radiators: thick or thin?

ambientvoid

ambientvoid

ambientvoid

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18 Mar 2015
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I'm planning on building into a corsair air 240 case for my first build and as such there is a bit of a limitation on radiator length, i want a front mounted 240mm radiator set up in push/pull format and to my knowledge the maximum length radiator i can lever in is 280mm. With this in mind what would be the best thickness of radiator to go for? I've been assuming that a thicker radiator equals more surface area equals better cooling but I have no idea for sure. Help?
I have 4 Coolermaster Jetflo fans ready to go on whatever radiator is most recommended...
 
I would assume that radiator volume is directly relative to cooling ability for a given fin density.

The biggest factor you'll find is a limitation on GPU length with the Air 240, especially with Push/Pull.

Any reason you want this fan setup? I'd be dubious if a thin rad requires P/P, a thick one might benefit it, but I'd rather a thick rad, single sided fans and a graphics card than thin, push pull and no GPU.

Are you just cooling CPU or GPU too?
 
Cpu and gpu, that's why I was thinking a push/pulled thick radiator. It's just that I found similar threads on other forums where the overwhelming response was that long and thin was better than short and thick for the best cooling, obviously I can't very well do long in this case but it got me worried that going for a thicker radiator might be the wrong choice.
I've been looking at getting 2 of these graphics cards: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-099-TL&groupid=962&catid=2091 because it would give me more radiator and airflow space.
 
I'd be fitting a thick rad with fans on one side, and ensure there's room to fit in those GPUs.

Are you sure you can accommodate enough rad space for CPU and SLI? You need 480mm as a minimum.
 
As in 2x 240 radiators? The only way to do that in this case is if I go mitx but then I wouldn't be able to have sli. I was hoping if I could fit a thick enough single 240 and force enough air through it it would work out for both cpu and gpu. Any idea if there's a way of installing a second radiator externally on the back of the case?
 
For a single GPU and CPU, you would need 360mm of rad space. I've no idea what you can fit in that case, but just be careful that you don't end up spending money to cause more problems than you solve.
 
No space for a 540, the 240 just barely fits on the shelf if tipped over so that the window faces up. There's no back on the shelf so I could theoretically fit an external radiator at the back somehow...
 
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As I won't be able to afford 2 graphics cards at once I think I might get an AIO cooler for the cpu and see if I can fit a 120 rad in somewhere for one graphics card to start...
 
There's only space for 1 240mm rad and then 1 120mm rad, i wouldn't feel comfortable cooling a cpu and 2 cards on that. It looks like you are going to either change case, or aio and then go reference cards?

Like it says,

adore water cooling? Use two 240mm radiators with Mini-ITX, or one 240mm radiator with a dual-GPU MicroATX setup
Click to expand...
 
it doesn't make much sense to me but it's that or mounting an external 240 radiator off the back somehow. I was thinking maybe using an 80 to 120 fan adapter and attaching something like a koolance mounting bracket to that...
 
ambientvoid said:
it doesn't make much sense to me but it's that or mounting an external 240 radiator off the back somehow. I was thinking maybe using an 80 to 120 fan adapter and attaching something like a koolance mounting bracket to that...
Click to expand...

What doesn't make much sense?

How big is the space at the back next to the PSU?
 
ambientvoid said:
it doesn't make much sense to me but it's that or mounting an external 240 radiator off the back somehow. I was thinking maybe using an 80 to 120 fan adapter and attaching something like a koolance mounting bracket to that...
Click to expand...

If you only have 360mm of rad space, then you either cool CPU+GPU or 2*GPU. I currently have one 980 under water and one on air with my CPU also under water and temperatures are fine.
 
String said:
If you only have 360mm of rad space, then you either cool CPU+GPU or 2*GPU. I currently have one 980 under water and one on air with my CPU also under water and temperatures are fine.
Click to expand...

Hmm.. Looking at it, you wouldn't be able to fit a 120mm rad in the case as it would interfere with the motherboard. It's either a 240mm aio and air cooled cards or cards under and air cooled cpu (which seems kinda pointless)
 
Is the new case option a consideration? Could be less of a compromise overall and give you the ability to get the kit you want in your own time.
 
String said:
For a single GPU and CPU, you would need 360mm of rad space. I've no idea what you can fit in that case, but just be careful that you don't end up spending money to cause more problems than you solve.
Click to expand...

Not entirely true, 120mm for each component is the normal recommendation.

I run a [email protected] and a 780 and temps are reasonable - on a EK PE 240.
 
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