X-bit labs

Cooler Master Aquagate S1 Liquid Cooling System Review (page 3)

Category: Coolers

by Sergey Lepilov

[ 02/12/2008 | 12:45 PM ]

Installation and Assembly Tips

Installation of Cooler Master Aquagate S1 is described in detail in the corresponding manual (PDF-file, 1.84MB), however, you can really install it absolutely intuitively. You will have to remove the mainboard from the system case first. This is necessary because you need to insert four spindles into the corresponding holes around the processor socket (in case of a Socket 754/939/940 mainboard there will be only two of them) and tighten then up with washers and screws. The water block will sit on these spindles. There is no backplate bundled with the cooler that is why the PCB may get a little bent. After that we install the mainboard back into the system case. The water block is installed on top of the processor heat-spreader covered with a thin layer of thermal grease and then pressed firmly against the CPU with a universal retention bracket.

This is what the whole thing looks like when assembled:

The retention is very sturdy and reliable and plastic inserts between the water block and the retention bracket prevent the block from rotating on top of the CPU heat-spreader.

Now all we need to do is fasten the unit with a fan and a radiator to the case rear panel, right where the 120mm fan is supposed to be:

Of course, it is essential that your case has a spot for this fan available.

If your case doesn’t have a 120mm fan on the rear panel (or a spot for it), then the manufacturer suggests that you install Aquagate S1 onto the case side panel. In this situation you should keep in mind that you need a window on the side panel of your system case that can accommodate a 120mm fan and be ready to experience some difficulties when taking the side panel off.

After that all you need to do is attach the power cable and fan rotation speed monitoring cable to the corresponding mainboard connector and install fan rotation speed controller onto the case rear panel bracket (or into any other convenient spot):

If everything is done the right way, once the system is powered on Aquagate S1 will welcome you with blue lighting of the fans and corresponding blue glowing of the tubes:

If you notice that there are some air bubbles in the tubes, then you need to add some distilled water to the system using the included syringe. There is a sticker with a corresponding warning message on one of the tubes:

The list of technical specifications winds up our Closer Look section.