Verdict: Innovative cooling for your graphics card.

UK-based Vadim started off building overclocked water-cooled PCs, but has now branched out into designing its own waterblocks and radiators, marketed under the BlastFlow brand. This custom kit is a mixture of components that have been handpicked by Vadim to meet the requirements of our test PC.

At the heart of the Vadim custom kit is a Swiftech Apogee GT, the same CPU waterblock used in the Swiftech H2O-220 Apex Ultra kit. This large copper waterblock has a 'diamond-pin matrix' internal design and widely spaced barbs, so it's very easy to install the tubing. It's also much easier to secure to the CPU than most CPU waterblocks, as it simply screws down into a backplate on the underside of the motherboard. The Northbridge is cooled by another Swiftech waterblock, the MWC30.

The element that really sets this kit apart from other kits is the BlastFlow Siberian Rev 2 graphics card waterblock. Unlike most all-in-one graphics card waterblocks, the Siberian Rev 2 comprises two separate modules: an aluminium backplate and a copper waterblock. As the waterblock is designed to be compatible with all graphics cards, all you need to do when upgrading your graphics card is buy a new aluminium backplate, which will be much cheaper than buying a new all-in-one waterblock. As water only flows through the waterblock and not the backplate, you wouldn't even have to drain your water-cooling loop; you'd just have to screw the backplate and waterblock together and mount the complete assembly on your new graphics card.

However, unlike most graphics card waterblocks, the Siberian Rev 2's input and output barbs are positioned in line with the waterblock, so unless you have a very wide case it may be impossible to position the tubing without causing kinks.

The other BlastFlow-designed component in this kit is the Extreme Quad radiator which, as its name suggests, is a quad 120mm-fan radiator, supplied with four extremely quiet, dark blue LED Revoltec fans. However, there are mounts positioned on the other side of the radiator for another four fans if you want to improve performance. Despite its huge length, the Extreme Quad is much thinner than the similarly long Hardware Labs Black Ice GTX480 supplied in the Danger Den custom kit, so it's much easier to fit inside cases. Vadim is also thoughtful enough to supply a roll of double-sided sticky tape and several connecting screws to hold the radiator in place.

Coolant is pumped around the loop by a Swiftech MCP655 pump, another rebranded Laing D5.The components are linked with 1/2in tubing that can be filled with Innovatek Protect IP, a pre-mixed cocktail of ethylene glycol and corrosion inhibitor. This is stored in a large clear XSPC Bay Reservoir that should be placed in the highest 5.25in drive bay of your case.

The Vadim custom kit provided very mixed cooling. For example, it cooled the CPU to just 7ûC lower than the Tuniq Tower 120, yet the GPU was 44ûC cooler than it was with the Nvidia reference HSF fitted. Interestingly, the Swiftech H2O-220 Apex Ultra kit also cooled the CPU to 7ûC lower than the Tuniq Tower 120, so it would appear that regardless of radiator size, the Swiftech Apogee GT waterblock limits the cooling available to the CPU.

In contrast, the Vadim kit's GPU temperature was absolutely amazing - it was several degrees cooler than it was with most of the other custom kits. However, it's likely that with a more effective CPU waterblock, the GPU temperature would rise a little, as the entire loop would have to dissipate more heat from the Protect IP coolant.

The Vadim custom kit also lacks a comprehensive, unified manual for the entire kit - only three separate leaflets for the three Swiftech components are provided. Other than these, there are no instructions on how to assemble a water-cooling loop.

Despite the disappointing CPU temperature, the Vadim custom kit has several points of interest that mean it's worth considering; first and foremost among these is the innovative modular graphics card waterblock and the long, thin radiator. Plus, you can always order the kit with a different CPU waterblock. At the time of writing, Vadim offered the EK-Supreme, the Swiftech Apogee GTX, the D-TEK FuZion and a couple of Innovatek waterblocks as alternatives.

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