Rad and fan clarification required.

Abz Hussain · 22 Feb 2012 at 22:52

Im finally about to buy my WC parts, before i do just a quick Q regards the the title.

The rads im after allow me to mount both 140 or 120 mm fans. I want to know what is the best solution for me. I will be using a 140.3 and a 140.2 rad to cool an overclocked 2600k and overclocked GTX580. (Have i got enough rad surface?)
Apparently 140mm fans are 'not all that' compared to 120 mm fans, static pressure etc, im not sure so hence my asking here.

The rads are 10 fins per inch, i understand this has some significance as to the type of fans that should be used? Could someone explain please so i can learn.

Also, with the fans do I use them to pull the heat from the rad out (fan on top) or push the heat out (fan on bottom) or both?

Can someone recommend some fans (both sizes) for the above scenario. Fans which move a good amount of air and are quiet would be nice. I am aware there is a compromise to be made somewhere

If it helps, the case will be the Fractal Design Arc Midi, modified for the 140.3
There are two fan spaces (120/140mm) that are available to use as intake or exhaust in addition to the fans for the rads.
If you need more info, please ask away.

Cleeecooo · 22 Feb 2012 at 22:55

What's the rad size?

Scythe GTS are the best, and they're 120mm only, but apaches aren't far behind and they one in 140mm variants.

I'm presuming it's a 420 rad, in which case get the apaches

(unless there's simethig better on the market?)

You can have ten either in push or pull, it doesn't make too much difference, but if your having fans in each side of the rad, have one set in push, the opposite set in pull.

Abz Hussain · 22 Feb 2012 at 22:58

Cleeecooo said:
What's the rad size?

Scythe GTS are the best, and they're 120mm only, but apaches aren't far behind and they one in 140mm variants.

I'm presuming it's a 420 rad, in which case get the apaches (unless there's simethig better on the market?)

You can have ten either in push or pull, it doesn't make too much difference, but if your having fans in each side of the rad, have one set in push, the opposite set in pull.

A 420 & 280

Cleeecooo · 22 Feb 2012 at 23:03

Have you got space for push pull?

Abz Hussain · 22 Feb 2012 at 23:10

Cleeecooo said:
Have you got space for push pull?

Yes after modding.

Cleeecooo · 22 Feb 2012 at 23:18

Abz Hussain said:
Yes after modding.

If you don't mind spending the money, you may aswell go for push/pull on the rads.

It isn't really value for money IMO as you already have a capable setup, but I'd it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing

Abz Hussain · 22 Feb 2012 at 23:23

Cleeecooo said:
If you don't mind spending the money, you may aswell go for push/pull on the rads.

It isn't really value for money IMO as you already have a capable setup, but I'd it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing

Well i will with a push set up first, see how that fairs, and then if need be i will add.
Those apache fans, what brand are they?

Cleeecooo · 22 Feb 2012 at 23:37

Akasa I believe.

Biffa · 23 Feb 2012 at 03:07

Having built 4 WC systems with 120mm rads and fans, and 2 now with 140mm rads and fans, I'd never go for 140mm again. You are right about the fans being sub-par and it really hurts performance I have found.

Abz Hussain · 23 Feb 2012 at 08:50

Biffa said:
Having built 4 WC systems with 120mm rads and fans, and 2 now with 140mm rads and fans, I'd never go for 140mm again. You are right about the fans being sub-par and it really hurts performance I have found.

Wow, is there really that much of a difference then? Could you give a bit more on your experiences please.

Avathar77 · 23 Feb 2012 at 09:23

FPI count is important but as with every thing in watercooling there is a compromise.
Lower FPI lets you use lower rpm fans(easier for the air to get through), making your setup quieter(relative).
in same way high fpi rads are better in some ways on thermal disposition(because of more surface area to transfer heat), but you will need fans with good static pressure and/or fans need to run at higher rpm.

There is an interesting read on martinsliquidlab about fans in push and/or pull
HERE

also in the same site are a plethora of tests for 120mm fans!
So as with most of the water cooling stuff you have to read them

Abz Hussain · 23 Feb 2012 at 09:37

Avathar77 said:
FPI count is important but as with every thing in watercooling there is a compromise.
Lower FPI lets you use lower rpm fans(easier for the air to get through), making your setup quieter(relative).
in same way high fpi rads are better in some ways on thermal disposition(because of more surface area to transfer heat), but you will need fans with good static pressure and/or fans need to run at higher rpm.

There is an interesting read on martinsliquidlab about fans in push and/or pull
HERE

also in the same site are a plethora of tests for 120mm fans!
So as with most of the water cooling stuff you have to read them

Well i had already been to that site, watched and read, decided on the Gentle Typhoons first of all but then went to look at the Akasa Apaches and thinking about going with them.
Will go with 120 rads i think and get an adaptor for the 140mm fans that come with the case.

Biffa · 23 Feb 2012 at 09:40

My usage is probably more extreme than most, but it bear out from other research.

The 140mm issues is the fans not the rads, in fact if you use good 120mm fans with an adapter on a 140mm rad you can get good results.

Abz Hussain · 23 Feb 2012 at 09:50

Biffa said:
My usage is probably more extreme than most, but it bear out from other research.

The 140mm issues is the fans not the rads, in fact if you use good 120mm fans with an adapter on a 140mm rad you can get good results.

So 120mm fans mounted onto 140mm rads would work ok yes? That would work out good for me as long as its viable.
Biffa, thick rads like the xspc RX (60mm) do they offer any significant performance over thinner rads? Cheers

rjk · 23 Feb 2012 at 11:05

Biffa said:
Having built 4 WC systems with 120mm rads and fans, and 2 now with 140mm rads and fans, I'd never go for 140mm again. You are right about the fans being sub-par and it really hurts performance I have found.

this tbh.

This is why the OcUK range of rads is mainly focussed on 120mm standard fans, because the performance is there.

in honesty, if you are using a suitable fan controller then you get perfect silence too which will easily rival a 140mm rad/fan setup.

of course it depends on your preferences but you severely limit your choice of performance fans.

Abz Hussain · 23 Feb 2012 at 11:15

rjkoneill said:
this tbh.

This is why the OcUK range of rads is mainly focussed on 120mm standard fans, because the performance is there.

in honesty, if you are using a suitable fan controller then you get perfect silence too which will easily rival a 140mm rad/fan setup.

of course it depends on your preferences but you severely limit your choice of performance fans.

Im decided on my fans, Akasa Apaches 120mm's. My top rad will be XSPC RX 360.
Just need figure out what to do about the front rad.
The case has 2x140 mm fans fitted, need to work out how i will mount a 120.2 rad to it.

rjk · 23 Feb 2012 at 11:25

Abz Hussain said:
Im decided on my fans, Akasa Apaches 120mm's. My top rad will be XSPC RX 360.

both a good call imo

I would personally consider gentle typhoons as an alternative to the apache as the apache has PWM controls so unless running the fans off the motherboard, you will get much better performance on that radiator from 1850rpm GTs

Abz Hussain · 23 Feb 2012 at 11:35

rjkoneill said:
both a good call imo

I would personally consider gentle typhoons as an alternative to the apache as the apache has PWM controls so unless running the fans off the motherboard, you will get much better performance on that radiator from 1850rpm GTs

Ok i will look at these fans, i went with the apaches because i have seen them for £9 a fan, thought it was a good price. The GT's are a few quid more.
Do you suggest push or pull rjkoneill?

rjk · 23 Feb 2012 at 11:58

either really.

I was always in the push is best catagory.

but my recent rebuild is using a 120.4 thermochill with 4 GTs in pull on it.

all fans running off an aquaero at 5% speed [about 500RPM]

my system is a 3920 at 5GHz and a GTX 590 and temps of the CPU and GPU never go above 50'C under gaming load playing BF3 and Crysis2

the controller bumps the fans to about 900RPM when the system is under stress testing. either way. pull works just as good as push and air flow is superb.

best of all? you cant even tell my pc is on when its idle.

Abz Hussain · 23 Feb 2012 at 12:13

rjkoneill said:
either really.

I was always in the push is best catagory.

but my recent rebuild is using a 120.4 thermochill with 4 GTs in pull on it.

all fans running off an aquaero at 5% speed [about 500RPM]

my system is a 3920 at 5GHz and a GTX 590 and temps of the CPU and GPU never go above 50'C under gaming load playing BF3 and Crysis2

the controller bumps the fans to about 900RPM when the system is under stress testing. either way. pull works just as good as push and air flow is superb.

best of all? you cant even tell my pc is on when its idle.

Fantastic. what aquaero are you using as i will be adding a controller too.
While i have you here, i dont suppose you could spec me a pump, res &comp fittings.
Details of what i will be cooling are in the first post. Thanks.