Does size really matter?

[xCarne_Asada]

Ok I am planning on get the Black Ice Radiator 2. Its fitting are 3/8 " and he is telling me to go 1/2" Would that make much of a difference? I thought about changing it but that would bottle neck it. Give me feed back.

[cowanrg]

depends on your pump... if you have a 500gph like me, getting 3/8 fitting is dumb. but if you have a ~200gph, 3/8 is fine.

just think of your water flow...

10 feet of tubing can hold this:

3/8": 1.10 cubic feet
1/2": 1.96 cubic feet

so, basically, in 10 feet of tubing, the 1/2" can hold almost twice the amount of water!

math:

pi(r)^2

(3.1415926)*(3/16)^2 = ~1.1
(3.1415926)*(1/4)^2 = ~1.96

so there it is... now, think about this with flow rates... 1/2" tubing can have a total of 1.96 cubic feet flowing through. so, if your pump is the same gph rating, you will have to push the more water with the 1/2". you are only pushing through 1.1 cubic feet with the 3/8".

[xCarne_Asada]

hmm well now i feel dumb cause i was going to get a 500 gph pump. Should i change the radiator to fit to 1/2"

[cowanrg]

probably :-)

someone else give an opinion though

[ve6jhc]

What are all the other water passages sized at? Most water blocks have 3/8 sized internal passages so using 1/2 tubing is not going to help if you have any smaller sections anywhere in the cooling loop. What about your rad passages? Internal pump size?

[xCarne_Asada]

Well should I get the Danger Den Super Cube or the Black Ice 2


Black Ice 2 Features:

4-pass Radiator specifically developed for PC watercooling based on the same high-performance Black Ice design.
DOUBLE the performance: rated for 720KCal per hour (2856 BTU per hour) or 837Wh
240 mm (9.44 inch) Copper core consisting of flat tubes for maximum heat conductivity
High-density louvered copper fin configuration for enhanced heat dissipation
Built-in plenum chamber for increased performance and noise reduction
Self-tapping and case mounting holes for easy installation of 2 120mm fans
9.5 mm (3/8 inch) pre-angled inlet/outlet barbed hose connectors
Svelt 150.4 x 248.6 x 25 mm (5.9 x 9.79 x 0.98 inch) dimensions allows it to fit inside most mid-tower cases
Specifically designed for the case mod enthusiast.


does any of that help?

[ve6jhc]

I was thinking of the ID of the inner passages of your rad not its overall size...What size is the copper tubing in the rad?

[xCarne_Asada]

I dont know what it is hmm. I wanted the power of the 500gph with the cooling effiecientcy of the BLack ice 2, is there something better?

[lennytiger]

Dangerdens are ok but I would sort your pc cooling out real good do some serious over clocking and then head over to the folding at home board and join us in the Overclockers.com Folding@Home Team!!!!!

[SteenkyBastage]

i would get larger tubeing in the radiator no matter what the rest of your system is.

the reason being:

if it's the same as the rest of your system, then you wont be restricting flow when it hits the radiator. but if it was smaller, then the water speeds up thru the radiator, giving it less time to cool.

just compare how much water is in the radiator at any given time, the speed of the pump wont effect how much is in there, but the size of the tubeing will effect both volume of water in radiator as well as the speed. (ideally you want more water in at any given time, as well as at a slower speed)

if it's larger than the rest of your system, it will in effect slow the water down when it's going thru the radiator, which would give the radiator more time to cool it. then once the water comes out of the radiator, it will speed back up due to the smaller tube size.

but, with a 500 gph pump, and a good radiator, it probably wont make a huge difference. it's gonna cool good either way. i use a 700GPH pump with a 3/8' radiator and waterblock (both DD). it cools real well. it might cool slightly better with 1/2', but for me, it gets the job done and keeps me cool, quiet, and happy.

[The Overclocker]

i dont think it really matters as the internal piping in the radiator and water block are only a cretain size and a thinner tube makes the water go faster

[fatshlink]

I would say if you can get it in the rest of the system go whith the 1/2.

[xCarne_Asada]

Originally posted by Rabid Bob Dole
i would get larger tubeing in the radiator no matter what the rest of your system is.

the reason being:

if it's the same as the rest of your system, then you wont be restricting flow when it hits the radiator. but if it was smaller, then the water speeds up thru the radiator, giving it less time to cool.

just compare how much water is in the radiator at any given time, the speed of the pump wont effect how much is in there, but the size of the tubeing will effect both volume of water in radiator as well as the speed. (ideally you want more water in at any given time, as well as at a slower speed)

if it's larger than the rest of your system, it will in effect slow the water down when it's going thru the radiator, which would give the radiator more time to cool it. then once the water comes out of the radiator, it will speed back up due to the smaller tube size.

but, with a 500 gph pump, and a good radiator, it probably wont make a huge difference. it's gonna cool good either way. i use a 700GPH pump with a 3/8' radiator and waterblock (both DD). it cools real well. it might cool slightly better with 1/2', but for me, it gets the job done and keeps me cool, quiet, and happy.

What radiator do you have and what are you temps?

[SteenkyBastage]

dd cube
danner mag 7 (700GPH)
dd maze 2

full load 1.2 @ 1.47 w/ 1.88v

34.8C according to the probe touching the side of my core.

ambient (inside case) 25.5C

room temp usually around 18 to 22C

did i leave anything out?