Anyone used Maze 3-1?

[dcesther]

Hi... This is my first post in liquid ninja, see a lot of experts here so I want to ask my question here.

I am looking for a good TEC waterblock, and I think I made my decision on the Maze 3-1, or even Maze 4-1 if they performs better than maze3. So if you have used Maze3-1 before, could you tell me your feedbacks? Or maybe some pictures if possible.

thank you

[Farabomb]

:beerm8s: Welcome dcesther :beerm8s:

Glad to have you posting. :)

I know one or two poeple here that have/had a maze 3-1. I've only had experience with the maze3 but I am curently running a Switftec 462UHT. If you can find one (don't think swifty makes them anymore) I'd highly recomend it. This was my first TEC system and with all the neoprene gaskets that came with the block it made it quite easy. The only block I'd avoid is the swifty 5000. Swifty makes a wonderful product, as does Danger Den, but the socket holdown the 5000 uses doesn't provide enough pressure on the core.

That's my $.02 :) I"m sure others will stop in with their experiences in the world of thermo electric cooling.

[Drake]

Aye, the socket tab retension mechanism on the MCW5000 waterblock doesnt make it a great performer for AMD systems. However, because of its flow pattern (across the block instead intake on the middle and output on the side) it performs well with TECs. Besides, doesn't the cold plate have to be bolted to the board through the four holes?

I also notice the Maze 4 has the same pattern and Tom does have a review of the block coming.

[bdkvols02]

the maze3-1 works fine for single peltiers. a radiator that works well with normal watercooling may not be good enough for good tec usage however. my water never rose over 2F more than room temp, but with a 172w tec and cpu at full load it hits 10F over room temp after half an hour. if you want more indepth information about cold plate thicknesses, flow rates, etc with peltiers then check out overclockers.com articles.

[Cabal]

I own a maze 3-1 works wonderfully, but i would order the gaskets from swiftec, its soooo much easier than buying the neoprene and making your own gasket.

[Skoob]

Maze 3-1 is crap for TEC if you look at its design closer. Its meant to shoot water directly on the cpu (center inlet) and exhaust the heated water away from the center and out of the block. With a cold plate attached to it, there is no direct center contact to the cpu anymore. This is great for normal watercooling but in a TEC configuration you clearly do not care where the water enters or exits. All you need is HIGH FLOW and as many will tell you, maze3 isn't the highest flowing block around. I know because i learned the hard way. I would get the swiftech 5000 if I wanted to use a TEC again. TEC is basically alot of work for minimal results. A huge headache for nothing if you ask me. I took the 3-1 and got rid of the TEC and cold plate and am using as a regular maze3 now with basically the same results. Not worth the added $300 by the time you buy the proper equipment to make a TEC run IMO. If I wasnt in such a rush to get my Canterwood running, I wouldve ditched the Maze3 as well, for what I dont know. Seems that there really inst anything too impressive these days. Might as well go vapo chill or prometeia if you want to do it right for about the same price as TEC.....

[mdzcpa]

Originally posted by Skoob
TEC is basically alot of work for minimal results. A huge headache for nothing if you ask me. I took the 3-1 and got rid of the TEC and cold plate and am using as a regular maze3 now with basically the same results. Not worth the added $300 by the time you buy the proper equipment to make a TEC run IMO.

Quite the contrary actually. Adding a TEC to my Swiftech H202-B water cooling kit netted me a 25C drop over straight water. Cost was minimal and included the TEC conversion kit for the MCW462-U ($50), the Meanwell PSU ($100), and two high speed fans for the rad ($20). And I could have gone much cheaper on the PSU, but I went with what Gabe at Swiftech recommended.

Not that $170 is cheap, but it rocks for that price. Not quite phase change performance, but then again, with a new Mach II Prommy running $950 just for the base model, and the "old" discontinued Mach I model still running $600, a total out the door water/TEC set up for under $400 is not bad at all.

[Skoob]

I don't dispute that it will drop cpu temps. I forgot to mention my results (2.53@3.202 making -7 idle to 10C load). I meant results as in overclocking results. Basically my system would still run at 3.202 with just watercooling and still be stable. I didn't gain too much as far as speed increase goes with a TEC, just condensation and alot of worrying about when it would all seize (and it finally did). Now if I had a better waterblock designed for TEC, which is the question of this thread, I probably would not have had to worry about condenstation and I probably couldve gotten some better results.

Its funny because the only reason I started folding was to keep the cpu as far from freezing as possible, but condensation still pooled and made itself a home on a 9700Pro. In the end, I found an insect. It got into my case somehow. It found a light layer of water on the 9700pro and decided to end its life by drinking. I found his electrocuted body on the card when I returned home to a locked up system. The sad part is that I took the whole system apart twice to ensure no condensation, put way too much silicone all over everything, packed as much di electric grease as possible on the cpu, had so much neoprene all over everything it looked ridiculous. In the end it still leaked.

Buy the Swiftech.

[mdzcpa]

Your position is understandable. We all form our opinions based on our own experiences and obviously your TEC experience was not a good one.

For many others, though, such as myself, the experience has been positive and rewarding. I did go the Swiftech route which I agree has a strong advantage from a condensation standpoint. Their block and mobo gasket design is great. I've had zero condensation issues. I don't beleive condensation becomes are real effort vs. results issue until you hit the chiller stage. That's where I draw the line. Insulating every hose, the pump, and all surfaces is a real pain. But...I digress:)

BTW, if anyone even considers a vapor change system without fully addressing the condensation issues there too, there's a rude awakening waiting to happen. So TEC or vapor change has you condensation proofing your system.

As far as OC is concerned, I'm kinda surprised you netted so little of a gain. The whole reason TECs and vapor change systems sell so well is do to the improved OC folks get. I'm not saying TEC cooling (or vapor change for that matter) is practical. But my AMD overclocks are consistently 200 to 300mhz higher with the TEC system. The P4 is different only getting me about another 150mhz...but I'm afraid to juice the P4 chips.

So....whether vapor change or TEC cooling, the point is to get better OC, but also with both comes condensation issues. The vapor change systems provide much better CPU temps, but have even more worrysome condensation issues. You also have to add another system for cooling the graphics card too. Makes no sense to have extreme CPU cooling without serious GPU cooling. So after spending an arm and a leg for vapor change cooling, you still need to add a water loop system to cool the GPU. If money were no object, this would be the route I'd go. Not practical, but the best in cooling.

Whew....what a ramble. too much coffee!

In the end we agree....go Swiftech if planning on TEC cooling.

[Player0]

I did a review on facing the Maze3-1 against the MCW462-UHT here (http://www.liquidninjas.com/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=29). Check out my own findings.

I can't speak for the Maze4-1 yet, but Im sure it performs better than the Maze3-1, so it would be worth getting. I will be reviewing this block first.

I would pick the MazeX-1 over the MCW5000 I beleive, because of its mounting mechanism. I hate socket mounting. However, the MCW462-UHT is better than the Maze3-1. And may be quite close to the Maze4-1.

Now. Proper mounting and condensation proofing is very important. If you do it right, you can run a tec system forever. I usually use SwifTech neoprene gaskets irregardless of what waterblock I choose, but I often go with my own mounting hardware, with bolts and double springs, which greatly improves temperatures, especially wiht all those gaskets. Make sure to use pelnty of dielectric grease. With that said, go to Swiftech again for very good directions on condensation preventing. They have been doing this before anyone else, and their directions are GOOD.

If they still sell the MCW462-UHT, I'd get that :)

[Skoob]

I forgot that alot of you are still using AMD chips. The swiftech 5000 has the mounting bolts for P4's but not AMD I think. So if you had an AMD chip then I guess it wouldnt be the best thing unless you make your own mounting mechanism like player0. In that case, a maze would be more appealing. Time for coffee, I can barely see my screen.

[Player0]

Yeah, i think the 5000 has to use bolts for the P4 cause they dont have socket tabs, as far as I know.

[amdrules770]

I want swiftech to come out with a 4 bolt AMD mobo mounting MCW5000 that takes pelts. I guess I am going to make a custom mounting for my 5000, and setup a custom cold plate setup, and buy the 462's gaskets.

[dcesther]

So is it possible that I can use swiftech's foam for maze x-1 series?

[Player0]

Yep, i recommend it. It wont fit perfect, but it will work good enough.