Radiical WHX Waterblock

Waterblock Test – Joe

SUMMARY: Very good choice for aggressive CPU cooling with moderate-high power waterpumps.

The good guys at Radiical Computing sent a their RADIICAL ® X-Block © Series II Model WHX waterblock to test.

The Radiical WHX features

• ½” Brass hose barbs
• Copper base
• Mounts for motherboards with the four motherboard holes around the socket
• Plastic top

The Radiical WHX features a plastic top with a brass flow restrictor:

The top has a plastic step machined into it to focus waterflow:

Waterflow is directed at 7 grooves machined into the copper base:

The base measures 3/16″ thick and the grooves are 1/8″ deep.

The base appears well finished:

I could not feel any machining or polishing marks on it.

The mounting system uses spring loaded bolts to secure the waterblock to motherboards with four mounting holes around the socket:

Radiical states that additional mounting systems will be available for other CPUs.

The Radiical WHX was tested using the CPU Die Simulator and Waterblock Test Rig.

Test Results indicate that the Radiical WHX’s pressure drop (or head loss) across the waterblock is moderate; flow resistance such as this means that the Radiical WHX requires a moderate waterpump to maximize performance, depending upon how restrictive other components are in system.

I found that reducing flow to 0.5 gpm resulted in a performance decrease of about 1.1ºC and increasing flow to 1.49 gpm resulted in a gain of about 0.6ºC.

For a comparison of the Radiical WHX’s performance to other waterblocks tested to date, see Overclockers.com Waterblock Test Results.

The Radiical WHX Waterblock is a very good choice for aggressive CPU cooling. Flow resistance is moderate and performance is very good; the Radiical WHX will require at least a moderate power waterpumps (300 gph) for best performance, as long as other components do not unduly restrict waterflow.

Thanks again to Radiical WHX Computing for sending this our way to test.

Email Joe