Global Win SilentStream Watercooling Kit

Watercooling Kit Test – Joe

SUMMARY: Not for aggressive CPU cooling.

SiStream

The bracket is used for Socket A mounting.

The good guys at Global Win was nice enough to send a sample of their first watercooling kit, the SilentStream to test.

Global Win’s SilentStream features

  • Pre-filled with fluid
  • Radiator designed to mount in any 80mm fan opening
  • Mounting for Socket A and P4
  • LED in fill stalk
  • Approximately 32 liters/hour waterflow
  • Integrated pump in waterblock

The interesting design point in this kit is the integration of the waterpump with the waterblock:

Motor

I have not seen this implemented before.

The base is not particularly well finished:

Base

The SilentStream ships with a thermal pad, which I removed for this test. The are instructions which show how to remove the pad, as it can only be used once.

There is an LED in the stalk that lights when powered up:

LED

The Silent Stream ships with parts for a P4 mount:

P4

There are also parts to aid in the kit’s installation:

Parts

There are instructions included with the kit which explains all the various options – the instruction sheet I have is a photocopy; the pics are not that clear.

The instructions make a point that for best performance, the radiator should be mounted outside the case. This way, rather than use warm air inside the case, the system uses cooler room air for better CPU cooling.

THE TEST

When first turned on, it’s important to ensure that the fluid is flowing freely without any bubbles in the line. I found the easiest way to do this was to pinch the tubing a couple of times. When everything is flowing freely, you should not hear any gurgling noise from the waterpump.

The Global Win SilentStream was tested using the CPU Die Simulator. I measured fan noise at 51 dBA with a Radio Shack sound meter placed 8″ from the fan’s intake; this is fairly quiet, though not silent.

TEST RESULTS – CPU Simulator

Heatsink
Die Temp
Ambient Temp
Delta
C/W
SilentStream
52.1 C
22.2 C
29.9 C
0.43

Delta = CPU temp – Ambient Temp
C/W = Delta / CPU Watts

Interpreting C/W: For every watt (CPUw) that the CPU
consumes, the HSF will limit the CPU’s temperature rise to (C/W x CPUw)
plus the temperature at the HSF’s fan inlet. For example, at an ambient temp of 25 C, a C/W of 0.25 with a CPU radiating 50 watts means that CPU temp will increase 50 x 0.25 = 12.5 C over ambient temp, or 37.5 C. The lower the C/W, the better.

Die Simulator results place the SilentStream in the lower rank of watercooling kits tested to date (Heatsink Ranking).

CONCLUSIONS

Global Win’s SilentStream Watercooling Kit is not a choice for aggressive CPU cooling. As a novelty, it could be a fun gift or as an introduction to watercooling.

Thanks again to Global Win for sending this our way.

Email Joe