cpu-200 golden water block
 

http://www.directron.com/cpu200.html
should this be covered with a layer of gold, i mean other than helping against corrosion, is there a benefit?

No there is no use for the gold coat, its just marketing crap. It does not help corrosion (copper does not corrode), and it will actually boost galvanic corrosion if you happen to have a aluminium tank or radiator for example.
Gold does not transfer heat that great, silver is actually better. But anyway, since its just a very very very thin layer, it wont do any diffrence in performance. And it if it does make a diffrence in performance, its for the worse. :(

what a waste of human intelligence...

Someone correct me if I am wrong but isn’t gold a better conducer of electricity and is a poor conductor of heat because of a low melting point? I did see one of these on display at a local retail store and never would of guess that is had gold on it. Maybe my next blocks will be gold plated – maybe not…

gold is a very good heat insulator. the engine compartment of McLauren F1 is covered with gold just for that reason:) and also the fact that the owners can say "my bloody engine is covered with gold!" prolly the same reason anyone would gold plate a WB. but it's pimp, tho:D

Maybe this guy wanted to water cool his computer :)

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/1038.html

hrmm silver plating looks better. (which incidently was discovered by the persians, plating that is). im looking for chrome or a sort of dark shiny silver fittings for my block tho.