can my pump handle a bigger heater core?

[Will Robinson]

I have the ThermalTake BigWater kit. The pump is 12 volt, 0.4amp, 120 liter per hour.
I was going to replace the radiator that came with the kit with a heater core from a '77 Bonniville so I could incorporate it into the top of my case. Cut and duct an intake through the side and let the fans suck the air through the core and blow out the top. The stock BigWater sytem works fine the way it is except I don't have a good place to mount the radiator so if I have to mod the case to do it I might as well make it worth the effort to break out the plasma cutter :D

I was wondering if anyone knows if a 120lph pump could handle the larger core?

Many thanks!
PS: only 99 more posts until I can see the classifieds where the custom fan shrouds are hiding :cry:

[greenman100]

yes

bigger = less restriction

[zebkoolindc]

A Bonnivlle core will be much less restrictive than the stock one. The pump will handle it fine.

Your problem will be getting the 1/4" tubing over the 1/2" pipes of the heater core.

overclockers cafe (http://www.overclockercafe.com/Reviews/cooling/Tt_Bigwater/pg4.html) reviewed the kit and got 46.6C load temps on a 2.4 @3.3 1.875

I doubt upgrading the rad will make the kit perform any better. The water block sucks, pump is weak, and tubing is small.

it is similat to guys talking about upgrading a Koolance. Its is a lost cause.

[CandymanCan]

Yes

[Will Robinson]

Thanks for the input.
I got the BigWater kit for noise reduction more than temperature concerns although it did reduce the temp quite a bit too.
I can run it overclocked 10% and still be 5°C cooler than it used to run *without* overclocking it. But over all it still runs upper 50°'sC with 73°F ambient in the room when playing Half-life2.
running Prime95 it hits 64°C highest. It would do 75°C before the BigWater with no overclock stock heatsink/fan...

So that block may suck relative to some other solutions but it doesn't suck compared to stock! It's running much cooler and much, much, quieter now!

I'm putting the bigger core in with anticipation of reaching for the 4 ghz level even if it means new cpu and/or new block etc.
Like I said if your going to go to the trouble of cutting the case you might as well prepare for the future. Or as we used to say: 'If you're going to be a bear, be a Grizzly!'
Again, thanks.

[Sneaky]

i would suggest that you don't try to get a bigger HC for the bigwater - the pump/res isnt too strong, plus the 1/4" tubes rape it of all performance possible


save up, but a new kit, and stick with the TT-BW kit for now

[greenman100]

i would suggest that you don't try to get a bigger HC for the bigwater - the pump/res isnt too strong, plus the 1/4" tubes rape it of all performance possible


save up, but a new kit, and stick with the TT-BW kit for now


What experience do you have to support this?

he can buy the parts piece by piece if he wants

[Will Robinson]

It's quite possible that the BigWater radiator actually moves more fluid than the '77 Bonniville heater core does. Outside dimensions do not dictate the resistance to fluid movement. It's the inside dimensions of the channels that determine the amount of surface/friction the fluid meets. The BigWater radiator is 3/8 OD copper tubing throughout. The automobile heater core has a *much* smaller interior channel albeit branched. I don't know the actual total inside dimensions of each to do the math but on cursory inspection I'd wager that the BigWater is a shorter path of a more open channel....

Of course if the pump you use is able to pump beyond the radiators ability to flow and/or remove heat from a fluid it really doesn't matter what the actual numbers are but don't fool yourself into thinking bigger is better. Higher overall volume is better up to a point...the block can only remove so much heat so overkill on radiators and pumps are all just bling bling anyway.

My guess is the heater core will remove more btu's of heat by the additional suface area and the slower movement of water so a small pump may be just perfect.

[covana2244]

I can assure you that the 77Bonniville is less restrictive that the bigwater radiator. Also slower moving water doe not help your temps, if fact I think it makes it worse.

[Will Robinson]

What I was trying to say is, that with the pump I have from the BigWater kit, comparing it's use on the Bonniville core versus the radiator in the kit it probably moves the water faster through the BigWater radiator than it will through the heater core. Or maybe "faster" isn't the right term, more like the water will complete it's loop faster and transfer less heat than it will running through the core. The core being more efficient at heat transfer due to more surface area.
Slow water is only a problem if you are not removing all the heat that the block can transfer to the water. Once you reach that threshhold and transfer all removed heat to the radiator/core that it can accept, additional volume, speed, pump size, etc. is all a waste. In fact the bigger the pump motor the more additional heat you may be adding to the water, which also has to be removed.

Of course I'm assuming that the pump and tubing in the kit are more than enough to handle what the block in the kit can transfer....
I know, ASSuming... :)