Koolance case vs. Danger Den

[Amedeo602]

My box is so noisy when I turn it on in the morning, it wakes the family up. I can hear it downstairs (the machine is on the 2nd floor)...and I can't even use the phone in the same room with it (can't hear the other end).

Desperate times call for desperate measures....I'd like to O/C this CPU to see how far it'd go, but I'm not willing to break the bank over it.

Which is better? A Koolance case or a Danger Den setup? (If I get the DD setup I'll probably end up getting a new case...I'm tired of this cheap full tower with a bazillion screws...it's 8 screws to get the front off for cryin out loud!)

If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd love to hear em :)

[Richard]

D-Tek custom has some nice complete watercooling kits.

Definitely far and away better than koolance.

http://www.dtekcustoms.com/

[IAMCanadian]

Wow thas a nice kit and that spiral block looks pretty spiffy and that cooling core very nice.

[Colin]

I have not tried the dtek gear but I have followed Fixitt's marketing campaign for the Spiral Block on another forum. I would put my money on Danger Den but the big radiator at dtek looks interesting. And the Coolance? LOL!

[dimmreaper]

That place wants too much money for there products!

I think BeCooling (http://www.aquastealth.com) has the best in the way of price/performance.

[dimmreaper]

Originally posted by Colin
but the big radiator at dtek looks interesting.Here Colin It's just a heatercore similar to the one in this article of mine, except Dtek painted it with silver spray paint.

http://www.wildandyc.co.uk/core.htm

[Colin]

Yep it's a heater core but nobody seems to want to search out the good stuff anymore. It's easier to point and click to purchase.

AMDGuy may have something to say about the BeCooling blocks. Their cube radiator looks good but the blocks may be lacking a bit.

[Richard]

<Sigh>

For some people it's cheaper to just "point and click" than to seek out "the good stuff."

I for one would rather spend more to have a complete kit than to rig something that may or may not work.

Originally posted by Colin
Yep it's a heater core but nobody seems to want to search out the good stuff anymore. It's easier to point and click to purchase.

AMDGuy may have something to say about the BeCooling blocks. Their cube radiator looks good but the blocks may be lacking a bit.

[Flash]

I have both a Koolance case (wife's computer) and a DD kit (Maze 2v.2, Eheim 1250), and I can tell you that they serve different purposes. You don't want the Koolance if you intend to overclock an AMD system; it just doesn't have enough flow with its 1/4" tubing, and the block is aluminum. OTOH, it's incredibly quiet and efficient for a non-overclocked system--almost completely silent. It's also dead-simple to assemble (they have some of best block mounting hardware anywhere). But the case itself is pretty bargain-basement (no removeable trays or bays, lots of screws).

The DD kit, on the other hand, will handle pretty much anything you throw at it. It can also work *relatively* quietly. My system has 2x 120mm fans (Panaflo lo-noise intake and Sunon mounted on external radiator on 7/12v switch), one 80mm exhaust, and the PSU fan. While I wouldn't describe it as "quiet," the sound volume is quite reasonable. Certainly the whole system is much quieter and less annoying than a single high-rpm Delta (or similar) HSF. I may yet replace the Sunon 120 with a Panaflo, which should be quieter than the Sunon is even when running at 7v. BTW, my case temps. never exceed ambient by more than 3 degrees fahrenheit.

[dimmreaper]

Originally posted by Colin
AMDGuy may have something to say about the BeCooling blocks. Their cube radiator looks good but the blocks may be lacking a bit. The jagged edge blocks will not perform well unless a surface tension reducing additive is used (IE, water wetter). When comparing performance while using an additive, they marginaly our perform smooth wall blocks of the same alloy and dimensions.

Brian of BeCooling has told me that the jagged walls offer better performance primarily in low flow applications, but are still better than smooth walls in high flow applications.

Here is what Brian had to say about the jagged edges in an E-mail to me:

Testing concluded that the rough walls improved temps by 1-2C over a smooth wall. Increasing flow rates using a 300gph pump lowered the difference to .5 to 1C at most. At low flow rates, the additional surface area seems to help.

Heat transfer from metal to water is a function of the surface area and turbulence. More of either or both is a good thing ;)

[Amedeo602]

Originally posted by Flash
I have both a Koolance case (wife's computer) and a DD kit (Maze 2v.2, Eheim 1250), and I can tell you that they serve different purposes. You don't want the Koolance if you intend to overclock an AMD system; it just doesn't have enough flow with its 1/4" tubing, and the block is aluminum. OTOH, it's incredibly quiet and efficient for a non-overclocked system--almost completely silent. It's also dead-simple to assemble (they have some of best block mounting hardware anywhere). But the case itself is pretty bargain-basement (no removeable trays or bays, lots of screws).

The DD kit, on the other hand, will handle pretty much anything you throw at it. It can also work *relatively* quietly. My system has 2x 120mm fans (Panaflo lo-noise intake and Sunon mounted on external radiator on 7/12v switch), one 80mm exhaust, and the PSU fan. While I wouldn't describe it as "quiet," the sound volume is quite reasonable. Certainly the whole system is much quieter and less annoying than a single high-rpm Delta (or similar) HSF. I may yet replace the Sunon 120 with a Panaflo, which should be quieter than the Sunon is even when running at 7v. BTW, my case temps. never exceed ambient by more than 3 degrees fahrenheit.

Thanks for all the advice. That's more informative than any other review I read of Koolance (most of which were when it was released). I'll prob go with DD and a new case.

Now for a good case...decisions, decisions...

[Billvill]

I use Danger Den products and I am very pleased with them. I read a few Koolance reviews. Frankly I do not like the looks of their hose connections. Koolance cases are a great idea but poorley executed in my opinion.

Billy

[dimmreaper]

Originally posted by Billvill
I read a few Koolance reviews. Frankly I do not like the looks of their hose connections.What's wrong with crim-on hose clamps? They are used quite previlently in automotive applications, including fuel dilivery. I assure you, they are quite safe, and I'd even trust them more than conventional hose clamps(I have the tool to crimp those clamps on too).