Barrow wc parts.

vegeta535

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So what is the consensus off Barrow stuff you can get from AliExpress? Seems like good prices for solid wc parts. Thinking about some case and wc changes in the near future.
 
I have never ordered them from AliExpress. ModMyMods and Performance-PCs both now carry them. Ali may be cheaper, but I'm not patient enough to order stuff from China. :D

As for quality, I've done multiple builds in all Barrow parts and have no complaints. They're simple, solid, inexpensive and well made. Would recommend them in a heartbeat.
 
Reviewed Barrow's first Theadripper block. I was very impressed with it.
 
So what is the consensus off Barrow stuff you can get from AliExpress? Seems like good prices for solid wc parts. Thinking about some case and wc changes in the near future.


I have a bunch of 3/8 barrow fittings in storage if you are interested. It was from my previous watercooled setup. Temp monitor, valve, elbows.. they are all compression fittings. Used for 3 months and put away.
 
Reviewed Barrow's first Theadripper block. I was very impressed with it.

Was it on par with the EKWB block??

Almost placed an order on AliExpress for their 8x compression pack, saw the 30-60 day shipping, then just ordered a 6x pack of Alphacool fittings from modmymods. Definitely would use barrow due to the pricing and strong positive user comments, but the shipping time is killer. And most NA pricing puts them on the same cost as the more prominent NA companies.
 
Was it on par with the EKWB block??

Almost placed an order on AliExpress for their 8x compression pack, saw the 30-60 day shipping, then just ordered a 6x pack of Alphacool fittings from modmymods. Definitely would use barrow due to the pricing and strong positive user comments, but the shipping time is killer. And most NA pricing puts them on the same cost as the more prominent NA companies.
ModMyMods carries Barrow, and with good pricing. The only thing they're shaky on is stock. Their owner explained to me that the way their distributor works, they place bulk orders of whatever's available at the time for western markets, so they don't get much say in which fittings they want to keep stocked regularly.
 
Was it on par with the EKWB block??

Almost placed an order on AliExpress for their 8x compression pack, saw the 30-60 day shipping, then just ordered a 6x pack of Alphacool fittings from modmymods. Definitely would use barrow due to the pricing and strong positive user comments, but the shipping time is killer. And most NA pricing puts them on the same cost as the more prominent NA companies.
No, the EK block was so badly designed that EK issued an apology to its customers. The Barrow review is here.
 
So what is the consensus off Barrow stuff you can get from AliExpress? Seems like good prices for solid wc parts. Thinking about some case and wc changes in the near future.

No leaks, quality stuff. Bought from Formulamod on Aliexpress.

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^^Ya must have saved a grip of cash vs going bitspower! I've got a few grand in kit by now lol.
 
^^Ya must have saved a grip of cash vs going bitspower! I've got a few grand in kit by now lol.

Bought $500 worth of Barrow fittings. If it was bitpower, easily over $1K. I didnt even use 50% of the fitting for the loop but thats how it is. You just don't know what you may need and don't want to be 1 short!!
 
Nothing wrong with Barrow products. I have Barrow fittings and rads in my rig. Both are excellent quality.

I ordered from PerformancePCs. You take a risk ordering from Ali. Everything ships from China, so you're going to pay an import fee. If you get the wrong parts, well, good luck with that.
 
Nothing wrong with Barrow products. I have Barrow fittings and rads in my rig. Both are excellent quality.

I ordered from PerformancePCs. You take a risk ordering from Ali. Everything ships from China, so you're going to pay an import fee. If you get the wrong parts, well, good luck with that.

Formulamod is actually a pretty common place for barrow at other sites. Always good reviews. Plus they upgraded my shipping for free and came 3 days to CA after it shipped. PPcs was out of stock with a lot of the fittings I needed.
 
I second this. Why people thing EK is top end stuff is confusing. Its mid rang at best, And that is pushing it at times.

They're aren't many options in the non-reference AIB card waterblock department.
 
They're aren't many options in the non-reference AIB card waterblock department.
Very true, there are some but EK seems to have that field covered well. Kinda sad there isn't more better options out there for non reff cards.
 
Very true, there are some but EK seems to have that field covered well. Kinda sad there isn't more better options out there for non reff cards.

I wouldn't necessarily call EK middle of the road either. Their Velocity blocks are pretty good. Within a couple C of other blocks, give or take depending, in that $75'ish price range.
 
I wouldn't necessarily call EK middle of the road either. Their Velocity blocks are pretty good. Within a couple C of other blocks, give or take depending, in that $75'ish price range.
Wile EK dose have some OK'sih products that are way over priced. Remember temps are not everything.
Most there blocks suffer from cheap designs that are not meant to last. Weather it be there cheap low grade single stage electroplating or the O-rings that seem to fail earlier on then other blocks, poor quality control and crap plastic tops that crack and strip of you tighten the fitting to much or swap fittings a few times.
EK is really only good if you get there plain cooper blocks, replace the O-rings and never touch them form that point on.
This coming form someone that used to build gaming PCs for as a side job and supported them for years.
 
Wile EK dose have some OK'sih products that are way over priced. Remember temps are not everything.
Most there blocks suffer from cheap designs that are not meant to last. Weather it be there cheap low grade single stage electroplating or the O-rings that seem to fail earlier on then other blocks, poor quality control and crap plastic tops that crack and strip of you tighten the fitting to much or swap fittings a few times.
EK is really only good if you get there plain cooper blocks, replace the O-rings and never touch them form that point on.
This coming form someone that used to build gaming PCs for as a side job and supported them for years.
I find EK pumps to be crap. I am on my 3rd one the past 18 months. PC performance took care of me and replaced them with no fuss tho. The 3rd One been going strong for awhile now. 1st died after about 4 months and the 2nd lasted a week.
 
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Barrow fittings are simple, look great, and you can save up to and, on the bigger fittings like 90 degree and rotary, over 50% for equal quality. I like the little squiggly design on bitspower, but paying 25-30 dollars for a rotary is a bit rediculous.
 
I find EK pumps to be crap. I am on my 3rd one the past 18 months. PC performance took care of me and replaced them with no fuss tho. The 3rd One been going strong for awhile now. 1st died after about 4 months and the 2nd lasted a week.
Ohh yeah I forgot about there pumps. I haven't toughed one in years
 
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Ive been using ek gear, cpu and gpu blocks primarily with a few fittings and rads thrown in for years. Never had an issue with them. I guess im just lucky. Altho i went with a competitors gpu block for the first time since dangerden was around due to prices getting completely out of control. Ive never used their pumps for essentially the same reason. I can reliably find a laing d5 or ddc far cheaper elsewhere.
In the last year their price to performance has gone right down the tubes. With barrow and byski making themselves felt more and more prominently in the states, i cant say that ek has much value for me other than full coverage mb blocks. As expensive as those are theres not much of a chance ill be buying one anytime soon.
I do like their xe and ce rads. Those at least are still solid price to performance.
Haha i guess my outlook on ek gear isnt so rosy afterall!
 
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