This is great discussion guys! Let's keep it going.
Having an engineering background in test and process control, this is exactly the type of discussion I like to see.
I too would like to give a big thumbs up to the MCW462's mounting configuration. I sure wish other vendors of water blocks would implement this type of design.
In case neither of you are aware of this water block (if you want to call it that), Lytron makes a VERY interesting device called the CP20. There is someone named Mota who is putting together a system using the CP20 and is posting in the [H]OCP forum.
Visit here for pix and discussion:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?threadid=82173
In any case, I'm still SLOWLY putting my first water cooled system together but still am not satisfied with the type of tests conducted out there...at least enough to make a sound decision on one part over another. If I had the $$ (student...again), I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to put together a test rig and perform rigorous tests of all the water cooling equipment out there.
Happy trails!