X-bit labs

Four Liquid-Cooling Systems for the Masses (page 5)

Category: Coolers

by Vasily Melnik

[ 10/14/2005 | 03:30 PM ]

You get some coolant to fill the system:

The text on the label informs you that this liquid doesn’t freeze and has improved heat-conductive properties. You are also warned against filling the system when the computer is turned on and are advised to use an expansion tank (not included into this kit) for that purpose. Well, it would be rather strange to buy an expansion tank when you already have such a huge rocket. As for heat conductivity, I really doubt this coolant is much better than ordinary distilled water. A number of experiments have been carried out, but no one has yet devised anything better and more available than it. A small paragraph on the label warns you against using this coolant to fill other liquid-cooling systems (I don’t know why – they all use the same plastic, copper and aluminum in the radiators, don’t they?). And the last warning is that you shouldn’t drink the coolant or give it to your children, even if you are very thirsty.

Considering the high manufacturing quality of the radiator and the water-block, I could only find one fault with this system – its pump:

Unlike its Zalman analog, this pump is external rather than integrated into the radiator. I’m inclined to view it as a drawback as it’s no good to have an additional component you have to find place for in the densely populated system case of your computer. And unlike with the Rezerator, I can’t recommend the Rocket as a cooling system for a barebone computer – you won’t have space to accommodate the pump. The pump is also inferior to the rest of the system’s components in quality. It is a simple plastic design with unassuming cast fittings, and not very good spring-loaded clamps. To equip the pump with normal fittings, the manufacturer had to use pipe pieces as adapters. This doesn’t make the whole arrangement any more appealing. The two plugged-up fittings in the top of the pump are intended for connecting an expansion tank. A metal fastening plate is located on the rear side of the pump:

This plate makes it easy to fasten the pump in the system case:

If you don’t have openings in your system case and you don’t want to drill them, you can use the enclosed sticky tape and fasten the pump on any stretch of flat and free surface inside the case.