Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis GTR Review

Hardware Labs is a relatively small company in the niche market of PC DIY watercooling, though with a reputation that precedes them. Based out of Manila in the Philippines, they are among the very few to have in-house radiator design and manufacturing instead of relying on third-party factories in China.

As such, they are able to produce different radiator categories for different needs and applications - low noise optimization, high coolant flow optimization, good thermal dissipation scaling with airflow, and so on. Missing in their current range was a successor to their old GTX (Gen Two Extreme) radiators with a high fin density for good performance at higher fan speeds, but a proportionate amount of noise for those who don't care about noise as much as getting the absolute best performance possible. Enter the new Nemesis GTR.

Specifications

Value and Conclusion

Hardware Labs could have taken the easy route with the Nemesis GTR and simply increased fin density with their existing Nemesis cores to get a high-airflow optimized product. However, it is not easy to do so with splitter-type fins that are so thin, which meant they had to go back and engineer a new core. Perhaps, it was fitting that their automotive industry experience came into play here, and the use of shorter fins not only lead to high-airflow optimization but resulted in a reduction of the coolant's flow pressure drop and better scaling with medium airflow (~1500 RPM fans) and beyond.

These radiators literally come with a high price, however. A Nemesis GTR series radiator costs more than most other radiators, including their own Nemesis GTX radiator I suspect to be enough for most people. But many, including myself, were questioning where the replacement for the old GTX radiator was and now that question has been answered. With it, Hardware Labs now has the largest collection of radiators to meet just about any need, and I suspect filling this gap had to do with the Nemesis GTR more than anything else.

Overall, I do recommend it. Overclockers and benchers would find it handy, as would those with limited room for radiators in cases. If you are after the most bang for your buck, look elsewhere. This is bang-for-your-space material, and if thickness or noise are not an issue, strap on some ultra-fast 32 mm thick fans and watch your loop get as close to ambient temperature as never before.

Where to buy

• HWL-R117 - Black Ice Nemesis 120 GTR Radiator - Black Carbon
• HWL-R118 - Black Ice Nemesis 240 GTR Radiator - Black Carbon
• HWL-R119 - Black Ice Nemesis 360 GTR Radiator - Black Carbon
• HWL-R120 - Black Ice Nemesis 480 GTR Radiator - Black Carbon
• HWL-R121 - Black Ice Nemesis 140 GTR Radiator - Black Carbon
• HWL-R122 - Black Ice Nemesis 280 GTR Radiator - Black Carbon
• HWL-R123 - Black Ice Nemesis 420 GTR Radiator - Black Carbon
• HWL-R124 - Black Ice Nemesis 560 GTR Radiator - Black Carbon