So Many Radiators...

Roverno

Roverno

Roverno

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24 May 2011
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Hi all,

I wasnt happy with the 3x140mm 45thick, and 2x140mm 60mm thick radiators i bought for my last watercooled build in my 750 because i felt that: firstly, 140mm fans seems to all be pretty terrible relative to their 120mm counterparts when it comes to undervolting and pressure.

I want to try and get 2 360mm (3x120mm) radiators either 30 or 45mm thickness. I feel like i have looked at every radiator available but still not sure what im going to buy. Im planning to get Nf-F12 or Noiseblocker NB-loop Fans, just bought one of each to test them and see which i prefer.

FYI, i'm watercooling for silence and will be running fans as low as possible. But am only cooling one 970 and 3770k cpu.

What radiators would you guys suggest?
 
I can throughly recommend the alphacool nexxxos st30 range. I use a 240mm currently and used a 360mm version too and they offer immense performance in a slim profile with low FPI.
 
Length > Depth .

Two 360's is MORE than enough to for a CPU & GPU.

Go with F12's, stick the low noise adapters on them; you could probably get away with 650 rpm on all of them. :)

30mm will be fine. I have 35mm radiators on CPU ans 2 GPU's.
 
Why do you think low fpi is better? Im not saying you are wrong. But i thought the greater surface area of higher fpi would produce better results.

20 fpi on this coolgate model surely gives higher performance? https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-015-CG&groupid=962&catid=1523&subcat=1526

maybe more noise, but running fans low rpm... hummm.


Agreed that length is more important. Which radiators do you have out of interest? what is the build quality like? im tempted by the XSPC AX series, but at nearly 100 quid a radiator, they are not cheap.
 
The higher the fpi the louder, because the the air bounces around more through the fins (in theory).

Thicker radiators with lower fpi should be (technically) quieter, however need good SP fans to push the air all the way through them.

I have XSPC EX's (240 & 420) that have 19 fpi I believe, that are 35mm thick. Having the Noctua NF-F12's on the 240; the fans at just under 700rpm are beardy auidoable. :)


EDIT: just found this for XSPC radiators -

EX - 35.5mm - 19 FPI
AX - 40mm - 16 FPI
RX - 64mm - 8 FPI
RS - 35mm - 13 FPI
 
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I have 2 coolgate 480s in my build and I think the fpi is around 10... Before that I had 2 RX240s and 2 Phobya g changers. Again all with low fin density. Allows me to run passive when just web browsing/streaming etc so pure silence :)
 
Leon Axel said:
The higher the fpi the louder, because the the air bounces around more through the fins (in theory).

Thicker radiators with lower fpi should be (technically) quieter, however need good SP fans to push the air all the way through them.

I have XSPC EX's (240 & 420) that have 19 fpi I believe, that are 35mm thick. Having the Noctua NF-F12's on the 240; the fans at just under 700rpm are beardy auidoable. :)


EDIT: just found this for XSPC radiators -

EX - 35.5mm - 19 FPI
AX - 40mm - 16 FPI
RX - 64mm - 8 FPI
RS - 35mm - 13 FPI
Click to expand...

From what i know, air turbulence, although increasing skin friction, will greatly increase heat transfer. Increasing the amount of turbulence in the radiator should greatly increase performance, as long as you can ensure the air is moving. The EX series look like a good option for me. Sadly out of stock at OCUK atm :(
 
NoNameNoNumber said:
I have 2 coolgate 480s in my build and I think the fpi is around 10... Before that I had 2 RX240s and 2 Phobya g changers. Again all with low fin density. Allows me to run passive when just web browsing/streaming etc so pure silence :)
Click to expand...

Sales page on OCUK specifically says 20. Maybe different people count it differently :-/

Passive, but the pump is still running? :P
 
I have f12's on an ex240,Fan speeds ramps up/down depending on CPU temps,so at idle the fans are at 400rpm and whisper silent.

Not until the fans hit 900/1000rpm do they start being noticeably audible IMO
 
Oh right, have you got them both? Or do you mean you've not tested either of them at all?

I was thinking of getting an AIO cooler (Fractal Kelvin T12 as it's the only full copper solution, don't like the idea of copper block and alu rads even if it is fully sealed.), but after seeing the price and suggestions that custom is way better, I thought I might use what I have and try to build an AIO setup.

The problem is my case is a Silverstone FT02 and I don't want to do any mods so I'm going to be using a 120.1 rad or possibly 2 (1 in the CD drive bays), and there doesn't seem to be many reviews on them.

I guess at worst it'll be less than 1-2c difference between the XSPC and Coolgate.
 
NoNameNoNumber said:
7 fpi yes passive as in no radiator fans running, just the pump.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. i was looking at this one for me: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-015-CG

Very different style.

MrMD said:
I have f12's on an ex240,Fan speeds ramps up/down depending on CPU temps,so at idle the fans are at 400rpm and whisper silent.

Not until the fans hit 900/1000rpm do they start being noticeably audible IMO
Click to expand...

I have had one F12 and one eLoop arrive today so that i can compare. Will make a devision based on my rough testing.
 
Moogle I have used 2 RX 240s. Then 2 G Changer 240s. Besides the RX looking better there was no difference in performance that I could measure either in Afterburner or on the water temp gauge. I have now gone for 2 480 coolgates which like I say the built quality looks great but I haven't finished building that loop up yet so I cannot comment on the performance although a comparison won't really be fair as I will have double the rad space. I will also be trying new fans as opposed to sticking with the SP120s
 
NoNameNoNumber said:
Moogle I have used 2 RX 240s. Then 2 G Changer 240s. Besides the RX looking better there was no difference in performance that I could measure either in Afterburner or on the water temp gauge. I have now gone for 2 480 coolgates which like I say the built quality looks great but I haven't finished building that loop up yet so I cannot comment on the performance although a comparison won't really be fair as I will have double the rad space. I will also be trying new fans as opposed to sticking with the SP120s
Click to expand...

Cheers for that, I just wanted to clarify you had them :)

I might go for some of those then, they seem to be in stock too.
 
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