MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Reviews

Now that we are acquainted with the Corsair COOL 120mm system, let’s take it for a spin and see if it can hold water against our test rig. Here are the specifications of the parts used:

AMD AthlonXP 3200+ Barton (heat dissipation 70~77 watts max)

Stock AMD 3200+ cooler with copper shim

DFI NF2 Ultra Infinity Motherboard

1 Gig OCZ Premium PC-2700 RAM

MSI 6600GT AGP Video Card

Chieftec SOHO mid tower case

Enermax Noisetaker 485W PSU

The 7 page quick install guide was my main reference for installation. The well worded instructions in combination with the intuitive nature of how all the pieces assemble made for a flawless setup. The more detailed PDF manual was only needed to look-up details on how to install the water block.

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I started with the reservoir installation as the first component. It’s recommended to install this piece at the highest point of the system, and leave sufficient slack in the vinyl hoses for priming/filling. Following the reservoir is the installation of the radiator/fan. While this step is simple, it was impeded by the screw holes in the radiator. The included screws would not go in due to a build up of paint in the holes. Using a standard PC case screw, I was able to “tap” a thread in the pre-drilled holes, making final assembly achievable. Finally, the RadBox attachment faces the case. With the active cooling portion of the kit assembled, I mounted the “RadBox” plate.

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The rear of the test case is an obvious (and recommended) qualifier for the radiator/fan assembly. Note these are two 80mm fan holes that rely on a pre-fabricated bracket for mounting. Because the case lacks a standard 4 hole screwdriver mounting system for the 80mm case fans, I thought for sure this would be a challenge. To my surprise the mounting plate fastened nicely. Using the included washers and spacers, the mounting plate was secured firmly using the fan grills as an anchor.

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After the mounting plate was fastened, I was only 4 screws away from completion. The rad/fan portion slips firmly onto the plate and is held on by 4 screws; 1 on each side of the RadBox. I was very impressed by the ease of installation and flexibility of this radiator assembly. The last item requiring special attention is the water block. The retaining clip required a minor amount of pre-assembly but installation was painless. The manual effectively notes that the return valve on the corner of the water block should be installed “top-up”, to give air an escape path when filling the system.