Installation:

   The CPU 208 Copper Block was very easy to work with in terms of the directions and installation. If you happen to have an AMD socket 754 or 939 and are installing only the CPU block in your system, you'll be happy to know you do not have to remove your motherboard. The stock back plate that comes with your motherboard will work as did with the Abit KN8-SLI. I removed the 2 screws securing the stock fan bracket and added some more thermal paste. Then I held the CPU block in place over the CPU, placed the appropriate chrome 'H' bracket on top of the block, and inserted two screws provided with the CPU Kit. You won't have to put too much effort in to tightening the Thermaltake bracket as it does quite well holding the block in place. The 208 CPU Block's 3-pin LED power connector plugs in on your motherboard which turns blue when the system is powered on.
 

CPU Kit

Bolts for Barbs

Mounting Bracket

Tightening Barb Bolts

  Installing the Aqua Brazing Northbridge requires removal of the motherboard and removing the chipset heat sink. The chipset processor needs a little more thermal paste and the screw kit for the AB Northbridge Block. The kit has pretty much exact items you need for any installation. The Kit includes a square insulating pad that is to be placed on the chipset to help prevent any grounding of the components on the wafer. Instead, I opted to place it centered on AB Northbridge block so that it can be used any time on any chipset. There are two black hoses that slip over the copper barbs using C-clamps, which the clear tubing is attached to.
 

VGA Kit	Directions	Block & Square Pad
Pad on Block	Screws and Clamps	Ready to Tubing

   In this system, I needed the four red and silver washers with two long screws. The block has adjustable securing arms already attached to it on two sides. A quick turn of the screw driver and the arms swing out to the location of the two longer screws. The block was then centered over the chipset and the arms were tightened down. Two thumb bolts were used to tighten the block to the two long screws which completed the process.
 

Mounting Kit	Directions	Target
Cut and Paste	Back	Front

   Working with the Aqua Brazing VGA block required a little improvising. After removing the stock heat sink from the 7800 GT PCIE video card and laying the kit out, I noticed that the insulating pad was larger than the graphics processor. After double checking the size, I opted to cut away a little of the pad otherwise the VGA block would not make a proper connection to the GPU, which could result in an over heated video card. There were two black tubes with connectors identical to the Northbridge block which were then attached and C-clamped to the block barbs.

   Using the VGA kit, I attached the block using the standard Geforce configuration. The VGA block also has the adjustable securing arms. Again, loosening the screws allowed me to center the block on the GPU. Two long screws and thumb nuts are used to secure the block to the video card. The mounting method doesn't really put much pressure on the blocks and is a bit tricky compared to other methods used by other makers.
 

Single Rad Mounted

Ready for Filing

Filling the System

Ready for Power

   The dual 12cm radiator sits on two feet or can be modified where ever you like on your case. The single 12cm can be mounted over the rear 12cm exhaust fan hole of your case if you have one. The single radiator has different sets of holes that make it easy to attach however you might see fit. Other included parts for the fan are the fan controller for the single radiator, a ported PCI plate for tubing access, and screws to mount the radiators. This is all very easy to work with and took about 15 minutes.

   Attaching the tubing is only as difficult as cutting it to your desired configuration. There was plenty of tubing and it was all connected with bolt over barbs. Make sure you put the ring nuts through the hose first before attaching the hose to the barb, then tighten down. You really only need to tighten them by hand. Using a tool can easily be too much.

Testing:

   Interestingly, the Thermaltake 745 Bigwater Complete Kit does very well. At first glance you would think that rough looking blocks would perform less than the more attractive blocks. This is not the case as the Thermaltake blocks have a very smooth finished base and are fully copper as opposed to aluminum.

   Getting the Brazing GPU block to properly seat over the GPU was a bit of a task due to its mounting method. The adjustable arms don't put enough pressure on the block to make a good connection and moved too easily depending on the movement of the attach tubing. The Aquarius Series VGA block has a much more secure method. The Chipset block worked fine with the mounting method but also required a little adjusting to make good contact.
 

Power On

CPU Block

   The dual 120mm and single 120mm radiators and fans produced a very faint hum at their lowest and stock speeds. The dual fans aren't controllable where as the single 120mm radiator has a control that kicks up some noise to about 40 db. Setting the fan to its highest only made an average 1 degree drop in temperatures. Having this option on the dual 12cm would make a much larger gain, but looking at the scores it really isn't worth all the noise.

   One possible upgrade that could help the kit out more would be a stronger pump. The 400 L/Hr pump is the minimum anyone should use in any water cooling kit. The pump's ability to push water through all the water blocks, radiators, and tubing seemed to be a bit weak. Pumps that can move more Liters per hour tend to have a better ability to force more water through no matter how many blocks you might have.
 

Close Up

Pump w/ LED

Summary:

   The Thermaltake 745 Bigwater Kit does a surprisingly better job than one might expect at first glance. It is able to do a very respectable job against the heat despite an average pump and average looking blocks. A matching Aquarius Series water block for the chipset would round this kit's appearance off and really give it the perfect appeal.

   Among the good features and attributes is the kit's UV reactive tubing and the very cool blue LED embedded in the acrylic CPU block. The 745 Bigwater is very configurable which can be can easily adjusted or modified for better performance. While we did encounter a couple VGA mounting obstacles, the stock configuration still proved easy enough for anyone to install. The great thing about any of the components used is that Thermaltake is always on to the next improved revisions.