Modders Choice – Water Cooling Blocks
WATER BLOCKS (wikipedia can detail it better than I so I borrowed it’s breakdown): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_block
A water block is the watercooling equivalent of a heatsink. It can be used on many different computer components including the central processing unit (CPU), GPU, PPU, and Northbridge chipset on the motherboard. It consists of at least two main parts; the “base”, which is the area that makes contact with the device being cooled and is usually manufactured from metals with high thermal conductivity such as aluminum or copper and in some cases silver as is found in many newer blocks.[citation needed] The second part, the “top” ensures the water is contained safely inside the water block and has connections that allow hosing to connect it with the water cooling loop. The top can be made of the same metal as the base, transparent Perspex, Delrin, Nylon, or HDPE. Most newer high end water blocks also contain mid-plates which serve to add jet tubes, nozzles, and other flow altering devices.
An exploded diagram of a simple waterblock. 
The base, top, and mid-plate(s) are sealed together to form a “block” with some sort of path for water to flow through. The ends of the path have inlet/outlet connectors for the tubing that connects it to the rest of the watercooling system. Early designs included spiral, zig-zag pattern or heatsink like fins to allow the largest possible surface area for heat to transfer from the device being cooled to the water. These designs generally were used because the conjecture was that maximum flow was required for high performance. Trial and error and the evolution of water block design has shown that trading flow for turbulence can often improve performance. The Storm series of water blocks is an example of this. Its jet tube mid plate and cupped base design makes it more restrictive to the flow of water than early maze designs but the increased turbulence results in a large increase in performance. Newer designs include “pin” style blocks, “jet cup” blocks, further refined maze designs, micro-fin designs, and variations on these designs. Increasingly restrictive designs have only been possible because of increases in maximum head pressure of commercially viable water pumps.
A water block is better at dissipating heat than an aircooled heatsink due to water’s higher specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity. The water is usually pumped through to a radiator which allows a fan pushing air through it to take the heat created from the device and expel it into the air. A radiator is more efficient than a standard CPU or GPU heatsink/air cooler at removing heat because it has a much larger surface area.
Installation of a water block is also similar to that of a heatsink, with a thermal pad or thermal grease placed between it and the device being cooled to aid in heat conduction.
Good article, very informative. I like how you got info from several people that have actually owned and used the products.
Awesome Work Guys!!! Keep it up!
Name/Nickname: Chris Trak
Links
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Youtube:
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Questions and Answers:
Q: What Blocks are your choice for CPU?
A: EK
Q: GPU?
A: EK
Q: Bridges?
A: n/a
Q: Memory?
A: n/a
Q: Reason for your choice?
A: first time , went with recommendations
Q: Have you MOD any blocks?
A: not yet
Q: Any BAD experiences with blocks? what and brand?
A: none
Q: If you could suggest a MOD the companies could include in the OEM product what would it be?
A: more variety in kits available..
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Love the article, good thing to ask people about experiences with waterblocks
Thank You Dirty South PC Mods
Name/Nickname: John, confusis
Links
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Youtube:
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Questions and Answers:
Q: What Blocks are your choice for CPU?
A: ekwb
Q: GPU?
A: ekwb
Q: Bridges?
A:
Q: Memory?
A:
Q: Reason for your choice?
A: looks mostly
Q: Have you MOD any blocks?
A: yes, led lighting addition
Q: Any BAD experiences with blocks? what and brand?
A: not yet, no
Q: If you could suggest a MOD the companies could include in the OEM product what would it be?
A: rbg less and controller
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following too many to have a fav :)
Name/Nickname: Tanveer Ahmed
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Questions and Answers:
Q: What Blocks are your choice for CPU?
A: EK Supermacy And XSPC Raystorm Water Blocks
Q: GPU?
A: EK.
Q: Bridges?
A: Bits Power Crystal Link
Q: Memory?
A: Never used one
Q: Reason for your choice?
A: Reasonable price tag
Q: Have you MOD any blocks?
A: No.
Q: Any BAD experiences with blocks? what and brand?
A: Not Yet
Q: If you could suggest a MOD the companies could include in the OEM product what would it be?
A: RGB lightning
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Tips or guides you would like to share: (comment, pics and/or links ie; Youtube):
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Name/Nickname:
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPtj4L93CgWVoLDtPzf6-ow
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Questions and Answers:
Q: What Blocks are your choice for CPU?
A: XSPC
Q: GPU?
A: XSPC
Q: Bridges?
A: XSPC
Q: Memory?
A: n/a
Q: Reason for your choice?
A: Price versus performance and minimalistic looks, easy to mod
Q: Have you MOD any blocks?
A: Yes, the XSPC Rasa twice
Q: Any BAD experiences with blocks? what and brand?
A: No
Q: If you could suggest a MOD the companies could include in the OEM product what would it be?
A: More options for lighting acrylic blocks
Tips or guides you would like to share: (comment, pics and/or links ie; Youtube): n/a
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Areal good read. nice work. Very nice.
Nice to see the modders’ preferences. If I were to go custom watercooling, would probably go with XSPC. But everything is too pricey for me at the moment and watercooling parts is too limited/scarce in my place…
Q: What Blocks are your choice for CPU?
A: Koolance, Heatkiller, EKWB, Aquacomputer
Q: GPU?
A: Aquacomputer, EKWB, Heatkiller
Q: Bridges?
A: Don’t use them, I just link them with some tubing.
Q: Memory?
A: EKWB
Q: Reason for your choice?
A: Aesthetics and Performance.
Q: Have you MOD any blocks?
A: Yes, I polished my EK memory and motherboard blocks in order to turn them from frosted to clear.
Q: Any BAD experiences with blocks? what and brand?
A: None yet.
Q: If you could suggest a MOD the companies could include in the OEM product what would it be?
A: Custom laser engraved names or designs on the top of the blocks.
Tips or guides you would like to share: (comment, pics and/or links ie; Youtube)
How to polish EK blocks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW-HadrjjIU
Summary and word from Modder/builder:
Just have fun. Don’t worry about what others think. Also, don’t strip screws.
Name/Nickname: Christian Theobald / Toxicator
Links
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FB:
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Youtube:
WebSite:
Questions and Answers:
Q: What Blocks are your choice for CPU?
A: EK Supermacy
Q: GPU?
A: EK.
Q: Bridges?
A: Bits Power
Q: Memory?
A: EK.
Q: Reason for your choice?
A: Quality of EK Water Blocks
Q: Have you MOD any blocks?
A: No.
Q: Any BAD experiences with blocks? what and brand?
A: No.
Q: If you could suggest a MOD the companies could include in the OEM product what would it be?
A: Color change and flash light
Tips or guides you would like to share: (comment, pics and/or links ie; Youtube):
Summary and word from Modder/builder:
My HAF 935 Mod STACKER in work on my Facebook page:
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Name/Nickname: Chris Trak
Links
FB: https://www.facebook.com/khang.le.1426
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/user/khangptit992
WebSite:
Questions and Answers:
Q: What Blocks are your choice for CPU?
A: EK
Q: GPU?
A: Heatkiller
Q: Bridges?
A: I don’t need it
Q: Memory?
A: n/a
Q: Reason for your choice?
A: performance and price
Q: Have you MOD any blocks?
A: not yet
Q: Any BAD experiences with blocks? what and brand?
A: none
Q: If you could suggest a MOD the companies could include in the OEM product what would it be?
A: more creative and high performance.
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That is a sharp looking block! :-)
Name/Nickname: Frenlyn Aguilar
Links
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/frenlyn86
WebSite: none
Questions and Answers:
Q: What Blocks are your choice for CPU?
A: EK but i cant afford one
Q: GPU?
A: i have stock cooling
Q: Bridges?
A: i have stock cooling
Q: Memory?
A: stock cooling too
Q: Reason for your choice?
A: price, performance, they are pretty aesthetics i like them
Q: Have you MOD any blocks?
A: not yet
Q: Any BAD experiences with blocks? what and brand?
A: none
Q: If you could suggest a MOD the companies could include in the OEM product what would it be?
A: More color palet for bocks :D
Tips or guides you would like to share: im not that experienced
Summary and word from Modder/builder: Let the build be <3
Please share your current buildlog link: is just an amd fx 8350, but i love it!
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Favorite: Heart of the eagle.
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