In the most recent installment of captivating endeavors, the esteemed overclocker Roman “Der8auer” Hartung introduces a modified waterblock, created by one of his colleagues. Unveiled at Computex merely two months ago, this waterblock showcases a revolutionary concept of concealing the liquid tubes. The design achieves this by dividing the block into two parts: one positioned on the front side of the motherboard, encompassing the CPU, while the other serves as a reservoir and tube connector on the backside. This innovation results in a clean and elegant appearance for the front, devoid of traditional tubing.
In the presentation, der8auer utilized an AORUS B650E motherboard, and while the custom waterblock is designed to be compatible with most AM5 motherboard layouts, it didn’t perfectly match the AORUS board due to the M.2 heatsink obstructing the fit. However, this limitation is of little significance as the project was custom-made specifically for the Computex exhibition and not intended as a commercial product. If it were to transition into a retail offering in the future, it’s likely that this issue would be addressed and resolved.
Another aspect to consider is the backside of the waterblock, where the secondary water reservoir is located, and it also serves as the attachment point for the tubes. However, its size could pose compatibility challenges with various standard PC cases, as the block might extend beyond the case dimensions. To address this, a potential solution would be to integrate this waterblock into a dual-chamber chassis design, incorporating a substantial cutout behind the motherboard. Alternatively, a custom chassis could be designed specifically to accommodate this unique waterblock setup.
At the moment, Der8auer is open to suggestions for improving the cooler’s design, especially aiming for a slimmer backside block that would enhance compatibility with a broader range of PC cases. Despite the current limitations, there is optimism that with collaboration from motherboard and chassis manufacturers, Roman and ModdingCafe could potentially evolve this concept into a commercially available product in the future.
Images Source: Der8auer