Water Cooling questions

martos · 16 May 2009 at 18:46

I am speccing a new w/c setup and have pretty much decided on all the parts except the radiator. I am torn between the XSPC RX360, RS360 and the Thermachill 120.3.

I am looking to run an i7 920@4ghz and 4870x2 in the loop (if it can be done in one loop).

Also, does it make any difference in performance using 3/8" or 1/2" tubing?

Any advice please?

esK` · 16 May 2009 at 18:47

To acheive 4Ghz and a 4870X2 I would look at the thermochill 120.3 with a push pull fan config, Probably noctua's to get decent air flow.

martos · 17 May 2009 at 08:46

By "push pull" you mean fans on both sides of the radiator?

RJC · 17 May 2009 at 09:46

martos said:
By "push pull" you mean fans on both sides of the radiator?

Yep

martos · 17 May 2009 at 11:15

Cheers, and in relation to the tubing question, does it make any difference whether I go for 3/8" or 1/2"?

Monkey Puzzle · 17 May 2009 at 11:18

Nope, not really (less than 1C). 1/2" looks nicer imo, but is more tricky to route (more space needed for turns in the tubing).

martos · 1 Jun 2009 at 20:02

WOuld I be better off with an XSPC rx480 for this sort of setup (I am looning to squeeze it all in a TJ07 btw)?

DJ_Switch · 1 Jun 2009 at 20:07

The XSPC RX series beats the Thermochill for performance at lower fan speeds although you wouldn't see the same gains if you were to set it up in a push/pull config compared to the Thermochill. It's down to the balance of noise - cooling performance and what's more important to you. There's not much in it though so I wouldn't worry too much about the choice between those particular 2.

martos · 1 Jun 2009 at 20:26

But, would the 480 give the needed performance? I am looking to get the system as quiet as possible, so, dont really want to have to crank the fans up.

.:SAmSuNG:. · 1 Jun 2009 at 20:49

Ya i would be looking at a 480 with what u want to cool and the space you have in the case. 7/16" tubing gets my vote.

martos · 1 Jun 2009 at 22:03

would that be 480 in push/pull, or, 480 in a pull config? Also, from a fan point of view, would people reccomend Noctuas or Yate Loons?

martos · 7 Jun 2009 at 19:40

From looking at peoples pictures of 480s in a TJ07, wont the PSU fan be blocked?

.:SAmSuNG:. · 7 Jun 2009 at 21:08

Nope as the rad will feed the PSU air. Just pull should be fine with some medium speed yate loons on a fan controller.

JonJ678 · 7 Jun 2009 at 21:16

Yate loons are loved because they're quite good and very cheap. Scythe s-flex or the expensive noctuas are better, but lose badly in terms of £/degree

If you want it quiet, the more radiators you can fit the slower the fans will need to spin. Does anyone know of acoustic comparisons between radiators? I've got tfc ones, largely because their design (wide fin spacing, thick radiator) looks like it would lead to less noise.

7/16" tubing over 1/2" barbs is the most popular choice with good reason. Which diameter you use makes very little difference to flow rate above about 8mm internal diameter.