Kandalf LCS Speculation

[Arthalen]

There's a fair bit of noise going on in Case Central about Thermaltakes Kandalf LCS case and integrated W/C system.

Since I often posted in here and trust the comments coming from various user's I wanted your speculation over the possible performance of the W/C side of the case.

Currently, my PentD [email protected] runs at around:

CPU: 45 Idle, can hit 70C at full load (dual Prime full load, that is). Load in games/photoshop will make it hit between 58-64C.
System: 38-42C Idle, will hit 49C when the system is under a lot of strain.

This is with the pants Big Water SE kit that I have thats straining to keep the CPU tamed. Now add to that a toasty 580Watt PSU, a pair of X1900GT in Crossfire and you can see that I have a portable oven on my hands

Now, the LCS system in the Kandalf seems a bit of a gift horse considering the decent case it comes in.

120.3 Rad with 1300RPM, 17DB Fans
500 Ltr/Hr Pump
3/8" Tubing
350CC Res
Improved CPU block


Im a little wary of the CPU block, as the one that comes with the Bigwater SE isn't that great - you can see through the plexitop and it appears to just be a simple channel through the block, which doesn't seem to be the greatest design.

Anyways, this setup differs from what I have in the following from what I can see: tubing size increased from 1/4" to 3/8", Rad increased from 120.1 to 120.3, pump power increased from 90L/hr to 500 L/hr....

Can this tame my PenD ?!

 

[Rob43]

I can't see that kit in the case will be good enough to cool cpu & a crossfire setup.
Just because it comes with a 120.3 dosen't mean it will have great performance,there are some rubbish rads out there & blocks as you rightly piont out.

Why don't you look at something like the Swiftech Apex kit,it will give a far superior performance than the thermaltake ever will & will handle cpu/crossfire with no problems,i use a custom setup myself,but i know the swiftechs are good kits

From what i'm reading on the forums about the Kandalf LCS it tends to be that the people buying it are new to watercooling & are raving about it.Don't think you will see many experianced watercooling guys buying this

If it's anything remotely like previous thermaltake watercooling efforts,it won't be worth the money.maybe fine if you wan't to run just your cpu

remember this is just my opinion

Rob

 

[Arthalen]

Thnaks for the reply. Your speculation purely on the CPU cooling though ??? The airflow throught he case should be better than what I have at present, allowing my Crossfire to run on Air instead of being W/C.

 

[Rob43]

Like i said,i think it may be fine if you are just cooling the cpu & leaving your crossfire on air,but once you go down the watercooling route,i think you may regret not having good options for cooling your crossfire mate

Remember....blocks on your crossfire as well,think of the peace & quiet you will get


Rob

 

[Arthalen]

Hmmmm, stop the missus complaining. Its a thought.

Anyone else have any thoughts ?

 

[Rob43]

Go back & read the last post in the case central thread,all you need to know i think

Here's the quote from the thread

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17638378

This Kandalf LoTR beastie is best left alone unless you want a cheapish triple/tipple rad cooler which does do the job but has the following downsides :-

1. Noisy tipple [sic] radiator unless you slow it down even further at the expense of temp rise;
2. Noisy whinning pump. They can’t get it right, can they. It’s either the pump and/or the water loop harmonics shrieking like a nun;
3. Dimensionally inaccurate case [All Hong Kong-designed cases have this inaccuracy because they started off with inches and it seems that they have not changed. The add-on card slots are 2mm short of the securing backplane. When you work on a case with this inaccuracy, you’ll know that the “inches to mm” translator is at work];
4. Stupid “Car Radiator” design bodged job to the original Kandalf. Hey HK-Fuey, what’s wrong with putting it on top, eh? “What, you then need to re-jig/redesign and then you can’t call it Kandalf any more and besides, the boss wants another Roller for the forthcoming Chinese New Year? Ah Sorrr”. You’ve got to pay homage to the beast every time you have to insert a removeable media and “No” fanboyo-groupie, it is irritatingly stupid to accept this constant paying of homage;
5. Done in one of the boy’s back. Now he’s got to miss this Friday night’s fun with his missus. That’s from paying homage at the behest of some fanboy-groupie “enthusiasm”.

The good news is that it will bring temps down 5C at 1.55 Vcore compared to “tower”-type heatpipers for a Conroe and you can put-up 2-fingers at some expensive Yankee doodle-do-da concoction. There, no mis-selling, mis-representing, mis-leading, down-to-earth facts. And that’s what forums are for, right? What do you mean it's only for selling at the behest of fanboys/groupies. Schmucks ....

 

[romper76]

well rob this case was giong to be my 1st water cooling set up, but after reading your post in the case thread ive changed my mind.
im now going for the Swiftech H20-220 Apex Ultra Watercooling Kit and a new case! but now i have a new problem which case to buy??? up to 150 bucks to go with this kit. any ideas.....

 

[Rob43]

The quote was'nt mine,i did'nt post in the thread at all ,i just put it here as an example for folks that would'nt have seen it in case central But it did seem to sum it up.Remember the op in that thread is pretty obviously new to watercooling & he seems very happy with it

All i'm trying to point out that there are far better watercooling solutions out there & are worth a look before you splash your cash.

You won't regret buying the swiftech kit though Remember the kit comes with a mounting bracket for the rad ,so can easilly be attached to your case

Lots of cases you could be looking at though,eclipse,stacker,V2000,gigabyte aurora,to name a few

Have a look through the watercooling gallery thread,that might give you more of an idea as well

Rob