Water-cooling for Everyone 3 Thermaltake Bigwater<base href="http://www.atruereview.com/" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/template_css.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/style10.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/slimbox/slimbox.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="http://www.atruereview.com/templates/rt_versatility_iii/css/rokmoomenu.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="http://www.atruereview.com/images/favicon.ico" /> <style type="text/css"> td.left div.moduletable, td.right div.moduletable, td.left div.moduletable-hilite1, td.right div.moduletable-hilite1, td.left div.moduletable-hilite2, td.right div.moduletable-hilite2, td.left div.moduletable-hilite3, td.right div.moduletable-hilite3, td.left div.moduletable-hilite4, td.right div.moduletable-hilite4, td.left div.moduletable-hilite5, td.right div.moduletable-hilite5, td.left div.moduletable-hilite6, td.right div.moduletable-hilite6, td.left div.moduletable-hilite7, td.right div.moduletable-hilite7, td.left div.moduletable-hilite8, td.right div.moduletable-hilite8 { width: 175px; 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The following will just be a highlight of key installation points.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/watercooling3/Bigwater/B17.jpg"><img src="atruereview/watercooling3/Bigwater/B17th.jpg" width="250" height="160" border="0" alt="Water-cooling for Everyone 3: Thermaltake Bigwater"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>With the exception of Socket A, installation of the waterblock will require the motherboard to be removed form the case to install the back plate. A black foam insulator plate is included. It goes between the metal back plate and the motherboard, protecting the various electronic components the metal plate would otherwise be pressed against. Socket A users can use the K7 clip to attach the waterblock without removing the motherboard form the case. </p> <p>As with any waterblock or heatsink, remember to apply some thermal compound (either the included or other of choice) to the CPU before mounting the waterblock. AMD K8 users (Socket 754, 939, or 940) will need to take a little time to make sure the base of the waterblock covers the entire surface of the CPU's IHS (integrated heat spreader). After the mounting the waterblock, plug its LED 3-pin plug into the motherboard.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/watercooling3/Bigwater/B08.jpg"><img src="atruereview/watercooling3/Bigwater/B08th.jpg" width="110" height="250" border="0" alt="Water-cooling for Everyone 3: Thermaltake Bigwater"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>If your case has 120mm fan accommodations, then you will have some options for installing the radiator. First, if the case allows, the radiator can be installed internally replacing the rear exhaust fan. Alternatively, if for whatever reason the case cannot internally fit the radiator, then it can be installed externally on the back of the case. If your case does not support 120mm fans, then the external installation is your only way to go. If the radiator is indeed installed outside the case, then the special expansion slot cover will need to be installed to allow water tubes outside the case and fan cables into the case. However the radiator is installed, an expansion slot will be needed for the fan speed controller. The user manual instructs that however the radiator is installed, the fan should be oriented to exhaust air out of the case.</p> <p>Perhaps the easiest component of the Bigwater to install is the pump. The pump can either be mounted to the interior back of the case (if your case has the appropriate holes like on most Thermaltake cases) or to the floor of the case with the included Velcro pads. With the pump situated, plug its 3-pin connector into the motherboard (preferably the CPU fan header).</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/watercooling3/Bigwater/B18.jpg"><img src="atruereview/watercooling3/Bigwater/B18th.jpg" width="250" height="192" border="0" alt="Water-cooling for Everyone 3: Thermaltake Bigwater"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>With the three main components installed, the tubing can now be measured, cut, and attached. The user's manual suggests a flow path of pump to waterblock, to radiator, and back to pump. After everything is connected, the system is filled with the included coolant. To do this, remove the rubber plug on top of the pump. Fill the hole with the coolant, preferably using a funnel,. If you decided to install the refill tank, then fill that with coolant and it will drain down to the pump.</p> <p align="center"><a href="atruereview/watercooling3/Bigwater/B15.jpg"><img src="atruereview/watercooling3/Bigwater/B15th.jpg" width="126" height="250" border="0" alt="Water-cooling for Everyone 3: Thermaltake Bigwater"></a><br> <font size="-1">Click on image for larger picture</font> </p> <p>Since the pump uses a 3-pin connector rather than a Molex plug, a 3-pin to Molex adapter (not included) would be needed to start the pump to complete the fill process without powering up the motherboard. However, the system does fill rather quickly (about less than half a minute). It seems the heavy water-block is capable of cooling the CPU for that short duration of time; therefore, it is possible to safely fill the Bigwater with the motherboard powered as long as you act quickly enough. After the system is filled, recap the pump (or refill tank).</p> <table width="100%" border="0"> <tr> <td width="51%"><a href="atruereview/watercooling3/swiftech.php"></a> <a href="watercooling3/swiftech.php">Previous (Swiftech Description)</a></td> <td width="49%"><div align="right"><a href="atruereview/watercooling3/swiftech2.php"></a> <a href="watercooling3/swiftech2.php">Next (Swiftech Installation)</a></div></td> </tr> </p> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <div id="footer" class="clr"> <div class="rk-1"> <div class="rk-2"> <div id="the-footer"> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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