Test Results:

Before we check the result I must make a confession; I dropped the entire unit while taking photographs of it, from "the table to the (carpet) floor". It did power up afterward. So, the unit can withstand some abuse. ;)




As you see, Cooler Master R120 beats my proud air-cooling by 6C @2.6 GHz and gained another free 61 MHz in overclocking.



It hits 2.7 GHz at 2 volt, but failed Prime95 test. What good is a system if it is not stable? Besides, that is a 3.6% voltage increase (2/1.93) to gain 1.4% (2700/2661) FSB. Why would anyone want to do such a thing? No fault in the cooling area, the Aquagate Mini R120 performs admirably the limit is the processor. At 2 Volt and after 12 minutes, the temp did not break 50 C has a lot to say about the performance.



How about sound level? You asked. Water cooling is always supposed to be quieter than air cooling, right? Well, I'd say almost and certainly not with a 120mm fan turning at ~2,800 RPM.

-Air Cooling setup = 120 mm exhaust fan @7 Volt, 80mm top blower 2,000 rpm @ 12 volt @ 2.6 GHz.
-Cooler Master Mini R120 = 120 mm radiator fan @ 7& 12 volt, 80 mm top blower 2,000 rom @ 12 volt
-Reading taken 18" from front of the case with case panel closed

Both using the same Sparkle 350watt power supply and identical components.



The dBA comparison provides a reference point; the digital sound meter has built-in calibration at 94 dBA with min range of 35 dBA. It merely shows the sound level at 7 volt is almost identical to the air cooling setup at 2.6 GHz