Zalman ReseratorXTBlack Hybrid Cooling System (Black)

Price: $442.84
Manufacturer: Zalman


Flow Indicator and Light Switch / Comprehensive Visual Monitoring Display / Includes ZM-WB5 CPU Water Block and ZM-G300 Coolant Comprehensive Visual Monitoring Display - Coolant Temperature, Ambient Temperature, and Coolant Level Warning Icon (Lights Up When Coolant Level Is Low) Automatic Power ON/OFF In Sync with the Computer Quick Couplings for Fast, Convenient, and Leak-Free Installation & Maintenance FND Display - Displays the internal temperature, water temperature, water level, and mode Analog Gauge - Displays the fan speed and pump's flow rate Automatic Control - Automatically regulates the fan speed and coolant flow rate for optimal cooling and ultra-quiet operation Flow Indicator - Connected to the circulation tube for checking the circulation of the coolant Quick Coupling - Incorporates valves that prevent leaks when disconnecting the PVC Tubes; allowing quick, convenient separation and reassembly of the Reserator for transport and coolant replacement Integrated Water Pump - 6W, DC 12V, 300L/Hr Maximum Lift - 1.8m Materials - Anodized Pure Aluminum Dimensions - Length 13.78 x Width 8.27 x Height 7.09 (350x210x180mm) Weight - 7kg CPU Water Block (ZM-WB5) Base Cover (Pure Aluminum), Base (Pure Copper) Materials Compatibility - Intel (Socket 775), AMD (Socket AM2/754/939/940) Dimensions - Width 2.48 x Length 2.48 x Height 1.57 (63x63x40mm) Weight - 160 grams ZM-G300 Anti-Corrosion Coolant Propylene Glycol & Anti-Corrosion Agent Materials -9-degrees Freezing Point Weight - 250ml

Information

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129517 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Zalman
• Model: ReseratorXTBlack
• Dimensions: 1.45 pounds

• Includes Reserator XT Unit, ZM-WB5 CPU Water Block, DC Cable, Jump Cable, ZM-G300 Coolant, 4m PVC Tube, I/O Bracket, Degassing Tube, Tube Clamp, and User's Manual
• Active/Passive Hybrid Cooling Design - Active Cooling - 140mm Fan (Forced Convection Cooling) / Passive Cooling - Anodized Aluminum Heatsink Chassis (Natural Convection Cooling)
• Automatic Mode - Coolant Temperature is monitored for Automatic Control of Fan Speed and Coolant Flow Rate
• Manual Mode - Front Panel Control Knob allows the user to manually optimize performance and minimize noise
• Warning & Alarm System - Coolant Flow Monitoring warns the user when coolant flow is problematic / Coolant Level Monitoring warns the user when the coolant level is low

Product Reviews

Works Great, When It Works
This thing is a great idea, is built like a tank, and works great. The problem is that it doesn't work great for very long (only weeks or months rather than years) before it starts to malfunction. And even changing the coolant monthly doesn't help.

The problem is the built-in rotating fluid flow sensor, which is a round device that is viewable through the side of the unit. This is intended to be a safety feature that will turn off the pump if it thinks that the fluid has stopped flowing (causing the vanes in this flow sensor to stop rotating). The flaw in this design is that after awhile, the sensor is often fooled by bubbles or cloudy fluid into thinking that the fluid flow has stopped. So it shuts off the pump and starts beeping. This is exceptionally stupid because protecting your COMPUTER/CPU from overheating is much more important than protecting the pump in the Reserator XT. So since you can never count on the Reserator to keep doing its job when you're not around to watch it, you would think that shutting your computer down when you're away would be a work-around. But no, turning everything off for extended periods can cause larger bubbles to form in the flow sensor which leave a film behind that can then dry and cause the sensor to get permanently stuck. The next time you turn everything on, the Reserator XT cannot start- it just beeps Oh, your COMPUTER will still start up, but it will not be receiving any cooling because the pump is shut off. Good luck with not frying your CPU when that happens.

Next problem: the Reserator is diabolically difficult to drain completely. It needs a drain port- preferably pump-assisted.

In summary: I LOVE the concept behind this unit, but the crappy built-in plastic flow sensor ruins the whole design. It'll work fine if you're willing to fool with it every day, but it's not for people who want to just "set it and forget it".

So I'm replacing my year-old Reserator XT with air cooling. Yes, I'll still use Zalman air cooling hardware, as they're still the best at that. Watch for my slightly used Reserator XT on eBay or Craig's List really cheap.