Those Germans and Their Engineering

[ZachM]

I don't know if anyone else saw this, but ProCooling did a review on the Alphacool NexXxoS XP waterblock. This little German block, even though it's crazy restrictive, performs as well as the Storm G4 at high flow rates.

http://www.procooling.com/reviews/html/alphacool_nexxxos_xp_waterbloc.php

So maybe those Euro guys should look into getting bigger pumps. ;)

[9mmCensor]

Yeah. Its a good review, esp. since it "disproves" "conventional wisdom".

[Voodoo Rufus]

So it needs a crazy pump eh?

Still impressive for a relatively simple block.

I thought the Europeans liked Eheim 1046s and 1048s.....

[smokenjoe]

I am glad they included mention of my pet peve. These highly rated pumps that do well in highly restritive engirments are not always the best choice. You get less flow with the same pump so it does worse over all even though it does better at a certan flow rate. I would actualy like to see C/w vs pressure instead of flow. We dont change our flow the testers do.

[Xenocide]

hm that is one nice block...

[crimedog]

http://www.procooling.com/reviews/assets/images/cpu-air_sm.jpg

[Cathar]

I would actualy like to see C/w vs pressure instead of flow. We dont change our flow the testers do.

This thread may be of interest to you:

http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=10859

Which attempts to associate block performance vs supplied pumping power. The following graph is a result of that thread:

http://www.employees.org/~slf/curves/pumps/power/perfpwr3.png

What the above block vs power graph doesn't show you is also the impact on decreased radiator performance with lower flow rates, which is what the graph that crimedog displayed tries to bring into the equation.

The graph that crimedog shows comes from this thread here:

http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=10508

Both of these threads are well worth a read if you're interested in an attempt to balance off waterblock resistance with performance when matched with pumps.

[Joe Camel]

What the above block vs power graph doesn't show you is also the impact on decreased radiator performance with lower flow rates

here is my solution to that...(click "2loopCooling" in sig)

Cathar, as with everything, im sure there is a point of diminishing returns, but if you disregard the restriction to the "loop", could a HIGH restriction WB (storm) out perform the current WB's?

[Cathar]

Cathar, as with everything, im sure there is a point of diminishing returns, but if you disregard the restriction to the "loop", could a HIGH restriction WB (storm) out perform the current WB's?

Isn't that what this graph was answering, being the isolation of the waterblock from the rest of the loop in relation to pumping power?

Such a scenario is not terribly relevent though. Not everyone is going to use 2 pumps/loops. Further, that's also just adding extra pump heat to the loop. The extra heat of the second pump is probably offsetting the gains of the radiator due to increased flow rates through the rad.

You can't "disregard" the restriction to the loop. That's a fundamental element of each block's design.

http://www.employees.org/~slf/curves/pumps/power/perfpwr3.png

[HiProfile]

What's interesting to point out is the fact that this goes against the common logic held by the European masses that pin-grid blocks can wipe the floor at low flows compaired to other 'inferior' blocks from the rest of the world. Rather odd that [based on regional preferences] everyone's using the wrong waterblocks with the wrong pump/tubing combo. But that of course doesn't take into acount the fact that you don't get the same flow rate when all you change is the waterblock. The graphs are somewhat misleading, since with certain blocks you need more power to get the same flow through a block than less-restrictive block.

I'd really like to see an addition to their graphs that show temps based on the power fed to the pump. The Perf. vs Hydro Power is a good substitute (basicly what I just asked for), and better in another way, visually depicting the requirements of added restriction. Basicly it would be getting back to the maximum deltaT acheviable with a certain pump when used with different blocks. But in the end that'd make the article more of a pump shoot-out.

What the Nexxos does have going for it is that it's a retail production model, not part of relatively small batches by a private enthusiast.

[smokenjoe]

Thanks Cathar good read though my head still hurts. I have read a lot but those articles explaind a lot about flow Vs performance. It doesnt nessarily make the decisons easer :bang head but hopfully a little more informed.