Picking the right radiators for my build

Felixtheflash · 4 Jan 2021 at 14:59

This is my first thread here and i do apologize if this has been answered in another thread but tried searching for a good answer but couldnt find one.(also english is not my first language, so bear with me

)

Im going to start building my first ever custom loop pc build soon based in the the O11D.
And i was thinking of doing a 360 on top and a 360 on the bottom.
But I'm not sure if i need both 360's, its going to cool a msi rtx3080 ventus oc and a 5800x on a Asus x570-f motherboard.

Maybe a single thick rad might do the trick on its own? and was looking at the nexxos ut60 xflow ( https://www.alphacool.com/shop/radi...t60-full-copper-x-flow-360mm-radiator?c=20545) mounted in the top.
Question is do these kind of thick rads need special fans? Can i use the NFF12 fans i allready have in simple push configuration?

Ross Thomson · 4 Jan 2021 at 15:32

I'd use at least two rads.

Hakanese · 4 Jan 2021 at 15:45

I'd double check your clearance iof you going to mount a thick rad in the roof, you may have issues with the Rad and fans blocking into the ram slots.
The thicker Alphacool rads have a low Fins Per Inch, so don't really need specialized fans, you can Push, with a low rpm fan.
x2 360 rads is good idea if you are planning to overclock your gpu and cpu.
Good luck with your build

Felixtheflash · 4 Jan 2021 at 18:50

Hakanese said:
I'd double check your clearance iof you going to mount a thick rad in the roof, you may have issues with the Rad and fans blocking into the ram slots.
The thicker Alphacool rads have a low Fins Per Inch, so don't really need specialized fans, you can Push, with a low rpm fan.
x2 360 rads is good idea if you are planning to overclock your gpu and cpu.
Good luck with your build

Thanks for the advise, seems like i have 8.5cm before i hit the vrmheatshields of my Mobo. thinking maybe a st30 xflow in the top and a normal st30 bottom rad might be better.
I see these have higher fin density but still should be fine with Noctua Nff12 in push or pull?

Hakanese · 4 Jan 2021 at 20:32

I generally do push whenever I have to choice. If you're having issues get more fans. The noctuas are good fans. You should be more then fine with them. If you need more.. do push pull with all the noctuas then get something like the arctic p12 pwm pst on the 2nd rad. But unless you are planning on folding and running your gpu at max with a custom bios for extra power you should be fine.

Bluntwrapped · 4 Jan 2021 at 23:18

The HW labs range of rads are excellent. I’d thoroughly recommend the GTX range, can only assume the GTR’s are even better.

http://hardwarelabs.com/nemesis/gtr/gtr-360/

With decent fans one 360mm is all you need. It’s rated up to an insane 1950w :eek:

Felixtheflash · 5 Jan 2021 at 20:06

But is one 60mm roughly the same as two 30mm rads og same length? In cooling performance. And i would Imagine i could run the fans at lower speeds on thinner rads?

Hakanese · 5 Jan 2021 at 20:40

thinner rads generally have a denser set of fins per inch, meaning you actually have to work the fans harder. It's not as simple as a 60mm thick rad is x2 a 30mm thick rad.
Some radiators are optimised for lower fans speeds, like the Monsta style rads, and the Hardwarelabs Nemesis GTX range. There are also relatively high performance slim rads too Like the Nemesis Black Ice GTS
It's entirely up to you how you decide to go, do you want max cooling with least amount of rads, but faster fans? Or do you want to go cooling with the emphasis on silence.
There's options for either extremes and every iteration you want in between.

Ross Thomson · 5 Jan 2021 at 21:39

Felixtheflash said:
But is one 60mm roughly the same as two 30mm rads og same length? In cooling performance. And i would Imagine i could run the fans at lower speeds on thinner rads?

stock nemesis rads won't fit in your case as they are too wide. You'd need the LS OE versions.

Two 30mm rads will provide more cooling than a one 60mm rad.

Felixtheflash · 6 Jan 2021 at 11:51

Ross Thomson said:
stock nemesis rads won't fit in your case as they are too wide. You'd need the LS OE versions.

Two 30mm rads will provide more cooling than a one 60mm rad.

By LS oe you mean these types? *Link removed*
If so then great

They are actually instock at one of the vendors that sell watercooling gear in my country (norway). Was looking at ek and alphacool but i see many recomend hwlabs black ice radiators and they are cheaper.

Ross Thomson · 6 Jan 2021 at 17:34

yeah those ones

SirConfused · 6 Jan 2021 at 21:02

Linking to competitors is against the forum rules. Might want to fix that post.

Felixtheflash · 20 Jan 2021 at 14:12

Ive read that corsair radiators use HWlabs, and i was looking at the xr7 (thicker rad), how much of a difference in temp might using one thick and one thin rad be over using two thin?
30mm vs 50mm that is.
And im only going to use single fans on the rads, no push pull.

Ross Thomson · 20 Jan 2021 at 19:21

The HWL LX 360 is about £25-30 cheaper than the XR7. you will get some more cooling from the thicker rad.

Felixtheflash · 20 Feb 2021 at 09:12

Just thought id say thank you to everyone that gave me som pointers, i did my first build last night.
ended up with a xr5 and xr7 radiator from corsair.
Right now im running it for a couple of hours checking for leaks. I did do a leaktest with EK's pressure tester, so i dont know if i need to let the system run for 24hours before connecting everyting to power.
Other than that, i think i need to use hardline tubing for a couple of runs, especially the ones that come from the bottom rad into the flow monitor and into the gpu.
Had to use a small piece of soft tubing to hold the tubing up

And i think il use some 45 angled adapters when i do that for the cpu block.

Ross Thomson · 20 Feb 2021 at 13:16

how come you went with the much more expensive corsair rads over the HWL ones?

Felixtheflash · 20 Feb 2021 at 13:30

In Norway where I live the price was the same. And Corsair was easier to get ahold of.

HoneyBadger · 26 Feb 2021 at 06:10

Looks great

Drumroll · 2 Mar 2021 at 20:44

Waiting for a EK PE 360 top and XE 360 bottom and distro.
The regular O11/O11 air allows thicker rad on top than the XL, but the XL would allow a really thick rad on the bottom and maybe even allow vertical mounting (Phanteks kit/Coolermaster I know they work well).
As mentioned, some thinner rads can be way more restrictive (airflow through fins) than a thicker rad. Not a rule, but that's a way to increase performance. For very restrictive rads (fin count, not talking about flow rate), choosing the right fan is make or break.
Now about flow rate, some rads can be very restrictive, which is good for performance, as long as your pump/pumps can push them, or would require the pump to be at higher rpm.
Some EK's are OK, some not. Alphacool are good performers and depending on the model, the many ports would make your life much easier. Used XSPC in the past, they were decent.
Never used HWLabs, but many user praise how well they perform.

SirConfused · 3 Mar 2021 at 21:26

Drumroll said:
Waiting for a EK PE 360 top and XE 360 bottom and distro.
The regular O11/O11 air allows thicker rad on top than the XL, but the XL would allow a really thick rad on the bottom and maybe even allow vertical mounting (Phanteks kit/Coolermaster I know they work well).
As mentioned, some thinner rads can be way more restrictive (airflow through fins) than a thicker rad. Not a rule, but that's a way to increase performance. For very restrictive rads (fin count, not talking about flow rate), choosing the right fan is make or break.
Now about flow rate, some rads can be very restrictive, which is good for performance, as long as your pump/pumps can push them, or would require the pump to be at higher rpm.
Some EK's are OK, some not. Alphacool are good performers and depending on the model, the many ports would make your life much easier. Used XSPC in the past, they were decent.
Never used HWLabs, but many user praise how well they perform.

The build is already decided and pretty much complete?