Overclockers

Compact mid-level kit – Joe

SUMMARY: Very compact external kit with mid-range performance.

The good guys at Comserver Components were nice enough to send a sample of their Standalone Water Cooling Unit. This is a very compact external unit with about 6′ of 3/8″ OD tubing, so it can be located some distance from the PC. The unit features:

• AC ball bearing 26 dba 120 mm fan
• 12 Ounce aluminum reservoir
• 300 Gallon Per Hour Pump
• Nickel plated, O-ring Push-To-Lock fittings
• Aluminum radiator

A closer look reveals how it gets its compact shape.

There’s not much wasted space here – this diagram gives a good view of how things are stitched together:

Note that the pump is directly bonded to the reservoir – saves a lot of space. One thing I noticed is that the pump makes a “rattling” sound for about a minute, then quiets down – this is the pump cavitating and purging air from the system. The radiator is closely tied to the pump, so lines are kept to a minimum – a very neat, compact design.

There are two waterblocks – a P4:

The base is reasonably flat:

And a Socket A version, which features spring-loaded clips:

The base appears flat and polished:

I tested the Comserver kit using the Die Simulator for both the P4 and Socket A versions. The Socket A clip is easy to mount and engages all three socket lugs; simply screw the bolt in, set it on the lugs, and unscrew until the bolt clears the top of the clip – simple.

However, I did notice that the clip might “hang up” as the clearance between the block and springs is quite tight – this could result in misaligned CPU contact; Comserver is correcting this problem.

Fan noise is tolerable – I measured it at 59 dBA three feet from the fan – not terrible, but definitely noticeable.