Thermaltake LCS - why so bad?
Thermaltake LCS - why so bad?
Hi all,
Just got my first LCS and a few extra parts from Thermaltake.
Bigwater 745 kit
Upgraded pump to 500 LPH
Upgraded CPU block (with the radiator and fan, volcano style I think)
NB block too.
Installed it in a Thermaltake Armor case with standard fans and a 25cm side fan. The CPU is now running at 37°C idle and 40-42°C under load for a while. Honestly, I was impressed with the performance.
That said, I’ve noticed some negative feedback on forums about Thermaltake—what’s wrong with them?
My rig isn’t great, it’s 4800+ AMD with twin 8600 chips, not SLI.
Well thinking about it, Tt liquid cooling kits rely on aluminum radiators and copper blocks, which makes them vulnerable. Their pumps aren't as strong as those from Dd, Swiftech, or Petra's, and their radiators are quite restrictive in flow. I'd suggest choosing a kit or building a DIY rig from Dd, Petra's, or Swiftech. -ouch1
By the way, I had a Tt Aquarius II and had to replace the pump three times because of cracking.
the majority of negative comments about thermaltake stem from their use of aluminum radiators, which may cause corrosion or even promote algae development.
Galvanic corrosion occurs when two distinct metals are present within the same cooling system. This happens because one metal possesses a greater electron affinity than the other, allowing it to remove electrons from a readily available source—such as water. Subsequently, the water reacts with the other metal, leading to its degradation. The metal that undergoes oxidation becomes corroded, while the fluid transforms into an ionic state, losing its ability to act as a dielectric.
Certain fluids can help minimize galvanic corrosion in cooling loops, but it is generally more advantageous to avoid mixing metals altogether. Tt intentionally incorporates mixed metals in their products, which indicates a lack of awareness regarding this scientific aspect, particularly when aiming for dielectric fluids in these systems.
Beyond this, restricting the flow in the radiator and several components to 1/4" tubing, along with using a less powerful pump, can significantly reduce overall performance compared to a custom-built setup or a more expensive kit that pays closer attention to detail. In most cases, Tt kits perform only slightly better than air-cooled alternatives, which usually cost about one-third of the price.
Does this apply to the Kandalf LCS kit? The radiator piping seems to be made of copper, as I can see, though the size restriction remains. The pump looks quite strong.
I have used this kit and noticed temperatures dropping from 50c under load to about 24c, which isn’t much higher than ambient.
Given the price of a good case and a water cooling system, I believe the Kandalf has been a good investment so far.
Am I mistaken and should I wait for things to worsen?
Phunky, this issue affects most Tt LCS kits. Adding a solid OC to your CPU will help the kit withstand the stress. For a durable LCS kit, consider getting it from one of these three sources:
DangerDen
Petra's Tech Shop
Swiftech
A liquid cooling solution from any of those places will work well.
-ouch1
Thermochill rads are considered top quality worldwide (bad if you're not from the UK 😅)
Thermaltake was a lifesaver when I began – a reasonably priced item that gave impressive results and boosted my confidence
TT kits often suffer from poor pumps, tiny tubing, and, according to others, unreliable radiators
Swiftech rads perform well (though I don't have personal experience)
If you can afford it, opt for the more expensive models (though this isn't always true)
I understand the science behind the argument and agree that any of these things can occur. I use TT custom products for a complete loop (EK GPU blocks) and frequently change fluids, clean everything, and haven’t faced any problems. I rely on their top-tier pump D5 Laing with the silent kit (PR-22). While I can’t speak for the kits, I spent nearly $800 on my loop including RING fans, hardline tubing, and primochill revolver fittings. I believe I would have chosen copper radiators if I started over just to be sure—peace of mind. However, I haven’t noticed any corrosion or damage yet. Also, it’s uncertain whether things will deteriorate, so I might replace the aluminum radiators someday, but at $90 each they’re not inexpensive. Notably, Alphacool offers some all-copper options for a similar price. My thermal performance is solid with a 6700k OC to 4.6 and R9 290 OC temps, even with those extremely hot GPUs. If anything changes, I’ll let you know. In my opinion, if you’re after a kit, go with the EK Predator since it allows loop expansion. Best wishes!