OverClock - WaterCool AG/CU Poly (proto)

Continuing with the OCWC tradition of thinking out of the box, is their Ag/Cu block.  This is NOT the first block to use this Eutectic alloy.  Many have tried to get this material before but due to an almost monopoly on the supply buy Wesgo Metals ( under its patented name - CuSil) most hobbyists have not been able to get it. Before now the blocks would have cost around 300$ to make out of CuSil.

BeCool had the first REAL CuSil block available about 3 or 4 months before OCWC started working on this Ag/Cu block ( can't be called CuSil since the alloy is not coming from Wesgo Metals.).

What's all the fuss about CuSil? Its a Silver and Copper mix. It's very difficult to make, and must be done in an inert atmosphere ( no Oxygen or other elements that may react with the metals).  The proportions of Copper to Silver are a trade secret to Wesgo's CuSil, but from what I am told its around 28% Copper to 72% Silver.

Why use it?  Pure silver is less than 8% better than Pure copper in heat conduction. CuSil is around 23% better than Pure Silver and 33% better than Cu!

This block is made in the same format all OCWC's Poly blocks are besides for the Ag/Cu plate at the bottom.

OverClock - WaterCool Ice Floe Poly (proto)

This is yet another new idea from OCWC.  Instead of another Copper or Silver alloy they are trying a new Aluminum alloy. This is an alloy like not many people have seen or used. After calling around and doing a bit of research a friend confirmed to me it is an  "Aluminum alloy in a Metal or Ceramic Matrix" they use it to make Forged pistons in some high end cars, or other high heat/stress applications.

The metal is more ceramic than it is a metal.  Its brittle, doesn't bend, and cant be CNC'd well at all ( eats up bits).   Its thermal characteristics are awesome though.  Its right along with Copper for thermal conductivity.

Since these cant be milled or machined down, the plates are cast in a 2.15"x 2.15" plate.  This is nice but it is out of spec with a 2"x2" S370 size limit... For this reason, and the fact I had no retention mechanism that would let me mount flat, the block was not tested.  The reason is with 2.15" one side would always hang up on the lil cam housing that the socket has ( the lever deal).   I don't to kill the core I am working with, so the block has been side lined till a suitable retention mechanism is found.  I had the same problem with the Ag/Cu block but since it was 2" x 2" I could get a Danger Den Clip to work.

CPU FX - Reactor

On the last page I mentioned that CPU FX has been around since the beginning. With that experience they have tried man different things for CPU Cooling.  Some have worked and some haven't. The Reactor is a prime example of "Haven't". This brick of metal rings in at over 2x the weight of most every other block in the review... 8x in some cases. If you care about your CPU Core weight is NOT a good thing. It has an interesting flow design of doing the cooling in a vertical fashion instead of a horizontal.  Along with the Copper center where the coolant flows, the sides have small 50mm fans.

OK... I am taking off my testing hat here, and I am going to tell you what I think.  <Personal Rant>: This this block is a new level in stupidity.  The person who designed this block and thought it was a good Idea should be shot in the head. The retention mechanism is TERRIBLE. I needed to unbolt it just to make sure it didn't shatter my core when removing it. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT use this block in a tower style case, its so heavy it will come off contact with the core if you bump the case, and will more than likely rip the lugs off your board. I am only telling you this in order to help you avoid the issues I saw when testing this. </Personal Rant>

Ok back to the facts.  The base as a good flat surface to it. Unfortunately you cant use a Peltier with this block due to its design.  it has the same Barbs that I did not like too much on the Z3 block, and they are glued in. This block didn't leak at all.

Back in June I showed pics of a setup I called the "Crucible" as the testing area for the blocks. Well its still there and it is what all the blocks were tested on.

Its gone through some changes:

1. Second PSU for cool down power ( keeps the fans spinning so I can cool down the coolant faster to start another test ASAP)
2. iOpener for temp readings. Its a stand alone temp recording point, works VERY well. its my 3rd iOpener :)
3. Inline Thermal probes to record coolant temp ( on my 4th pair of them after a few bad designs).

Here are some close up pics and description on what they do in this setup.

The Pump is the good Ole HydroThruster 500GPH pump I used on the Radiator Roundup tests.

This is an awesome pump, and runs reliably 100% of the time.  Never a leak, never a stray noise.  Yes you can find higher GPH pumps, but few that are as nice as this baby.

The radiator is the winner of the Radiator Roundup done a few months ago. The OCWC - Big Momma.

It has 2 120mm H1A Panaflo's on it one pushing and one pulling. The front and back fans have 1 DD5 thermal probe for air temp.  The Intake fan also has one thermocouple from the ExTech thermometer to meter the intake air and compare that with the core temp. just to keep dust a non issue the radiator was blown out every few blocks.

The front and back of the radiator was kept free from anything that may limit the breathing ability of the fans.

From the show that has taught me all I need to know about life : The Red Green Show - "Duct Tape - The Handy Mans Secret Weapon".  Anything can be made with Duct tape, and I mean anything. Like in this pic, you see how a DD5, a Compu Nurse, a Pump flow control box, and a crushed Vantec HSF box can make a killer control panel with enough Duct tape :)

So it isn't pretty, who cares, it works, and it didn't catch fire, not even once!

The CompuNurse was like a neutral 3rd party, it let me know if the ambient temp was moving at all, that way I could compensate before the radiator would feel the effects. the Pump control is how you adjusted the flow and speed of the pump.  The DD5 was reporting these temps : Air in, Air out, Coolant in and Coolant out.