Micro Stealth Custom Water Cooling Kit - Micro Stealth Custom Water Cooling Kit (cont.) page 2
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Manufacturers: | Aquastealth |
| Product: | Aquastlealth Micro Stealth Custom |
Price: | USD$159.99 |
Availability: | NOW |
Reviewed By: | Jim "Justi" Miller |
Review Date: | December 2002 |
Micro Stealth Custom Water Cooling Kit (cont.)
3/8 INCH TUBING
This kit came with one solid piece of 3/8 in tubing, 7 foot in length. I am pleased to see that they left it uncut, as each individual installation will vary and different lengths will be necessary. We installed the system in a run of the mill mid-tower ATX case and found that we had plenty of tubing. If you are planning some extreme stuff with an external radiator mount or extra reservoir then perhaps you will need more, but for most applications they have included enough.
3/8 INCH "Y" SPLITTERS
To assemble the system in parallel the way they designed it, 2 Y splitters were required and included. That's about all I have to say about them. :)
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:
This is a trick comment. On their list of included components they list them, and indeed I found some instructions in the box. The instructions included mentioned several times the 1/2in to 3/8in converters, and where to run this 1/2in tube, and where to connect that one. This confused us a good bit as the system they shipped had only the 3/8in tubing and the 3/8in Y-adapters. Also missing were any clear illustrations of how to set up the system or the flow diagram. When asked about this Aquastealth told us to just review the actual product and not to mention the directions as they were for an older unit. Well I'm sorry, but when I receive a complete kit that even worse than having no directions, has inaccurate directions, that's a problem.
As you can see it clearly states that these are the directions for the micro-stealth, so there was no mix up, they are simply inaccurate directions. The lack of images is something that really causes me concern. The target market for these "complete kits" are generally people with no water cooling experience. Mix that with the fact that running 2 radiators in parallel is a little tricky for someone with absolutely no knowledge, and the lack of any diagrams is a major concern.
ASSEMBLY:
Assembly was kind of a seat of the pants operation. Between our prior experience, and the inaccurate directions included, we were able to assemble the kit for our leak test session. Basically speaking you run from the output of the pump to a Y-adapter, from their to both radiator inputs. From both radiator outputs to another Y-adapter to the input of the water block. From the output of the water block back to the input of the pump. There, so I admit, not horribly confusing, but not exactly your standard water cooling circuit either.
Once assembled you take the syringe (included with ours, but it was hand written in so I am not positive it's included in all shipped kits) and fill the reservoir thru the filler cap with a mix of 10% anti-freeze and 90% distilled water. The mix is important because you can't afford to have water deposits reacting to the coper in the block and rusting your radiators and reservoir. That would be bad. :) Once you have the reservoir filled to the rim, turn on the pump.
The pump will start filling the tubing, radiators, and water block. Then you simply continue to add water to the reservoir of the running system until the reservoir is again full. Once it is full watch closely for no air bubbles, then place the cap on the reservoir. Again, fairly simple.
At this point you want to let the system run for a good while (several hours, or overnight as a best case scenario) and watch it for leaks. Make sure you have it set up in a location that will gather water so you will be able to to tell if indeed there is a leak.
It was during this "leak test" that we noticed the leaky radiator. Had we skipped this test we would have had a completely toasted PC, not a good situation to place yourself in.
INSTALLATION:
Assuming you've completed the "leak test" and found no leaks, it's time to install this in your system. The hardest part is to figure out component placement. We decided to mount both radiators stacked in the front grill (we cut the grill away) of the case, and the pump next to the motherboard just inside the case.
You will need to have the motherboard removed to mount the water block as the bolts must go thru the motherboard from the rear. Then you simply set the block on the CPU (after applying a THIN coat of your favorite heat sink grease), place the Lexan cover on top routing the bolts and the water inlet and outlets thru their pre-cut holes, then tighten the thumbscrews alternating until it's snug.
Then it's a simple matter of running your water lines, mounting your radiators, and refilling the system.
Here are a few images of our completed system.
Head over to the third and final page to see our results and conclusion.
Next: Results and Conclusion page 3 >>
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