GPU water block materials

[woox]

I was searching for a GPU water block and I found that some were made from different materials. There were nickel, acetal, nickel+acetal and even acrylic. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each material and which one would you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

[RichardsD]

Ok.  so acrylic is the actual waterblock; the block which water will travel through.  Nickel is simply the metal used on the direct contact of the block to the chip itself.  

 

I looked up Acetyl/Acetal, they are different, I am a history major, so I didn't understand any of it/ what those are.

 

More than likely the most common metals used on the direct contact portion of a water block would be nickel, copper, etc.  

[Mao_Zedong]

There won't be significant performance differences, get the one you think looks best.

[airdeano]

to help you out:

 

nickel is actually a copper base. it is nickel plated to prevent tarnish and

exposure to corrosion. most block manufacturers use copper base. avoid

aluminum blocks as they are not as thermally superior to copper and tend

to be masked as nickel. the other listings of materials are covers or plates

to beautify the blocks. acetal, acrylic, POM are usually cover pieces and

not to have anything to do with the actual cooling.