Aqua Computer TwinPlex Pro mini-review

Top Nurse · 12-November-05, 09:23 PM

Okay today I have some more information for you based on my inspection and disassembly of the TwinPlex Pro SLI Typ 1 that I received yesterday. There have been some major changes for the good in this design over the previous TwinPlex design. So here is the box you will get.

What is in the box? The cooler and nylon screws, nuts, and washers to hold it down of course.

The disassembled component parts. The O-rings, mounts, and acrylic tops are interchangable with the old and new style TwinPlex's. The major difference is that you will need a new size screw to convert your existing TwinPlex to the newer style. The screw dimensions are: M3 x 8 and if you are a buttonhead fancier you lose on the SLI design as the countersunk holes are to narrow to fit the wider buttonhead design in all four holes. BTW, you can buy just the block and the screws from AC if you already have a TwinPlex though if you want the SLI design you will need to buy a complete unit.

Here is a side view of the acrylic top. As you can see it has a slot milled into the top. This is what makes this design unique as it should fit under just about any video card in existence.

The following set of pics are various close-ups of the acrylic top so you can see the detail in the design.

So lets get on to the business end of the new style Twinplex as there have been some major design and asthetic changes. Here is the new block looking at the CPU side. This the ATi style block that has the relieved material around the CPU contact surface. Who needs all that metal if the only contact surface is a tiny hunk of die for a GPU or chipset? Good riddance to those heavy TwinPlex's.

A close up view of the above pic.

Some side views here. Notice how thin the blocks are? If your really observant you might also notice something else.

And here we have a nice close-up of the water side of the block. Paying attention here? They appear to have completely bead blasted the block. This has been shown to increase the thermal characteristics of the heat transfer. I measured the block with my dial calipers and total block thickness is only 0.1790 of an inch. The thickness of the bottom of the block over the die is about 0.035 of an inch except of course for the center part of the block.

The next set of pics show the difference between the old style and the new style blocks.

What's Hot?

Thin design and glass beaded surfaces will give better thermal transference characteristics.

The glass beading also helps with cutting down on visual corrosion if you are into these kinds of bling.

Decreased use of copper makes for a less expensive product.

This block is totally clean with not a speck of dirt or any oily contaminants seen.

It will go on any of the hard to fit SLI boards and there shouldn't be any problems with video card clearance.

The thinner block allows for less screw length which results in a more secure mounting.

The blocks now do not come with fittings. This is a good thing because then you have the option of either using the standard AC fare or you can use 3rd party fittings as well.

What's Not?

The critical cpu surface appears to be still cut with a milling cutter with no machine lapping evident. I checked the surface with a grid and it appears to be fairly flat though it is a rough surface. Running your fingernail across the surface indicates to me it is about a 125 RMS finish.

The other issue is that a few pics back you can see that one of the grid pins was slightly bent. Some may call this nitpicking, but since it can be seen with the naked eye you think they would have at least bent it back before shipping it. I bent it back into the proper attitude with a dental probe.

With the side mounted fittings for the acrylic GPU tops don't plan on using any straight connectors if you have ramsinks in place. You will probably need 45 or 90 degree fittings so the tubing doesn't hit the ramsinks. This is due to the copper blocks being so thin and much closer to the circuit board.

Comments:

From a modding point of view the only thing I think needs to be done is to lap the bottom of the block. Considering the relative thin metal I would suggest that you lap the block with the acrylic top attached and all the bolts down as tight as you want them to be. If you lap the block without it completely together you may risk warping it again during reassembly. Other than that this appears to be a winner in my book and Feeding Frenzy is getting one of the SLI versions and two of the GPU versions.

SPECIALBLEND218 · 23-November-05, 07:01 PM

Nice write up although that block looks very restrictive.

Foe · 24-November-05, 06:59 AM

If you do a more in-depth review, you can submit it to the Member Reviews section.

Fire Hawk · 24-November-05, 09:24 AM

It's a cool looking block, but - and as specialblend already commened on - it looks like it has a low flow rate. Will you post anything about it's performance?

Oh, yeah, I also really like the pictures you took.

12-November-05, 09:23 PM		#1 (permalink)
Top Nurse Apex Techie Lite	Aqua Computer TwinPlex Pro mini-review Okay today I have some more information for you based on my inspection and disassembly of the TwinPlex Pro SLI Typ 1 that I received yesterday. There have been some major changes for the good in this design over the previous TwinPlex design. So here is the box you will get. What is in the box? The cooler and nylon screws, nuts, and washers to hold it down of course. The disassembled component parts. The O-rings, mounts, and acrylic tops are interchangable with the old and new style TwinPlex's. The major difference is that you will need a new size screw to convert your existing TwinPlex to the newer style. The screw dimensions are: M3 x 8 and if you are a buttonhead fancier you lose on the SLI design as the countersunk holes are to narrow to fit the wider buttonhead design in all four holes. BTW, you can buy just the block and the screws from AC if you already have a TwinPlex though if you want the SLI design you will need to buy a complete unit. Here is a side view of the acrylic top. As you can see it has a slot milled into the top. This is what makes this design unique as it should fit under just about any video card in existence. The following set of pics are various close-ups of the acrylic top so you can see the detail in the design. So lets get on to the business end of the new style Twinplex as there have been some major design and asthetic changes. Here is the new block looking at the CPU side. This the ATi style block that has the relieved material around the CPU contact surface. Who needs all that metal if the only contact surface is a tiny hunk of die for a GPU or chipset? Good riddance to those heavy TwinPlex's. A close up view of the above pic. Some side views here. Notice how thin the blocks are? If your really observant you might also notice something else. And here we have a nice close-up of the water side of the block. Paying attention here? They appear to have completely bead blasted the block. This has been shown to increase the thermal characteristics of the heat transfer. I measured the block with my dial calipers and total block thickness is only 0.1790 of an inch. The thickness of the bottom of the block over the die is about 0.035 of an inch except of course for the center part of the block. The next set of pics show the difference between the old style and the new style blocks. What's Hot? Thin design and glass beaded surfaces will give better thermal transference characteristics. The glass beading also helps with cutting down on visual corrosion if you are into these kinds of bling. Decreased use of copper makes for a less expensive product. This block is totally clean with not a speck of dirt or any oily contaminants seen. It will go on any of the hard to fit SLI boards and there shouldn't be any problems with video card clearance. The thinner block allows for less screw length which results in a more secure mounting. The blocks now do not come with fittings. This is a good thing because then you have the option of either using the standard AC fare or you can use 3rd party fittings as well. What's Not? The critical cpu surface appears to be still cut with a milling cutter with no machine lapping evident. I checked the surface with a grid and it appears to be fairly flat though it is a rough surface. Running your fingernail across the surface indicates to me it is about a 125 RMS finish. The other issue is that a few pics back you can see that one of the grid pins was slightly bent. Some may call this nitpicking, but since it can be seen with the naked eye you think they would have at least bent it back before shipping it. I bent it back into the proper attitude with a dental probe. With the side mounted fittings for the acrylic GPU tops don't plan on using any straight connectors if you have ramsinks in place. You will probably need 45 or 90 degree fittings so the tubing doesn't hit the ramsinks. This is due to the copper blocks being so thin and much closer to the circuit board. Comments: From a modding point of view the only thing I think needs to be done is to lap the bottom of the block. Considering the relative thin metal I would suggest that you lap the block with the acrylic top attached and all the bolts down as tight as you want them to be. If you lap the block without it completely together you may risk warping it again during reassembly. Other than that this appears to be a winner in my book and Feeding Frenzy is getting one of the SLI versions and two of the GPU versions.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Aqua Computer now available for US!	G Money	Extreme Cooling	15	11-May-05 05:48 AM
I Have a Way to Get Aqua Computer Produkts	Kage	Anything Goes	9	30-August-03 04:37 PM
new stuff from Aqua computer	ThUnD3rM0rPh	Extreme Cooling	5	22-July-03 02:25 PM
Ordering Aqua Computer stuff	G Money	Extreme Cooling	2	21-October-02 02:49 AM
Unt Aqua Computer Yah	G Money	Extreme Cooling	4	19-October-02 05:37 PM

23-November-05, 07:01 PM		#2 (permalink)
SPECIALBLEND218 H2'Hoe' Cooling Addict	Nice write up although that block looks very restrictive.

24-November-05, 06:59 AM		#3 (permalink)
Foe Apex Tech God	If you do a more in-depth review, you can submit it to the Member Reviews section.

24-November-05, 09:24 AM		#4 (permalink)
Fire Hawk Apex Tech Maniac	It's a cool looking block, but - and as specialblend already commened on - it looks like it has a low flow rate. Will you post anything about it's performance? Oh, yeah, I also really like the pictures you took.