Zalman Reserator XT Liquid Cooling System Review

[Capper]

Once considered the ultimate in geekdom, liquid cooling (also known as water cooling) has become almost mainstream. For those pushing the envelope, there's high performance (and high cost) kits from retailers such as Danger Den, DTek, or Swiftech. However, those kits usually require either a great deal of patience, or experience, during installation. For those less schooled in the art of exotic cooling, your choices are fairly limited. While there are no shortage of pre-fabbed kits, both internal and external, marketed at the novice, these kits usually forego quality to make themselves as easy to install and user friendly as possible.


http://hardwarelogic.com/news/137/AR...008-06-30.html
Matthew Page

[screwballl]

very cool!
Looks like a great setup at too high of a price... maybe once they start to sell more, the price will drop to a more reasonable price. Looks like average WC temps for an exorbitant price.

[Capper]

Ita a bit pricey.....but its really an outstanding unit....extremely easy to set up, good performance. I've been using one on my test bench since well before they were released, and have no complaints about it at all.

[PrOLifIC_onE]

Yes, it was uber-easy to install but all-in-all when it comes down to it, you are paying alot for a little bit lower temps. And you can't even claim it's silent or less noise, because the fan is still louder than many air coolers while on it's on high. And at least the air coolers noise is sometimes dampened by the case.

[OcciferFriendly]

I have an older Resorator, and I think this one has the same general problem mine does - having the big unit next to and not attached to my PC makes it kind of a pain to deal with.

Though it is a really nice unit - they did improve some things from the older units.

[Boy'nBlack]

I see the labels for the connections, but does it really matter what's in and out with that unit?

[PrOLifIC_onE]

Well without testing it with the tubes reversed, the short answer is that I can not confirm that it will make a significant difference in temps.

BUT my gut instinct tells me that it does matter, at least a little. Below is the picture they have on the water block packaging. The "in" on the block itself is directly in the middle of the block. The liquid enters directly on top of the little pillars inside the block (as seen in the picture) to quickly cool the block, moving from the center outward within the block. The heated liquid then exits the block on the edge of the block and back to the reserator's "IN" fitting.

So I think they probably engineered it this way to get an even and immediate cooling effect that would not be the same if the tubes were connected in a way other than directed in manual.

[simple_inhibition]

Originally Posted by Boy'nBlack

I see the labels for the connections, but does it really matter what's in and out with that unit?

its probably more in relation to the waterblock itself than the actual unit.

[PrOLifIC_onE]

Originally Posted by simple_inhibition

its probably more in relation to the waterblock itself than the actual unit.

Right. Making sure the unit's "out" goes to the block's "in" ...