XSPC Rasa Review

XSPC Rasa
Intel 1366 Review


Introduction

After a few busy weeks testing heatsinks, it’s time to dust of the watercooling test bench. For many this will be the first time you have herd the words XSPC and Rasa in the same sentence so I’ll take this opportunity to be the first to introduce XSPC latest CPU waterblock.

It’s been just over a year and a half since XSPC released their latest flagship CPU waterblock the Delta V3. The Delta V3 took the place of the legendary and extremely popular Acrylic Edge and if you were lucky enough, one of the 15 Delrin Edge V2’s.

XSPC has always been a favorite for many, offering great cooling abilities with a price to match. But can this new block live up to the expectations of many? Sit tight, grab some popcorn and hopefully we can find out.

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I would like to give a special thanks to Paul from XSPC, who got in contact with me and supplied this Pre Production sample of his new CPU waterblock.


Packaging & Contents

To get straight to the point there’s a few things to talk about regarding the XSPC packaging. It looks good while providing the right amount of protection for the product. I will talk about the latter of two in a few minutes.

The box design comes from the same current theme from XSPC, A Black slick multi folded rectangle box with an attractive red lighting pattern across the top and sides of the box. The box also includes the following; XSPC logo, website address, a list of the included items and a small sentence tucked away: which states the block has been individually Pressure Tested.

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Once you get the box open the mounting hardware, backplates, thermal paste and installation Manual will be in the top of the box. However mine did not come with an installation manual as it was a pre production version, but you can view and download it from my server.

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As I mentioned earlier one of the nice features with XSPC is the protection of the block while in shipping. The block sits in a 24mm thick foam surround and has a 12mm thick foam top.

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Block Characteristics

You’ll probably be thinking to yourself by now as you read this, that XSPC has carried on the design and style of Delta series which has had a few minor and major changes to its design and looks over the years. But your wrong, XSPC has completely designed this new block from scratch and it’s the company first non-lateral flow CPU waterblock.

A few of the blocks key features:

•¼” BSP barb Holes
•Chrome Mounting Bracket
•Dimensions 50x50x19.5mm (WxDxH) (Without mounting bracket)
•Dimensions 95x95x19.5mm (WxDxH) (With mounting bracket)
•Weight 150 Grams
•Compatible with Intel Sockets 775, 1156 and 1366

I must note that final version will have polished Chrome, Acetal and all the screws will be stainless Allen key head screws. These changes don’t affect the performance.

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The block features a fully CNC machined Acetal top which has one inlet and one outlet 1/4” threaded barb holes, clearly marked by the engraved in and out. XSPC’s logo is also machined into the top in the same style as its recant blocks.

The top is also where all the water flow management goes on, water is directed though the inlet, which is forced though one large slot which measures 5x17mm. The water is then collected around the edge of the block and flows out the outlet.

The outlet design is nothing new and is seen on many blocks - however the way XSPC has machined the inlet is more exciting and something new. A 4.5x17.5mm slot as been machined from the side of block, which leads from the inlet to the center of the block. This design allows the inlet to be off centred and a greater chance of wider fittings being able to be used.

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The base is machined out of 3mm thick copper and is flat. It features a 21x21mm diagonal micro pin matrix, the pins are 0.25 x 0.25mm and there are 1225 of them in total. The base comes with a clear plastic protection film that protects the base from scratches and dirt before use; remember to remove this before installing the block.

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XSPC Generation Game

Let’s take a look back over the past two years and visualize the changes to the RASA from the Delta and Edge.

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Compression Fitting Compatibility

Over the past few years we have seen a great increase in the number of fittings available on the market, thanks to emerging companies like Bitspower. And with companies changing and adapting they ranges to suit the needs and the trends of modern watercooling. Modern compression fittings now come in many shapes, forms, colours and sizes. So let’s take a look at what fittings this block can handle.

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Thermal Specification

A 5-mount test with 1hour with each mount, 40 minutes ‘warm up’ and 20 minutes of temperature logging.

•The 1366 Test Setup is as follows: Intel Core i7 920 D0 which is at stock 2.66GHz (no lapping) and at 4GHz (20x200MHz) when doing the overclocked tests. Running on a Gigabyte UD5 Extreme Motherboard. 6GB (3x2GB) of Patriot Viper DDR3 1600MHz Memory - the motherboard cooling is stock with no extra airflow. Video card is a BFG 9800GXS, also on stock cooling but the outer casing removed. The power comes from a Zalman 850W Modular PSU; Samsung 500GB hard drive split into 2x250 GB partitions. Test case is a Le Chuck Test Bench, which has horizontal mounting.

•The water cooling loop is as follows

oPump: I run a Laing DDC 1T with an XSPC res top, also known as the Swiftech MCP350, run at 12V. Controlled by a external bench PSU to minimize the risk of volt drop, a multi meter is used to monitor the volts
oRadiator: Alphacool NexXxoS Xtreme III 360mm Radiator with 3x Scythe S-FLEX SFF21D Fans @ 1200rpm. The fan is controlled via a Crystalfontz 635.
oLoop Order: Optimal to my needs, my loop is setup in this order, XSPC Res Top > DDC > Digmesa Flow Meter > 360mm Rad > Temp Sensor (Water In) > Ball Valve > Block Being Tested > Ball Valve > Temp Sensor (Water Out) > Res Top. (For an optimized loop for any set up always have your res feeding the pump.)

•The thermal interface material (TIM) I use is MX-2 like most other enthusiasts and testers alike, with it working as soon as you apply it (no burn in time like AS5). Also being non conductive, conductive could become a problem with multiple applications per test and multiple coolers.

The TIM application method I use is the dot in the center. (Small pea sized dot applied to the center of the CPU, then when block is Compressed TIM is spread evenly across the cores of the CPU), Recorded data is only used if the TIM application is good after inspection on remount (my way of validating my results). The CPU is cleaned after every mount using Arctic Clean.

•I have 20 temperature probes across the test bench, 16 Dallas DS18B20 Digital one-wire sensors and 4 Intel DTS in the CPU.

•Temperature logging is recorded via my Crystalfontz 635, Using they WinTest V1.0 software for the Dallas one-wire sensors (Air). WinTest automatically logs temps and outputs them to .CSV files. OCCT V3.1.0 is used to log the core temps using the CPU’s built in DTS sensors, which are also automatically outputted to .CSV files. The .CSV are loaded in to Excel where the data in analyzed and interpreted into Graphs.

Thermal Test Results

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Flow Results

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Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Pros

•¼” BSP thread barb ports for ultimate compatibility with G1/4” threaded barbs and fittings
• Easy to use mounting system
• Backplates provided for Intel 775, 1156 and 1366 platforms
• Multiple Intel platforms for increased compatibility
• Bitspower ½ x ¾ Compressions fit with under a millimeters gap

Cons

• AMD users have to buy separate mounting plate, as there is no truly universal mounting plate. (AMD mounting will be avaible at a later date)
• Thermal Compound, other manufactures now include high end thermal past like MX2 instead of generic

The new XSPC Rasa block is a great addition to XSPC product range. The package only has a few nibbles, with one being the generic thermal paste, which is included; we have seen a few other manufactures stepping up to the next level and including a high-end thermal paste. Hopefully this trend will continue in the future. The second thing, which caught my eye, was the aesthetics of the block - though it is a completely new block to the previous generations it still has an out dated look about it.

With taking in the fact this is a pre production version. The block should look fresher and more vibrant when the production versions are released.

However there are many positive things, which outweigh the negatives, such as the included backplates and the ability to install compression fittings without the need of 45’s. Its thermal performance is superb against some of its rivals even though they are more expensive.

Overall, the Rasa brings great performance for the price range and is a big step forward from the Delta series (although I hope XSPC don’t discontinue the Delta as it’s home is with multi block loops.) It also fills a gap in the market, between the high-end expensive blocks and the cheaper alternatives.

Excellent
thanks for review!!!

Thanks so much for the review! Do you think it's possible to add some of the more recently released CPU blocks into the comparison charts such as the Apogee XT, Supreme HF, and the CPU-360?

Thx for the review Aaron - i got the block too and will include it in my next Update.

http://www.hardwareluxx.de/community...st-611143.html

Gracias!!!!

Great review. :)

Looks great!!!

Thanks bentleya :clap:

Do we have a price yet? And I would like to see how it compares to the 360, XT and Heatkiller also just to get an idea of value. Overall, great review, simple, but effective.

Thanks for all the comments, Price will be roughly around 10% more the Delta V3 as production costs a little bit more. But don't hold me to it.

I would be happy to add Supreme HF, XT, Heatkiller V3 and the 360 but the truth is i don't own any of them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Utnorris

Do we have a price yet? And I would like to see how it compares to the 360, XT and Heatkiller also just to get an idea of value. Overall, great review, simple, but effective.

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I am reviewing the same prototype myself!

I have compared it to the heatkiller 3.0 (copper version) only. I will give you a link to my review once its online at www.overclockerstech.com

The rasa is between 1 and 2c better performing (dependant on which core) than the Heatkiller

gilgamesh

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gilgamesh1

I am reviewing the same prototype myself!

I have compared it to the heatkiller 3.0 (copper version) only. I will give you a link to my review once its online at www.overclockerstech.com

The rasa is between 1 and 2c better performing (dependant on which core) than the Heatkiller

gilgamesh

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Shameless Plug :eleph:

I dont see a point in this review as all of the top blocks are skipped.
Only mostly 2 year old blocks are tested...
And what can I say, another hybrid of...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eddy_EK

I dont see a point in this review as all of the top blocks are skipped.
Only mostly 2 year old blocks are tested...
And what can I say, another hybrid of...

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Maybe you should send him a block to add to the test Eddy. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bentleya

I would be happy to add Supreme HF, XT, Heatkiller V3 and the 360 but the truth is i don't own any of them.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eddy_EK

I dont see a point in this review as all of the top blocks are skipped.
Only mostly 2 year old blocks are tested...
And what can I say, another hybrid of...

---

Well if it is only 10% more than a V3, than from a price point it's not in the same category as the Heatkiller, 360 or Supreme HF. That being said, I am with you that I would like to see it compared to the top models, just hope for the high end blocks that it doesn't backfire and beat them or equal them. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Utnorris

Well if it is only 10% more than a V3, than from a price point it's not in the same category as the Heatkiller, 360 or Supreme HF. That being said, I am with you that I would like to see it compared to the top models, just hope for the high end blocks that it doesn't backfire and beat them or equal them. :D

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He did compare it to the EK Supreme in his test and it did a degree better than it.

So if you take that and look at Skinnee's tests, it seems it won't be on par with the top 3 as those are doing a few degrees better than Supreme.

Granted Aaron probably has different testing methods, so the only way to know for certain is for him to do the tests on his own.

Maybe Eddy will send him an EK Supreme HF to add to the test. :D

I am sure that bentleya has more than enough chances to get the block.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Eddy_EK

I dont see a point in this review as all of the top blocks are skipped.
Only mostly 2 year old blocks are tested...
And what can I say, another hybrid of...

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Exactly. Makes you wonder right? Makes me wonder. I guess he got the results he wanted to get by testing against blocks that would show it in the best light :rolleyes: I ignore his tests anyway. Always have, I believe he has an agenda and this just once again adds more to that theory.

Wow guys,

With comments like these makes me wonder why people even test components. They are doing a favor to the community and they are not making anything for it. For them to come out of pocket $80 a peice for blocks to test for us is alot to ask. Skinnee has even come under attack here. It amazes me these guys even continue to take the time to test and post.

Eddy,

Of all people I would think you would be supportive of testers like Aaron seeing it helps your business. Your comments here are very surprising to me.

Evil, evil Aaron :D

I don't know how old these blocks are at all and so I can not say anything on this topic...
But as I can see (and also noticed in my system) that it does not matter at all what block you use.
Let's say I like the appearance of one of the blocks - why sould I buy an "uglier" one just because of a benefit of 1-2°C???

I think by this test nobody has to feel affected.
As an advice for every EK Supreme user: to get a better flow just leave away the metal plate - it is still cold enaugh to run a AMD 940 @ over 4GHz ;)

Good job Aaron! I like your structured posting. Easy and quick to grab relevant informations. Thanks!

Small but effective :up: :clap:

http://www.overclockerstech.com/xspc...iew/#more-2664

Thank you for the Kind comments Guys, Out weighs the negatives. :eleph:

Excellent review Aaron, I too like the way you set out the review.
As for the negative comments, well one is just bent out of shape that it's not his produce and the other is, well, just bent out of shape. :rofl:

Full points to you mate for not biting. :clap:

It's been just over a week since the Rasa started appearing on online stores. I have managed to get hold of a production version. Below are pictures of how the finish on the Rasa is meant to look like.

From the Pictures you can see that XSPC has changed the Phillips screws on the base and the side to countersunk allen key heads. This adds to the look of the block, In doing this XSPC include an allen key for you.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by nikhsub1

Exactly. Makes you wonder right? Makes me wonder. I guess he got the results he wanted to get by testing against blocks that would show it in the best light :rolleyes: I ignore his tests anyway. Always have, I believe he has an agenda and this just once again adds more to that theory.

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No offense nikhsub, but if you're ignoring his tests anyway, then why come to this thread in the first place :confused:? If it's to bash on Bentleya, I'd recommend against it. We've seen too many times that rumours destroyed great manufacturers and testers. Unless you got real proof he has an hidden agenda, don't come to his thread, talking about the fact that he only compares to older blocks. The fact probably is that those blocks are the only one he has tested so far.

Every tester has to start at some point, but if people like you were the only ones around we wouldn't have testers such as Skinnee, Vapor, Martin, Bundy and many others.

I'm sorry if you feel attacked by me, but I just don't find it okay that you start critizing his test based on your own feelings towards his objectivity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alexandr0s

No offense nikhsub, but if you're ignoring his tests anyway, then why come to this thread in the first place :confused:? If it's to bash on Bentleya, I'd recommend against it. We've seen too many times that rumours destroyed great manufacturers and testers. Unless you got real proof he has an hidden agenda, don't come to his thread, talking about the fact that he only compares to older blocks. The fact probably is that those blocks are the only one he has tested so far.

Every tester has to start at some point, but if people like you were the only ones around we wouldn't have testers such as Skinnee, Vapor, Martin, Bundy and many others.

I'm sorry if you feel attacked by me, but I just don't find it okay that you start critizing his test based on your own feelings towards his objectivity.

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The thing is, nik was a tester long before guys like Martin or skinnee ever started testing so, what he says does have a bit of weight to it. I actually kind of agree with him about testing against the older blocks, it's just not that valid of a test IMO.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Waterlogged

The thing is, nik was a tester long before guys like Martin or skinnee ever started testing so, what he says does have a bit of weight to it. I actually kind of agree with him about testing against the older blocks, it's just not that valid of a test IMO.

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at least bentleya has recieved some comments, unlike me that was the one who did the comparative test with the best block. :shrug: :eek:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alexandr0s

No offense nikhsub, but if you're ignoring his tests anyway, then why come to this thread in the first place :confused:? If it's to bash on Bentleya, I'd recommend against it. We've seen too many times that rumours destroyed great manufacturers and testers. Unless you got real proof he has an hidden agenda, don't come to his thread, talking about the fact that he only compares to older blocks. The fact probably is that those blocks are the only one he has tested so far.

Every tester has to start at some point, but if people like you were the only ones around we wouldn't have testers such as Skinnee, Vapor, Martin, Bundy and many others.

I'm sorry if you feel attacked by me, but I just don't find it okay that you start critizing his test based on your own feelings towards his objectivity.

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I don't feel attacked but your post just shows that you have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe you should check out more of his reviews. As for me, I am clueless when it comes to testing :rolleyes: