can it work with no fans?

[Smirabi]

Let's say I want to run a 1/2"ID system in complete silence (no fans)...

How many heater cores (the ones that can accomodate 2x 120mm fans, for instance) would I need to give me enough surface area to be able to keep temps within reason (<50C) without mounting fans to the radiators?

If the number is something like 3 or 4, that would be acceptable, but anything more than 4 would make the idea (that this question centers on) prohibitively difficult to execute.

because it may be relevant they system would have components equivalent to the following:
cpu: barton 2500M oc'd up to between 2200 and 2400mhz
pump: mcp600 r2
tubing: 1/2"ID tygon (or similar type)
WB: something on the order of a whitewater, RBX, or TDX [or a cascade if they ever come back ;) ]
Other blocks: possibly a (low to moderately restrictive) chipset and video card wbs, depending on if their addition would be cost effective.

if it would make a difference, you can assume that the radiators are set up in series or parallel, whichever you choose.


so, just to sum it up again, how many radiators (or how much radiator surface area) would someone need to run a WC system (at <50C) without any fans?

thanks for the feedback.

[Korndog]

thats hard to say.. heatercores aren't designed for natural convection. you could get 2-3 heatercores and run a very quiet silentx 11dba fan on it, should me more or less inaudible unless u live in a soundproof box. it would be more practical imo

[pwnt by pat]

What you could do is find a house that's being demolished, see if it has baseboard heating, and snag a couple of those rads. Sure you won't be able to fit it in a case but you will definately have the cool factor with 4 or 5 8-10' long radiators behind you.

[thorilan]

get a couple of 5v fans .

or 7v

but since core performance is based completely on your fan , no fan would be a mistake especialy when you can get fans that you cant hear at low speeds when your case is closed
. if you want true no fan cooling set up a bong

[Smirabi]

thanks everyone for the feedback. you have helped me refine my vision a little more. thanks again, good luck to all.

[PROkillernoodle]

With a bong though you have the waterfall sound... not sure if that is quiet or not. I'd say you should find a big ass car radiator and mount it horizontally to allow for natural convection to occur.

[Voodoo Rufus]

If you want to do completely no fan cooling, check out the heatsinks made by Wakefield for high power uses. With enough large sinks you could get quite nice performance. Cost you a pretty penny and a back brace for the aluminum extrusions though.

[ares350]

bongs also typicly have a fan blowing opposite to water fall... or so I thought.

run a fan super slow just enough to keep a flow of air over it(2 or 300rpms would be plenty, and 100% silent to all normal people) going to need a few large radiators though.