Introduction

The Thermaltake Aquabay M1 is a flow rate and water level indicator for your watercooling system.
It occupies two 5.25" drive bays and works best in conjunction with a Thermaltake BigWater system.
However, it is compatible to other watercooling systems, the instructions even have a paragraph dedicated to installation in 3rd party systems.

From the manufacturer Thermaltake:

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<th colspan="2" valign="top">Flow Indicator </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top">Dimension</th>
<td valign="top">58.9 x 35.88 x 26 mm </td>
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<tr>
<th valign="top">Weight</th>
<td valign="top">103g</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top">Main body</th>
<td valign="top">Pure Aluminum, Anodized</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th colspan="2" valign="top">Water level indicator </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top">Dimension</th>
<td valign="top">82.97 x 82.97 x 60  mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top">Weight</th>
<td valign="top">402g</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top">Material</th>
<td valign="top">Pure Aluminum, Anodized</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th colspan="2" valign="top">Mounting Plates </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top">Dimension</th>
<td valign="top">148 x 86 x 140  mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top">Material</th>
<td valign="top">Iron</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top">Total weight </th>
<td valign="top">600g</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th valign="top">Connectors</th>
<td valign="top">For 6.4mm ID (1/4") tubing,<br>
For 9.5mm ID (3/8") tubing</td>
</tr>
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Packaging

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Box contents:

Double 5.25" height Drive bay unit
Green neon PVC tubing
Extra fittings 9.5mm
Teflon tape
Mounting screws
Instruction manual

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The build quality of the M1 feels very solid. I dont think there is any risk of leak, when properly installed. The included fittings use screws which hold the tubing tight and seal the connection well. I tried pulling the tubing off the fitting, without any success.

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The included Teflon tape is required, if you decide to install the included extra fittings. It is wrapped around the thread of the new fitting, making sure that no water can run through the threading.

Installation

Installation is very easy and can be done in half an hour. Make sure you get all water out of your existing watercooling system. Nothing is worse than getting water on your precious components. The manual is very clear on all steps that should be performed for proper installation.

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Performance

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A major problem I see with the performance of the M1 is the tiny tubing/fitting size. While 6.4/9.5 mm might be fine for the other watercooling components from Thermaltake, and some european systems, the hardcore people use bigger tubing - 1/2" (12mm). Reducing the smallest flow diameter from 12mm to 9.5mm (cross section=452mm² vs. 282 mm²) severly reduces flow rate and cooling performance.

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Mounted inside the case, the unit looks well, it doesnt matter what color the surrounding case is. The black smoked plexiglass gives it an elegant look without colliding with the color scheme.

What might be a nice addition for the modders, is some kind of lighting inside the unit. But this can be easily added by yourself.

When we tested the unit in a 6.4mm ID system, the CPU temperature did not change at all. On our reviewing system which uses 1/2" tubing we saw a CPU temperature increase of about 4-5°C - quite a lot if you consider how much people spend for waterblocks which improve their temperatures by 1 or 2°C.

Value and Conclusion

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The Aquabay M1 is selling for about $40 which sounds fair to me. A self-built reservoir won't run you much cheaper.

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Good performance
Looks good in-case
Flow rate indicator
Everything included

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Might reduce flow rate

</td></tr>
<tr><th>7.8</th>
<td>Users of Thermaltake watercooling systems can buy the M1 without thinking twice. However, if you are a hardcore overclocker you may want to consider other alternatives which let you keep your high water flow rate.<br />
If you have only one available 5.25" slot left in your case, you should check out the Aquabay M3 from Thermaltake which occupies only one 5.25" slot. Review coming soon.</td></tr>
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