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Cathar and The storm

Discussion in 'Extreme and Water Cooling' started by stav's, Feb 25, 2011.

  1. stav's

    stav's Member

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    Hello people of the EXTREME cooling section, Years and years ago when I was doing a custom WC setup I remember the whole world raving about OCAUs Cathar and his Storm water blocks. They were amongst the best performing blocks in the world at the time and I owned a copper one myself. I'm just wondering if anyone knows if Cathar still develops gear or how his old blocks stand up against the current ones. I sold my old G4 rig but it may be possible to get the CPU block back and I'm just wondering if it's worth the hassle for the performace.

    I'd say this was around 5-6 years ago when these blocks were everywhere.

    Thanks for any help.
     
  2. Creekin

    Creekin (Taking a Break)

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  3. OP
    OP
    stav's

    stav's Member

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    Cheers for that. Time to start reading reviews till my eyes bleed.:p
     
  4. Creekin

    Creekin (Taking a Break)

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  5. CrimsonFury

    CrimsonFury Member

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    +1 for this ^. Swiftech Apogee XT comes a close 2nd (about 1/2 a degree difference). I'm going for the Swiftech because it has a much nicer mounting system.
     
  6. Dungoofd

    Dungoofd (Banned or Deleted)

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    http://skinneelabs.com/


    Buy a Koolance CPU-360. 0.1 degree difference to a Supreme HF, looks 10x better, and the mounting system is 500x better.
     
  7. VeritronX

    VeritronX Member

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    Seriously don't bother with it, my mate bought one and the thread on the mounting setup was screwed after two installs. The EK one may be basic, but it always works, and it's all you really need.

    As an aside, the EK one might actually be better because when you mount it, it lines up perfectly with the cpu and lowers straight onto it without moving in any direction other than up or down.. This might actually help the thermal paste spread more evenly..

    Edit: found an example in skinnee's conclusion of the koolance 360 review:
    "The performance of the CPU-360 might not quite match the Supreme HF P1, but it does so much else right that deciding between the two is a tough call. The mounting system of the CPU-360 is vastly superior and that shouldn’t be ignored. It’s not as idiot-proof as the Swiftech mounting system but it is more flexible and more robust (I stripped a lot of threads on Swiftech backplates). It’s the kind of mounting system you would want to keep and use for all your future blocks."

    Edit 2:

    I quite like the look of mine, the nickel plexi one is nice too.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2011
  8. jtir

    jtir Member

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  9. iJayforce

    iJayforce Member

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    +1

    I have this block and am using the thicker o-ring :thumbup:

    I can only think of good things to say about it ... one thing I must say is I disagree with the remarks on the mounting system on this block, I think it is one of the better ones that I have had to deal with, it makes it very easy to re-paste the cpu without the removal of the mounting system, I think that rocks :D
     
  10. dasa2

    dasa2 Member

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    the storm blocks were made for cpu's without a ihs and all new cpu's use a ihs so they are at a disadvantage to start with

    having said that i am still using a storm g5 currently on a 2600k and it works just fine
    i will soon be swaping to a swiftech xt i have sitting here to see how much difference there is

    here it is on a i3 540
    [​IMG]
     
  11. VIP3R

    VIP3R Member

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    I still have one of these that i use on a old S939 system, was going to sell it but its more than enough to keep a lower powered pc silent.
     
  12. Oosh

    Oosh Member

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    Same here, but mine never even got wet let alone used in anger, my situation and priorities changed.
    The Eheim 1250 pump I bought at the same time at least (eventually) saw use in my aquarium - until I did something foolish and it seized.

    I wonder where the water block is...
     
  13. Mathuisella

    Mathuisella Member

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    sorry thread necro....

    I'm also curious about all this. In regards to whether cathars blocks stand up to todays blocks... I believe they would...

    If i remember right there hasn't been a non IHS covered chip since the AMD athlon XP days.... so yeah.
     
  14. Oosh

    Oosh Member

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    Found my block the other month, still in "Mint In Box" condition. :o
     
  15. ir0nhide

    ir0nhide Member

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    I've got a silver cathar block lying around somewhere.....


    Never used it :o
     
  16. OP
    OP
    stav's

    stav's Member

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    I remember lots of tutorials for removing IHSs for the original AMD64s. Not sure how it would go on current chips.
     
  17. Mathuisella

    Mathuisella Member

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    probably just the same. the die itself would be larger or smaller, but the principal would be the same.

    In laptops though intel don't put IHS on their chips

    http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showpost.php?p=15208197&postcount=100
     

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