Installation of the Innovacool is fairly straightforward with a few hitches. The sample used in this test, generously supplied by High Speed PC, did not come with any instructions. Since the product is not intended for, nor likely to be purchased by, a neophyte, this presented only one or two small problems. The first is fairly obvious and easily dealt with. The Innovacool is packaged with piece of cardboard protecting the bottom finish. The finish on the copper bottom of the block is exceedingly smooth, even though it shows some machining marks. As copper is relatively soft, it is easy to damage it if you leave it unprotected. The second relates to the hose connectors. As my local hardware store does not stock millimeter size hose, I had to experiment a bit to find a hose that would work. As far as vinyl hose is concerned, I found that 5/16 hose was the only hose that would fit over the barbs and through the holes in the threaded collars. This process of experimentation would not have been necessary if the block had come with some good ole “Amurican” specifications.

I decided that mounting the hose on the block before installing it would be the best policy. My first attempts resulted in nothing more than frustration - the vinyl hose was both too stiff and slightly too large in diameter to allow the threads on the locking collars to engage the threads on the tops of the fittings. After dipping the ends of the hose in some boiling water for a few minutes, the vinyl hose became supple enough to allow the locking collars to engage the threads on the fittings. A few turns with a metric wrench ensured that the hoses were securely fastened. Of course, a thinner walled silicone hose would not have required the same exertions.

Mounting the block is practically simplicity itself. Apply heatsink goop, run the threaded knob out all the way, place the block on your CPU, slip the clip over the lugs on the socket and tighten. The only trick is to engage the lugs on the side nearest the screw first as they are angled inward (and seeing what you are doing with the *#@#%#&* power supply in the way). Tighten the lever by turning the knob and the Innovacool is securely fastened. (If you are concerned that the lever mechanism is a chip crusher, I found that my fingers simply slid off the knob once the mechanism is tight. Unless you decided to get out Uncle Merl’s vise grips to really put some torque on it, the knob will elude your grubby mitts before you powder your T-bird.)