FPI for split fins

JJimmyJ

JJimmyJ

JJimmyJ

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Joined
21 Jan 2010
Posts
573
Hi All,

These new rads have caught my eye: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-487-EK&groupid=962&catid=1523&subcat=1525

I've read that the FPI is 38 though!! I'm not completely clued up on watercooling, but surely that would mean it would need fans running at silly high speeds?
Or, does it work differently when the fins are split? Is the FPI actually halved to a more realistic 19?

I'm interested in this radiator, but I don't want to run fans at high speed due to noise.

Thanks
 
I don't know about the FPI, but if you don't want to run high speeds, then get something with a great static pressure (Gentle typhoons/SP120's), or run a Push-Pull. That doubles the pressure without doubling the noise, or thereabouts.
 
The split fins look like two sets of aluminium fins in between copper channels. Essentially this effectively means a lower fpi than a proper 38fpi radiator, but even 19fpi for a radiator can be pretty good. As for the fans, GT's would be fine to run on it with a reduced speed and would be pretty much silent if you have an adequate amount of radiator in your loop to cool components.

The speed of the fans are really less about fpi and more about how much heat you need to dissipate. Though more fpi means more heat dissipation, if you have enough radiator int he loop, it should be near enough silent.
 
Hmmm, this is where it confuses me.
So, more fins require a higher static pressure fan? However, the fan can then run at a much lower rpm because the fins dissipate more heat?
I have 2 akasa apache fans currently on a single rad. Any rough ideas how they would run with the above radiator?

Thanks
 
They will be fine.

More fins dissipate more heat, whether they are high density or not. Obviously radiators of the same size and of different amount of fins will have different fpi. Having more radiator gives you more cooling overhead, so you can lower the fan speed.

More static pressure only helps a fan if the air from it cant pass all the way through the radiator. More fin density means more cooling power but if the fan lacks the SP to penetrate the radiator thoroughly, you are not making full use of its surface area.

What are you cooling on a 240 radiator?
 
Avenged7Fold said:
They will be fine.

More fins dissipate more heat, whether they are high density or not. Obviously radiators of the same size and of different amount of fins will have different fpi. Having more radiator gives you more cooling overhead, so you can lower the fan speed.

More static pressure only helps a fan if the air from it cant pass all the way through the radiator. More fin density means more cooling power but if the fan lacks the SP to penetrate the radiator thoroughly, you are not making full use of its surface area.

What are you cooling on a 240 radiator?
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's a bit clearer now. I'm only cooling my CPU and have no plans for adding graphics in (too expensive). I need to redo my loop and have an upgrade itch.
Once the rad is sorted I then have to scout for a smallish case that will house it. Thus the upgrade cycle continues :)
 
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