MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Reviews - Compuvision DIY Water Cooling Equipment Review

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While the Via Aqua 1300 can be used either inline or submersed, my recommendation for this pump is to only use it inline. The main reason is that this pump has a reputation for getting quite warm. As a test, I took the Via Aqua 1300 and an Eheim 1046 and ran them both continuously overnight. I taped a thermal probe to the top of the casing on each pump to record the external temperatures of the housings. The picture on the right says it all, the Via Aqua 1300 reaches almost 50 degrees Celsius, almost a full 15 degrees hotter than the Eheim. While a submerged pump enjoys much quieter operation, the sacrifice of heating the coolant is just too high. Inline systems may be slightly more challenging to get up and running, but the heat generated by the Via makes an inline setup practically a requirement.

Radiators:

Like any other cooling system, a water cooling setup doesn’t eliminate heat; it simply moves it from one place to another. Moving the heat out of the coolant and into the ambient air (inside or outside your case depending on your setup) is the responsibility of the radiator.

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As far as radiators go, realistically, there are only two choices. The first choice is to purchase an automotive heater core and the second is a radiator manufactured specifically for water cooling. While a heater core may perform on par or better than its counterpart, they aren’t aesthetically pleasing, require the barbs to be soldered on, and have unique challenges when it comes to mounting them inside the chassis.

When it comes to manufactured radiators for PC water cooling, the current champions are the Black Ice Series of radiators from HWLabs. Not only do these radiators perform exceptionally well, they do it using minimal-sized footprints and look very attractive. The radiator has built in self-tapping screw holes on each corner to mount rotary fans or for mounting the radiator to the chassis.

As you can see in the above picture, the HWLabs represents a major savings in real estate compared to a unit provided with the Innovatek Kit MTB reviewed here. The cube has a 3/8 inch copper pipe running through the unit 12 times before the coolant exits (causing considerable flow loss). The Black Ice employs a 2 pass system which uses flattened tubes that allow more heat to be extracted from the coolant quickly.

The unit I’ll be working with in the MTB Labs is the Black Ice Pro. This radiator is designed for use with a single 120mm fan, and has pre-angled 1/2 inch barbs. HWLabs also offers units which can be fitted for 80mm fans (the Black Ice Micro series) or dual 120mm fans for extreme performance.

Water Blocks

Water Blocks are sometimes called a heat exchanger and can make or break a water cooling setup. As the only piece to directly interface with the processor, the design of the water block has a profound impact on cooling performance. Some water blocks perform well under low flow scenarios (like the innovaFlatFlow pictured below), while others are designed to perform best when flow is at its highest. Manufacturer’s rarely provide this information in their marketing or technical specifications, so it is always a good idea to research the results others have come up with before making your purchase.

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One of the nice benefits about reviewing for MODTHEBOX is the fact that I have been exposed to a fair share of water blocks of differing designs. High end water blocks will have a copper base, and may incorporate elaborate coolant patterns or designs which promote turbulence within the block. The Innovatek unit is out of the question, since its 3/8 inch fittings would cause too much of a bottle neck, leaving my choice between the Swiftech MCW5000A or the NextCool WaterCube GT3. There are a few new alternatives on the market such as the Danger Den Maze-4 and D-TEK White Water but the main focus of this review is to concentrate on units that have been featured on the site. Both units incorporate a copper design with 1/2 inch fittings. However, since flow is my primary concern, I chose to go with the GT3, since the compression nut fittings are less restrictive than the quick disconnect fittings on the Swiftech unit which include a plastic fitting that is placed inside the tubing, minimizing the total inner diameter. Besides, the GT3 performed well in previous tests, and appears to be a unit that functions best under high flow scenarios.