Overclockers Tech

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Introduction

In the performance water cooling industry, we have seen many CPU blocks vie for our attention; with many products and a myriad of interesting ideas. A company that has hugged the limelight is with their heat killer range of blocks and indeed they have been bestowed with the performance’ crown for a log time. With baited breath water cooling enthusiasts have been expecting the new heatkiller killer for quite some time! This is where the new XSPC RASA steps in with its new mounting mechanism, which is of a similar nature to that of the Swiftech XT.

XSPC have been around for many years, offering cooling parts for the computer consumer. They made their name with their range of radiators and of their quality water cooling tubing. In recent times XSPC have purchased ‘Thermochill’ which is in joint ownership with Watercoolinguk and it has seen to have gone from strength to strength.  With the release of their new RX radiators time is indeed looking  good for XSPC! Those ‘good times’ may be set to continue with the launch of their new CPU water block entitled Rasa. The word or concept Rasa is Sanskrit for the concept of ‘essence’, it is also Latin meaning ‘Slate’ as in Tubular Rasa’ meaning blank slate’.  The reason why the block was called this as that this block is not based upon any existing XSPC  product, rather they started from ‘scratch’-hence the name Rasa!

Without further delay let us look further into the Rasa’s capabilities.

Specifications

• ¼ inch thread mounting holes for the barbs
• Chrome mounting bracket
• Weight 150 Grammes
• Compatible with Intel Sockets 775, 1156, and 1366

One must note that the block that this reviewer received was the final revision prototype, this means that the chrome is not as polished as the final sales version that the consumer would see. Additionally the screws holding the Rasa block together will be stainless instead of mild steel.

Packaging and box contents

The packaging for this block is the same that has been used on previous generations of CPU blocks manufactured by XSPC. One can notice the black and red packaging through out the range.

XSPC Packaging

Inside the box we find that the packaging is literally crammed with the components needed to install the waterblock onto the system board.

A slot has been machined from the side of block. This enables the inlet to redirect water flow from the edge to the centre of the block.  This then lets the consumer have the choice of fitting compression barbs. The Heatkiller is unable to utilise the aforementioned barbs without the use of 45 degree angle fittings. A good thought is that this block combines the advantages of a low flow and a high flow block in one tidy package. It has the ability to direct the flow of the water directly onto the centre of the cooling area of the block and still be able to use compression barbs (an advantage that comes with low flow blocks)

As clearly shown and as previously mentioned, the chrome bracket is not as highly polished as it should be, in addition to the mild-steel screws, however on the final sales version this will be changed and this will not effect performance at all.

Testing and Methodology

As always at overclockerstech the waterblock was subjected to a harsh and thorough testing procedure, which involved subjecting both of the blocks under test to the use of Thermochill UV green fluid. Each product under test was subject to at least one hours full load before cooling down for thirty minutes, only then were the idle temperatures taken. Full load temperatures were only taken only after idle temperatures were complete.

An inline sensor was placed in the ‘fluid in’ and another in the ‘water out’ sections. Additionally sensors were installed before and after radiator in order to monitor air in and out of the radiator. CPU temperatures were taken by the use of realtemp 3.0 whilst the processor was brought to full operational capacity by using Pime95,ambient air was kept at a consistent 24.1 degrees. Lastly the pump for the water cooling system was installed onto another power supply in order for the temperature readings to be stable. All thermal compound was placed using a 5.5milimetre blob in the centre of the processor and cleaned using Isopropyl alcohol after every use. As previously stated all results are compared to that of the Watercool Heatkiller 3.0 (copper version).

Testing Equipment

• DFI X58 UT T3EH8 (ChipSet water cooled)
• Core I7 920D0 Processor
• 1/2″ ID tubing
• Thermochill PA 140.3 radiator with three mid-range 140mm Sharkoon fans.
• Innovation Cooling IC7 Diamond compound (was given fifty hours of curing for each block)

Idle Tests

The first test shows the temperature of the air flowing into and out of the radiator.

Water Temperatures of Fluid In and water Out on Idle

Average idle temperatures for Heatkiller and Rasa

Maximum Temperatures on idle

One cannot explain the sudden jump on core two in regards to the Heatkiller tests, the only thing that could spring to mind is that is might have bene possible for some unknown background task.

Degrees Above Ambient Using Average Temperatures

Degrees Above Ambient Using Maximum Temperatures

 

 

Testing Continued……..

Even on Idle we can see a two degree performance increase on the XSPC Rasa block, compared to that of the Heatkiller. Could this be a sign of things to come? Let us move along and find out.

Next we move along to the full load temperatures. All results were recorded after one hours of ‘prime 95 use. The first test is that of the temperature of the air on full load when it has passed in and out of the radiator.

Water In and Out on Full Load

 

Full load Average Temperatures

Full load Maximum Temperatures

Degrees Above Ambient on Full Load Using Average Temperature Readings

Degrees Above Ambient on Full Load using Maximum Temperature Readings

Summary and Conclusion

Both products do well, however it is hard to ignore how effective the XSPC block is! On idle and full load tests, the XSPC block is between one and two degrees higher performance than that of the heatkiller. With Core zero showing the largest increase, whilst core two has the smallest. Still being a degree higher performing than the product fromWatercool.One must also realise, whilst the pricing is not yet finalised XSPC have mentioned that it will be only slightly more expensive than that of the previous generation the Delta V3 block. The only criticism I could lay at the feet of XSPC, is that of the thermal compound used, as that is of the cheap generic variety. However performance is where it counts and this block is certainly hard to beat. This reviewer only regrets not having sufficient time to test in an overclocked environment.

Pros:

• Easy Mounting
• Effective Cooling
• Performance
• Comes with its own backing plate (Heatkiller plate has to be purchased separately)
• Price (but to be confirmed)
• Wonderful Engineering
• Able to fit Compression Barbs

Cons:

• Generic Thermal paste
• Intel Only (but AMD due soon)

Based upon these results one can find no difficulty in awarding the XSPC Rasa a 9.5 out of ten and therefore earning a gold award.

Author: Gilgamesh