[Review] Round 2 Overall Comparison Thread - Core i7 Waterblocks

[Vapor]

This will be I keep the updated overall comparison charts of all my review installments

Not many words required here...they're all in the installments

Installments Completed To Date
Complete Overall Comparison at skinneelabs
EK Supreme and Supreme LT Tested (Full Review)
Heatkiller 3.0 LC and LT Tested (Full Review)
Swiftech Apogee GTZ and GTZ SE Tested (Full Review)
Swiftech Apogee XT Tested (Full Review)
Koolance CPU-350 and CPU-345 Tested (Full Review)
Enzotech Sapphire Rev.A and Luna Rev.A Test (Full Review)


Simple Charts







Varying Pumping Power

• Very High Pumping Power: All three MCP355 pumps and the D5 are on at full speed--this has a very similar PQ curve to a pair of RD-30s at 20V.
• High Pumping Power: Two MCP355s with EK V2 tops are on at full speed. The other two pumps are off.
• Medium High Pumping Power: A single MCP355 with XSPC V3 top is on at full speed. The other three pumps are off.
• Medium Pumping Power: The stock D5 is on at full speed and setting 5. The other three pumps are off.
• Low Pumping Power: A single MCP355 with XSPC V3 top is on at minimum speed (~7.7V, ~2450RPM). The other three pumps are off.
• Very Low Pumping Power: The stock D5 is on at minimum speed--setting 1. The other three pumps are off.

These are the core graphs of my data...a few more graphs with different interpretations of the data and all the data tables are at my backroom at skinneelabs, as well as the individual reviews

Thanks for reading

[skinnee]

You're going to have trouble picking colors before you're done... I'm calling it!

Nice work Vapor!

[bigx333]

The looks of supreme lt is amazing but 3c difference is a bit too much for a block

BTW... Good job

[Linuxfan]

The heatkiller is the winner!
Like the way the heatkiller block looks too...
Thanks for the useful comparison!

[WeeMaan]

Whats the difference between LT and LT+?

[assisterah]

HK 3.0 is out of stock everywhere in the US.
so bad I didn't pick one up earlier.

[bigx333]

Whats the difference between LT and LT+?

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=235916

[zeropluszero]

Here and everyone has been recommending the supreme LT...

[Salamndar]

Here and everyone has been recommending the supreme LT...

Exactly what I thought!

Might cancel the supreme LT order and wait until sidewinder gets a back plate for the HK 3 !

[bigx333]

Exactly what I thought!

Might cancel the supreme LT order and wait until sidewinder gets a back plate for the HK 3 !

I have always seen people calling the HK 3 as the king of blocks and the hesmelaugh review has already proven that, the vapor review is confirming it .

If the watercool release a plexi top version of the HK 3 it would be perfect

[PatRaceTin]

Wow my SupremeLT Plexi look bad

[Sadasius]

Very nice testing results here. Thanks a million Vapor. Very informative! I like the graphs...

[PaulyD]

Great work there, confirmed what I already thought and glad I have my HK 3.0

[JoeBar]

Great work as always. Thanks m8...

[shazza]

Just reviewing info on i7 water blocks again. Has there been discussion on the differences in the results here vs the results HESmelaugh posted here? While the test results show the HK as a top performer, there seem to be some major differences as you go down the charts (placement of EK Supreme LT and relative temperature differences, for example)?

I'm not doubting either set of test results, just trying to understand them, particularly as we'll soon be seeing new rounds of testing with the Swiftech XT ?

[rge]

When testing the same mount multiple times, one that has burned in for a few days, I get about .2-.4 difference in temps, despite using fluke calibrated therm down to .1C. Even using exact same large fft on die load, everest showing same watts dissipated, ambients within .1C of both runs, and water temps same, and correcting for ambients. So to me, any test within .2 to .4C is about same. Also vary pressure on mount, both good pressure but one just under or at recommended, other just over and can lower temps .5C on one cpu IHS and can watch it go down as you tighten, and on another cpu, may see less or no such effect from surface/interface differences. Varying flow can get .5C easy, and one block may be less responsive to flow.

I was actually impressed in the similarities in the two. The GTZ and Supreme one showed .4C higher, other opposite by .1C, to me just means basically same, maybe one performs better with given flow, given pressure, or maybe just typical error. But agree with the outlier was the supreme LT, yeah that one made less sense between two, but could been number of variables/error.

I have tested just 4 blocks but on 2 different cpus, one lapped, one not, and can see funny things like core 1 is hottest core by 5C on block 1, 5 mounts in a row. But with block 2, core 1 is only 1-2C hotter than core 0 and 2, on all of 5 mounts, presumably from difference interface, ie different block shapes/bow and different cpu shapes.

I guess point is when you see 1-2C or greater, probably see that on most cpus/tests. But <1C while real on that setup, may be different on anothers easily just from flow, interface, tntc variables.

[shazza]

Good explanation, rge. I know I always use reviews as guidelines only, and then test out on my own setup. I also was impressed with the consistencies between two sets of reviews BUT, I started getting a little concerned when I see people posting that they are now unhappy with their EK Supreme Lt based on a single review. All the reviewers will tell people to take the results as guidelines only, but you know how we all are - we see a better number, and gotta have that block!


Kudos to all the testers and reviewers - it definitely is hard work.

[Salamndar]

I can't wait to see the XT on that list!

[scamps]

and the winner is (you guys didn´t want to listen ):



Reviews of HESmelaugh and Bundymania were showing the same result month ago.

Nevertheless thanks for good work!

[shazza]

Vapor,

I really like the pump settings!! Is it possible for you to sticky this chart in a non-reply thread on the forum???

Also is it possible for you to include the Swiftech XT later on???

It is stickied ... check here: Liquid Cooling - Information/Guides & Reviews/Tests at the top of the page, as is HESmelaugh's review of i7 waterblocks.

EDIT - oops, I believe you wanted just the chart sticking, although it shouldn't be an issue just to click on the link above.

I imagine Vapor will test the XT when he gets time.

and the winner is (you guys didn´t want to listen ):



Reviews of HESmelaugh and Bundymania were showing the same result month ago.

Nevertheless thanks for good work!

A broad generalization on people not listening Many of us noted the other reviews. The Heatkiller is quite popular.

[rge]

and the winner is (you guys didn´t want to listen ):

There are a lot of people on this forum that bought the heatkiller and have had it for over 6 months, many have posted they got 2-3C better temps. I was one of the later ones, did not get it until May of this year, and I got ~3C better temps as well, and posted such somewhere at some point. Who is "you guys"? I searched but there is no "you guys" user name here, wrong forum?

[Migi06]

Just reviewing info on i7 water blocks again. Has there been discussion on the differences in the results here vs the results HESmelaugh posted here? While the test results show the HK as a top performer, there seem to be some major differences as you go down the charts (placement of EK Supreme LT and relative temperature differences, for example)?

Yes EK LT did have good results in dexgo review, but he tested it with stock intel core i7 IHS (so stock IHS isnt always same and way different than lapped one + I bet Vapor have lapped one).. All blocks should be tested with lapped cpu´s (But then guys who dont lap their cpu..) and error marginal would be more minimal.. Like RGE said more important is proper low, good mounting, price, even nicer look (for someone... not for me) than 1-2c better temps..

Germans (and I..) did know HK3 was king long ago than anyone in these forums... (even RRR was moaning for EK supreme) Read forumdeluxx forums and be wiser..

[scamps]

There are a lot of people on this forum that bought the heatkiller and have had it for over 6 months, many have posted they got 2-3C better temps. I was one of the later ones, did not get it until May of this year, and I got ~3C better temps as well, and posted such somewhere at some point. Who is "you guys"? I searched but there is no "you guys" user name here, wrong forum?

not able to take a joke?
I just was wondering how often the EKs and the Koolance have been recommended as "the best ones" at XS after the launch of the Heatkiller

...
Germans (and I..) did know HK3 was king long ago than anyone in these forums... (even RRR was moaning for EK supreme) Read forumdeluxx forums and be wiser..

signed

[CedricFP]

Waiting on Vapour's Apogee XT review

[rge]

I just was wondering how often the EKs and the Koolance have been recommended as "the best ones" at XS after the launch of the Heatkiller

I bet it was that you guys again