Test System
- Motherboard: ASUS P5AD2-E Deluxe
- CPUs: Intel LGA775 3.73GHz EE 1066MHz System Bus
- Memory: 2X512MB DDR2 Corsair 5400C4Pro 4.4.4.12
- Hard Drives: Dual SATA150 WD 74GB Raptors in a RAID 0 array
- Audio: Discreet Creative Audigy2
- VGA: PCIx 16X ATI X850ZT PE
- DVD: Sony 16X PATA
- Power: Thermaltake 6870W SLI ready
- Enclosure: Thermaltake Armor
Well for us setup was a very easy task as we used a case from Thermaltake that was custom designed to work in conjunction with the Big Water liquid cooling unit. The Thermaltake Armor case has all the holes pre-drilled allowing a very ergonomic setup environment that offers little resistance to the user in that area as drilling holes can be a major chore or serious headache. The instructions are so small you can barely se them and that might be a problem for some users either not mechanically inclined or just new to the entire liquid cooling adventure. All the parts in the kit go together well as long as you take your time and follow the directions. The pump design is to be silent running and in fact is very quiet when the system is running. In actuality, you hear the fan on the radiator more than the pump itself, especially if the radiator fan is turned up to maximum.
We first put the Big Water system together outside the case as to check for leakage and to remove any air-bubbles from the system. It is very important to remember this step before and not after installation, as installing the unit in the case and then trying to fill the unit can cause severe headaches to the installer and possible water damage from leakage to the system as well. Removal of the motherboard (If It Is Installed in a Case) is one thing to take note of, as removal of the motherboard from the tray is required in order to install the unit as it has a locking back plate that keeps the copper water block mounted securely to the CPU and board. In all actuality just starting from scratch and building a new system is easier than trying to implement a liquid cooling system in a preexisting system as removing the motherboard is about the same work as just building from scratch.
Since we were embarking on a project that required large amounts of power Thermaltake was kind enough to provide a high-watt power supply for this review. The Purepower 680W power supply has everything you need for connecting many drives and has enough power to handle even the most demanding SLI or single card enthusiasts PC. Assembly of the unit into the case took a good couple of hours to get everything installed cleanly within the confines of the enclosure. Getting all the cables and tubes tucked away as to not be an eyesore inside the system is very time consuming and takes an attention to detail that supersedes most standard installs. We take pride in our work and make sure to do a job that reflects that attitude. Many people still have an inane fear of water-cooling systems in general, and especially when it comes to electronics, and that fear is a misplaced emotion as liquid cooling has come a long way and leakage is rare if ever when properly done. The fan on the radiator blows air across the water block and the memory helping to maintain airflow through the system, we changed the front fan to expel air instead of suck air into the system, thereby increasing the systems overall cooling ability.
