A water block for cooling one of a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU) of a computer system , the water block comprising: a body having a thermal transfer surface configured to be placed in contact with the one of the CPU and the GPU ; a fluid conduit defined in the body and configured for conveying fluid through the body , the fluid conduit being thermally coupled to the thermal transfer surface , the fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet , characterized in that : at a first junction, the fluid conduit branches into a first channel (36 1 ) and a second channel (36 2 ) which extend adjacent and generally parallel to one another along an initial portion of the fluid conduit ; the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) diverge away from one another at an end of the initial portion such that each of the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) forms a serpentine path, the serpentine path formed by the first channel (36 1 ) extending toward a first direction, the serpentine path formed by the second channel (36 2 ) extending toward a second direction generally opposite to the first direction; the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) merge at a second junction; and each of the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) defines a sinusoidal pattern along at least a majority of a span thereof. a body having a thermal transfer surface configured to be placed in contact with the one of the CPU and the GPU ; a fluid conduit defined in the body and configured for conveying fluid through the body , the fluid conduit being thermally coupled to the thermal transfer surface , the fluid conduit having an inlet and an outlet , characterized in that : at a first junction, the fluid conduit branches into a first channel (36 1 ) and a second channel (36 2 ) which extend adjacent and generally parallel to one another along an initial portion of the fluid conduit ; the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) diverge away from one another at an end of the initial portion such that each of the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) forms a serpentine path, the serpentine path formed by the first channel (36 1 ) extending toward a first direction, the serpentine path formed by the second channel (36 2 ) extending toward a second direction generally opposite to the first direction; the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) merge at a second junction; and each of the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) defines a sinusoidal pattern along at least a majority of a span thereof. at a first junction, the fluid conduit branches into a first channel (36 1 ) and a second channel (36 2 ) which extend adjacent and generally parallel to one another along an initial portion of the fluid conduit ; the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) diverge away from one another at an end of the initial portion such that each of the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) forms a serpentine path, the serpentine path formed by the first channel (36 1 ) extending toward a first direction, the serpentine path formed by the second channel (36 2 ) extending toward a second direction generally opposite to the first direction; the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) merge at a second junction; and each of the first and second channels (36 1 , 36 2 ) defines a sinusoidal pattern along at least a majority of a span thereof. <EOS>