H20 RAM Block...Opinions?

[theseeker]

Due to the current issues with the EK nickel blocks, I need to find an alternative. I love the way the EK looks, but I do not want to tear the loops down if I have an issue down the road. So, I need to find an alternative and I am leaning towards the Koolance http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=860

However, if any of you have first hand experience with the Koolance or other Ram coolers, please LMK.

TIA

[penguins]

Isn't there a non nickel block? I assume you'll return all the gpu blocks too?
You can get a decent deal taking it to a local plater for all at the same time.

[BrokenArrow]

What about MIPs?

http://www.aquatuning.us/manufacturers.php/manufac/25/manufacname/Mips/categ/24/categname/HDD-RAM-blocks.html

[theseeker]

Isn't there a non nickel block? I assume you'll return all the gpu blocks too?
You can get a decent deal taking it to a local plater for all at the same time.

I doubt that I will be returning the 3 GPU's, Ram or MB Nickel blocks, unless EK makes it easy.


What about MIPs?

http://www.aquatuning.us/manufacturers.php/manufac/25/manufacname/Mips/categ/24/categname/HDD-RAM-blocks.html

MIP's makes great blocks all around and I have used them in the past. I just don't care for the looks and they will not match my theme.

Thanks guys!

[Utnorris]

What about BP's? They look pretty much like EK.

http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g30/c225/list/p1/Liquid_Cooling-Water_Blocks_RAM.html

[theseeker]

Thanks! I have not seen that one and it will work.

[Utnorris]

Not sure I would do nickel at this time though. If I did I would do a tried and true like MIPS or Koolance.

[theseeker]

Not sure I would do nickel at this time though. If I did I would do a tried and true like MIPS or Koolance.

I am hoping that the nickel problem is just an EK problem.

[jikdoc]

i know you don't like the looks of the mips, but they go great with corsair ram. i have it and love it.

[zalbard]

What about BP's? They look pretty much like EK.

http://www.frozencpu.com/cat/l2/g30/c225/list/p1/Liquid_Cooling-Water_Blocks_RAM.html
Wow, these sure look nice... I like the red one!
Too bad they are only compatible with Corsair RAM. :(

[NaeKuh]

Wow, these sure look nice... I like the red one!
Too bad they are only compatible with Corsair RAM. :(

most are for only the dominator series because of the heat sink fins up top.

But if u really ask me, how effective is a ram block vs a fan?

A ramblock gives no air movement, only cools the top of the ram, but not the sides where the IC's are located.

A fan blows air down the entire memory lane cooling the sides and the spreader.


Spreaders arent heat pipes either which shoot heat up top, its a simple piece of alu which distributes the heat.

So looking at the mechanics... your a ton better off with just a fan then a ram block which only cools the top.

And i have yet to understand why people watercool ram, when even in tight operating conditions a fan over ram is still a better solution because u cool the sides of the ram where the IC's are as well as the socket and board the ram is sitting on vs, just the stinking tops.

[zalbard]

I know why they are only for Doms, and I yeah, I'd only get one for looks. But the bling factor! You can not underestimate that! SHINY! :D

[Utnorris]

I thought the Koolance ones actually cooled the sides?

[theseeker]

I thought the Koolance ones actually cooled the sides?

The Koolance blocks do cool the sides. I like them, but I need four and the tube routing would be difficult.

[NaeKuh]

I thought the Koolance ones actually cooled the sides?

isnt removal required?

i swore after i ripped 300 dollar DDR2 IC's off, that i would NEVER again take the stock spreader off.

[theseeker]

NaeKuh,

Yes, you have to remove the tops, but it easy as they are held in by button heads. No ripping required:clap:

[Utnorris]

The Koolance blocks do cool the sides. I like them, but I need four and the tube routing would be difficult.

That's why they sell these:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_346_203_472&products_id=26254


isnt removal required?

i swore after i ripped 300 dollar DDR2 IC's off, that i would NEVER again take the stock spreader off.

Every ram chip I deal with now the heat spreaders seem to just jump right off. I had some Mushkin that while I was sticking them into the slot the heat spreader pushed all the way down.

[zalbard]

Every ram chip I deal with now the heat spreaders seem to just jump right off. I had some Mushkin that while I was sticking them into the slot the heat spreader pushed all the way down.
I killed a G.Skill Trident 2000MHz stick by ripping the chips off with a heat spreader less than a year ago. And that's after freezing the poor thing for half a day. So no, not all of them. I'm with NaeKuh on this one.

[Utnorris]

I don't freeze them, I heat them up with a heat gun and they pop right off.

[Hell Hound]

+1 heat'em up.

[theseeker]

That's why they sell these:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_346_203_472&products_id=26254

Yes, but I am only using BP black and red fittings.

[Alexandr0s]

isnt removal required?

i swore after i ripped 300 dollar DDR2 IC's off, that i would NEVER again take the stock spreader off.

Happened to me recently (though with less expensive memory). I made myself the same promise :yepp:.

[DarthBeavis]

most are for only the dominator series because of the heat sink fins up top.

But if u really ask me, how effective is a ram block vs a fan?

A ramblock gives no air movement, only cools the top of the ram, but not the sides where the IC's are located.

A fan blows air down the entire memory lane cooling the sides and the spreader.


Spreaders arent heat pipes either which shoot heat up top, its a simple piece of alu which distributes the heat.

So looking at the mechanics... your a ton better off with just a fan then a ram block which only cools the top.

And i have yet to understand why people watercool ram, when even in tight operating conditions a fan over ram is still a better solution because u cool the sides of the ram where the IC's are as well as the socket and board the ram is sitting on vs, just the stinking tops.I saw a 30 to 40 c drop with my MIPS block on a Skulltrail. :shrug:

[stangracin3]

That's why they sell these:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_346_203_472&products_id=26254



Every ram chip I deal with now the heat spreaders seem to just jump right off. I had some Mushkin that while I was sticking them into the slot the heat spreader pushed all the way down.

my mushkin do. i went to pull one out one day. undid both clips, pulled on the heatsink and all of a sudden i have a heatsink in my hand with no ram stick or ic's inside of it. At first i thought i did something wrong. but then i looked at the clips and reallized that the thermal tape they used sucks ass.

[Vapor]

I saw a 30 to 40 c drop with my MIPS block on a Skulltrail. :shrug:Well, the FB-DIMMs used for Skulltrail are a different beast than regular DDR3 DIMMs :p:

[DarthBeavis]

Well, the FB-DIMMs used for Skulltrail are a different beast than regular DDR3 DIMMs :p:

true - but I am sure they probably heat up in a similar manner as the chips are still on the sides and not top. Mine probably got hotter since Movieman likes to sit on the Skulltrail now and again

[Utnorris]

my mushkin do. i went to pull one out one day. undid both clips, pulled on the heatsink and all of a sudden i have a heatsink in my hand with no ram stick or ic's inside of it. At first i thought i did something wrong. but then i looked at the clips and reallized that the thermal tape they used sucks ass.

It's funny you mention that, I had a set not too long ago and that happened to me. I had a hard time getting the heatspreader to stay in one place after that.

[tiborrr]

New EK-RAM Dominator X4 series water blocks are now available for a nice price of 41.95€.

EK-RAM Dominator X4 - Acetal+EN (Nickel)
http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/blocks/ram-blocks/corsair-dominator-gt-series/ek-ram-dominator-x4-acetal-en-nickel.html

http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/d/s/dsc_1267.jpg

EK-RAM Dominator X4 - EN (Nickel)
http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/blocks/ram-blocks/corsair-dominator-gt-series/ek-ram-dominator-x4-en-nickel.html

http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/d/s/dsc_1264.jpg


Also a white acetal replacement top:
http://www.ekwaterblocks.com/shop/blocks/block-spare-parts/tops/acetal/top-acetal-ram-dominator-x4-white.html

[Church]

I wonder if it isn't better to buy wider one for 6 mem modules and use it everywhere even when upgrading to motherboard with more mem slots. Tyborrr: shouldn't previous dominator be usable also for 2&4 modules?

[tiborrr]

The trend for the current and future motherboard is dual and quad channel therefore we are expanding possibilites for everyone to choose which suits them better / looks better! :up:

[justin150]

Naekuh "And i have yet to understand why people watercool ram, "

I can give you my explanation. I am running a Micro-ATX board and if you watercool the GPU there is virtually no room between the top of the GPU and the ROM retaining clips to slot one of the standard fan ram coolers in. Some fit, some do not. whereas the H2O Ram cooler works every time

May not be the best explanation but having fried one lot of RAM in my TJ07 I would prefer not to do another

[MadHacker]

I like mine...
http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/6957/2329109540106201080S600x600Q85.jpg (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2329109540106201080xCgvWk)
mind you they don't look as nice as any of the store bought ones...
but there is something in making you own....

[Church]

justin150: for 95% of ram LC users it's purely for bling. Yes, single 5$ fan cools in quiet way ram more then adequate with it's tiny heat dissipation, and higher ram overclocks net only veeery minimal overall performance gains in real world apps (including games :)), not just ram synthetic benchmarks. And individual ram module waterblocks are even worse - unless parallelized, you get lot of extra restriction actually worsening cooling in rest of loop for components, overclocking of which may net much more performance (cpu/gpu), +ram blocks cost a lot. At least unified ram waterblock modules for group of ram modules like these (and similar by BP/MIPS) have less restriction to not hurt where it counts and cost less, so that going for bling won't hurt as much.

Tiborr: but how about actual question, if 6-module blocks will work on 4 or 2 mem slot motherboards, not if alternatives exist?

[tiborrr]

@MadHacker: I love it! :up: D.I.Y. FTW!

churchy: yeah, 6-module block can be used even on a 2-slot board, it will just overhang the memories quite a bit.

[MadHacker]

even after seeing my work....
i think having a 6 module block on 2 sticks of ram would look kinda off...
that and it may interfere with other components... note (may)

[matari]

h2o blocks are nothing more than bling. I disagree that the typical dominator blocks add much restriction. What I don't agree with is using thermal paste on the ram; it gets pushed between the plastic part of the ram.

[MadHacker]

h2o blocks are nothing more than bling. I disagree that the typical dominator blocks add much restriction. What I don't agree with is using thermal paste on the ram; it gets pushed between the plastic part of the ram.
I use thermal pads...
and teh stock dominator sticks come with pads as well...
I would never think to use thermal paste.

[Eeeaugheeeaugh!]

My new Corsair runs 1600 at 1.5v. I didn't realize people were still trying to WC their RAM. Ummm...why?

[Church]

matari: note i wrote about lot of restriction not for these blocks for group of dominator mem modules, but about ones per individual ram module (eg. like Koolance's (http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=907)) or on some vendor original ones (IIRC Kingston had some h2o mem modules). Memory modules close together placement takes heavy toll on resulting very small inner cross section for such modules + each of them is like two 90deg fittings. Now multiply that flow restriction by many modules (and multiply their price as well, not forgetting to add for each price of two fittings or connector like this (http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=907) to get price of 150-200$).

[matari]

matari: note i wrote about lot of restriction not for these blocks for group of dominator mem modules, but about ones per individual ram module (eg. like Koolance's (http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=907)) or on some vendor original ones (IIRC Kingston had some h2o mem modules). Memory modules close together placement takes heavy toll on resulting very small inner cross section for such modules + each of them is like two 90deg fittings. Now multiply that flow restriction by many modules (and multiply their price as well, not forgetting to add for each price of two fittings or connector like this (http://www.koolance.com/water-cooling/product_info.php?product_id=907) to get price of 150-200$).

Sorry, I miss read your post. I agree, Koolance type modules would add a ton of restriction and would almost require a separate loop. Well, someone's instructions are not clear and suggest to use paste. Thermal tape would be a better choice.

[tiborrr]

h2o blocks are nothing more than bling. I disagree that the typical dominator blocks add much restriction. What I don't agree with is using thermal paste on the ram; it gets pushed between the plastic part of the ram.
Plastic? The sides of the heatsinks are made of black anodized aluminium. I've decided for the thermal paste, but it up to the user to use whichever method he desires.

[gmat]

My new Corsair runs 1600 at 1.5v. I didn't realize people were still trying to WC their RAM. Ummm...why?
Assuming you are not trolling, you realize that not everyone has the same RAM modules as you do ? And that some do require active cooling...