Why bother testing waterblocks?

[Since87]

My impression is that there are a lot of different reasons that people are interested in testing. It seems to me that a lot of the arguing that goes on is because people have different things they'd like to achieve through testing. What is necessary to achieve one person's goal may be dramatically different than what is necessary to achieve another person's goal.

It appears to me that some of the reasons people are interested in test benches are:

1. To evaluate the effectiveness of one's own waterblock designs.

2. To be able to completely understand the parameters relevant to waterblocks' performance, and therefore understand how they will interact with the other components of the watercooling system.

3. To be able to dabble, and check out things one is curious about.

4. To be able to publish reviews of commercial waterblocks and minimize the criticism of the testing technique.

5. To show how _______ you are. (Insert term corresponding to how you want people to think of you.)

6. To reduce the level of bullshit in watercooling discussions.

I'm sure there are other reasons, and I'm sure most interested in testing have several of these motivations in varying degrees.

The minimum 'requirements' for each person's test bench are going to depend on which of these goals the person is trying to achieve.

It seems to me, a WBTA specified minimum acceptable test bench is going to have to meet so many of these different goals, that the price tag will be well outside the budget of any WBTA member. "You can't get there from here."

Seems to me the WBTA is irrelevant. Those who are serious about setting up test benches, are proceeding to do so in a manner that fits with their goals and budget.

Think about it people.

Cathar's test bench would have to be considered utter crap in comparison to any likely WBTA standard. Using it he's become the most successful waterblock designer on the planet. (In terms of performance anyway.)

pHaestus' test bench is a hodgepodge of components that allows him to investigate things he is curious about, and very interesting data has come out of it.

Bill's test bench...

If you want to test waterblocks, test waterblocks. If you suggest your results are more meaningful than your test bench and technique allows you to determine, then expect to receive scorn.

No amount of money spent on test gear (or WBTA certificate hanging above your test bench) is going to lessen the scorn you receive for reporting BS results.

Build a test bench that seems to fit your goal(s). Understand and explain the limitations of your test bench. Then if you think you have results that others would be interested in, put on your flame proof underwear and report them.

[Zhentar]

The WTBA as I see it is a way to set up a test bench of sufficient quality that you can post a review online with meaningful, accurate numbers, and be able to show that they aren't pulling numbers out of their ass. And then as an extension of this, though I haven't seen it mentioned really, is then finding the cheapest way to build such a system- the cheapest products that meet the requirements, eBay auctions that have good equipment.


Someone like cathar isn't the target here. He can do quite fine with a $30 thermocouple on the back of a CPU, because a set up like that would give him good relative readings, but it would be absolutely meaningless to anyone else. The target group is someone who wants to test waterblocks and be able to post accurate meaningful numbers online. The Alliance part comes in when other people with test benches with similar standards also post- their relative numbers won't be completely meaningless, they will actually have some relevance. How much is something we're trying to figure out here.

[pHaestus]

without waterblock testing, I have difficulty sitting at the computer in boxers drinking beer all evening.

Wife: What are you doing?
Me: testing waterblocks. Highly technical stuff dear.
Wife: Oh sorry didnt mean to interrupt your train of thought.

[bigben2k]

[edit: rambling removed]

Either way, what is the most important to me, is that the results are presented with the error margins. If I stated that the LRWW has a C/W of 0.20 (at 0.5 gpm), that info is meaningless, to some, unless I include the error margin.

[edit: rambling removed]

[pHaestus]

Personally, I'd like to offer the testing service to small manufacturers, like the Aquajoe team, or to individual builders...
I wouldn't mind testing blocks for a website either. Maybe pHaestus and I can review blocks for ProCooling, I don't know.

Say no more; all is clear.

[jaydee]

Well I don't know anymore. I would like to test my own blocks so I know if I am making progress or not and I sure the hell am tired of seeing all these "leet" dudes posting near ambient temps with 500mhz overclocks on air. Also I just like fiddling with this stuff.

I don't know where I will go from here right now. I doubt I will make anything resembling a quality test bench. I don't think I am that into it anymore. In fact this whole water cooling adventure is getting a little stale. I find I am less motivated about the whole subject. In fact computers in general.....

I think I am coming to the point to where I was with cars when I was younger. At one time they where a status symbol and the cooler things you did with it the more leet you felt about yourself. Now they are just trasportation and I give a shit less about how cool it is. As long as it runs and gets me to work and back it is all good.

I am at the point to where I just care if the computer works or not and not to worried about how cold I can make it. As long as I can surf the net, play a few games, and crunch some Distributed Folding all is good.....

[Blackeagle]

My dream machine (car) was a "69" SS396 Chevelle. With shaved heads and after market cam, carb, gears, headers, ladder bars.........it would pass damn near anything................except a gas station.

Then I realized finally that between cost of insurance and gas I could have more real fun without all that horsepower.

[myv65]

{begin wheezing nerd voice}

Why did you have to shave your head just to drive the car?

{end wheezing nerd voice}

[BillA]

duh
'cuz it was cooler

[pHaestus]

Honestly I find testing waterblocks to be more difficult than the research I do for a living at synchrotrons. Partly because I don't have an unlimited budget and am trying to do things in spare time, and partly because it's just difficult when dealing with such small temp changes.

Nonetheless, I am making it a priority in my life to get my testbed completely running and start putting up some Procooling waterblock reviews. While the WBTA is of dubious merit in and of itself, I think it illustrates something of real importance. The readers of this site and the water coolers of the world really want somewhere that they can turn to for honest and solid testing of waterblocks. I think I can do that as well as anyone once I get moving.

[jaydee]

Originally posted by pHaestus
Honestly I find testing waterblocks to be more difficult than the research I do for a living at synchrotrons. Partly because I don't have an unlimited budget and am trying to do things in spare time, and partly because it's just difficult when dealing with such small temp changes.

Nonetheless, I am making it a priority in my life to get my testbed completely running and start putting up some Procooling waterblock reviews. While the WBTA is of dubious merit in and of itself, I think it illustrates something of real importance. The readers of this site and the water coolers of the world really want somewhere that they can turn to for honest and solid testing of waterblocks. I think I can do that as well as anyone once I get moving.

Good luck man, I know I will trust your results over just about anyone's. I think it will be interesting to see your results compared to others with lesser knowlege and equipment and see how close/off they are.

[pHaestus]

Equipment?

/Drops Trou

[BillA]

errr
howduya calibrate THAT ?
and I'm NOT interested in its error bars

[jaydee]

Originally posted by pHaestus
Equipment?

/Drops Trou

Yeah like most people using the stock mobo's thermisters and no calibration, or like SCompRacers setup with the bucket test for flow measurments and not so great methods.

After al lthe anal(ytical) talk around here it is going to be tough road to follow.

[Zhentar]

Originally posted by unregistered
errr
howduya calibrate THAT ?

Thats a good question, I think I'll volunteer to research further into the matter.