How do you top a gold plated waterblock that has an optical finish so fine that you could read a book in the reflection? Hell, how do you even start to think about topping something like that? These are questions that our friends over at PolarFLO were thinking about ever since they released the PolarFLO Super Finish Universal CPU block. They had come up with a block that performs on par with the other big boys, but is available in a myriad of bling-bling colors.

After a few relatively quiet months from the boys in Montana , Steve contacted us about their new CPU block, and asked if we wanted to test one out. As you can imagine we thought long and hard on that one. Quicker then you can read this sentence, a response was shot off to Steve confirming my mailing address. I could not wait to see what they had come up with this time.

It was still a few weeks away from the blocks being ready and I was about to bust as people in the DawG PounD started talking about the impending announcement that PolarFLO had hinted about on their website. I nearly busted when the first pictures were posted and GruntvillE readers were already clamoring to pre-order the block.

While I waited for the big brown truck to pull up in front of my house, I put on my journalist hat and decided to grill Steve at PolarFLO about their new product and some things in general. Here is how the interrogation – um, Q&A went.

Q: Most of our readers already know that PolarFLO is part of Horse of Iron, Inc, which is a precision machine shop. But how did you guys get started in PC watercooling?

When I started Horse of Iron, Inc. in 2000, I wanted to give our customers the best and most comprehensive contract machine shop possible. Horse of Iron, Inc. serves the Laser, Robotic and Computer industries. While I cannot tell you the specifics, I can tell you that our idea of liquid cooling arose primarily to solve heat issues in lasers. Once we finished designing and building that liquid solution we turned our attention to electronics. After surveying the PC liquid heat sink market, we realized that most of the consumers wanted something better. Whether it was better performance or customer service, we knew that our approach would be a fresh angle to a seemingly stale market. We read, we listened (to what customers wanted) and we finally broached the market with the best liquid heat sinks available.

Q: How did you come up with the name of the new series of blocks, TT?

We heard (actually read) the term "triple titter" used often to describe the style of liquid heat sink we and others manufacture. Why try and come up with a better name? The consumers have spoken!

Q: How long did it take for the TT blocks to be created, from idea to production?

The idea began in March. We started designing and refining at the beginning of April. Refining, prototyping, testing, praying and finalizing occurred mainly in June. May turned out to be very busy for Horse of Iron, Inc..

Q: Why are you not offering the TT block with the SuperFinish?

This was actually a last minute decision. We had anticipated always offering the SuperFinish. But... we began our tests in the first week of June with a raw machined copper base on the TT and to our astonishment the block easily out-performed the SF. When we determined that this performance was reliable (not just a fluke) we modified the way we machine these bases in production. We wanted a happy medium of aesthetics and cost. With improved in-process machining methods and the way the block is assembled, we reliably achieve the flatness and surface finish of average "lapping." We estimate that a super finished TT would only yield about 1/2 of a degree difference with a super finished base and therefore not worth the high cost to the customer .

Q: Will PolarFLO ever put together an entire water cooling kit (pump, res, blocks, and radiator)?

Yes. We are currently specifying multiple configurations for full kits. We are considering pre-modified cases ready to stuff and the kits that include everything you need for your own setup. We will have our own line of pumps by the end of September. Chrome anyone ??

Q: Of all the modded computers out there, which one is your favorite?

Of all the modded computers out there in the world, I would have to say that the one that impresses me most is the one that no one has seen yet. The one that has been paintakenly and precisely modded, but that no one, except the builder has seen. The skunk-works modder, which is my favorite . (Editors Note: What a cop out answer!)

Thank you Gruntville.com for another opportunity to share our products with your readers. God Bless .

A few days after the PolarFLO TT CPU blocks officially went on sale a big brown truck stopped by my house with a small white box, and if you want to find out more about what was in that box, then read on…