Danger Den TDX Water Block Preview

Cooling/Water Cooling by KeithSuppe @ 2004-05-31

We take an in-depth look at the latest water block from Danger Den; the TDX features the same performance increasing nozzles as the RBX but improves on its design. Tested on an Athlon 64 setup we take a look at what it can do!

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Block Design and Leak test

Not long after I posted this preview a “pro” water cooling website posted some comments about this piece in their user forums, what followed was bashing and flaming of both the content of the article and the writer (me). Any effort to try and get a decent response failed, my editor was banned from their forums for standing up for me. So please bare with me as I try explain to these people what they could not understand.



For those redirected from that websites’ resentment link, I'd like to make a few points: That a Reviewer would be so emotionally disturbed as to place a link on his site simply to criticize, or rather insult another writer's work, is obviously a result of some deep seeded resentment. Therefore that person must somehow feel victimized, which of course denotes weakness. Even though I seem to bear the brunt of the insults and epithets, I chose not to link to the original thread which was deleted anyway as it was so obviously childish. In response to the flaming thread containing the link which brought you here, this is my retort. That I choose to expand my vocabulary and use esoteric terms to describe an esoteric process is common in technical writing. It's contradictory to claim someone is trying to "use big words” when writing on a subject which obviously begs the use of descriptive terms not found in every day conversation. Truth is the ladies following that thread to this link, will most likely never know they are being used to discredit someone who simply made an accurate comparison of one product to another.

That a link still exists so many months later should be evident of a small mind wedged against a large chip. A bigger person would have let it go, but the tunnel vision pseudo intellectuals cannot abide that a budding writer could threaten them with the truth. Hence the attacks began. If a person attempts to expand their vocabulary and chooses not to write on an 8th grade level so as to cater to some of their forum members, then he's trying to hard to "sound smart"? Anyone who knows this business knows that there are unwritten rules among companies and writers with integrity. Employees NEVER participate in public forums unless there's a specific company topic, where questions are answered. At their core staff, and the authors of the attacks upon me, consist of a Swiftech employee, a water block designer, and a semi-Professional reviewer (with thousands of dollars of measurement devices yet an inadequate heat-source non-representative of modern Processor's wattage). If there were ever a case for why these unwritten rules exist, their behavior and your following this link to its end is it. I find it shameful those whom claim to have so much experience, could have so little life experience, and so little respect for themselves. Buffoons? I wouldn't insult the epithet, it's the nefarious slightly educated I fear, because they know how to scream "I'll sue you cause I don't have any other recourse but empty threats!" My response was ":I dare you, go ahead make my day." (One asinine statement deserves another) Karma has taught me, and will one day teach them that; Resentment is a cup of poison you pour for another and inevitably drink yourself. Now on with the review which I COULD edit, but I'll leave to exemplify my level of experience when it was written. I was just starting to evaluate products, and I'm always open to learning because that's how we grow. Some, however; remain stubbornly steadfast in their tantrums.




Removing the accelerator-nozzle exposes what is perhaps the most critical area of any water-block: the impingement zone. Usually located directly above the CPU core, this area is where most of the heat will be conducted, and eventually removed by the flowing water. Where the designer has influenced flow and dispersion the impingement zone will often represent a pattern which compliments that incoming flow. For example if the inlet has multiple jets creating a "shower" effect, then having small cups machined into the impingement zone would and could allow each individual stream to impact within. Heat rising up through the bottom and sides of these cups would (by the second law of thermodynamics) attract to the lower temp of the water circulating within. Of course all this must occur at a very high rate. Here, Danger Den has re-introduced their heat channel technology; separated by rows a series of isolation cups comprises the impingement zone. Water impacting within these "isolation cups" produce turbulence required for thorough heat absorption.

This is where any water-block design may succeed or fail, as a delicate balance must be found. The cups emphasized in the photo below isolate, and create turbulence from the incoming water stream. The channels the cups are aligned and staggered in, direct water-flow outward to each side, creating a flow dynamic Danger Den engineer's can be proud of. This is an astute design, and well executed, as seen in the close-up;


Madshrimps (c)



Upon closer inspection it's much more evident why the TDX is an evolution in design philosophy from its older sibling, the RBX. As this is but an introductory review, its intent is to exemplify the TDX design. My next article will compare the performance of the TDX verses the RBX, and the Cool-Cases CC-Magic on the Socket-478 Prescott. The next photo has the accelerator-nozzle nozzle back in place;


Madshrimps (c)



This next close-up below emphasizes how the channels force the heated water mutually outward taking advantage of the block's shape;


Madshrimps (c)



The channels Danger Den has molded their cups into ensures heat absorption is possible while the water doesn't remain too long at the same place. The channels second purpose is to direct the flow of heated water bilaterally outward, as quickly as possible down and to the outlet, at the base of the block. The size of the block, the amount of material between contact zone, and the CPU's surface, all cooperate to give us a water-block summarizing efficiency in its design.

Danger Den also offers a Brass top plate for the TDX, as they did with their RBX. In the case of the TDX, I chose the clear Lucite top. It arrived with its Socket-478 mounting hardware, for this test I switched to the Socket-754;


Madshrimps (c)



Switching the Socket-478 Lucite top, for the Socket-754 version I'd requested, went smoothly, and I tested the system outside of the case for 24-hours. The system ran without incident. I test each system without the aid of zip-ties, or clamps to ensure everything is leak-proof under the worst conditions. I install clamps or zip ties, afterwards, as installation usually entails flexing or twisting of hoses.

Below are photos of the test system (zip-ties are found in this photo as the kit was about to be installed), including Danger Den's Lucite bay Reservoir, which features four inlet/outlet options;


Madshrimps (c)



Here's close-up of the bay-reservoir;


Madshrimps (c)

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