DD TDX to Swiftech Storm

SpudMaster · 22 Jan 2006 at 20:57

Just a simple one here, got a DD TDX at the mo with the standard nozzles it comes with. Would it be worth changing it for a Storm block or is the performance not actually that much better? or are there any other blocks that would be a better upgrade?
Thanks

MikeTimbers · 22 Jan 2006 at 21:31

The block is better at all flow rates but the amount of the difference depends on what flowrate you're achieving and the heatload.

For the money, the Apogee is excellent value but I would question whether you would truly benefit unlesss you are exceptionally anal about temperatures (which are probably wrong anyways!)

weescott · 22 Jan 2006 at 21:35

MikeTimbers said:
unlesss you are exceptionally anal about temperatures (which are probably wrong anyways!)

So cynical....but true!

SpudMaster · 22 Jan 2006 at 22:09

well im running Hydor L30 pump with it with an Opty 146 at 2.9ghz with 1.55v, load temp its 38/39 degrees. if a storm would only make a 1 or 2 degree difference then i wont bother. From what your saying im guesing it wont make any drastic improvements

weescott · 22 Jan 2006 at 22:53

A better pump or No5 Nozzle pack will make a difference, or even a better rad / fan. There are so many variables. I would be quite happy with what you have. You won't gain anything bar Kudos!

Jimbo Mahoney · 23 Jan 2006 at 08:24

The Hydor L30 isn't really powerful enough.

SpudMaster · 23 Jan 2006 at 16:51

it isnt? i was under the impression it was meant to be pretty powerful, oh well. Probly gonna change that pretty soon as its pretty loud and vibrates like crazy.

Jimbo Mahoney · 23 Jan 2006 at 17:22

Well, it's not weedy, but I guess I've been hanging out on Procooling too much!

It's got 6 ft of head and does 1200 lph

Something like the Laing D5 has more like 15ft head and 600 lph, which is more suited to PC cooling applications.

I'm using two AQX 50Z's in series, doing ~ 21ft head and 700 lph, but I have a pretty restrictive loop (Alphacool NexXxos CPU, Silverprop Fusion HL GPU, custom northbridge, Silentstar Dual HDD cooler and 3/8" Mosfet block). :eek:

It's the pressure you're after, not the flowrate.

HTH?

SpudMaster · 23 Jan 2006 at 18:29

oh right, thanks for clearing that up

was looking at replacing it with a D5

MikeTimbers · 23 Jan 2006 at 19:02

Jimbo Mahoney said:
It's the pressure you're after, not the flowrate.

HTH?

The flowrate is the result of pressure. You can't separate the two. Pumps such as the Hydors and Eheims boast high flowrate but low head. The quoted flowrate is for free flow and will suffer quickly in a restrictive loop.

Pumps like D5s with much higher head and lower quoted flowrate will maintain flow closer to their quoted maximums for longer. Whether the 1200lph of an Eheim1250 drops to below the D5's maximum flowrate in a loop will depend on what's in the loop, how narrow the tubing is, how many turns, etc.

It is also true that the temperature difference between a pump such as the Eheim 1048 and a pump such as the D5 can be a matter of just a few degrees.

How much pump is enough?

Cathar said:
Eheim 1046, WB delta = 100W * 0.187C/W = 18.7C, Water delta = (100 + 1.5)W * 0.045C/W = 4.6C, Total CPU temperature = 23.3C above ambient
Eheim 1048, WB delta = 17.8C, Water delta = 103 * 0.044 = 4.5C, Total CPU Temp = 22.3C above ambient
Eheim 1250, WB delta = 17.2C, Water delta = 109 * 0.043 = 4.7C, Total CPU Temp = 21.9C above ambient
MCP600, WB delta = 16.9C, Water delta = 108 * 0.042 = 4.5C, Total CPU Temp = 21.4C above ambient
MCP650, WB delta = 16.8C, Water delta = 115 * 0.042 = 4.8C, Total CPU Temp = 21.6C above ambient
MD-15R, WB delta = 16.5C, Water delta = 122 * 0.041 = 5.0C, Total CPU Temp = 21.5C above ambient
MD-20RZ, WB delta = 15.9C, Water delta = 131 * 0.040 = 5.2C, Total CPU Temp = 21.1C above ambient
MD-30RZ, WB delta = 15.7C, Water delta = 150 * 0.039 = 5.9C, Total CPU Temp = 21.6C above ambient

So for a 100W cooling load, the difference between having an Eheim 1250 (Hydor L30) and an MCP650 (D4) is only 0.3degrees.

Jimbo Mahoney · 24 Jan 2006 at 08:37

MikeTimbers said:
The flowrate is the result of pressure. You can't separate the two.

I'm not. I'm just saying the head pressure is the figure you want to look for when choosing a pump (within reason!).

MikeTimbers said:
So for a 100W cooling load, the difference between having an Eheim 1250 (Hydor L30) and an MCP650 (D4) is only 0.3degrees.

...with the Cascade waterblock he chose to use in the calculations.

With a low pressure-drop and high pressure-drop waterblock and / or higher heat load, the results would have shown more different results. The other thing to remember is that 'a few degrees' is actually rather a lot in terms of PC cooling (not necessarily in terms of Mhz gained, but because the temperatures we deal with are relatively low).

MikeTimbers · 24 Jan 2006 at 09:52

But is a few degrees worth spending on a new block or pump? Not for me. If it got me another 200MHz overclock, I might be interested but not for the sake of bragging rights around a (reported) temperature.

Jimbo Mahoney · 24 Jan 2006 at 10:29

MikeTimbers said:
But is a few degrees worth spending on a new block or pump?

That is the question...

SpudMaster · 26 Jan 2006 at 16:08

well ive decided no, just gonna get the nosel pack for the tdx seen as its only a few quid. Anyway thanks for the help guys