Operation
If the Aquagate Max is installed on a non-ESA system, as with the Thermaltake Bigwater 780e, nothing is adjustable. The default fan speed is 75%, which is audible and louder than I’d like, but not annoying.
If on an ESA system, launch the nVidia Control panel, and you have one adjustment, fan speed. They are inaudible at 60%. Obviously pump speed is not adjustable, which may not be a bad thing.
Launch the nVidia System monitor, and we see that inlet and outlet temperatures are at 750C. Since nothing was on fire, I assume that the temps are wrong. I was unable to get any reading other than 750C. A little research found that I am not the only person with that issue.
Testing
I checked CPU temperatures with the Aquagate Max at my CPU’s stock clock of 3.0gHz at idle and load. Idle was checked with the system sitting idle with no applications running for 30 minutes. Load was checked after running Sandra’s Burn-In running only Processor Arithmetic constantly for 30 minutes. To make things interesting, I compared the Aquagate Max’s temps with temps acquired by my Kingwin 12025 Heatpipe Direct Touch, a good but not great air cooler, and with the Thermaltake Bigwater 780e. This isn’t a shoot-out for sure, just something to see what kind of performance I was getting from the Aquagate Max.
Ambient room temperature was 68F, a fairly cool room temp, and I expect that to affect all three coolers with nice temps. Temperatures were monitored with PC Probe II, Asus’ system monitoring utility.
Needless to say, I was a little surprised by the idle temp from the Aquagate Max.
Next, I overclocked my CPU to 3.5gHz, and cranked up my VCORE to 1.45v, higher than needed for that overclock, to warm things up quite a bit.
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Convenient way to start down the water cooling pathway, as it provides all the necessary parts you need. You don't have to figure out what to buy, plus this system runs pretty cool
Convenient way to start down the water cooling pathway, as it provides all the necessary parts you need. You don't have to figure out what to buy, plus this system runs pretty cool
I would rather go with a prebuilt Swiftech kit like the H2O-120 or H2O-220.
I would rather go with a prebuilt Swiftech kit like the H2O-120 or H2O-220.
Dislike the prebuilt ones, no chance to upgrade, it's fixed the way it is.
Dislike the prebuilt ones, no chance to upgrade, it's fixed the way it is.
There fine for for users who are hardcore into custom water cooling setups.
Buying your own parts separately, is costlier, but Usually, much better at cooling than these “packages”
There fine for for users who are hardcore into custom water cooling setups.
Buying your own parts separately, is costlier, but Usually, much better at cooling than these “packages”
That because they are made by companies that specialize in them.
That because they are made by companies that specialize in them.
I guess… but mixing and matching kinda looks ugly sometimes, sometimes buying all the same brand looks “cleaner”
Swiftech is your answer then.
I guess… but mixing and matching kinda looks ugly sometimes, sometimes buying all the same brand looks “cleaner”
Swiftech is your answer then.
hm,, looked into it, they look pretty good.
hm,, looked into it, they look pretty good.
I guess… but mixing and matching kinda looks ugly sometimes, sometimes buying all the same brand looks “cleaner”
Swiftech is your answer then.
hm,, looked into it, they look pretty good.