This is what most of you want to see, the blocks! This kit comes with all three – a CPU block, a GPU block, and a Chipset block for the Northbridge, or from here on out abbreviated to NB. In some pictures I used very high light and very low exposure to bring out the detailing in the machining process, so if some pics look dark that’s why.
Let’s start with the lightweight – the Northbridge, or chipset, block. This block is has a nice 1/2″ copper base machined out to be an open-chamber style block. What this means is that there is no ‘maze’, pins, or fins of any sort. There is a slight depression in the middle of the block to increase turbulence, but otherwise it is very much a wide open chamber.
During machining they did not lap or polish the interior, and that’s a good thing! Slightly more surface area and turbulence to aid heat transfer. The base was lapped perfectly smooth and polished. The benefits of such a design are very little flow restriction. The downside is a ‘maze’, fins, or pins tend to make a block perform better. Given this kit, I think an open chamber suits it, as three blocks, 3/8″ID tubing, and a heatercore can bring many pumps to their knees.
Next up we’ll look at the GPU block. This has a big, hefty poly-top on what looks to be the same base as the chipset block. They also use the same mounting hardware by the way – how efficient of you Asetek! The block is an open chamber with a depression for turbulence, and the bottom is polished smooth (sorry about the shabby pic!). I also have a pic of the protector that each block is shipped with. It’s a white plastic backing that protects the base during shipping. Looking at the design of the inlet and outlet, I was worried that it would trap air bubbles. After all, these things hang upside down in the case, and the inlet and outlet come up from underneath. In practice I found they did not trap air, but definitely check your install to be sure.
Now on to the big-boy, the CPU waterblock! This one is unique from the NB and GPU blocks in that it uses a crescent-moon style open chamber. This means that the water can’t go straight from inlet to outlet as it can in the other blocks, it has to take the long way around.
This, combined with a depression under the inlet and some rough machining, creates lots of turbulence; however, the open design keeps flow resistance to a minimum. This style of block is known to perform decently, but not at top notch levels. It can compete with many of the ‘maze’ style blocks, but doesn’t hold up to micro-channel or pin type blocks. But, as I mentioned before, three blocks, a mess of tubing, and a heatercore is enough resistance, so an open design is a must.
The block has a whopping 10 mounting holes to accommodate P4, Socket-A (AMD XP), and Socket 754 (AMD A64) mounting. This has it’s ups and downs as we’ll see in the installation section of the review. The ups are the same kit can be sold to all people, even future A64 users. This cuts down production costs, as does using the same base on the NB and GPU blocks, same mounting hardware for NB and GPU, etc… Nothing wrong with that – it shows good business sense. The downside is not all motherboards are created equal, and things can get in the way of all those extra protrusions.
