Introduction


Welcome back to Extreme Rigs, today we will be reviewing the new “NEXT” CPU block from AquaComputer.  It’s been a while since the last version of the Cuplex Kryos launched back in 2010, so long in fact that we’ve never reviewed it, even in our earliest 2012 round up.  The new block is still called the Cuplex Kryos, but adds on the “NEXT” suffix.  Now there are a few different version of this new block, but today we will be looking at the simplest vanilla version.  A big thanks to AquaComputer for supporting our efforts with a review sample:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

I have to admit I’m a bit of a fan of AquaComputer designs.  The parts are always machined beautifully and you never feel like they cheaped out.  It’s kind of like buying a Mercedes, it may not be the fastest on the race track, nor will it be cheap, but you’re going to enjoy the quality of the experience and workmanship no matter what.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

The box has a sleeve with some minimal information on it.  We simply find out that it’s G 1/4″ threaded like nearly all other water cooling components and that is is high performance and high flow.  Of course we’ll test these claims in a bit, but additional information provided by AquaComputer state that the channels are less than 0.2mm now, while flow restriction has been reduced over previous versions.

CPU contact has also been optimized.  Naturally it’s CNC machined.  Even though this is a cardboard sleeve that could be customized for each block, the sleeve still highlights some cool optional features.  We’ll talk more about those later, but sadly none of those cool features are on this vanilla version.  Note that this is a pre release sample so there is no label identifying the exact version which will be there on the production version.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

Interestingly the standard AquaComputer logo is now overlayed on a picture of a galaxy.  Cool.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

The back of the inner box has some marketing bumf about AquaComputer.  Breaking open the seal we get a view of the accessories which were rattling around inside:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

As this is a pre-release sample there were no instructions included, however they were emailed to me later on.  These will be printed and included in the box.

The accessories included in my sample are only suitable for use with the socket 2011 mount:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

4 screws with springs, an Allen Key to tighten said screws, a spatula for spreading TIM and the some Thermal Grizzly Thermal Interface Material (TIM).  This is not the highest performing of the Thermal Grizzly TIMs but we like that it hasn’t just been rebranded so we know exactly what it is and how it performs:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

Now for testing we will have to use a standardized TIM, but it’s cool that AquaComputer have decided to include such a decent TIM.  Often times we see either a cheap TIM, an own brand unknown TIM or simply no TIM at all.  Of course there are always two schools of thought on this.  Either you think the TIM is free so you got better value for money, or if you had other TIM that you wanted to buy, then perhaps the CPU block could have been cheaper instead if it came with none.

The NEXT block is further inside the box:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

It’s protected well with the foam sheets, additionally it is sealed in a plastic bag to prevent any water or dust contamination:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

Unlike some other companies there is no peel off plastic sticker on the base.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

Our version is a full metal (copper) block that has been Nickel plated.  The mounting bracket however appears to be stainless steel with pressed inserts for the screws to align with.  This is a bit of a shame that the stainless steel is left raw because the finish just doesn’t match the pristine nickel plating perfectly.

The machining on the block is beautiful and complex.  There are many curves to the shape. This is not a budget block that is simply rectangular for ease of design and machining.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

The branding is discrete, with only “cuplex kryos”, “NEXT” and “made in germany” inscribed in small text on the top of the block.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

We are a fan of this subtle branding.  AquaComputer has always maintained a classy style in their aesthetic and this simple clean almost Art Deco style design is perfectly in line with that.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

The CNC machined curves have a slight stepping to them but it’s almost impossible to see.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

The pressed inserts are a great idea as we’ll see.  They are designed on Socket 2011 to be tightened until they touch the CPU socket.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos NextThe other place that AquaComputer have not skimped is in the threading of the ports.  Some manufacturers only use partial threads combined with 2 complete threads.  Often this is because this means the block can be physically smaller and cheaper.  However this can severely compromise the resistance to thread stripping.  The NEXT block instead is using six full threads.  No compromises here.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

The base of the block is still nickel plated and has a very good mirrored finish as evidenced by these reflections at all angles:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

The distortion of the image comes from the bow of the base.  AquaComputer say there will be 90 different versions of this block.  This is good because aesthetics are increasingly a major reason behind a purchasers decision to buy a particular block.  Now 90 still seems excessive, but we’ll get on to why later.  Not all block finishes will go with all boards.  We think this full nickel block is well matched to Asus’s Deluxe X99 board:AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

This really shows how the recessed screw cups actually do help to make the screws low profile.  They also serve to hide the ugly springs giving a much simpler and cleaner look.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos NextNote that we haven’t tightened the screws all the way down in this picture. We love this low profile clean look, and we also love designs that stop you from over tightening the block.  Precision mounts have generally given a much tighter set of results which translates to a greater chance of getting a good mount every time.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

Tightening the screws is simple with the provided allen key. Here’s a final look once the bolts are tightened down:

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Now let’s take a look at the features and instructions.

Features

Let’s now and go look at the instructions.  These are pretty standard, but given that we didn’t receive a socket 115X mount then it’s useful to at least see how the mount would work:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos NextAs usual there is a preferred direction of coolant flow.  AMD instructions are also included and are included in the spoiler below.


Let’s now move on to some of the optional features we alluded to earlier.

NEXT Vario

The first of these is the “Vario” version.  The Vario version allows you to tweak the bow of the block.  Some manufacturers have tweaked the bow of a block for specific chipsets, usually by offering different jetplate thicknesses (EK for example).  The last truly variable block we saw was from Danger Den who are now sadly no longer around.  With Danger Den’s M6 you could buy additional plastic jetplates of various thicknesses and shapes so as to tweak the bow however you wished.  The idea was that you would test the TIM spread with a certain insert, and iterate to see if you could make better contact.  Sadly the block itself never showed top performance even after tweaking so it never took off.

Since 2012 though we’ve really started hitting the limit of what can be achieved with a copper base, jetplates and microchannels.  So much of the performance that we measure is now about how well the block mounts to CPU and how thin and wide the TIM spread is in critical areas of the CPU.  Not only does the bow vary from socket to socket, but even from CPU to CPU of the same type.  In an ideal world, not only would I test 10 or so mounts of a cpu block in both rotations and both flow directions, but I’d test it across multiple samples of multiple CPU products.  As it is I simply test 6 of each rotation, one flow direction and only on one CPU sample.  This means that the manufacturer is really getting lucky (or unlucky) depending on how my test CPU is shaped.  AquaComputer therefore have decided to let us tweak the bow of the block and have done so in a more useful way than anyone else has done before.  Let’s look at the marketing info on the Vario product now:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

cuplex_kryos_next_vario_detail

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

So the Vario allows us to mount the CPU block and then vary the bow which is the first time we’ve been able to do this.  This makes it far easier to optimize because you don’t have to worry about the mounting variation each time. These instructions make it sound simple – just start loading the CPU with prime and play with the bow while logging the temperature. However as we know from our testing in order to get accurate enough data you’re really going to have to let the coolant come to equilibrium and then average over a suitably long period of time.  So the calibration of the bow might take some time to get right, but once there you should be guaranteed top notch performance.  Hopefully AquaComputer will also send us a Vario unit to test to see whether the system really works.  Here is the Vario in the flesh from an AquaComputer photo:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

NEXT Vision

The NEXT also has the “Vision” option – this is almost a mini Aquaero built into the CPU block along with an OLED display.  It connects optionally via USB or AquaBus and can process and display data.  The Vision system also has a built in temperature probe for the coolant temperature.  This is pretty useful, particularly if you don’t have an Aquaero and are wanting to calibrate the Vario bow tweak.  Here’s how the block looks:

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

There is also a video:

PVD

AquaComputer also have the option to adding a PVD coating on top of the nickel plating.  This titanium coating “creates a visually very appealing and extremely scratch-resistant surface”.  Indeed Wikipedia confirms that this is superior to electroplating:

  • “PVD coatings are sometimes harder and more corrosion resistant than coatings applied by the electroplating process. Most coatings have high temperature and good impact strength, excellent abrasion resistance and are so durable that protective topcoats are almost never necessary.”

This is the first time we’ve seen titanium used in water cooling blocks, but it’s likely to not be pure Titanium, but instead Titanium Nitride which is technically a ceramic.  This would mean that we wouldn’t have to worry about galvanic corrosion which will always slowly effect nickel plating unless corrosion inhibitors are present.

RGB Lighting

For the plexiglass version of the NEXT, some extra features are included.  RGB LED illumination is obviously the main feature, but it’s more advanced than simply some LEDs.  Like the vision system this also features the integrated temperature sensor and a USB/Aquabus connection.  It is unclear at this time whether the system is exactly the Vision system and whether all Plexiglass blocks have to have RGB lighting and the Vision system.

Other Varieties

Material Options:

Top: Delrin, Plexiglas GS, Copper

Coating options: Nickel Plating and PVD Titanium on top of Nickel Plating

Base Plate: Copper, Nickel Plated Copper, .925 sterling silver

Price

Naturally with so many feature options we can expect the price to vary considerably.  Example prices are:

60 euro for the basic Delrin, Copper version.

85 euro for the full copper nickel plated version we have shown in the photos here

290 euro for the most expensive version (Vario, Vision, PVD, Silver base)

Yes that’s right, 290 euros for a CPU block.  Luckily the USD exchange rate is pretty good right now but that is a lot of money.  However if it stops you from buying a $200 Aquaero then maybe it’s not so bad.  85 euro on the other hand isn’t crazy money for a full metal nickel plated block – in fact that price is identical to Watercool’s excellent Heatkiller IV which doesn’t include any TIM.

Let’s split out the cost adders on the different versions as best we can:

Top: Delrin, Plexiglas GS (+7 EU), Copper (+20 EU), Nickel Plated Copper (+20 EU)

Base Plate: Copper, Nickel Plated Copper (+5 EU), .925 sterling silver (+120 EU)

PVD Coating for Nickel: +20 EU

Vision Module: +35-40 EU

Vario Module: +30 EU

Our suggestion would be most likely to get the Vision module, because it’s cool, but skip the VARIO because it will be hard to calibrate.  We’d also skip the Silver because it’s pricey and maybe splurge on the PVD Full metal block if the aesthetics work. That version adds up to ~135 EU.

Now let’s take a look inside the block.

Internals

Internals

To open the block up simply remove the 4 screws with the provided allen key.  The allen key is decently chunky meaning that it doesn’t easily slip and strip the head when torquing down on it.  This makes us very happy because not all manufacturer’s do this – for example EK’s blocks have quite a small allen key.

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Opening up the block we see the micro channel base with some additional crosswise channel cuts.  Inside the top we see the typical jetplate arrangement.  Unlike some designs the top does not come further apart and we like this:dsc_9639

While this can make the part more costly to make, it means that there is less risk of a user messing something up during routine maintenance.  In addition the o-rings channels have nice smooth corner radii so that they are pretty easy to keep in place during re-assembly.dsc_9640

The base itself has very fine micro channels as we would expect, however the cross channel perpendicular cuts are more unusual.  Presumably they are there to help spread the flow from the center out to the corners of the base.  While the majority of the CPU heat is cooled in the center of the block we’ve found that when TIM doesn’t get near the corners of the IHS that performance suffers very slightly.  Therefore better coolant flow to the corners of the cooling engine may also be helping performance.
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At about 25mm in length – the channels are very similar to most other blocks.

dsc_9646The width of the cooling engine is a bit wider at ~28mm.  So now we know what the block looks like and all the features it has, let’s get it tested!

Performance

Performance

Let’s start off looking at the block restriction.  Restriction is the amount of pump pressure it takes to push a certain amount of coolant through a block.  To measure this we set up a differential manometer across the block – this will measure the pressure drop.  Then we vary the flow of coolant with a tap and measure flow using a large King Instruments rota-meter.

Let’s start off comparing against the three top performers in our last review:

restrictionplot

While the NEXT block does get more restrictive at higher flow rates, it’s essentially the same as the Heatkiller and CPU-390 at 1GPM and below.  This is perfectly acceptable even though we’d prefer something more like the Raystorm Pro’s performance.  If we compare to all the other CPU blocks we’ve tested then the plot would get confusing, but let’s single out the data at only one flow rate (1 GPM) to make it easier to compare:

restriction

Our rule of thumb here is that restriction should be better than 1PSI at 1GPM.  It’s somewhat arbitrary of course, but it’s easy to remember.  Most blocks meet this requirement, some with a lot of margin to spare.  The NEXT is clearly worse than the median, but not substantially so.

Thermal performance

While a block’s restriction is informative, the real test is one of thermal performance – how well can the water block cool a CPU.  The block was tested on one sample of Intel’s I7-5820K CPU.  The block was mounted 6 times in two different orientations for a total of 12 runs.  The CPU was overclocked to 4.2GHz and loaded with a custom Prime95 run that utilized all cores.  Data was logged for two hours and a 15 minute subsection of this data was chosen automatically for processing by excel based on the lowest standard deviation of the 15 minute window’s air temperature.  15 minutes of data is long enough to provide enough averaging for an accurate measurement while being short enough to avoid any ambient temperature spikes or shifts from affecting the data.  As a reminder – when we talk about block orientation we use two definitions.  Regular means that the block’s logo is the “correct” horizontal orientation when placed on a normal motherboard in a normal tower case.  This for example would be “regular” for the NEXT block:

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“Goofy” on the other hand is a 90 degree rotation from regular:

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CPUs usually prefer one orientation because the CPU’s die is not symmetric.  In addition most modern water block designs use micro channels orientated horizontally or vertically with a central inlet.  These channels will normally cool best when the central inlet to the micro-channels aligns with the longest side of the die.  CPU die alignment is different on the “mainstream” chips vs the “high end enthusiast” chips.  For example the 2700K/3770K/4770K/6700K usually have all generally preferred one orientation, while the 3930K/4930K/5930K/6800K have all preferred the other orientation.  The orientation isn’t always the same for all water blocks because manufacturer’s are not consistent in how their branding lines up with the micro-channels in the block.  For this reason even though we might be able to guess the correct orientation based on the block internal design we still test a new block to make sure.

For our X99 based CPU the NEXT block definitely preferred to be in a “Goofy” orientation:

This alphabetical list isn’t the best for comparing the block different blocks.  Let’s switch to ordering by performance.  Let’s also remove the worse performing mounts to make it simpler and compare only the best performing orientations:

While the NEXT comes in fifth place, in reality this is very close to the CPU-390i and Heatkiller IV that we were raving about earlier in the year.  If it wasn’t for the newly released Eisblock that just got done testing this week the NEXT would essentially be within the margin of error for the top spot.  Bear in mind that margin of error in testing may be larger in testing than you may expect.  Even if we can measure a block within a certain amount of accuracy on this CPU sample there is inherent variation between CPUs which is more and more of a problem as block performance increases.  For example if we compute the 99% confidence intervals which represent fairly well the spread of results due to mount variation alone we can see that there is plenty of overlap between results:

This plot does however serve to show that the NEXT’s mount system gives a very repeatable mount.  The mount I did think could apply a bit more pressure though and this would most likely have improved performance a little.

Now again, bear in mind that this is only one test of one CPU.  Other CPU samples and designs will have different bows and may give slightly different results.  From this data we can conclude the water block is performing comparably to some of the best blocks out there on this CPU.  But other CPUs may be different.  This is why AquaComputer also have the “VARIO” version of the block that let’s you fine tune the bow of the block’s base.  We’d love to play with that version and see if we can get some better performance numbers.  Certainly the TIM spread looked like there are improvements that could be made in bow and pressure.

Summary

Summary

The NEXT is a very high performance block, while it’s not number one in our chart it’s still up there with some amazing performing blocks particularloy once you factor in the margin of error. While flow restriction is higher than average it is still acceptable.

It’s beautiful and has some unique optional features that really separate it from the competition like the Vario and Vision options.  The Vario option is great if you have the ability to test and calibrate for the required accuracy.  Personally I suspect most people won’t be able to and so we think it is a waste for most users.  The Vision module on the other hand is really cool and I think many people would love an OLED temperature screen on their blocks.  Particularly as cases remove the option for a drive bays in which to put an Aquaero.

I also like that AquaComputer have given us so many choices, up to a point.  We love that they have full metal options, and black and clear plastic options.  However we think the pricey silver option is unnecessary and perhaps the full variety of choices is a little overkill.  This will drive re-seller’s nuts and so they may end up cutting back on carrying the full range anyway.  I would rather have less choice but instead have some options with a built in a VRM block for popular X99 boards like EK’s monoblocks.

AquaComputer Cupled Kryos Next

Because it delivers on performance while bringing new and unique features to the table we feel it deserves the coveted Gold Award.

Where To Buy:

AquaComputer – 60-285 Euro

Performance PC’s – None in stock as of writing

Here are some of the alternative versions of the block as shown by AquaComputer – you can see the full array here:

 

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