XSPC Rasa 750 RS240 watercooling kit review
Watercooling. Most people automatically assume that watercooling has fewer pros than cons. Many people are put off watercooling because it’s just too expensive and too complicated and many are afraid of the coolant leaking onto the other components. However, XSPC offers a watercooling kit that is not very complicated and is very cost effective. The bottom line is, if you can put a pc together, you can assemble this custom watercooling loop.
This kit includes everything but coolant:
- Rasa Black (Acetal) CPU Waterblock
- Socket 775, 1366 and 1154 Backplates
- Socket AM2 and AM3 mounting kit
- X2O 750 12V Pump/Reservoir
- 5mm Blue LED with 4Pin Molex
- RS240 Radiator
- Low Noise 1700rpm 120mm Fan x2
- 120mm Fan Grill x2
- 2 Meters of Clear 7/16" Hose
- G1/4" to 1/2" barbs x6
- Thermal Paste
The 750 kit is compatible with AMD socket 939,754,940,AM2 and AM3, as well as Intel Socket LGA1366,LGA1156,LGA775,603 and 604.
The CPU Block
Installation
Installing everything was relatively easy, aside from the CPU block. I decided to install everything outside the case to make sure there were no leaks and that everything was working the way it should. After leak testing for several hours I came to conclusion that everything was working correctly. I then took everything apart and started moving the kit into my PC. I had to mount the radiator outside the case because they was no space on the inside, it is now hanging off the back of the case. Installing the water block was pretty difficult, however, not complicated; in fact it was too simple. The backplate was not designed properly; it was very difficult to get the block to screw onto the backplate without the backplate falling off or the thermal paste smudging. Installing the block is definitely a two man job. Once everything was installed all I had to do was connect the tubing, fill the loop and once again; leak test for another 8 hours.
Coolant
Distilled water and a silver kill coil or a biocide is definitely the way to go. Other coolants/premixes are strongly advised against because they can gunk up your block and/or stain your tubing. Distilled water is also the best performer and outperforms many premixes and other coolants.
Test PC specs:
-Intel Core i5 750 2.66GHz
-Asus Maximus III Formula
-ASUS ENGTX480
-4gb Transcend aXeRam 2000mhz
-Corsair HX850W PSU
-80gb Seagate 7200rpm drive
-AeroCool PGS RS-9
Results
*All load temps were recorded with Core Temp and stressing was done using Prime 95.
XSPC Rasa 750 RS240 W/ coolermaster sickle flow fans (2000rpm, 69cfm)
i5 750 2.66GHz @ 3.5GHz (175*20), vcore- 1.200V
ROOM/ambient temp: 18.5*C
IDLE temp: 28*C
LOAD temp: 45, 45, 45, 43
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i5 750 2.66GHz @ 3.8GHz (181*21), vcore- 1.250V
ROOM/ambient temp: 18.5*C
IDLE temp: 29*C
LOAD temp: 49, 50, 49, 47
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i5 750 2.66GHz @ 3.92GHz (186*21), vcore- 1.272V
ROOM/ambient temp: 18.5*C
IDLE temp: 30*C
LOAD temp: 51, 52, 51, 50
Conclusion
The XSPC Rasa 750 RS240 is definitely worth the money and gives unbelievable results, Temps dropped about 10°C over my Cooler Master Hyper 212 plus. If you assemble the kit properly there is no chance of a leak occurring, especially if you leak tested. The only major con is that it takes up a lot of space and a relatively large case is needed if you want to keep the radiator inside the chassis. The kit only has one or two minor drawbacks but none of them would stop me from recommending this kit to other people.
Get more pictures here
-Kyle Burton