jmke

XSPC is fairly new to the water cooling world. Their first water cooling kit has been knighted X20. The kit is both compact and compatible with most motherboard sockets. In this respect X20 may be the ideal entry level kit.

http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=394

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Cpt.Planet

Great review there. Hopefully they will include 2 rings with every kit form now on.

bthjf1

Hi there

I'm new to your forum but after reading the review, can anybody think that an XSPC X20 will be able to cope with a Alphacool NexXxos for an ATI Radeon X1800XT, on the same tubing as a Pentium 930. I'm not planning to overclock like mad just in case. Thanks

Liquid3D

I was really impressed with the XSPC, I just don't think it would support a mutli-block system even if your not overclocking.

It was designed as a compact single block kit which is does exepctionally well. There is; however, a possibility. You could support two blocks if your willing to invset in a C-Systems DC pump, and a more powerful fan on the radiator. A better pump would give you more head-feet for the additional block and a more powerful fan gives you more CFM (dissipates more heat).

bthjf1

Thanks for your reply. I just went for an AlphaCool kit in the end.

Liquid3D

Did you already order it? I can tell you which kit is the abolsute best for your money?

if you ever need any help feel free to post here and I'll do all I can!

You really can't go wrong with AQlphacool though their hardware is reliable and performs great...

bthjf1

Good morning

I went for the Alphacool Cool GFX Xtreme 240 12V (they will customise it for me since I don't have the space for a dual radiator) ~ did have a ThermalTake Bigwater 6 months ago; the pump died after 3 months, then they send me a new one but then the plexi on top of the waterblock starting to leak with some paste created by the coolant (yep !)- at this point i just gave up and went back to aircooling; but with summer coming ... the fan will start spinning faster and lounder. I notice you are running an Alphacool # I did like the fact that contrary to Asetek they do "officialy" support newer video card ~ not to keen to drill my X1800XT (at this price !) - is your X800 card on water or air?

Liquid3D

I haven't used my X800 in some time it's always been air-cooled. I rarely watercool in a multiblock configuration because I just don't like the second block in-line being cooled by heated water even though tht's probably still 10 ~ 15C below what the air-cooler can do.

However, if i were to make an exception it would be a triple radiator system and a pump such as the Alphacool (actually OASE made for Alphacool) 1510 with the voltage regulator. Which I highly recommend. The voltage regulator allows you to icrease voltage from a regular Molex from 12V to 24V in 4V increments. the difference in pressure/flow rate is amazingly tunable and very different from lowest to highest.

I respect yopur choice but to be honest there may have been other choices for the money your spending which may have been slightly better, at least for the CPU block. I like Alphacool but I haven't tested any of the new VGA coolers which coolVGA card memory as well as the GPU. I like the fact each cooler is a scaled down version of their larger blocks with fantastic detail in-so-far as impingement are and flow inlet. Many waterbock makers will build their VGA blocks using a channel design eschewing any complex impingment pattern or inlet effects due to cost considerations.

I'd also recommend their passive cooler the Cora 642 was my reference unit for almost a year, now I'm planning on making my refernce system (test system) an XSPC design I like their triple radiators, and their reservoirs which double as passive radiators. They are also releasing a new CPU and chipset block any day.

At the moment however, i can't think of a better pump then the OASE Alphacool 1510 with voltage regulator.

bthjf1

I'm not too keen on any dual or triple radiators since I really want them to take as less space as possible ~ I'm still surprise that the only way to cool down a radiator is a fan ~ I could see some thermoelectric device being used here to reduce the size of the radiator and cool down the water; I think Swittech did make one but you can't find it in Europe. For me cooling the video card was also really important since most video card this day are just too loud, or get stupidly hot (1800 run at 65 to 70C on load with a screaming 60cm fan ! ~ and that's for winter time). I did look at the passive cooling but it was too expensive ... and too big .

Thanks for the advice for the voltage regulator ~ going to add it to my order.

Liquid3D

This may be the only Thermoelectric cooler on the market which works? I want to write them for a review sample.

Here's a review on it: http://www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/review-327-1.htm