Intro

Cooler Master of course needs no introduction, they are very well known for their award winning line of products. From cases to cooling, power supplies to modding products, the masters of cool are a mouse-hold name. For me, Cooler Master is one of those rare companies that always seems to invoke a sense of quality. They always seem to do things just a bit better than the next guy. We all know Cooler Master can build a good heatsink, today we see if they can deliver the same kind of performance in a pint sized water cooling kit.

Cooler Master's intention with this kit, the Aquagate Mini R80:

1. Ease of installation
2. Universal fit
3. High performance
4. Silent operation
4. High reliability
5. Longer life expectancy

Package and Product

Double boxing and a layer of packing peanuts insured the package a safe journey. Inside is piece if further protected by their own little cubicle of card board. There isn't a whole lot of assembly with this kit, the pump and water block is all one piece and comes pre connected to the rad and filled with coolant. The self contained and sealed unit is guaranteed to remain filled for two years. The opaque tubing insures little chance of evaporation of biological growth. The coolant is a heavy mix of "de-icing" liquid, most likely some form of anti-freeze.

The pump/water block has 3-6.5mm fittings one of which is sealed. No doubt the superfluous third nipple was used to fill the unit at the factory. The pump hooks directly to the psu's 12 volt line drawing a mere 7.2 watts and spinning on a ceramic bearing it pushes 42 gph @ 1.5 meters max head. The radiator is the familiar flat tube heater core style nicely crafted from aluminum alloy.

Specs

Cooler Master's specs for the "mini" are as follows: