Testing the blocks

Test setup:
CPU	A64 3000+ @ 2.4 Ghz 1.55 Vcore
Mainboard	Shuttle AN50R
Videocard	Radeon 9700 pro

CPU block

I used the Asetek Waterchill Kit ([M]adshrimps Review) for these tests. I quote myself from the last water block review:

	Temperatures after 60 min 100% load
Asetek Waterchill	39°C
Intimidator waterblock	39°C
Thermalright SLK948U	54°C

The Intimidator Block equals the Asetek Waterchill Block, so certainly not a bad performer at all.

Chipset block

As the Nforce³ chipset has no integrated temperature sensor, I could not really monitor the temperatures. However, I can say while using a high fsb (~250 mhz) the little passive heatsink gets extremely hot. So the water block certainly is an improvement, and it also just looks cool. :-)

VGA block

The Radeon 9700 Pro has no integrated temp sensor either, but as you probably know, and if you do not, you'll know now: Temperatures influence overclocking results. Why do you think some people pour LN² (-196 °C) over their computer parts? So the cooler you can keep your computer parts, the higher they will clock.

So I overclocked the core of my Radeon 9700 pro by using different cooling methods:

Stock cooler

Arctic Cooling VGA silencer @ lowest ([M]adshrimps review)

Intimidator water block

The Arctic VGA Silencer was set at its lowest operation mode to equal the sound level of the water cooling setup.

Core clock:

	Core clock in Mhz, artifact free after 1 hour 3d mark.
Stock Cooling	365 Mhz
VGA Silencer	375 Mhz
Intimidator Waterblock	405 Mhz

Of Course water cooling wins, no special tests were needed for this, but what does this mean, a 30 Mhz Higher core clock ?



Cleary you get a better performing GPU and an increase in FPS when playing games and all this at a lower sound level!

So, I have installed all the block setup, evaluated their performance, time for a conclusion I’d say.