Test Results -

CPU FX Z3 -

Here is a block that took me by total suprise.   It's no secret that I have long thought of the Z3 as a "runner up" block. In testing, it really showed me that it was more than just another POS.  In the graph above you can see that it kept the temps NICE and low, while dealing with some overall higher ambient temps. With its average temp of 40.12, its head of the pack.

The ambient temps jumped around a little bit in this test, but over all it didn't seem to impact the testing at all. the Coolant temps were some of the highest in the entire test set, which would explain why the block did so well.   Obviously it was able to move the heat from the core to the coolant more efficiently than the other blocks.

This look familiar?  Since the Z3 is essentially the same flow design and dimension's as the Jagged edge, it has the same lower flow rates than the Maze 1C or the others did. at +1.6C change with a flow drop of that amount, the block also isn't terribly needy for higher flow rates (at this given wattage).  If you compare the charts, the BeCool and the Z3 are practically the same in most areas.

CPU FX - Reactor -

You know what the laws of physics say? - "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". It seems that CPU FX is covering that with the Reactor. I am in AWE at how bad this block is on SO many levels.  First of all the temps were amazingly bad, second, its dangerous to even think of mounting on your CPU, and third.. it costs 90$!!!!  The Temps above you can see that its performance is way worse than blocks that cost 1/8th the price.

The Design in general is bad for this block. The lil El-Cheapo fans on the side do nothing but suck in hot VRM heated air from around the motherboard to help heat up your block. The Vertical design is interesting, and you have to give them credit for a new and sorta innovative idea, but its implementation is terrible.  All the other blocks I retested twice, this block I did not. Its retention mechanism is so bad, that I was sure it would have cause some damage to the Mobo, Core or socket.  My word of advice is STAY AWAY from this block.  It weights 1.8Lbs which is far in excess of the AMD and Intel weight specs.

Overall the temps crept up for the coolant and exhaust temps.  They did not level off or reach equilibrium for some time.  This could be due to a few things, but I believe its because of the extreme mass of the block.

The flow was about par with the Z3 and other restrictive blocks. Due to the size of the block and the amount of water that flows through it, the flow was not that much of an issue for it.

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