Article Index Review: CoolIT ECO ALC - Advanced Liquid Cooler Specifications and Features Photo Gallery and Closer Look Installation and Test Procedure BIOS and Windows Temps Idle Temps Load Temps Verdict and Conclusion

Introduction 

I still remember the day when I first attempted to build a PC with watercooling ... it was sometime during 1998. During those days, it was extremely difficult to source all the neccessary components to build a watercooling system. Everything had to be custom-made from CPU waterblocks to heat exchangers/radiators. After spending several weeks planning, ordering and building the whole watercooling system, it was extremely fulfilling to see the final finished product, albeit very amateur-looking. Back then, aesthetics wasn't the main concern ... it was all about cooling the overclocked CPU, and trying to get the lowest possible temperatures at full load. It was quite an experience for me, and over the years I've mastered my skills, building numerous watercooled PC systems, using custom-made components from watercooling specialists.

It's now 2010 and watercooling has now become an enthusiasts' playground, with modders building wonderful and exquiste (and probably very expensive) machines that I can only dream of. Most of these watercooled PC systems are a work of art, and for some modders, it's been their lifes and work profession. For years, watercooling has been out of reach for many users due to the costs involved. However, this is about to change, as we see more and more manufacturers producing affordable, all-in-one, and ready-to-mount watercooling solutions for your PC.

Early last year, we discovered that one of the first manufacturers to take advantage of this niche market was CoolIT Systems, with their Domino ALC liquid cooling unit. We later saw other manufacturers such as Corsair, introduce with their own watercooling solution called Hydro CPU cooler H50. It's a very interesting niche market, as the main focus is cost and affordability. No longer is watercooling reserved for the few extreme modders and enthusiasts. For those who are not familiar with CoolIT Systems or its products ... here's something taken from their website.

In this review, we'll be taking a look at the CoolIT ECO A.L.C - Advanced Liquid Cooling for CPUs. It's designed for both AMD (AM2, AM2+, AM3) and Intel processors (LGA 775, 1156, 1366), and features an ultra low profile and compact design that's easy to intsall in only a few simple steps. The waterblock unit has a built-in 3-pin powered pump, and on the underside of this waterblock, you'll find a  copper base that's covered with a layer of CoolIT's advanced thermal compand. This allows for quick heat transfer between the CPU and the waterblock. Other great features include the compact heat exchanger or radiator, which is also easy-to-mount (to the back of most computer chassis) and consists copper micro channels for superior heat dissipation. The whole system is filled with a non-toxic coolant that has anti-fungal and anti-corrosive properties. This liquid coolant is then pumped around, via sturdy tubing to the heat exchanger or radiator, which is then cooled by a 120mm fan which spins at 1,800 rpm.

What's makes these all-in-one, and ready-to-mount watercooling solutions so attractive, is its affordability and ease if use. All you had to do is mount the waterblock unit over your CPU and lock it in place, just like you do with a regular heatsink+fan. Don't expect the CoolIT ECO A.L.C to look like the stuff you'll find on some of the highly modded watercooled PCs out there. It doesn't have any UV reactive tubing or any see-through resevoirs ... it's not that kind of product. It may look boring, but it's only meant to do one thing ... and that is to provide a high-performance liquid cooling solution that's easy to install.

We'll be testing the CoolIT ECO A.L.C on our test rig which consist of an Intel Core i5 - 650 @ 3.2Ghz, Gigabyte P55 USB3 motherboard, Geforce GTX 460 OC, 4Gb Crucial Ballistix Tracer and a Silverpower 650w power supply. It's the same system we've been using to test other CPU coolers. It will be interesting to see how well it performs against other air coolers on the market.

OK ... let's not waste any more time and take a closer look at the specifications and features of the CoolIT ECO A.L.C - Advanced Liquid Cooling system.

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