Koolance VID-278 on Zotac 8800GTS(mod) review.

[VictorWang]

Koolance VID-278, compatiable for G92 8800GT.
also workable on G92 8800GTS(only can't cover the added phase mos)

setup:
Ambient=15c
WaterTemp=17~18c
no additional cooling on VGA.

CPU Block：Swiftech Aprogee GT
Zotac G92 88GTS Block： Koolance VID-278
HX： 3*12 single channel copper HX+3*12cm 1800rpm fan
pmp/res： D5+res
tube： Koolance 3/8" (10mm/13mm)
Cfg： PMP-HX-CPU-VGA-Res

http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_73468ac08e55ccc81bb0bsv7zvT5zL0O.jpg.thum b.jpg
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_d703ffae7a9ed510a17fN0VUc8SQ3oWO.jpg.thum b.jpg

card after mod:
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_27/20080101_4405b8a164ad07a1cf3crIE0vetMjC9a.jpg

Nice Logo:
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_f1681f41924fa67fb08eW4ZBi5PK5k6G.jpg.thum b.jpg
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_f4a1e1e2e38877880936Of0vK1dB9hyh.jpg.thum b.jpg

always taking care of the details:
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_9ea5b3ad9737d417498cesm1hGf3J1QC.jpg.thum b.jpg
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_fac40fd201a75393e0a11eeUvaTuvuSX.jpg.thum b.jpg


TBH, I'd like to see Black PCB :D
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_00e74917495a26b6e849A7ShPYdZr7i1.jpg.thum b.jpg


vCore=1.45v , E6750 @ 480*8=3.84G
with Stock Air cooling,
100% Fan speed, 1.34v vGPU, 850/1053mhz,
idle=36c, load-52c.

let's see what's diff on WaterCooling :D
1.34v 891/1053/2228mhz 3Dmark03
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_5eb3aa566972faf13734hlVJ5L6XzfKI.jpg


1.43v 907/1053/2268mhz
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_e7e48fbb4a5451971780ISJhJ8JYDIDf.jpg


1.47v 918/1053/2295mhz
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_e437a8c7a782a1e47032SlfgpB6KlwzE.jpg


the chart can tell us more directly and clearly :D
http://www.unihw.com/attachments/forumid_71/20071231_a7dd5ac4e6364cc97ca2BHVVDcoVMcvh.jpg


pros:
a) pretty good performance under such a heavy load.
b) pretty nice looking.
c) acceptable price
d) fully covered, no need additional air cooling


cons:
a) have to use Koolance screws, or might have "no post" prob on VGA, perhaps some where on VGA shorted with the fully covered waterblock.
b) not upgradable, can fit only 88gt/gts G92.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

cons: made out of aluminum = fail

[Omastar]

Vic, seriously, do you have some sort of deal inked with Koolance? I see you using/reviewing a lot of their products, and as an XIP who knows more about hardware than most of us, I can only wonder...why?

[Ad1tya]

Good temperatures... Ill agree it looks great.

According to specs, Koolance has used.
High Density Copper, 24k Gold Plating, Anodized Aluminum, Steel all in One.. Nice..

Nothing about the fact that its Aluminium?

Copper + Aluminium = Die.

VW, Id advise you to keep that loop running for 6 months, and then see the Corrosion :rolleyes:

[welshtom]

Vic, seriously, do you have some sort of deal inked with Koolance? I see you using/reviewing a lot of their products, and as an XIP who knows more about hardware than most of us, I can only wonder...why?

cos they give him lots of free stuff to test all day.....

money talks

[septim]

VW, TBH, the first thing you need to advice those using Koolance mix metals product is to always use proper corrosion inhibitors in bold print...

other than alum in the product (maybe change to copper DIY project) it would be a viable single slot watercooling block that some of peop here are looking for...

maybe you could also post some internal pics to satisfy some of our curiosity...

kung hei huat chai VW.

[Zeus]

Victor,

First of all, thanks for sharing.

Even though you won't find many Koolance fanboys here i have to say i like the look of the block but won't buy it because of the alu, i'd rather have an EK.

Looking at your pics, it looks like this block is a one slot solution, something that will be apprreciated by some.

The temps and clocks are very good, 918 core is very very nice.

I like the way you did the voltmods, i think i'm gonna do mine the same way but i will only do Vgpu, did you do ovp mod as well?

What did the Vmem mod gain you?

1053 on the mem isn't that spectacuair tbh, i've heard lowering Vmem might help to clock higher.

Keep pushing it. ;)

[KTE]

Thanks for the review Vic. :toast:

Not really something which interests me for many reasons.

[VictorWang]

I know lots of u guys here dont like Koolance.
But I just wanna show the facts of some benchmark results.

6months daily using, I can't tell u the results 'coz I've never had a DESKTOP PC with more than 1month life-span.
all I know is benching and benching.no gaming, no daily using.
so all I care about is PERFORMANCE, and GOOD LOOKING, this will make me happy when I sit arround my benching table.

for the corrosion prob as u mentioned, i think most possible reason is the corrosive liquid coolant u are using, like Thermaltake & Zalman.
with 24K Gold plated High Density Copper + Anodized/Sand-Casted Alu+Sillicon Seal Ring, it's not that easy to be eat off.


for VGA overclking, i didn't do OVP/OCP mod, no need to push that hard with watercooling solution.
yes, lower the vMEM clk will help a little on GPU_Core overclking, and this will give u higher score.

[Zeus]

Hey Victor,

I understand your point of view and i like it to see something other than Dtek, Swiftech, DangerDen or EK for a change.

Temps sure are ok so the block performs well and looks nice, it's up to each individual to like it or not.

Did you run 01 as well, i'd like to see what you get with such card clocks although my guess is that you'll be very much CPU limited at 3.8GHz.

[yngndrw]

I think those "burn marks" are just the 'QC Passed' stamps.

[RickCain]

Nice results Victor!

[IanY]

Victor,

Nice job. Great review. 非常好! :up:

[IanY]

Can you guys just lay off the aluminum hatred for 3 seconds ?

[Nate P.]

Nice review Vic!

[IanY]

If Victor had posted the results, hid the mystery block from view and not mention the brand name, you guys would be lavishing unceasing praise.

[arfett]

If Victor had posted the results, hid the mystery block from view and not mention the brand name, you guys would be lavishing unceasing praise.

This has what to do with anything? If you see a sports car going 0-500MPH in 1 second you're going to think it's awesome. Then you find out it's made out of :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty parts and will give you problems down the road and you're not going to think it's so hot anymore. If you're going to try to argue something on principle then be sure there's acually a principle to be argued.

[Waterlogged]

This has what to do with anything? If you see a sports car going 0-500MPH in 1 second you're going to think it's awesome. Then you find out it's made out of :banana::banana::banana::banana:ty parts and will give you problems down the road and you're not going to think it's so hot anymore. If you're going to try to argue something on principle then be sure there's acually a principle to be argued.

:rofl:

That's a really ironic analogy considering that any sports car that can even get close to 500MPH (more like 250MPH) spends a fair amount of it's life in the shop being serviced.

[Isriam]

cardboard cars would go really freaking fast. just hope it never rains :)

[arfett]

Don't worry, the cardboard is 'plated' in water repellent. You'll be fine.

[IanY]

It'll be great if one of you doubters can show the internals of one that has been used over the long run that actually shows corrosion.

The fact of the matter is that none of you have ever used this block. Neither have I.

Therefore, if you have a speculative hypothesis, kindly keep it to yourself.

[Kayin]

Ian, I can take that bet.

I've got two in my closet that developed holes in three months.

Pics when I get back from grocery shopping.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/019.jpg

There, I've got a pair. I get the right to say something.

[Fujimitsu]

Nice review, good to see a single slot solution.

I would agree though, choice of materials should make this a non-option for pretty much everyone.

[stormshadow]

i knew this would result in an Aluminum / Cu shatfest from the second i read the thread title.
any pics of internals?

@ Kayin - def. interested in seeing your pics

[Fujimitsu]

i knew this would result in an Aluminum / Cu shatfest from the second i read the thread title.
any pics of internals?

@ Kayin - def. interested in seeing your pics

Same. Talking about the fact that it's aluminum is a good thing however. Wouldn't want people to buy based on this review and then discover it later...

[brinox]

Same. Talking about the fact that it's aluminum is a good thing however. Wouldn't want people to buy based on this review and then discover it later...

i fully agree. the aluminum/copper war will never go away, and neither will its consequences. i did the koolance thing once (first actually, and it was a great jump into the liquid cooling scene.

but the effects of having aluminum in the loop should always be advertised in bold type. those of us that already know will register this, whereas the newcomer, either to this forum or to watercooling in general will jump straight into some of these situations and end up botching their systems later on down the road.

[Kayin]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/077.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/078.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/079.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/KayinStorm/080.jpg

Three months with DI water, Zerex racing coolant and UV dye. The last two are the one that failed on me, look at the damage to it...

[Zeus]

Wow, that looks pretty eh...eaten?

I really wonder who designed that sophisticated interior. :rolleyes:

Even though it seem to perform allright according to Victors results, i'm glad i ordered an EK fullcover.

Sorry Koolance.

[stormshadow]

yep. i'm always up for giving different manufacturer's a chance but when you see and hear over and over again that the stuff's problematic, then you learn to stay away.

[Jedda]

Ambient = 15°C
:shrug:

[RickCain]

Kayin;2669738']Three months with DI water, Zerex racing coolant and UV dye. The last two are the one that failed on me, look at the damage to it...

FYI - Zerex will not help you reduce the problems......

[septim]

ambient in some parts of china is like that. or colder...

[Kayin]

says on my bottle it's propylene glycol, I wonder what went wrong...

[Sir Stunna Lot]

something musta went wrong...

i use MCT40 for a loop full of swiftech blocks (copper) and one of those innovatek alum tanks (anodized, probably similar to gold plating of koolance)... for 2 years... not a single part of the loop corroded

[teko]

It does provide good temps it seems, but from other reviews of koolance, I would never use them due to the flaws there has been.. And then I don't want to mix alloys nomather how they are coated ;)

And bring the black PCB cards back! Stupid Nvidia..

[RubberDuck]

FYI - Zerex will not help you reduce the problems......


Zerex Super Racing Coolant is a corrosion inhibitor package that provides excellent high temperature corrosion protection in racing applications.

According to here it is :yepp: --> http://www.wc101.com/reviews/Additives/ <--

[RubberDuck]

wrong heat range for additives to work

Stupid question ( noob to alum cooling ) but why :shrug: To hot or to cold :shrug:. I was always told it was the best for runing mixed metals. But now I know ( if I ever do ) not to use it. Not that I would in a million years.

By the way VictorWang nice temps :cool:

[santiagodraco]

Good temperatures... Ill agree it looks great.

According to specs, Koolance has used.
High Density Copper, 24k Gold Plating, Anodized Aluminum, Steel all in One.. Nice..

Nothing about the fact that its Aluminium?

Copper + Aluminium = Die.

VW, Id advise you to keep that loop running for 6 months, and then see the Corrosion :rolleyes:

Been running a loop with coolance blocks for 2 years with no corrosion whatsoever. Changed fluid once and that was only when I added a new block and punctured the rad. Just as an fyi.

Should add I'm only using Koolance fluid.

[santiagodraco]

yep. i'm always up for giving different manufacturer's a chance but when you see and hear over and over again that the stuff's problematic, then you learn to stay away.

Well, first off folks should use recommended coolants not their "special mixes".