Installation:

The simple thing about DangerDen water blocks is that each series installs almost identically as the previous version. There isn't a need for any brackets at all. You'll find 4 bolts, 8 nuts, 4 spring thumbscrews, and about 12 washers can be found in each kit which is easy to install. The online manual is basically completely uniform for each LGA 775 water block installation. The same goes for the other water blocks and their appropriate processor installations.

Maze 5 looks mean on the board

Thanks to the manuals, both the M5 and MC-TDX were a cinch to install and looked pretty sweet on the Blitz Extreme. And both the blocks looked built for the DangerDen Torture Rack. After each block was installed, the water cooling system was tested for leaks. The wise thing to do is at least let it run for a couple hours and then finalize the system by moving the tubing and checking for any developing leaks. If you're not familiar with how to test it without powering on your entire computer, you basically have to unplug all the power cables from your motherboard. Then, you short the green and black wire with a hair pin, paper clip, or wire. When you turn on the power supply switch, the water pump or system will receive power from the connected power cable. Thus, your motherboard won't receive any power while you check for leaks and remove all the air bubbles from the system.

MC-TDX matches the copper pipes

Testing the water blocks is actually quite simple. The objective is to test how well the block can cool the processor under typical and extreme loads. Not everyone overclocks their processor even if they're using a capable water cooling system, but it's nice to add so users can gauge how well the blocks perform beyond specification. For this reason, Orthos was allowed to run for at least 2 hours to get load temps under stock speeds and overclocked settings. Room temperatures were kept at around 70 degrees, or as close as possible.

The M5's temps surprised me to say the least. The internal maze style machining didn't seem like it would be really effective in cooling the processor. I'm happy my technical impressions were proven wrong. Not only does the block idle at 28 C, it held full load temps to 41 C at it's highest possible point after being beat around by Orthos. Now overclocking was another surprise in itself. The Blitz Extreme was happy to let the E6600 operate at 425MHz CPU Bus, which will in turn generate some higher temps. Temps idled at 32 C and reached 49 C after two more hours of Orthos.

Maze 5 burning 2 hours	MC-TDX burning 2 hours
Maze 5 100% Load	MC-TDX 100% Load

The MC-TDX looks pretty capable mainly because of the machined columns and the temps showed it. Idle temps held to 26 C at its lowest while load temps reached a lowly 40 C. This is a great start for a brand new water block. Returning the CPU Bus to 425MHz, idle temps were kept to a low 30 C which is actually quite cool with the added extra voltage to the CPU. Load temps reached 46 C which all equates in to 2 C less than the capable Maze 5.

Summary and Conclusion:

To keep things in perspective, the Core 2 Duo is naturally a low heat producing processor. Intel users have never had it so good when it comes to stock and overclocked settings generating lower amounts of heat. Well, that's unless you have a QX6850, but then the heat definitely returns under loads in a huge way. I can easily overclock my E6600 with vigor which can get quite warm under load while overclocked, but not my Q6600 on hand which is a first revision. Unfortunately, it lacks the capability of achieving anything stable over the 3 to 3.1GHz area.

Maze 5

During regular desktop use, M5 hovered about the 34 C and the MC about 32 C. Games and 3DMark06 didn't carry the temps much higher either, but a mere degree or two at the maximum. Those programs don't really push both cores to their maximum load limits. You can rest assured that if you plan on running your elite game rig underneath either of these blocks, that CPU heat will never, ever be a problem. Also, if you can also cool any processor with either water block with no noise what so ever. As always, I suggest a dual or triple 120mm fan cooled radiator so that when you set your pump and fans to low, you don't have to worry about the heat being dissipated quickly enough.

The Maze 5 is a simple, very clean water cooling block carrying over the popular machined "Maze" base that has done so well. It's Maze style copper cooling capacity has its own unique design from any other block in the industry. The block breaks away from the standard pins and matrix style machining and still does a great job of cooling. The Maze 5 may come with a brass top, but as of this review, I don't have any confirmation info available. If DangerDen follows course, it wouldn't surprise me to see a Lucite top revision soon.

MC-TDX

And alas, the MC-TDX. It's hard to keep from saying it's my favorite Lucite block to date. But, the performance is fantastic and it has that great DangerDen appeal. The Heat Dissipating Columns aren't all that new an engineering feat, but it does work well for the MC-TDX very efficiently. The block is top notch quality with no detail ignored as per DangerDen standards. The design and function of the water block no doubt give it that extra capable cooling capacity.

Now, you have two new very cool quad core or multi-core capable CPU water blocks to choose from. All you have to do is decide which look you like. Then, you need consider if you need to update any of your water cooling components. And while you're at it, why not upgrade that processor to go with that sweet CPU water block? We'd like to thank DangerDen for sending us the Maze 5 and MC-TDX. Now, I have something to show off at the next PDXLAN or Infernalan!

For MC-TDX Block

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