Introduction:

    Summer is upon us and the temperatures are starting to rise. Some of you are already seeing 90 degree weather. It's not so bad if you have air conditioning or at least live where a nice breeze brushes against your home. Here in the Northwest, it rarely is hot and humid enough at the same time to call it suffering. Everyone else in those humid areas, stay cool.

Koolance CPU-340 Water Block

Why the weather intro? You can probably easily remember last year's heat wave and just how hot your computer got. Maybe you even saw some occasional flashing program notices, or warnings as the system slowly over heated. And then again, maybe you were fortunate enough to use a really good CPU cooler or were able to keep your room artificially cool enough and not worry.

For those of us who don't have central air, we are left to other means. One of which still remains the most cost effective in terms of the best cooling for your dollar. And that is water cooling.

When I get emails asking if water cooling is really that easy, I have to say yes. Some people like the completely, internal modified water cooling systems. These are the more do-it-yourself high tech systems that tend to look really sweet because you can configure it yourself. An enthusiast can just go crazy and really get creative.

The other water cooling systems are completely independent of your computer and basically sit outside, on top, or next to your computer. The most difficult component to install with the external systems is the water block. A couple good examples are Koolance's Exos, Aqua Computer's 360XT, and Zalman's Reserator series. The Exos mounts externally while the other two simply sit next to your system since they are fully independent water cooling units.

Better and Better

Whether it be a DIY or external water cooling system, they both have one very important feature in common and that's the CPU water block. There are plenty of decent water blocks out there, but some rise above the rest by cooling the CPU better. Those blocks tend to come from companies that have specialized in water cooling for more than five years.

Take Koolance and their latest CPU-340 Water Block for example. They've been around for quite sometime which means they have good experience in water cooling. The CPU-340 is a new and improved block similar to the CPU-330, but with some new features.

Specifications:

Overview

Heat transfer has been improved in the CPU-340 over the earlier CPU-330. The rugged new Koolance CPU-340 provides ultra low temperatures in single or multi-core configurations using a patented Koolance design. Materials include a high-density solid copper cold plate, brass top, and anti-corrosive nickel plating.

A back plate maximizes heat transfer with precision contact. The CPU-340 also features a universal mounting adapter and standard G 1/4" threading for any Koolance nozzle diameter. Please select the desired nozzle type for this base model (it does not include nozzles).

The CPU-340 supports most boards using the following processors:

• AMD AM2/AM2+ and 939/940/754 processors (64, Opteron, X2, FX, Sempron)

• AMD "F" 1207 (Quad, Opteron, X2, FX)

• AMD "A" 462 (XP, Duron)

• Intel LGA775 (Quad, Core 2 Duo, Core Duo, Extreme, Pentium)

• Intel 478 (Pentium 4, D, EE, M, Celeron)

• Intel Xeon (603, 604, LGA771)

Specifications

Model CPU-340   Compatibility (Please see list)   Materials High Density Copper Cold Plate, Brass Top, Nickel-Plating   Tubing Size, ID 3/8" (10mm); 1/2" (13mm) and 1/4" (6mm) available   Product Dimensions WxHxD 2.4" x 2.4" x 0.63" (6cm x 6cm x 1.6xcm)   Product Weight w/ Bracket 1.10 lbs (508g)

Components Included

Cooling block, thermal paste, copper sensor tape, mounting hardware, manual

Got News? Send 'em in!