OCZ Hydroflow Mini Review

[Martinm210]

Thanks guys.
I'm out of town at the moment, so I can't do much of anything, but I did all my testing with one red washer under the springs. This really didn't feel like it was necessarily a ton of pressure, I was able to tighten the screws down with my fingers and didn't have to use a screwdriver, but I hear this was probably a good amount of pressure.

This one washer under the springs is what the instructions noted to do, so it was fitting of my intent to test the block "As Shipped" per the instructions. I did however try two orientations, one with the inlet on the upper left and a second on the lower left. The lower left was performing best for me, so that's how I ran all the rest of the mounts. I'll try a couple of mounts when I get back home with the additional washers in place and see if there is any change.

[Tony]

Just to confirm, can the backplate and mount plate handle this kind of pressure without risk?

Anything over stock mounting you are on your own, that being said 99% of XS users look to be running with 100lbs+ on blocks some even without backplates.

I tend to apply pressure till just before the board starts to bend...even with a backplate the board still gives a little.

[Eddy.Jones]

Hello.. nice block.. i am new here and have been wanting to cool my pc with a water setup.
i bought a few components a while back but after i mounted an air cooler, shut the case and loaded vista i got to slack and haven't got around to even starting it.
So Tony, consider yourself like a Tony Robbins. you, along with Martins great review have changed this mans direction in life.
I will now be buying your block and getting around to water cooling.

you have reached out and lent a helping hand.

[Levish]

All this talk about cost effective cooling has me remembering my Hydor L30 pump which went for 30$ iirc "back in the day" and would likely be no worse off in temp in a single block loop, not to mention the heatercores and shrouds (although I don't miss those, took up a lot of space)

[Hondacity]

Tony

Will there be a revision on the block? Seeing Martins review its far from the fusionv1 which can be for 7$ more.

[Praz]

Tony

Will there be a revision on the block? Seeing Martins review its far from the fusionv1 which can be for 7$ more.

Far from the Fusion? Lowest temperature was 1.9C difference and highest was 1.6C difference. The edge goes to the Fusion but I don't see how it can be viewed as significant.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

not to mention the extra pressure wasnt applied to the hydroflow, which is a stepped block and needs the extra pressure

[Hondacity]

I'm sure improvements are welcome. I'm still waiting on martin's test with higher pressure..i hope it won't destroy his quadcore..otherwise he's got to redo his testing. I'm doing some tests too but i don't wanna test something that performs less than the fusionv1.

I was expecting some wc users reacting to my question. 1.6C-1.9C from the Dtek Fusion is still marginal. some lap cpus to gain those deltas. xtreme are you?

[nikhsub1]

I'm doing some tests too but i don't wanna test something that performs less than the fusionv1.

Umm, what? If that is your attitude, I suggest you don't bother testing at all. I mean, the point of testing is to see how something performs (and on YOUR testbed, the more the merrier). How do you know something will or will not perform better than a certain benchmark without even testing it? Sigh.

[migueld]

If this blocks costs only $40 then this will probably be the best overall value block. It looks great, great build quality, it's compression-fitting-friendly, ease of use, decent pressure drops, and decent thermal performance (within 1-3C of top blocks √ ).

The key factor is the pricing, and if that's kept low then this is a clear winner IMO

[Martinm210]

FYI,
I tried two 1mm washers for one mount and temps went up by about 1 degree (Hottest core was 51.9C). My processor is lapped though, so the gains with more pressure are probably much more significant with a stock IHS that may be concaved.

Anyhow, you guys with a stock IHS will have to try the higher pressure, it's not helping my lapped processor any.

[funny]

nice block~I like the design and surface finish

[SiGfever]

Nice work as always Martin.

This is a very nice looking block and should have a large market interested in it.

[Tony]

martins test results seem to be going the wrong way I found 75LBs was the optimum pressure, here the block during my tests beat the Fusion and the apogee GT...each testers results are going to be a little different though.

As i mentioned in my other thread I doubt block design is going to get much better than where it is now, I have a design for a jet block here that pretty much beats everything you see out there, the issue is it would cost a pretty penny to make it and would probably retail for $100, which i feel is just not worth doing.

it would be nice to see a performance/cost graph for all blocks tested so you can see what you are getting for your $$'s, in this age of collapsing banks etc i actually feel this may be what most end users will look for.

Also I don't see the Fusion doing as well just using convection

[crash5s]

martins test results seem to be going the wrong way I found 75LBs was the optimum pressure, here the block during my tests beat the Fusion and the apogee GT...each testers results are going to be a little different though.

As i mentioned in my other thread I doubt block design is going to get much better than where it is now, I have a design for a jet block here that pretty much beats everything you see out there, the issue is it would cost a pretty penny to make it and would probably retail for $100, which i feel is just not worth doing.

it would be nice to see a performance/cost graph for all blocks tested so you can see what you are getting for your $$'s, in this age of collapsing banks etc i actually feel this may be what most end users will look for.

Also I don't see the Fusion doing as well just using convection

Why not make both and have a high and low end offering. There are blocks that retail for about that (see AC's products) and people do buy them.

[nikhsub1]

As i mentioned in my other thread I doubt block design is going to get much better than where it is now, I have a design for a jet block here that pretty much beats everything you see out there, the issue is it would cost a pretty penny to make it and would probably retail for $100, which i feel is just not worth doing.

You underestimate people's need for having 'the best'. Cathar could have always sold more blocks, he didn't stop due to lack of customers, rather lack of interest... Ever see 'Field of Dreams'? 'If you build it, they will come'.

[SNiiPE_DoGG]

I would buy a 100$ block if it truely beat the pants off all others and looked as good as the hydroflow

[smee]

I really like the fact they stepped the base right out of the box.

Yes I agree!!

Great review Martin!! You da man.

*cough*Hey Petra....... when are ya getting them in stock????*cough*cough*

[SiGfever]

You underestimate people's need for having 'the best'. Cathar could have always sold more blocks, he didn't stop due to lack of customers, rather lack of interest... Ever see 'Field of Dreams'? 'If you build it, they will come'.

[Hondacity]

Thanks Tony...

70-100$ aint bad ...i'll get one if you promise its best

about watercooling...if you've noticed most retailers are out of stock with the good stuff...hwlabs 480gtx ...weeks ago the fusionv2..bitspower fittings... asian/aus countries are importing hordes of waterblocks...

i can surely smell some greens there...

[Martinm210]

martins test results seem to be going the wrong way I found 75LBs was the optimum pressure, here the block during my tests beat the Fusion and the apogee GT...each testers results are going to be a little different though.

Exactly, that's why I emphasized that the testing is so specific to a system. Different amounts of pumping/radiator systems will likely result in slightly different preferences/tradeoffs in pressure drop losses. In addition the shape of the IHS itself likely plays a huge role in what sort of mounting pressure is optimal for a processor. Mine is lapped flat which seems to be pretty happy with the single washer under the spring...but that's not to say a stock IHS with something less that flat or a different processor die size wouldn't act differently...it probably will.

After testing 15 blocks in the last couple of months, I've pretty well convinced myself of two things:

Pressure drop and measurments of restriction are fairly repeatable measures although manufacturing variances still create some variation.

Thermal performance on the other hand can really only be approximately measured. Maybe to .5C on any particular setup, but that's only good for that one system, that one pump setup, that one radiator/fan combination, that one thermal paste used and applications methond, AND that one processor.

The best we can do as reviewers is state our testing specifications and hope there are plenty of others testing to help provide some sort of trend that's not based on any one review, but rather a collection of reviews on several setups under a wider range of conditions.

Great job on the block, I'll be passing it along to Skinnee next for his own experiences..

[NaeKuh]

I'm doing some tests too but i don't wanna test something that performs less than the fusionv1.

thats like me saying i dont feel like driving cars slower then a porshe 911 carrera.

And i thought i had a high horse.

[Martinm210]

FYI,
Being a little confused as to how I could possibly get worse temperatures with more mounting pressure, I decided to inspect the thermal paste spread a little more carefully on this higher pressure mount. It appears to me with this higher pressure mount, more pressure is being exerted at the four corners of the step and there is some bridging at the center. (Indicated by the thinner paste remaining in the corners and sides vs the center).



In the end, I can only suspect with stepped bases there is probably some sort of optimal mounting pressure. I would suggest trying various amounts of washers and experiment a little..

[nikhsub1]

Martin I'd check the flatness of your IHS... could be that too.

[skinnee]

In the end, I can only suspect with stepped bases there is probably some sort of optimal mounting pressure. I would suggest trying various amounts of washers and experiment a little..

I will definitely add this to my list of things to experiment with once I complete the as-shipped thermal tests. My wife is just going to have to make an appointment if she wants to spend time with me, I've got tests to run.