The verdict

The Verdict

Right let me explain mt findings in this manner. Using water-cooling seriously is a rewarding experience for basically three important factors:

Firstly: it's really efficient. If you choose the proper materials your CPU/GPU and mainbord chipset (Northbridge) can run at or slightly above room temperature. Especially CPU's these days are hot. Very, very hot. Bare in mind that although conventional air cooling works quite well the heat is disposed inside your PC case, which when not ventilated properly will have a negative effect on other components.

Secondly another very important factor is sound, more specifically silence. With this kit three major components of your PC are passively cooled. Bare in mind that this form of watercooling is never 100% silent though. The radiator is actively cooled by two huge fans. But it most certainly is more silent then your average PC. I mean, the actually HD makes more noise.

The third point I want to mention is a higher and safer overclocking potential, your system must have the right components of course as usually you will raise the front side bus speed, which can adversely effect many of your PC's components. But watercooling at this level will have a big effect on your end-result. These results always vary on any system though.

Right, as you have been able to witness,  it was just a shock to find out that the Northbridge had its heatsink welded into the mainboard, such a shame.

Commenting the kit itself. I can make it long and boring, but I won't. This Asetek kit is, despite being pricy, simply way up there in terms of performance versus quality. I have not been able to get the CPU temperature above 35 Degrees C (at a 21 Degree room temperature). I was flabbergasted to find out that watercooling is able to cool down the hottest among CPU's these days at such an extreme level. Even when that processor was 100% at work we'd still notice a 35 Degrees C temperature. That's 30 Degrees below stock cooling people. But that is what this kit is all about, high performance. The same goes for GPU (Graphics card core) cooling. That's just amazing stuff. When did you ever had your modern graphics card at 36 Degrees C at 100% load ?

The advantages are clear. Next to having some really good fun building the PC with watercooling, it is a quiet solution and offers exceptionally good cooling. Those are the two most important factors you need to keep in mind. Oh and the fact it'll blow away your friends when they see it. So run to the store, get some flowglow and a blacklight will ya?

The kit itself requires very little skill, you just need to be patient, careful and follow the guidelines. It's a very easy to set up and to use kit that Asetek managed to provide here. The push-on fittings are just so easy to use and the gear so easy to mount. This has been made for the mainstream user. The hardest thing to do will however be mounting that big radiator. You simply need to think about how you are going to fit that into your case, if it fits at all. Buying this kit might result in buying a bigger casing also.

Agreed, this does come with a rather high price tag, but if you want the best well then look no further as it really doesn't get much better then this. The kit that Asetek will send you is of the highest quality and success my friends is guaranteed. You'll be completely satisfied.

Now then I'm off... I need to find me some glowflow and a blacklight.

Waterchill Antartica Watercooling
CPU/VGA/Chipset (KT12AT-L30)
Kit supplied by: AsetekMSRP ex VAT : 315 EUR