The water cooling market is quite an exclusive one. Only the really big names get favorable enthusiast attention, while oftentimes mid-ranged products are shoved aside. After all, it takes an enthusiast to go to water to begin with, so why would anyone settle for anything mediocre? Beyond the highest quality names (Swiftech, DangerDen, etc.), there are sometimes big-brand companies that muscle their way into the market, like Cooler Master, who take their good reputation in other markets and use it to bid for success in the water market.

Thermaltake is a company that sits in between these two categories, a rare feat. While unfamiliarity with the Thermaltake name requires residence under a rock in a remote land, this big named company has also been producing water cooling kits and components for several years now and as such is a known name in the business. Today, I have the Thermaltake ProWater 850i, a complete liquid cooling kit for your CPU. While complete kits don't have the best reputation for performance, they do serve as fantastic introductions to the water scene. Their upgradeability makes them a great introductory choice for beginners and they come with thorough manuals to help ease the leap of faith that is liquid cooling.


The ProWater 850i comes in quite a large box, with everything you will need to start water cooling your computer. With a sneak peek of the radiator and reservoir/pump on the front and diagrams and features on the back, the box is certain to catch your eye on store shelves (and, given Radio Shack's deal with Thermaltake, this will certainly be on store shelves near you). Read on as we explore this kit!