Date: October 4th, 2006
Article by: Joe Anderson (Hardware Reviewer)
Edited by: Nathan Glentworth (Owner / Head Editor)
Product was submitted by: Thermaltake
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PRODUCT PICTORIAL AND WALKTHROUGH
The pump is the heart of any liquid cooling system, so let's start with it and proceed through the system from there.
The pump/reservoir units come pre-assembled, right out of the box. The red arrow indicates the blue LED power indicator. The quick connectors are identical in design to the original Bigwater kit, but are sized for the larger tubing of the 735. A large fill cap eases the sometimes difficult task of adding fluid. High and low indicators printed on the smoke-gray plastic reservoir provide a visual aid in keeping the fluid at an acceptable level.
The pump nipple and rubber grommet in the side of the reservoir provide a snug, leak-proof seal between the two. Rubber feet on the reservoir should have been duplicated on the pump flanges to isolate vibration. Screws are provided to mount the pump.
A 4-pin molex connector powers the pump while the 3-pin motherboard connector can provide pump speed data when attached to an appropriate header. The cable is sleeved in an attractive black mesh material.
If the pump is the heart, the tubing and fluid are the arteries and blood of the system. The Bigwater uses 3/8-inch tubing in a nod to watercooling enthusiasts who feel that ¼-inch tubes are just too small. (Many would prefer ½-inch, but that's another story.) Thermaltake has provided a generous supply and, like the coolant, the tubing is green and UV reactive.
Next in line is the waterblock. The base is copper, with a milled serpentine channel. The acrylic top is sealed with an o-ring and secured with four screws. The blue LED in the top left corner lends a bit of visual interest and gets its power via a 3-pin connector.
The base is quite thick and the round contact surface has a very flat, but less than mirror finished surface.
