Main Cooling Unit – Internal View
The following diagram illustrates the coolant flow path thru the Reserator XT. As you can see, all the major components are connected in series.Getting inside the Reserator XT to view the internal components is not as simple as just removing a cover or two. For this review the Reserator XT was disassembled but under normal circumstances, the end user would never have to do this (and Zalman does not recommend it).
Removing the top panel gives us our first look inside the Reserator XT.
Coolant flows thru the passive cooling modules as it enters and as it leaves the Reserator XT. These are actually two, long waterblocks that dissipate heat into the surrounding side and top panels of the chassis. As you can see in the photo above, I left the passive modules connected to the rear panel and removed them together along with the fan.