, Panaflo H1A/U1A 120x38mm):
In high airflow applications, note that the temperature differences between radiators of similar fan and surface area arrangements will be quite small, such as 1C or less.
- Thermochill PA 120.2/3
Pros: Performance increase over HE series with low-power and high-power axial fans, easy to mount in most tower cases.
Cons: Price.
[*]Black Ice Extreme 2/3 or Thermochill 120.2/3 HE
Pros: Very good performance with high-power axial fans, easy to mount in most tower cases.
Cons: Price. (only really with Thermochills now)
[*]Black Ice GT Stealth 240/360
Pros: Very good performance with both high and low power axial fans, easy to mount in most tower cases, claims the performance of a BIX in a smaller package (30mm thick instead of 40mm), performance better than that of a BIP.
Cons: Thinner fins are extremely fragile and easy to bend, so be careful when handling/installing.
[*]Double heater core
Pros: Cheap alternative to prebuilt computer radiators.
Cons: More awkward to mount, need shrouds to perform well, painting for aesthetics.
[*]Black Ice Pro 2/3
Pros: Good performance with low-power axial fans, cheaper than Extreme or Thermochills.
Cons: None really.
[*]Black Ice X-Flow 2/3
Pros: Is a single-pass version of the BIX/BIP so it does not restrict flow as much as a conventional dual-pass radiator.
Cons: May be awkward to mount due to one barb being at each end of the radiator, performance lacks compared to true single-pass radiators (BI X-Flow is just a BIX or BIP with new tanks on the ends, and was not designed as a single-pass radiator from the start, like the PA160 was).
[*]Thermochill PA 160
Pros: Very good performance with low power axial fans, easy to mount in most tower cases, single-pass so it does not restrict flow as much as a conventional radiator, more surface area than a 120mm radiator.
Cons: Price, only ships with one fan shroud.
[*]Thermochill PA 120.1
Pros: Performance increase over HE series with low-power and high-power axial fans, easy to mount in most tower cases.
Cons: Price.
[*]Black Ice Extreme 1, Thermochill 120.1 HE
Pros: Good performance, less space required.
Cons: Less performance than larger counterparts.
[*]Black Ice GT Stealth 120
Pros: Very good performance with both high and low power axial fans, easy to mount in most tower cases, claims the performance of a BIX in a smaller package (30mm thick instead of 40mm), performance better than that of a BIP.
Cons: Thinner fins are extremely fragile and easy to bend, so be careful when handling/installing.
[*]Single heater core
Pros: Cheaper alternative to BIX 1, Thermochill 120.1 HE
Cons: More awkward to mount, need shrouds to perform well, painting for aesthetics.
[*]Black Ice Pro
Pros: Cheaper than thicker counterparts.
Cons: Worst performance relative to all others.
[*]Black Ice X-Flow
Pros: Is a single-pass version of the BIX/BIP so it does not restrict flow as much as a conventional dual-pass radiator.
Cons: May be awkward to mount due to one barb being at each end of the radiator, performance lacks compared to true single-pass radiators (BI X-Flow is just a BIX or BIP with new tanks on the ends, and was not designed as a single-pass radiator from the start, like the PA160 was).
[*]Black Ice Pro
Pros: Cheaper than thicker counterparts.
Cons: Worst performance relative to all others.
Low power fans (e.g. undervolted Panaflo L1A 120mm, Delta EFB, 120x25mm fans):
In these applications, the thickness of the radiator will determine best performance, where thinner is better because of the lower pressure capabilities of these fans. Coupled with the higher air resistance of thicker radiators, they perform worse with slower fans. It should be realized that for quiet operation, your priorities should be frontal area of the radiator followed by thickness, which should be lower for less restriction with a low pressure fan. For high power fans, thickness and total surface area is desired. Please keep in mind that performance numbers are hard to relate to current articles available and lack of testbeds for radiator testing, so this is going off of my knowledge of what works and what doesn't work so well. In other words, don't take it as The Word.
Ranking for low noise applications:
- Thermochill PA 120.3
[*]Blackice Pro 3
[*]Thermochill 120.3 HE
[*]Blackice Extreme 3
[*]Thermochill PA 120.2
[*]Blackice Pro 2
[*]Thermochill 120.2 HE
[*]Blackice Extreme 2
[*]Double heater core
[*]Thermochill PA160
[*]Thermochill PA 120.1
[*]Blackice Pro 1
[*]Thermochill 120.1 HE
[*]Blackice Extreme 1
[*]Single heater core
Resources:
http://www.procooling.com/html/pro_testing.php - interactive waterblock testing results
http://www.overclockers.com waterblock testing
http://www.systemcooling.com for Laing DDC mod
BillA and Greenman100 for radiator clarification.
Voodoo Rufus at Overclockers/OCForums for original thread & format
Reputable retailers in the United States that carry these products:
