Verdict: Resterator? We call it the chillerator
The Zalman range of CPU HSFs are traditional in only the loosest sense of the word. They're copper heatsink and fan assemblies, but with their exotic styling it's not surprising they have nicknames such as 'the flower'. The unusual looks are a result of Zalman's efforts to reduce noise levels, and while they are quieter than many HSFs, they still use fans, which cause two fundamental problems: firstly, even quiet fans create noise, and secondly, a fan only blows heat away from the CPU, so more fans are needed to move the hot air out of the case. Water-cooling systems are much more effective than HSFs, but while they're often quieter than air-cooling systems, they still require a fan to cool the radiator.
Given Zalman's innovative approach to design and the company's interest in quiet cooling, we had high expectations of its first water-cooling kit. The Reserator doesn't disappoint. It looks stunning - it's like a newly discovered species that's been hidden away from the rest of PC evolution. The system comprises the huge tubular Reserator itself -6.5kg of pure aluminium, standing nearly 60cm tall - and the equally megalithic ZM-WB2 waterblock, with a gold-plated copper underside, enough silicone piping to connect the two, and a handy flow-meter. The top of the Reserator unscrews and the unit must be filled with two-and-a-half litres of de-ionised water. Both the Reserator and the block are finished in a gorgeous deep metallic blue. Despite the harsh fluorescent lighting in the CPC lab, the azure colour of the Zalman system was still strong enough to remind us of the Pacific Ocean.
However, the reason for the Reserator's style and monumental size is not aesthetic - the system is passively cooled. There are no fans at all, because the Reserator functions as a huge radiator. Cold water is pumped to the CPU block, where it heats up and transports the excess energy out of the PC. The water is then cooled by the massive surface area of the Reserator. Zalman is clearly confident in the system's cooling abilities, because the ZM-WB2 waterblock comes with clips for Pentium 4, Athlon XP, Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 FX processors.
Unlike the Corsair Hydrocool 200 EX (see Issue 7, p52), the Reserator isn't a pre-assembled kit, but installation isn't too tricky. Once you've fitted the CPU block, as with the Asetek Waterchill (see Issue 3, p32), you have to cut the tubing to length and then attach it to both the block and the Reserator. All the connections are screw clamps and the tubes are fed through a large washer and pushed onto the nozzle fitting. The washer then screws the tube to the nozzle, which, in our experience, provides a safe and secure fitting. Since the tubes are flexible, they don't need to be heated to be bent into shape. The block itself is also easy to fit, with the single arm clip providing a secure amount of downward pressure on the CPU. The Reserator takes all its power from a plug socket, so it can be operated independently of the PC.
We tested the Reserator on a 3.2GHz Pentium 4 CPU overclocked to 3.36GHz. We recorded two temperatures from the CPU and compared them with the standard Intel HSF. The first temperature is taken when the PC is ticking over in Windows, and the second when running the stress test RealStorm 2004 (www.realstorm. com). When idle, the CPU was three-and-a-half degrees cooler with the Reserator fitted than it was with the Intel HSF. Under load, the Reserator was just as impressively icy. If the Reserator-cooled CPU were a room, it would be chillier than George W. Bush addressing a meeting of Greenpeace and the Oscar Wilde Society. The overclocked CPU was twelve degrees cooler with the Reserator fitted than it was with the Intel HSF, compared to 11 degrees cooler wth the Hydrocool 200 EX.
However, the Reserator's performance can't be measured purely in terms of cooling. Even though the Hydrocool 200 EX is quieter than its predecessor, it still has an audible cooling fan. The Reserator however, is almost totally silent - even quieter than that meeting of Oscar Wilde fans and Greenpeace activists after Dubya's opening joke. The only part that makes any noise is the pump, and since it's encased in the radiator's huge aluminium housing, it's almost impossible to hear.
CONCLUSION
The Reserator is the most impressive water-cooling kit we've seen. It's an exceptional cooler, impeccably engineered and brilliantly styled. Its size might tie your PC down, but if you want a quieter PC, it's unquestionably worth the investment.
