CoolIT Domino ALC review

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A single self contained water-cooling based unit that is very easy to install looks downright sexy and even performs quite adequate as well. It almost sounds to good to be true at 79 USD right CoolIT...

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damien666 · 01-13-2009, 02:17 | posts: 9,172 | Location: nottingham, uk | User is Online

how does this compare to a tuniq tower 120 maxed as my coolers on the way out and i need a new one so was thinking this would make a good upgrade, i dont overclock as i see it as being pointless so please comment.....

Hilbert Hagedoorn · 01-13-2009, 02:28 | posts: 11,706 | Location: Guru3D Trenches | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally Posted by damien666

how does this compare to a tuniq tower 120 maxed

I can't comment on coolers we have not tested. But this unit is as good as a good heatpipe solution. If you don't overclock, then I'd say go for it if you like the aesthetics better.

kylzer · 01-13-2009, 02:55 | posts: 14,690 | Location: Aberdeen, UK | User is Offline

well its different to say the least.

hallryu · 01-13-2009, 03:19 | posts: 4,834 | Location: England | User is Offline

I like it! Simple solution that works!

GabrielSans · *Last edited by GabrielSans; 01-13-2009 at 03:48.*

Hmmm... Hilbert. I have no doubt that that cooler does its job very well. My problem with this kind of solutions has always been regarding "water vs electricity". Since I worked as a plumber when I was younger, I know perfectly that nothing endures forever in that field; I mean a "little drop of water falling down" and I can have a serious problem not only with my CPU but with other components. Therefore, it would be good to know the way to maintain this sort of coolers (e.g. how often to check that everything is OK, as I don't have a transparent case, and so on).

Really, these coolers give me the creeps. Anyway, your fantastic review took me closer to accept this type of solution to cool my CPU in the future (especially when it comes to overclocking).

BTW: Can't they use a different liquid to extract heat that has no problem with electricity? Maybe it is possible, but very expensive, right?

krayzieNRG · 01-13-2009, 04:01 | posts: 481 | Location: Ask me | User is Offline

i think this on a Q6600 @ 3.6ghz will do right?,have always like liquid cooling but always afraid to try.
this will be a step to that direction

Da{N}ka · 01-13-2009, 04:03 | posts: 510 | Location: Zurich | User is Offline

And what about an external installation of the fan chassis ? Do you think will it work ?
I don't think I can get it properly into my case.

proFits · *Last edited by proFits; 01-13-2009 at 04:25.*

Am pretty sure this is better then my Arctic Cooling Alpine 7, but is it really worth the price

Sure you say it's a ''top pick'' but for who exactly ? What's this aimed at ?
Also when you say that we have to unscrew the mother board to put in a back plate, in my personnal experience, it is MUCH better to have a backplate then having some stupid push-pins

Last but not least I received a check for a tax credit of about 100$, which means this bad boy is going into my machine anyways

igorcankickyou · 01-13-2009, 05:13 | posts: 1,465 | Location: Atlanta, Georgia | User is Offline

i might give this a try, i always wanted liquid cooling but always been
afraid of leaks and such.

Matt26LFC · 01-13-2009, 06:08 | posts: 674 | Location: UK | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da{N}ka

And what about an external installation of the fan chassis ? Do you think will it work ?
I don't think I can get it properly into my case.

Quite interested in this myself, not too sure about external installation. Those tubes look very short, can they be replaced by longer ones?

Was thinking i could possibly drill a couple holes through the back of my case and simply place the unit on top of my case? I presume the Db level hilbert reported was what he measured as i he said he didnt do an internal installation due to time constraint i believe it was, so its safe to assume that the Db he reported would be the same for me as i would have an external solution?

Though i dont have the QX9770 i have a Q9550 which shouldnt run as hot therefore i can keep the rpm low to mid perhaps?

Just some thoughts anyway, would love to give WC a shot

biggerx · 01-13-2009, 07:48 | posts: 3,297 | Location: Los Angeles | User is Offline

Nice review Hilbert!! I may have to pick this up. My Zalman 9500A is a too noisy for me.

Tat3 · **Memory**: 3*2Gb 8-8-8-20 @ 1640MHz

Quote:

Originally Posted by http://www.guru3d.com/article/coolit-domino-alc-review/3

It's 2008 and you've been reading Guru3D.com for a while now, right?

Core 2 Quad QX9770 XE Load / Stress testing the CPU @ 100% load
Arctic Freezer 68dec
CoolIT Domino 62dec

Looks cool but performance is not that good...

Chock · 01-13-2009, 09:22 | posts: 673 | Location: Berlin, Germany | User is Offline

i am a litle bit shocked at the "missing parameters" of the test. as with every watercooling test you should specify roomtemperature / ambient temperature, water temperature if possible and most importantly you should include every litle setting possible about the cpu voltage and other voltages.

to the test itself. i am kinda amazed that your quad is 67°C on Full load @1.6v. realy impressive

my E8500 E0 reaches 64°C with 1.432v @4.25ghz which is the setting i run 24/7. and i have 2dual radiators internaly and 1 big badass 400x400mm radiator outside that is right now sitting outside my window in the freezing cold.

Corrupt^ · 01-13-2009, 10:58 | posts: 2,295 | Location: Belgium | User is Offline

Hmmz I wonder if I can cram 4Ghz out of my Q6600 with this, I managed to boot windows @ that speed but when testing with prime, temperatures were an issue. Noise isn't a problem for me as my current setup runs quite loud already, as long as it stays under 50db it's fine.

proFits · 01-13-2009, 11:40 | posts: 4,076 | Location: Quebec | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corrupt^

Hmmz I wonder if I can cram 4Ghz out of my Q6600 with this, I managed to boot windows @ that speed but when testing with prime, temperatures were an issue. Noise isn't a problem for me as my current setup runs quite loud already, as long as it stays under 50db it's fine.

What's your current cooler

CAHop240 · 01-13-2009, 11:46 | posts: 24 | User is Offline

Nice, I found out about this on Fudzilla and Guru3d provided a very good review. $80, might try this thing out. I would like to see some other reviews comparing it to some good HSF like a TRUE or Tuniq. Air cooling still holds the "Less to worry about" crown IMO.

And Hilbert is right, i cant stop looking at that picture with it mounted...its so...so...sexy looking....

Aura89

I've been looking at this cooler for awhile and it just doesn't look that good from all the reviews i've been looking at, including this one, i know it's cheap....but i've seen it do worse then some of the top 3 air coolers for the same price

I've come to the conclusion i'm going to spend a little bit more money and get a CoolIt EL-1000 Eliminator

Corrupt^ · 01-13-2009, 12:47 | posts: 2,295 | Location: Belgium | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally Posted by proFits

What's your current cooler

Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme. Figured water cooling might be better for load temps, not sure though. B3 Revision of the Q6600.

Currently running prime @62° C on 3.4Ghz and 1.4v.

Cybermancer · 01-13-2009, 13:39 | posts: 12,530 | Location: Cyberspace | User is Offline

Very nice review. Thanks!

The only thing I don't like is that you have to install that backplate. Otherwise it's a very tempting unit to try out, since I never used water cooling so far...

John · 01-13-2009, 14:46 | posts: 14,284 | Location: Norway | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corrupt^

Hmmz I wonder if I can cram 4Ghz out of my Q6600 with this, I managed to boot windows @ that speed but when testing with prime, temperatures were an issue. Noise isn't a problem for me as my current setup runs quite loud already, as long as it stays under 50db it's fine.

4GHz stable on normal cooling on a B3? Has to be golden chip of the century.

The Laughing Ma · 01-13-2009, 18:36 | posts: 516 | User is Offline

Quote:

Hmmm... Hilbert. I have no doubt that that cooler does its job very well. My problem with this kind of solutions has always been regarding "water vs electricity". Since I worked as a plumber when I was younger, I know perfectly that nothing endures forever in that field; I mean a "little drop of water falling down" and I can have a serious problem not only with my CPU but with other components. Therefore, it would be good to know the way to maintain this sort of coolers (e.g. how often to check that everything is OK, as I don't have a transparent case, and so on).

You'll find that most 'water cooling' solutions generally use a non conductive solution. So if you do spill the stuff on your PC bits it shouldn't fry them. I think the most worrying aspect of having a leak isn't so much the solution getting on the electrical components but rather the potential air lock caused by the leaking fluid causing either the pump on the cooling loop to get damaged or worst still the CPU overheating because the cooling loop is no longer doing it's job correctly.

I just read the intro and the conclusions so someone else who read the whole thing will have to jump in here and say weather this thing uses non conductive cooling fluid.

Preachergeek · 01-14-2009, 10:05 | posts: 1,611 | Location: London, England | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Laughing Ma

You'll find that most 'water cooling' solutions generally use a non conductive solution. So if you do spill the stuff on your PC bits it shouldn't fry them. I think the most worrying aspect of having a leak isn't so much the solution getting on the electrical components but rather the potential air lock caused by the leaking fluid causing either the pump on the cooling loop to get damaged or worst still the CPU overheating because the cooling loop is no longer doing it's job correctly.

I just read the intro and the conclusions so someone else who read the whole thing will have to jump in here and say weather this thing uses non conductive cooling fluid.

Most so called "non conductive" fluids still can carry enough current to destroy electrical equipment, and in addition cool much worse than distilled so really i see little point in it. Also i'd say most water solutions don't use non conductive fluid.

I didn't read what kind of fluid the kit uses but tbh i'm not interested.

An excellent review as always, very informative and well presented but i don't agree with the conclusion at all. Looking up US prices online i can see many high end air coolers (such as the Arctic cooler seen in the review) which are much cheaper than the kit and cool almost if not equally as well. I'd like to see a comparison between temps if the arctic cooler was given a 2750rpm fan and thus worked at the same noise level. Can someone tell me why it's recommended above a high end air cooler?

Doogus · 01-14-2009, 13:59 | posts: 25 | Location: Singapore | User is Offline

Dang just got my new machine w/ a zerotherm nirvana, kinda wish i had known a/b this guy... I'd think my air cooler was still actually a better choice, being $30 cheaper and easier and probably about as effective, but still this thing's nifty... quite good lookin, as good or better cooling and almost as easy as air cooling, less bulky and whatnot... watevs

Corrupt^ · 01-14-2009, 14:17 | posts: 2,295 | Location: Belgium | User is Offline

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

4GHz stable on normal cooling on a B3? Has to be golden chip of the century.

Well the thing is, my cpu somehow seems to be able to handle quite high speeds stable (might indeed be a good batch) but like I said, temperatures are an issue. I'm 100% sure that if I could get the temperatures down, 4Ghz stable would be possible, hell I've even managed to get it prime stable at 3.8Ghz but currently I'm running at 3.4Ghz as it had the most decent temps for 24/7 use.