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Review: Zalman Reserator 1

by Ryszard Sommefeldt on 1 June 2004, 00:00

Tags: Zalman (090120.KQ)

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Zalman Reserator 1

The basic Reserator 1 kit is made up of the large Reserator itself, a waterblock for your CPU, tubing, along with all the various fitments and accessories you'll need to put it together.

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A full 23.5 inches tall and made from anodised aluminium, the Reserator itself is a fair bit taller than most ATX cases. With 19 inches of girth and obvious fins around the circumference, the dimensions and construction of the Reserator hold the key to its operation. A large water volume (nearly 2.5 litres) and large surface area for the fins to dissipate heat passed from the water to the Reserator are how the unit works. The heat from the CPU block, and any other waterblocks in the closed loop, are passed to the water which is pumped round the system. The large water volume stored in the unit passes the heat to the Reserator, which then relies on ambient air to remove the heat from the fins.

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Peeking down the top of the Reserator reveals the water chamber, integrated pump and inlet valve for the returning water in the loop.

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The inlet and outlet ports sit underneath the main Reserator structure, themselves above a sturdy base. The base, containing the integrated pump, is removable, should you wish to swap the pump for something a bit more potent.

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The screwable lid tells you all the major specs. Let's take a look at the rest of the hardware in the base kit.