Performance Summary

With CPU waterblocks, both thermal performance and liquid-flow restriction are important metrics. Unlike radiators where component liquid-flow restriction is not as big a factor in the loop's overall flow rate, the CPU block choice will impact average flow rate a lot and can thus not be ignored. In order to quantify relative performance for a CPU block thus, a normalized (% based) data set was created, with 70% weightage given to thermal performance and 30% weightage given to liquid-flow restriction. The data set created was thus plotted with the subject of this review at 100%.


The goal of this chart is to tell you whether the block is worth considering or not after just a quick glance, and of course, I would request you read the previous two pages to figure out where it lands in the individual tests as well. As it turns out, this is where the larger gaps in flow restriction relative to thermal performance come into play. The Koolance CPU-400I was excellent when it came to thermal performance, where the actual differences between blocks were minor, at the cost of higher than average flow restriction. As such, it comes in at the bottom half of all the blocks tested so far in this relative performance summary.

Performance per Dollar

Prices are taken from Performance PCs in the USA when available, with all numbers reported in USD. For products not available there, the most obvious retail source is chosen, such as a manufacturer's web shop. For products no longer available, the last available reasonable price point is considered.


This chart, simply by the nature of some add-ons that can't be quantified in the metric, can be misleading without proper contextualization. Many of the newer blocks come with some form of added lighting, be it integrated or separate with add-on LEDs and controllers. The Koolance CPU-400I has none of those, however, and the current price point leaves it left wanting compared to the competition even before these external factors come in. As it stands now, there are many other blocks that will offer better value for money.