Intel Core i7 CPU Water Block Roundup October 2009

Cooling/Water Cooling by leeghoofd @ 2009-10-18

Here we are again, with some brand new water blocks to cool your Nehalem or Lynnfield monster CPU. We got some strong contenders this time, which will give the blocks, that we already tested, a serious run for their money. In total 7 new blocks delivered to us thanks to Aquatuning. We compare performance to 6 blocks we previously tested. Find out which one cools your CPU the best!

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Alphacool Yellowstone

Alphacool Yellowstone:

This block is specially developed for cooling I7 Nehalem based CPU's, thus leading to high expectations in this roundup. The fluid is injected straight onto the cores for maximum cooling performance. Flow rates of 4.9 liters/min can be reached depending on your setup. Compared to the Livingstone this is a pure lightweight.

Madshrimps (c)




Same blister type packaging, heck why change a good solution.





Micro pin structure looks a lot like the previous block, though it's a slightly refined pin design. Sadly I had some performance issues with the block. Opening the block revealed that some of the coating of the dispenser was on and in-between the pins, thus hindering water flow. I tried to clean it up as much (yet you can still see some black markings on the pins) as possible and got more respectable results afterwards.



Second issue I encountered with this block is the compatibility with some fittings as they are very very close to one another. As you can see I had to install tie raps to ensure the tubing was properly attached.



Like with the Livingstone, socket compatibility for S775, 1156 and 1366 out of the box. No picture of the delivered mounting, or the thermal paste tube lads, as it's exactly the same as the other Alphacool block(s).

Madshrimps (c)

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Comment from S3th @ 2009/10/28
Just had to sign up just to post this comment.

Thank you!

Must have been hard work benching so many blocks... and doing them all again just due to change of thermal paste. Thorough to say the least...

Though I am new to watercooling this is the only article I have found that tests this many waterblocks. This will sure help me in buying the right block for me.

Are there any other sources available like this?

None the less. Just felt like after all that hard work you deserved at least one thank you .

And I hope that you will expand this article over time so that it could be a big buyers guide almost... Covering as many waterblocks with real tested data as possible? Or does this exist already? Would be a major way for madshrimps to become even more unique?
Comment from jmke @ 2009/10/28
hi there, the author and tester Leeghoofd definitely deserves some praise for his hard work I agree
I don't know his exact plans when it comes to water blocks as he's learning along the way, but I would not rule out a standardized test setup on which to test a multitude of blocks.

For reference, here's another trustworthy source with some quality blocks compared http://vapor.skinneelabs.com/i7/Roun...i7Overall.html
Comment from leeghoofd @ 2009/10/28
Thx Seth for the nice comment, I try to keep the roundups as simple as possible. The link from Jmke is the expert style, with flow charts and stuff... that's for the real die hards. Note also that they test with dual and triple pumps to get really the last degree out of the blocks. I prefer to stick to one popular pump to keep things understandable... and a sort of more european setup...

Thx for reading sir !
Comment from S3th @ 2009/10/29
Well i'll try to read closer who the author is next time .
Comment from JimmyJump @ 2009/10/31
Excellent round-up, thank you very much.

Here's a suggestion for a test-rig, ready to use and manufactured by some experts: the CoolerMaster Testbench
Comment from leeghoofd @ 2009/10/31
Dimastech test bench arrived on friday (pictures will follow soon

Thanks for the nice comment
Comment from jmke @ 2009/10/31
after my test of CM Testbench you take it for a spin to compare findings
Comment from Pardons @ 2009/10/31
using custom testbench here
pics will follow .
Comment from leeghoofd @ 2009/11/08

 

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