SUMMARY: Outstanding performance.

The good guys at 1A-Cooling were nice enough to send a sample of the SET-5Z280V1 watercooling kit to test. This kit features an internal radiator which fits into two CD ROM bays and is cooled with 2 60 mm fans.

The waterblock ships without the fittings screwed in - easy enough to do.

The base of the fittings includes a neoprene "O" ring to make it watertight. Tubing is attached by unscrewing the knurled ring, slipping it over the tube and tightening. To avoid the tubing from twisting as it's tightened, moisten the tubing with a little water - it's just enough lubricant to avoid twisting.

Note the dimple between the fittings - this is where the screw mount rides on the block.

A look inside the waterblock reveals a fairly restrictive design:

It looks as if there is a center channel that then splits out to two exhaust channels. The base is interesting:

It appears that there is a center copper strip between a brass base.

The mounting options cover every conceivable CPU; In addition, mounting force is centered over the CPU:

This is much preferred over other techniques, as the force is directed precisely where it's needed without the possibility of canting the waterblock slightly off the die; you would be surprised at how much this degrades performance. Included with the kit is a small torque wrench:

A very nice touch! Slip it over the mounting bolt and adjust - I set it to 30 kg in testing.