Some New Blood On The Testbed :)

[Radical_53]

Thanks That's something that came with the experience of testing blocks for the last few years. I absolutely lost the illusion that one person, or one institution, could judge which is absolutely best.
Also, what's the consumer searching for? As a consumer, you see a bunch of shiny blocks. Each advertised with the shiniest words marketing has to offer. Now what? Believe what they say? Then every block would be the best thing since sliced bread.
So what I think, the consumer wants information. Good and valuable information, some smart people do even read the text that comes with a review Like with my last review, water blocks on a 775 quad core, I had 5 blocks that got an award. Yes, five, out of 16 blocks tested. All good blocks, all with their own strenghts and weaknesses. It's not up to me to judge which is the absolutely best block, it doesn' even necessarily mean that I'd use the block with the lowest temperatures for my own rig.
As long as a review can give a rough guideline, some valuable information, some basics that people can use for their own decision, I'm happy
To me it seems that the biggest problem comes with consumers and/or companies that just want the #1 block, the best there is. To me, there's too many options, too many variations out there right now to really make that happen.

[Kayin]

Any news to report yet?

I'm rather interested, this looked like it was gonna be a rather good block, but I know the ambient issue had to be taken into effect as well...

[RickCain]

With the weather coming up out of the 60's now are we going to see some more testing with this block?

[nikhsub1]

With the weather coming up out of the 60's now are we going to see some more testing with this block?

Yes Rick, just got back from vaction this week, I plan to resume next week with the conclusion of the DI and then on to the EK Supreme.

[RickCain]

Hope all goes well and we get some good weather. I am ready for summer already.

[headala]

Woohoo, now can you just get the actors and writers back to work so I can have my '24'?

[RickCain]

Any luck getting those results into a graph? Can't wait to see your findings.

[nikhsub1]

I have one more run to do - with any luck it will be today.

[iandh]

I've been waiting for you to update this with results. This isn't my style of block but it looks very nice.

[RickCain]

Sorry to keep bringing this back to the top but how is the last run going?

[NaeKuh]

u guys also need to be aware that i think scott is using the RD-30 on this test bed.

Unless you have a 2 x DDC-2, or possibly 3 x DDC-3.2 theres no chance you'll ever meet his headpressure. And if this block is like the EK Supreme, it loves head pressure.

[nikhsub1]

Yes RD-30 at 18v which is MUCH like an 18w DDC-2 with a custom top... anyhow, testing of the AC DI is DONE! Martin has all my results so far so he can make me a pretty graph... the EK block is next, but it don't fit with the stock mount bracket... gotta get the dremmel out.

[ShoNuff]

Yes RD-30 at 18v which is MUCH like an 18w DDC-2 with a custom top... anyhow, testing of the AC DI is DONE! Martin has all my results so far so he can make me a pretty graph... the EK block is next, but it don't fit with the stock mount bracket... gotta get the dremmel out.

Without going into details, how did the AC DI fair in your comparison tests? Generally speaking of course.

[nikhsub1]

Off the top of my head, I think it performed the best so far of FLAT blocks (non bowed, non stepped).

[ShoNuff]

Thanks for the information. Looking forward to your EK Supreme results as well.

The weather should be to your liking as it is supposed to be in the high 60's/low 70's later this week.

[Martinm210]

Yes RD-30 at 18v which is MUCH like an 18w DDC-2 with a custom top... anyhow, testing of the AC DI is DONE! Martin has all my results so far so he can make me a pretty graph... the EK block is next, but it don't fit with the stock mount bracket... gotta get the dremmel out.

I'm out of town so this old excel version will have to do until I get home.

First showing a line graph which displays all 5 mounts! yes that's all FIVE MOUNTS, great work!!



And averaging all 5 mounts bar style:

[Martinm210]

Yeah, it's awesome. Three mounts would get you close, but it looks like 5 really ties it down right.

I was also suprised to see the double impact up there a little ways. We'll see how the EK does, I'll have a try at that one too pretty soon.

[nikhsub1]

Was that testing with a quad or dual core Scott? Great work by the way, and teachs me some things as far as multi mounts and the difference.

andyc

I'm going to make a new thread... but it is with a 6600 dual core, single die. And Martin, YOU ROCK! One day when you have time maybe you can tutor me on how to make those graphs!

[iandh]

It's too bad you don't have all the time in the world so you could do say 10-20 mounts; some of the variances are interesting. Five mounts definitely gives a good idea though...

e: on a side note, has anyone seen 45nm parts without a lid yet?

I wonder how much the different core shape/size/heat density pattern might change these results.

[headala]

I also am interested in how the newer CPUs' heat topography will change the performance of waterblocks. Specifically, will a native quad-core Nehalem bring back a use for the Storm since it will be all one die with a more concentrated heat source? I guess we can only speculate now, but I would love to hear peoples' thoughts.

[Radical_53]

@iandh: If you mount a newer block 20 times, the performance would suffer pretty badly before you're done.

@headala: It's different with every die size and every IHS shape. Sometimes it makes a small difference, sometimes it shuffles the results completely. At least from what I've seen so far. Plus, the blocks aren't all the same quality. Sometimes you get a better match for the given IHS, sometimes it's worse. It doesn't always, but many times make a significant difference.

[csjsi]

Yes RD-30 at 18v which is MUCH like an 18w DDC-2 with a custom top... anyhow, testing of the AC DI is DONE! Martin has all my results so far so he can make me a pretty graph... the EK block is next, but it don't fit with the stock mount bracket... gotta get the dremmel out.

lolz welcome to the club, if your talking about the Supreme that is. I had a problem with a mosfet getting in the way, but nothing a dremmel wont fix I see Eks has a 755 mounting plate available for it now
Any ways I cant wait to see what the RD 30 will poke through this block It will be a good test. My D5-B will do 3.5LPM

[Martinm210]

I think 3 mounts is plenty, but 5 really ties it down. Anything more wouldn't be necessary, and this type of testing is already extremely time consuming.

Even the larger spread on the Fuzion 4.5mm nozzle only has a standard deviation of only .78C, so with a 1.85C spread to the GTX mean, you statistically have a clear winner...no need for more mounts.

I just wish the review sites would do this...

[Xilikon]

What about putting the average delta with a spread like 23C ± 0.6C so if a block have a larger variation, the spread would be larger. This would give a better idea if block X perform better than block Y and if mounting is harder to be consistent with a certain block.

[Radical_53]

@martin: Well, as you said, it's very time consuming. If you ever had to do a review on a tight schedule, you'd see how much you can do in a given time period. That's one point.
The other point is that many manufacturers or shops are really late with their samples, so you can't put up a test that needs like at least a week for each block or part.
My last review had something like 16 blocks competing. All were measured at 2 flow rates and 2 CPUs. That's 64 measurements. Now if you say that each block should maybe should have the time to "sit" for a day, maybe to get the thermal paste into shape, and do that 5 times with each block? That's simply not working.
People do also want to have a test result when the stuff hits the market, they don't want to know that some months or half a year later. By then, there are new CPUs, new whatevers and they'd want to know results of this new combination, not the old one