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Titan TWC-A04 Water Cooling System - Page 2 of 5
Posted: July 22, 2004
Author: Jason Kohrs
Manufacturer: Titan
Source: Titan

The next item worth investigating in detail is the optional, secondary radiator. Wait... Two 8 pass radiators in the 'MCS', and now another radiator? Shouldn't be any lack of opportunity for heat exchange between the water and air, that’s for sure. As pictured below, this 10 pass radiator features copper tubing and aluminum radiator fins with a footprint about the size of the 80mm fan attached. The fan is quite interesting, as the clear frame is much taller than your typical frame, and supports large blue blades to move the air. The housing of the radiator is chromed for style points, and the inlet/outlet connections feature the same threaded connections as the 'MCS'.

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The CPU water block designed for Intel P3, P4 and AMD K7, K8 processors is pictured below. The top surface is brilliant chrome, and the bottom surface is equally bright and shiny. The large copper base is extremely flat and well polished, as can be seen by looking at the reflection of the dime in the below right image. Although the well polished base will serve a functional purpose, the chromed cap is all for show. It simply bolts onto the copper base to shroud the less polished top surface of the copper block. Again, we see the same threaded connections for water inlet and outlet.

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The GPU water block designed for most modern video cards is shown in the images below. The style is very similar to that of the CPU block, featuring the high polished chrome top and copper bottom, as well as the typical threaded water connections. The copper base is extremely flat and smooth, as revealed again by the dime's reflection. And, as with the CPU water block, the chrome cap is all for show, and simply shrouds the less attractive copper surfaces of the block.

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Clips are included to mount all supported processors, and the AMD K7 clip to be used in this review is pictured in the below left image. All six mounting lugs on the CPU socket will be used for installation, so a snug fit should be achieved. Two different size VGA clips are provided, as pictured in the below right image, and the smaller one will be used on a Radeon 9600 in this review. The white pins line up with the PCB through holes, and the springs provide tension to hold the block against the GPU core. In addition, a small black thumbscrew tightens the clip to the block via a small threaded rod mounted to the center of the VGA water block.

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We've already taken a look at some of the components and accessories provided with this kit, but there is far, far more included! The below left image shows all the individually packaged and labeled accessories to complete the installation. All items in the kit are labeled with a letter and number, which are cross referenced in the manual for easy installation. So, not only does the manual show you pictorial what to do, it also references what item letter/number you want. Very helpful, especially with so many components. You have all the tubing, wires, hardware, tools, thermal paste, and spare items such as o-rings and tubing clips. I won't go through every item in detail, but will provide a closer look at some of the key pieces...

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For the external installation, the item in the above right image is very helpful. This PCI bracket features pass through connections for inlet and outlet water, the 4-pin power connection, 3-pin fan connection, and 2-pin thermal probe connection. Extension cables/hoses are also included to allow the entire system to function the same inside or outside your case, while still running off your computer's power supply.

The below left image shows the included "antifreeze" water additive. As suggested, this orange liquid should be mixed in a 1:3.5 ratio with distilled water, and should help prevent corrosion and perhaps improve cooling performance. The volume provided seems low, considering the volume of water required, so use it sparingly. A special tip is provided to aid filling of the small reservoir opening, and a syringe is also provided with a similar tip for filling with distilled water.

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The above right image is a tool used for installing clips on the tube fittings. At first I thought it was a hose clamp of sorts, but reading the manual paid off, and it identified how it was to be properly used to clip the tubing onto the threaded fittings.

Now, lets look at the tubing. As pictured in the below left image, you receive 3 bundles of pre-assembled tubing, with each bundle containing two lengths of tubing (for a total of 6 tubes). Internal installations will require 3 or 4 pieces of tubing (depending on the use of the secondary radiator), and external installation will require 5 or 6 pieces of tubing (again, depending on the use of the secondary radiator). The tubing itself features a narrow diameter, seems to be of low quality, and is a bit gummy like a rubber product. The knurled fittings are chromed metal, with black clips squeezing the tubing in place.

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Reinforcing my theory that the tubing is low quality, each tube was delivered with at least one kink where the soft 'rubber' had become stuck shut (below left image). The packaging of the tubing bundles has them folded over rather tightly, and the creases that resulted not only kinked the tubes shut, once unkinked left white scars on the tubing wall (slightly visible in the below right image).

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Please read on to the next page for more... Next

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