asetek WaterChill Review

This version of the asetek WaterChill includes more parts than what is included in a basic watercooling kit but, the idea is to get an overview of what is available so you can decide what you might need.

The WaterChill kit includes the 3 basic waterblocks needed for a complete cooling solution.

The CPU block is the largest of the three and can be reconfigured for multiple systems including Pentium 4, Athlon 64, and Athlon XP. The secondary plate is for more compact Athlon XP installations that may have board components in the way. It should be noted that heatsink mounting holes will be required for all installations of this waterblock.

The underside of the block is machined flat with no visible or measurable imperfections. The base can be polished if you are after a mirror finish but lapping is not recommended due to how thin the material is.

This CPU block is actually rather special and features a new and very unique design. Most traditional waterblocks are designed with an internal maze that forces the water to meander across the waterblock. asetek did some extensive research on block configurations and came up with a very simple and unique design that only requires a "half moon" or short semi-circle wall. The design is based on the concept of turbulence where the halfmoon directs the water and prevents the system from short-circuiting. As the water enters the block it will begin to spin with two opposing circles and then later exit behind the halfmoon wall.

These circles keep the entire block temperature constant from one end to the other instead of having hot and cold sides like with most "maze" style waterblocks. A machined divot is located directly under the inlet that serves the purpose of promoting water turbulance and removing excess copper from the area above the CPU core. You will find this divot on all of the asetek blocks though the CPU block is the only one with a halfmoon.