CPU Waterblock

adi67 · 14 Jul 2008 at 17:57

I have just dug out an original Cathar CPU waterblock that I originally intended for a socket 939 system but never got around to using. I believe it has compatibility with socket 775 and was wondering if it would be any use at all on a modern quad core system?

It seems a shame not to use a block I got shipped all the way from down under (just before I gave up on water) but if it will be useless then I'll leave it gathering dust.

I would be using it with something like a Thermochill 120.2 and a D5 Vario on 1/2" ID tubing and cooling just the CPU, FWIW.

Tooks · 14 Jul 2008 at 18:27

Well, there would be no harm in trying it before you shell out for a new one?

You might be pleasantly surprised!

adi67 · 14 Jul 2008 at 18:36

Very true...but if it's likely to be wildly unsuited then I was thinking I'd sooner know up front and save myself the hassle. Plus I need to order a pump, res, tubing and additives etc so if I will definitely need a new block I may as well group it in to one order.

MikeTimbers · 14 Jul 2008 at 21:15

If you open it up you will see that the area over which the water moves is very narrow. These were intended for cpus without an integrated heat spreader. It's still an excellent block on naked Athlon 64's or X2s but lousy on Intel C2D or C2Q.

adi67 · 14 Jul 2008 at 21:18

Just what I wanted to know...thanks.

MikeTimbers · 14 Jul 2008 at 22:49

Probably still worth a try though. It will work, just not as well as something with a bigger cooling spot. The difference is hard to quantify but probably not more than 5C-10C.

adi67 · 15 Jul 2008 at 09:06

It's been a long time ( 3 years or so) since I gave up on watercooling and the only components I have left are this unused block and a new 120.2. I have an old (aircooled) socket 939 system laying unused in the Lian Li PC70 I used to watercool so I guess I'll start off with that and see how it does with the AMD processor.

5-10C sounds like quite a lot though. Still, it's just gathering dust so why not?

Any reason I shouldn't use it with the pump I mentioned in the OP?

WJA96 · 15 Jul 2008 at 10:22

I think you can get massively hung-up on stuff like this. I've had quite good results on Quads with original Zalman CPU blocks so I can't help but think that the Cathar block will probably work really well, especially with the high-throughput pump.

The temperature drop between the best and worst CPU blocks I've tested on the same Quad system was 15C under load, and that was a 60-75C range, so not unacceptable for an Intel Quad CPU at all.