Thanks for all your hard work Martin, I loved your flow rate estimator !!!
One more mirror to add to the list: http://www.martinsliquidlab.co.nr
Best of luck with your new hobby !!
Printable View
Thanks for all your hard work Martin, I loved your flow rate estimator !!!
One more mirror to add to the list: http://www.martinsliquidlab.co.nr
Best of luck with your new hobby !!
Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by eva2000
Cost was not the reason, just time and interest. Testing and reviewing takes a tremendous effort if done in detail.
Something like a simple radiator can take as much time as something like this:
-Radiator test bench setup time 1 HR
-Benching 15-45minute warm up per data point and 30 minutes per point at equilibrium to ensure good data. 10 hours total if all is perfect, likely going to foul up a point or two, so 12 hours total.
-Pressure drop setup and testing 1-2 Hrs
-Photography and writing of the review 8 Hrs.
So a single triple radiator can total over 20-24 hours for one radiator. So even if it was a really expensive $150 radiator, you're still making less than minimum wage and that doesn't even cover the electricity for the testing, the testing equipment, or materials used.
That's fine when you're doing it for enjoyment, but over time the recreation in it will go away if you try and push yourself too hard to keep doing it. Then there is the pressure from the sample providers. I've always held firm that I'm going to post or not post (I test it once and that's it unless I've blatantly messed up somehow). I've also always tried to test in the order of stuff I've received. Unfortunately, you'll still get sponsors that pressure you to test their product first. They are holding out on production until you test, or they are going to tweak the design after you're done testing, or whatever reason they can come up with. Then you will get some that won't respond to your emails when you send them less than favorable results, or they will simply question some specific part of your testing method. Some will even question something as simple as a linear caliper measurement you've provided. In context it all just adds to the frustration and confusion on your mission of recreation.
Then there is the fact that nobody and not any one test is perfect. It's very possible to go through all that effort and something simply went wrong. There are things you can do to check your work, but there's always a number of different conditions or methods that may or may not make a difference. All you can do is capture one moment in time, under one set of conditions. The best you can do is noting the testing methods.
I've also done alot of this behind the scenes prototype testing and you really begin asking yourself why you're doing it. Sure it may be helping them produce a better product that the end user will get to benefit from, but is making less than minimum wage to produce unusable data (for the public) really worth it. In the end they are the ones getting financial gain out of your work...you're voluntary work. Again it's one of those short term "feel goods". Wow this is pretty cool, I'm actually making some sort of impact on the product...but again that's short lived. Soon it becomes a "Hey they want me to work for free....yet again!"
For me it was all alot of fun at first. Mainly because I was so curious how things worked. Unfortunately after several dozen CPU block tests, radiators tests, pump tests, and pressure drop tests...that curiosity was gone. Nothing against anyone, it simply isn't interesting for me to do any longer and there's simply no incentive to continue.
I agree with what IanY said about testing in many respects. I don't know that there is really any sort of solution to the problem. It's the internet and we all expect things for free, but it's also life and we do things out of either incentives, or morals. The testing incentive of learning, interest, and enjoyment in sharing information was something that simply faded for me over time. Then it was work, and for all practical purposes a donation. Maybe if we all are willing to come together and each donate a little time, the answer really lies in getting more people to test. Sure there will always be that issue of not being able to compare one result with another, but if everyone donated just one 20 hour test result, we'd have alot of good data to discuss and that would be very positive.
The manufacturers can and should provide performance data on their sites, unfortunately that data will always be questioned regardless and they generally stay away from it.
I was at that point of being sick of it several months ago. I only continued because I still had a huge backlog of work lined up. Eventually I simply got to a point where it became something I didn't want anything to do with.
Pulling the site down was my poor way of dealing with my inability to say no. We'll I've finally said no more, but I don't want to take away anything either. So...I've changed my mind and came to a more reasonable means to transition out of the testing hobby and handing off the data that was produced. The information is now public freeware, and I'll shut the site down as things move along down the road. We're very fortunate to have a large number of excellent testers here in these forums and I'd encourage everyone to try and contribute what they can no matter what level of effort or detail.
There's really no "Right" way to test as far as I'm concerned. Any little bit of experience or test result you can share with the community is a contribution, and that is always good and probably the best way to go about this testing thing. Anyone with some time and willing to buy a $10 aquarium thermometer can do some sort of testing.:up:
Anyhow, sorry for being so winded, to keep it simple...this hobby is supposed to be fun, so have fun with it and do what you need to do to ensure that continues..:up:
I'm going to continue water cooling and visiting the forums on occasion, glad I could help, and I look forward to seeing other folks doing more of it in the future...
Thanks!
Martin
Martin I understand where you're coming from but maybe keep the domain for your own future projects ? Or when that interest/enjoyment should rise again :)
Hate to see it expire and get nabbed by a cyber squatter serving full page of text/ad links !
I will do that, but I'm going to reduce it to more of a domain parking page with links to deserving testing sites like these forums. This will allow me to give up maintaining the web space, but still provide a means to provide some links.:up:Quote:
Originally Posted by eva2000
i can only say :clap:respect:clap: to all your effort put in it :up:
Martin, this saddens me to see you let it go like this, but I know how you feel. :up:
You've been a GREAT help to this community and have helped me especially in the past with WC.
With all do respect! I and all of us will miss your testing greatly!! :)
Edit:
@W1zzard, sweet! Glad theres a mirror to refer to, that site/info/reviews would be a great loss to all of us.
Thanks for doing that man. :up:
Nice speech :up:
In the end, the best way for everyone to get whatever they wish to know and to compare is to teach everyone how to do testing. It's like the saying : "Give someone a fish, he will eat it. Teach him how to fish, he will be able to eat for life".
I bet Martinm210 will disappear and come back with a new name and website testing Aircoolers :p: :D
I've started adding all the articles here too.
http://www.clunk.org.uk/martins-liquid-lab-articles/
Might take me a few days because the articles are in a slightly different format to my others :)
I've linked it to the lower menu on the front page here.
http://MartinsLiquidLab.PetrasTech.com will also be acting as a mirror.
Thank you for all of your hard work, Martin. :)
This is great news. :clap:
This is why people take you seriously, and other people with a grain of salt tho pal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Martinm210
:up:
one more pat on the back and a big thank you from me Martin
Martin-
Just wanted to say thanks as well. I just started my foray into the world of water-cooling and my good friend JDrom17 over at PCStats forum, had sent me a link to your site. I read feverishly, trying to soak up as much as I could. I am glad for what you did and I can understand the desire to move on. What's more, I am glad that many have decided to keep your info up. Thank you all!!
Thanks guys! I appreciate the mirrors, file links, and the support in this.
I've updated the OP with the mirror links and file links to make bookmarking easier.
Hopefully it's useful information for a while and if nothing else might be a worthwhile reference to use for folks figuring out testing methods.
Thanks!!
Martin
As a relative newcomer/lurker to the watercooling forums, I would also like to thank you Martin for your extremely impartial testing and great advice. You are an will continue to be an invaluable resource to water coolers everywhere and you should be proud of your contribution to the watercooling community.
thanks for all of your testing martin... youve made parts choices much easier for me
Sorry to chime in late to this thread, but i've been really busy. I have to say i'm gutted that we'll be loosing your expertise Martin, your testing will be greatly missed :(
However i too will be hosting ur site, it was very kind of you to let us have continuing access to all ur info, thanks mate :up:
Oh yeah link.... http://www.limited-edition-computers...tinsLiquidLab/
Hi Martin,
Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and tests. I'm sorry to hear that you wan't to leave this hobbie :(
Here you have a portuguese mirror: http://www.martinsliquidlab.lilireviews.com/
kind regards :up:
Thanks again, Martin!
Thanks for all your work, you helped a water cooling noob learn more
Yes thank you, your knowledge of this category was astonishing and your work has brought only positives to our community. Thanks again Martin!
The last day. :(
<S> <---Salute
Taps is playing in the background. :(
We're working on a local rehost for here on XS :). Should have a direct link from right here in the WC section :)