TIME FOR TROUBLE!!!!
You know... this is going to be quick but... I'd say, with your budget, I'd go for it, if YOU like... so what if it does perform on par, better or a few (~3C) worse than the WW, or any other top rated block? Oh no! You won't reach the max OC Ghz b/c it's a 3C or so diff? WRONG. Everyone, including LOTS of fanboys and Zealots on this forum are all numbers tight-wads. "OMG this block is .5 C/W better! IT'S THE KING," STFU, who cares? It's NOT going to get you any higher in OC'ing than the chip's max rating would permit anyhow. You may get, Oooh 10mhz closer, so what? I OC for the fun of the hobby, and to see how high I can get the chip within practical means... but it does NOT mean I'm going to go out, spend $100-1000's on CNC-millers and other expensive tools and equipment, just to make a few blocks, then let them (machines) collect dust in the garage. But again, folks around here are going to tell you if it ain't the BEST POSSIBLE EVER, then it's not worth getting, or it's trash etc... yet they all flock to BUYING someone else's design, b/c they don't have enough mental know-how and physical skill to make their OWN designs... The block is a good one, It may or may not be the best, but when you're talking about cooling C/W's in the .16's and below... the CPU, GPU etc.. are going to OC as best as physically allowed, another 1C is NOT going to make any huge damned of a difference... the ONLY real difference maker is Phase-Change cooling, or TEC cooling. Water cooling HAS it's limits, very good performance, but don't be fooled into this finite numbers race, which will only lead to at best, near ambient, which nobody around here is realistically going to come close to, without serious technology advances- not a home based CNC-Milling machine and some Cheap copper stock. Say what you want, I could care less. I built my own block with cheap and readily available tools and it performs quite well considering the $5 in parts I spent to make it. And again... "Oh no, it doesn't perform near a WW (no disrespect to cathar etc.)!" I'll bet you $10000 that my CPU will last JUST as long as with a WW, Dtek, DD, or any other block you can mill out and sell for $50+. (So much for a quick reply! lol)And Finally... I got into water cooling to OC, and for the challenge of building my OWN design and unit. I looked and lurked in forums and found the cost some people were speaking of, as utterly OUTRAGEUOS!? I have to spend near 1/3rd the cost to build this WHOLE box, just to cool it better than air? MY ASS IT DOES! Then it became my mission to build a total unit that could cool my CPU, GPU (if need be) and anything else I decided to add to it for under $70... guess what;
CPU block material = $5 at Home Depot.
Heater Core from Scrap yard = $8
10ft 1/2"+3/4" Vinyl Tubing = $ 10
VIA 1300 370gph Pump = $22 (pro deal special back in 2002)
172mm Rotron Fan = $6
Clamps = $0 from scrapyard laying around or on car parts
Reservoir (optional) from home Depot = $ 5 in parts
Goop + Misc Epoxy = $8
Grand total = $64 WHOA OMG?!
Tools used when building in DORMS of college:
1) Drill
2) Small hack-saw
3) Propane torch & solder
4) Screw driver
5) Misc sand paper
6) Desk-corner POS cheap Vise
7) old 1st generation Dremel
As you can see, there's NO drill press, $1000+ milling machine and other non-essential equipment. And most of that, or all of the listed equipment you SHOULD have around your home, apt, room just in case you need to fix or make something for your car, bike, shoes, plumbing etc... So the cost of those things shouldn't even be added to the final cost... but I will to make a point; WATER COOLING---> WELL, does NOT require much money. ANd I was in a dorm at Ohio State with a very space hogging roommate.
I think it's sad that most people new to water cooling, read all of this info and feel they HAVE to buy a $50+ block... oh and wait, nobody told you? You might not want to get a Used HeaterCore b/c it's potentially filled with loose Calcium deposits and what not? That stuff will CLOG the itty-bitty channels of the blocks and severely impede flow in the channels etc... but I guess people aren't intelligent enough to thoroughly CLEAN out their used Core, and TEST it before fully running it on a hot CPU? DUH? SO, $50+ for a block AND another $30-60 for a shiny New XXX-Extreme-Platinum-HyperTubed- New HeaterCore. $80-110 just for the block and HeaterCore? Insane. Here goes water cooling to the money-race like everything else... Unless you've got big bucks to spend on New stuff and machines, then your water cooling = "Bad, inefficient..." and other negative labels... Bah, **** off! Take your expensive cooling solutions to a web site and sell it to noobs who can easily be mislead and ripped-off... Oh wait many of you HAVE! Good day folks and keep water cooling a hobby, not a high $ sport...
BTW—I KNOW some of my forum adversaries will and would love to post a flame, but logically, what good would it do? I do NOT care for your negative opinions toward MY rant(s). It’s my opinion and personal experience, if ya don’t like it, oh well, then just shake your head, call me an idiot and NOT waste YOUR time replying eh? Good times and drinks folks!