Thermaltake is one of the few computer accessory companies that has found success with multiple product lines. Several have tried to branch out from their core business but most ultimately fail and either resort back to what they know best or shut down shop completely. But not Thermaltake - they've found success with their line of power supplies, cases and cooling solutions over the years. Today we will be taking a look at a relatively new product line from the latter category in the Water 2.0 liquid cooling kits.

Thermaltake offers three different levels of cooling in the Water 2.0 line. There's the entry-level Performer that includes a single thickness radiator and dual PWM fans, the Pro model that features a thicker 49mm radiator and the Extreme cooler that houses two 120mm fans in a side-by-side configuration; essentially double the radiator real estate of the Pro model. We will be looking at the Performer and Pro kits here today.



Each kit arrived in its own retail packaging that, aside from the subtle differences in the radiator's appearance and the naming, look virtually identical. There's a large photo of each cooler on the front of each box with an installation photo and features breakdown on the rear. Kit specifications can be found on the side of the box and have been reproduced below from Thermaltake's website.

Water 2.0 Performer




Water 2.0 Pro



As you can see from the specifications, the only difference between the two kits is the thickness of the radiator. Otherwise, the pump and fans are all the same. Will radiator size alone be enough to make up for the $30 price difference between the two kits? Read on to find out!