First Water Cooling kit.

colax · 5 Mar 2014 at 06:03

I am on the fence right now, and am hoping for some advice.

I have a Corsair 750D case, and I am looking at water cooling it.
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-157-CS

I am currently looking at these 2 kits;
EK-KIT L360
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-341-EK&groupid=962&catid=1532
XSPC Raystorm 750 EX280
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-241-XS&groupid=962&catid=1532

With the EK I can get a longer radiator because there wouldn't be an optical drive bay reservoir in the way, or I can get the XSPC one with a shorter but wider radiator so I can keep an optical drive installed.

Basically I need to know if a galloping horse would notice any differences in performance or quality.

Hope someone can throw me some insight!

daveip · 5 Mar 2014 at 09:43

360mm rad = 120mm fans. More choice and can use better performing fans with higher static pressure
280 mm rad = 140mm fans. You've already have your pros. Cons opposite of the above

GiraffePencils · 5 Mar 2014 at 10:30

Though despite the loss in fan choice, 140mm rads usually perform better than their 120mm counterparts

colax · 5 Mar 2014 at 17:02

I was noticing the bigger choice in the 120mm fan choices. Are Corsair AFs or SPs any good with radiators?

Does that mean a 280 Radiator is better than a 360, or are you comparing a 280 vs a 240?

daveip · 6 Mar 2014 at 05:07

GiraffePencils said:
Though despite the loss in fan choice, 140mm rads usually perform better than their 120mm counterparts

1 vs 1 probably due to the increased surface area, but I think when taking other things into consideration e.g. noise (fan speed), 280 vs 360 I would still pick the 360mm any day.

280 = 39200mm2
360 = 43200mm2

And OP, Corsair AF fans are designed for Air Flow rather than Static Pressure (SP). You need static pressure to force air through the fins of the radiator so for a radiator, SP >>>> AF

GiraffePencils · 6 Mar 2014 at 09:53

Yeah, 1v1. that's why I said counterparts.
360 over 280.

Also daveip explanation of fans is bang on, Corsair are always popular, SP for rads

colax · 7 Mar 2014 at 05:26

Case came with 3 120mm AF, and I have 2 SP on my current Aircooler. I could just buy 1 new SP then and put them on a 360 radiator.

Does thickness play much of a part in radiators, or should I be more worried about this fins per inch thing?