Watercooling History in the making...
an interview with ROKK,
...one hellava sucess story
It was about a year ago, that I had started corresponding
with a person, going by the handle of ROKK1972. We were
toying with the Idea of building a Phasechange cooling system.
I had torn apart a mini-fridge, and had all the necessary
internals, all I needed was a block...
Rokk1972 was a CAD design engineer, and he said he had
access to the CNC mills at work. I figured right on, all
we needed was a decent evaporator design and we'd be off and chillin'
Phasechange style.
Rokk1972 saw that I was in over my head at the
time. Himself comming from an air cooled unit,
this Phasechange thing needed to go on the back burner for now.
There was something that caught his attention.
It caught his attention in a BIG way...


Zennz:
How did you find Pimprig? ?
ROKK:
Well I had just bought the pieces for my 1st home built rig,
and I wanted to see how everyone else was customizing their stuff,
so I did a google and found PR.
After lurking for a few days I decided to join the PR community.

Zennz:
What were you looking for?
ROKK:
Specifically I was looking for how to add lighting to a case,
since my Chieftech case had a premod window,
I figured some lights would be nice.

Zennz:
What did you think when you saw water cooling for the first time?
ROKK:
I was browsing thru the members galleries when
I came across my 1st water-cooled rig.
I had heard of this prior to PR, but had yet to
actually see any pics of one.
Needles to say, I was very interested in the whole
H2O cooling process from the first look.
After looking thru all the galleries for water-cooled rigs,
I decided that it was time to do some research into watercooling.

Zennz:
Rumor had it that you were doing some design work for
another member (which BTW is seeing completion soon) where did
your time and attention turn to?
ROKK:
This is true. I had offered my services to help out DW with his project.
Things were going good for awhile,
but then every thing happened at once for me.
My 1st child was on the way,
I got promoted at work (more responsibilities),
I started designing the RBX, and I was doing some contract work on the side.
Now any 2-3 of those things at once was ok,
but all at once was too much for me to handle.
I had to choose and drop a couple of things,
unfortunately DW project was one of them.

Zennz:
What prompted to put your CAD skills to cooling?
ROKK:
Well I started my watercooling experience with
one of the cheapest low end kits on the market.
This thing had an aluminum block with a
single 80mm sized rad that would barely do what
a cheap air heatsink could. But I used that as a training aid,
and then slowly upgraded my rig to a more custom built water loop.
It was a D-Tek TC-4 block, Danner Mag 3 pump
(never had a single issue with this pump),
86 Chevett heater core with custom shroud and some
Clearflex 60 tubing. Now I thought I had the best I could get at the time,
and my temps were the lowest I had ever seen??
But then I started to learn to overclock and increase the Vcore!!!!
Then the temps were back up in the high ?burning magma? range.
So back to researching secrets of H2O cooling.
I then found a block that I just had to have (at all costs)!!!
So I get on a waiting list, something like 6-8 weeks long.
Now normally I would just have pass this up
and found something else, but there was nothing like it anywhere.
Then I get the email saying that my 6-8 week wait was basically starting over?..
(this is about 3 weeks into the 1st wait).
Now it is early June of 2003, I came to the realization that since
I am a Design Engineer, and if I could create medical equipment and
systems for multi-million dollar aircrafts, I should be able to design my own waterblock??
(yea, I know, I am slow sometimes?)
Two days later ? The 1st revision of the RBX was created.

Zennz:
How were you able to get a block made?
ROKK:
After tossing around some block designs
I finally found one that I thought would work.
By then I had been in contact with a few of the
PIMPS here at PR and had decided to have
2 proto blocks made so I could have someone
else help test the block out. That person was Zennzzo.

So back to the question. I wrote up a document
detailing the key features of the RBX
(back then I was calling it the Rokk Blokk)
and that I was interested in having 2 copper bases
machined up for me. I was willing to pay
some serious cash to have my blocks made.
I just needed to have the copper base made for me,
I have access to some mills at my job,
and know how to cut in many materials,
but copper was not one of them.
So I contacted two different U.S. waterblock manufactures
and sent them the document about the Rokk Blokk.
One day later I received an email from Jeremy (Danger Den)
saying that he was very interested in the block,
and was willing to make a couple up for me for free.
All I had to do was let him know how the block performed.
Now that was a sweet deal!!! Danger Den rules in my book!!!
At the time I had no ideal what was to take place in the coming months.
It took some time to get the bases made,
DD had other things going on, and it was vacation time for the Den boys,
but I was very patient and just went ahead
and made up the top and impingement plate for the blocks.
I got all the pieces for the blocks and built them up on July 27, 2003
(I remember this because it was my birthday)
I also stamped the date into the proto block that I sent to Zennzzo
so that I would know it was the 2nd Rokk Blokk ever made
if I were to come across it again. (predicting the future?)

I am not sure if Zennzzo still has this block or not,
but I did see a pic or two of his rig with it installed.
Hey Zenn if you still have it post a pic with this write up.

Zennz:
Will do, Bro...
What were your thoughts on the industry when you were designing?
the RBX?
ROKK:
My only reason for making the RBX was because of availability
of the block that I wanted.
And as I started developing the RBX
I also saw potential for some improvements/features
that were lacking with any
waterblocks that was available at the time.

Zennz:
Did you think that those Ideas would ever come to reality?
ROKK:
I knew that I was going to make at least 2 blocks,
but never thought that it would turn into what it is today!

Zennz:
Was there anything in your schooling that played a role in your
designs?
ROKK:
Not really, I am a design engineer; my specialties are in
mechanical/structural design and manufacturing technologies.


Zennz:
How many units approx. are in use today?
ROKK:
I don?t know the exact numbers, but it is a lot more than
I would have ever imagined.

Zennz:
I'll bet in the 4 digit figures, just a guessimation...
Now that you have the H20 world using your designs,
how does that
make you feel?
ROKK:
I really enjoy seeing and hearing about people
that use the RBX and get their rigs running faster and cooler
than they ever could. I get the feeling that
I helped out a friend achieve their goal.

Zennz:
What is your future outlook for the watercooling industry?
ROKK:
Ever changing, and growing.

Zennz:
Are there any plans to do phase change in your future?
ROKK:
Hmmm?. I do have a couple of these bad boys
sitting under my test bench at the shop?.
.don?t be surprised if I get a little frosty.

Zennz:
Any closing thoughts ?
ROKK:
I am very pleased to have had the chance to be a member of PIMP RIG
for the last year or so. I don?t know if I was able to help anyone
here as much as you (PIMPS) have helped me.
But I have to say that I will not be posting on these or any other forums after this.
It is against Danger Den?s company policy to
advertise or promote Danger Den (by employee or owner) in the public forums.
We (Danger Den) feel that the forums are here to pass
on information to the public not to get some free advertising.
So now that I am owner of Danger Den,
I too must follow the rules.
But I couldn?t just leave without saying Thank you & Good Bye.

Rokk1972/CPUKiller
or just plain ol ROKK
Zennz:
Brother I for one will miss your participation in the Forums.
I do also understand Company policy, and the need for it.
Thank You for all your Contributions.
Your insite to the cooling industry has really opened my eyes.
I wish you well in your business endeavors.
Keep designing those "Killer" blocks.
You will be missed but never forgotten...
Well there you have it...A need for a product, turned designer, turned partner...
Thanks Again Bro
for sharing the story..
.I'll be coolin' out with the spirit of ROKK
...ZENNZZO style

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Awwww Rokk...rules are made for breaking...best of luck and much continued success

That was a great interview Zenn. Rokk we are going to miss you. From one engineer to another I think you are one of the best in the industry and I'm glad your making something you can enjoy also (a lot of us only wish we can design things we can enjoy in our personal life).

Indeed, you will be missed but as Zennz said, not forgotten. Good luck with your business and don't forget to take some time off every once and a while for fun times. (as if your job isn't fun already)

Quote: Originally Posted by godfoot Indeed, you will be missed but as Zennz said, not forgotten. Good luck with your business and don't forget to take some time off every once and a while for fun times. (as if your job isn't fun already)

Pimpin' waterblock designs?...He's got the coolest job I can think of...

Awesome writeup. I can't wait to see what comes out next.

I remember him designing the RBX, didn't he use SolidWorks? It was a pretty bitchin' model.

Quote: Originally Posted by ZENNZZO Pimpin' waterblock designs?...He's got the coolest job I can think of...

Hence the addition in parentheses.
True that has got to be a rather fun job but not MY dream job (winning lottery and becoming a permanent professional student seems b|tch|n' to me)

We'll miss you, man..... good luck on all your sucesses.

Rokk, you can always re-register under a new name and keep your identity secret, you know, like Peter Parker. Then you can swoop in occassionally to slam evil doing n00bs.

Honestly, I see reps from all kinds of different companies on several different forums. It's good public relations for the company. Hell, the owner of DragonModz is always on here.

We'll miss your input around here bro, But keep in touch..you know how.

Gonna miss you around here bro'. Thanks for the help with the "you know what". It's going to work great. I was hoping you could help with a design I've been kicking around. Oh well, way past time I learned to draft without pencil and paper. lol

I certainly respect DD's policy. Seems others could learn from the example. I just wish it wasn't costing us a valuable forum member. Best of luck man.

I for one appericate all your help bro'. You will be missed but im sure you wont be gone complety, there is always the lurkers

Keep on makin those killer blocks

Quote: Originally Posted by BigAkita ...Honestly, I see reps from all kinds of different companies on several different forums. It's good public relations for the company. Hell, the owner of DragonModz is always on here.

Actuyally BA has a great point, all the major mobo manufacturers are represented (an actual employee) at both the xtremesystems.org and amdmb.com.

ROKK:
I was browsing thru the members galleries when
I came across my 1st water-cooled rig.

so you came across a picture of your own watercooled rig, and decided to make a w/c system?

sry couldnt resist LOL

yaya i know wut u ment

Man, what a great interview............it's great to see notable figures are part of PR......

damnit i actually enjoyed reading all of your posts about you adventures with the new DD stuff,

best of luck to you bro, maybe keep BA's post in mind

Just posting to let you know I saw this...can't think of anything to say right now o_O

Rokk, even though we never really chatted, I know you will be missed here in the forums. Congrats on your success in the past year and many more to come.