Hi there.
I just completed a roundup of a handfull of CPU-Waterblocks and since users of this forum were a great help to me, answering many questions about how I should conduct the testing, I want to publish some data here.
Since I'm too lazy to translate the entire article (it's in German), I'll pick out the data that I think you might find to be most interesting.
First, a quick word on testing methods:
Test-rig and Testing
The test-rig consists of an open build with the following hardware:
- Q6600 Prozessor @ 3.2 GHz
- Asus P5E WS Pro Mainboard
- Magicool Slim 360 Copper Radiator (with fans @ 1100rpm)
- Laing DDC 1T+ (Swiftech MCP355) Pumpe with XSPC Reservoir Top
- Corsair HX 620W PSU
- T-Balancer bigNG plus Sensorhub
- 13/10 Masterkleer tubing (that's between 7/16" and 3/8" inner diameter)
- 2x analogue temperature sensors (measuring water temperature)
- 3x digital temperature sensors, measuring ambient temperature below the radiator
- Flowmeter Digmesa FHKUC 70
- Arctic Cooling MX-2
For test-runs and logging, I use the T-Balancer software as well as Everst. The Everest stress test is used to stress the Processor. Each test-run consists of a 45 minute warmup and following 20 "test-window". The logged data from all the external and internal data from those last 20 minutes is then averaged out for results. The temperatures shown are the differences between CPU-Temperature and Water-Temperature.
Why only 3.2GHz on that Q6600?
Unfortunately, I could not push this processor any further. No matter what I did with voltages and FSB/Multiplier fiddling, I couldn't go further than those 3.2GHz and get a stable boot to OS. Guess I got unlucke with this CPU.
Why CPU temperature and not hottest core or all cores averaged?
The CPU-Temperature turned out to be the most reliable. i.e. if I do a test run today and another one tomorrow, without changing blocks, TIM or anything, the CPU-Water temperature will be almost identical for both runs while hottest core-water and all cores averaged-water will deviate ever so slightly. I figured I would simply use the data with the smallest error.
Tested blocks
Here's a list of the tested blocks:
- Swiftech Apogee GTX
- Swiftech Apogee GTZ
- Ybris A.C.S.
- Aqua Computer cuplex XT di
- Aqua Computer cuplex hd
- EK Supreme
- Zern PQ+
- Thermaltake "Kandalf" block
I'm sure you're familiar with most of these. The Zern PQ+ is an austrian made block that might not be known in the US and other parts of the world. Here's a picture of the PQ+:
I also included a block taken from the "Kandalf" case from everyone's favourite LC-manufacturer Thermaltake! :-P
I wanted to see how it measured up against "real" waterblocks.
Restriction
Since I don't have the tools for pressure-drop testing, I measured flowrates instead. Here are the flow-rates of the entire loop with each of the blocks (I hope I got the conversion to GPM right):
As you can see, both Swiftech blocks did really well here. Especially the GTZ was suprisingly un-restrictive considering the micro-structures inside it.
I also measured flowrates running the pump at lower voltages, but the results are unspectacular: The loss of flow-rates with lower voltages is practically linear for each block. Graphs will be provided if anyone wants to see them anyway.
Temperature vs. Flow-Rates
But now for the really interesting stuff: I measured temperatures in relation to flow-rate for each of the blocks in increments of 30 litres per hour (that's about 0.13 GPM). The flow-rates were regulated using a ball-valve in order to factor out the influence of the pump's heat dump. Here are the results:
On the graph, flow-rate increases from left to right. The steeper a curve, the more benefit comes with increased flow-rates for that particular block. Two things struck me as especially interesting with these results.
1. The EK Supreme, while being very restrictive, still delivered the best temperatures at any flow-rate.
2. The Apogee GTZ goes from bad to great along a very steep curve. I wonder if it delivers better temperatures than the Supreme, given enough flow. I might get an opportunity to test that soon.
Brief conclusions:
- The EK Supreme is very reliable in that it delivers good temperatures almost independantly of flow-rates.
- The Apogee GTZ needs lots of flow, but given that, it performs great. Since it isn't very restrictive, it's not a big difficulty to provide that needed flow either.
- The cuplex hd isn't only slightly cheaper than it's predecessor, the cuplex XT di, it also performs ever so slightly better.
Feedback on this is highly appreciated. If you would like more information and/or pictures, there are two options.
A) You know German and check out the original article (or you don't know German and just browse the pics).
B) You ask for it here. I'll post more data and pictures if there's any demand.
Cheers,
Shane
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