Radiical Pin Block FAQ

Radiical Pin Block FAQ

We have been working for some months on the Radiical Pin Block. Considerable testing and evaluation has been undertaken to prepare and modify this block to increase its performance and adaptability. The addition of a stepping ring further extends the range of MOB applications, especially where space is at a premium.

The baseplate has been modified and so have the inlet and outlet barbs. The tubing size options have been increased to accommodate sizes from 5/16" (8mm ID) to 1/2" (12mm ID). This increased tubing size range has also extended the pump output and pump power choices available to the user. The range of tubing sizes, types of fittings and pump choices make the Radiical Pin Block suitable for a very wide range of cooling applications.

It should be made clear that this block is quite capable of running cooling systems with pumps as low as 400L/H and 1.6M pump head. We have found good results will occur using this level of pumping power which is encouraging for people who wish to fit water cooling to very small cases and where the use of 5/16" ID tubing is required. For those of you who do not have case size restrictions this water block really performs at its best when coupled with 7/16"- 1/2" ID tubing and pumps capable of over 900L/H and 4.5M head such as the Laing D5.

The internal structure of this block is an enclosed pin block base design where inlet water is first focused by an enclosure onto the hotter center of the CPU IHS. The coolant pathway is split and then diverted to the outlet across a vast pin surface area. You can get some idea of the size of this pin bed from the following picture.

The base is also stepped around the base to provide additional clearance for any encroaching components placed around the socket area.

The current supplied mounting plate will accommodate AMD sockets 754, 939, 940 and Intel sockets 775, 478, 603 and 604. This water block is not suitable at this stage to AMD AM2 socket mounting.

A handy development of this design is the stepping ring. The stepping ring is provided with the water block and can be used to raise the mounting plate 5mm above its standard height The additional 5mm height increase can be used to clear the mounting plate of objects such as heat pipe structures fitted to mosfets around the socket area. This can be very reassuring for people who have previously found difficulty in fitting a new water block to their motherboard because the heat pipe structure impedes correct placement and tightening of the water block to the CPU IHS.

In the pictures below the stepping ring is shown next to the water block then fitted to the water block base.

The water block is provided with 10mm compression fittings suitable for 5/16" tubing. At the point of purchase consideration should be given to switching these barbs out for larger sized tubing if this is required.

We can provide barbs sized for 1/2" ID 3/32 walled tubing as shown below.

Or the newer 3/8" ID and 7/16" ID tubing barbs as shown below.

To avoid any confusion for people new to water cooling the inlet and outlet barb connections are clearly marked on the water block top. This simplifies which barb the pump flow should be connected to so as to provide the correct flow direction.

A full mounting kit containing all the screws, pressure springs and retaining thumb screws are provided with the block.

This block is currently available on the water blocks page and is for sale for $75.00 incl GST