![[H]ardOCP](/images/blank.gif){kind=small}
- Date:
- Tuesday , August 15, 2006
- Author:
- Justin Diduch
- Editor:
- Kyle Bennett
- Google +1
Corsair Nautilus 500 External Water Cooling Kit
Can Corsair’s new all-in-one water cooling solution really keep your processor cool for under $160? We take it out for a spin to give you our test results and impressions.
External Overview
My initial impression removing the Nautilus 500 from the box was pretty good. The radiator/pump unit is a two piece shell made of black ABS plastic similar to the interior trim pieces in many cars. I imagine part of the reason for using a plastic shell was to keep production costs down, and while I would have preferred an anodized aluminum enclosure the Nautilus 500 feels solid and has a rather clean look to it.
The front of the Nautilus 500 is pretty simple with just the logo and a reservoir level indicator present. I was pretty disappointed to find that the level indicator is largely non functional as the plastic reservoir is opaque. There is a green LED behind the shell that lights this area but it is purely cosmetic.
Sitting on top of a mid-tower Lian-Li PC-6070B it looks right at home and gives you an idea of how it might look on your case.
On the top of the unit we can see the fill plug on the reservoir and the grill material over the fan. This grill material is fairly restrictive but will certainly keep just about anything that could damage the fan from getting through.
Moving to the rear the first thing that caught my eye was the use of Colder Product’s quick-connect couplings. These couplings allow you to quickly disconnect the cooling system with minimal mess for transportation or cleanings. Part of the reason this impressed me is that these are not cheaply made or inexpensive couplings. They are the same parts found in much more expensive systems such as the Koolance Exos2, and Thermaltake’s Symphony. Next to the hose connections are the fan control switch and the 4 pin power/rpm lead connection. I was a bit disappointed in just having a hi/low switch rather than a rheostat which would have allowed for more fine tuning of the fans speed.
At the bottom of the unit we can see fins on the aluminum radiator and the foam pads on the feet that help quiet the noise from the fan and vibrating pump. For you modders out there the four screws that hold the plastic shell together are hidden underneath these foam pads.