NorthWater Xtreme Water Xchanger Small

[xCRF450]

http://www.xoxide.com/northwater-xtreme-xchanger-smchrome.html

anyone used these? looks practical

[Captain Helghas]

That's extremely expensive for what it does. Plus it being made out of aluminum doesn't help. However it has convinced me that I should try to do that with copper.

[Yuriman]

Cheaper here: http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=310&zenid=04e3369237fd473aae95b3b7f25373ee


I wouldn't use them. The added restriction would probably negate the cooling benefits. Plus, mixing metals is generally bad.

[Knacko]

If they get a 2-3° drop in temperature, then their (main) radiator is probably not large enough. Would be useful if space was a problem though.

[Captain Helghas]

I wouldn't use them. The added restriction would probably negate the cooling benefits. Plus, mixing metals is generally bad.
What restriction? You're replacing tubing of a smaller diameter. There is no added backpressure with these.

[exhausted mule]

^^^ yeah but doesn't added turbulance cause restriction?

the water moving into the larger diameter then into the smaller would have to change direction.

===[____]===
. ....^

That part would cause the water to have to move sideways or rather, cause a slight pressure drop right behind to turbulence caused by the water trying to fill the void directly following the opening at the corner.

ok.... just tried to draw it out and franctly... i would need a flow gen to illustrate my idea.

technically because the water is going from a small--> to big --> back to small, there would be turbulence due to the nature of flow.


unless of course they designed a system where the inlet or outlet were at 45 degrees then the drop in pressure wouldn't be something to worry about.


but you'd still have a drop.

[Captain Helghas]

No, because of the flow profile after it leaves the first diameter stays constant for a specific length. The difussion to fill the space will not cause turbulance. Laminar flow will still prevail.

To explain this better, it's called container memory flow. Imagine a water hose being held out. The water is flowing from the hose to mid air. The flow from the hose still maintains the diameter of the hose for a given length. That very same profile will exist despite the medium which it will travel through.

I will give to you that there will be a very slight backpressure from the ridges inside the tube, but I guarentee that it won't be a measurable difference.

Edit: I just googled "container memory flow" and came up with nothing. I'm sure it has another name. I will ask one of the professors I work with to tell me again what it is called and get back to you with some more info.

[Knacko]

Ridges inside the tubes? Isn't it just an aluminum tube with fins machined out? Machining ridges inside the tube would be way tough.

[clocker2]

Ridges inside the tubes? Isn't it just an aluminum tube with fins machined out? Machining ridges inside the tube would be way tough.
It appears that the internal "turbulators" are just the result of running a tap into the ends.
There is absolutely no way this thing works at all, much less result in a 2-3 deg temp drop.
Changing the material to copper would simply make it a heaver, not better, POS.

[killermiller]

Those were made originally for ATV's or dirtbikes where air would move over it. That is probably where they get the 2-3 degrees from is cooling 1xx+ degree radiator fluid while going 40 mph. There is no way in hell that that would cool passively, it is just a metal tube with some fins.

[R B Customs]

it looks cool, but on that photo i see the dreaded 90 degree connections. ! thats gotta be bad.

a copper one would be fun :)

[Millzee]

And if the air temp inside your case is higher than the water temp, you'll actually add heat to your loop :(

[MoreGooder]

Ok, I'll throw in my comments too:

Having those huge "tubes" in your case will seriously restrict airflow inside the case, to the point that will force you to put in more/louder fans to compensate. Yuck!

They might make nice industrial art to some folks I suppose.

[Captain Helghas]

And if the air temp inside your case is higher than the water temp, you'll actually add heat to your loop :(
I don't know if that would ever happen. You've got multiple heat sources heating the water, and fresh air coming in all the time.

Having those huge "tubes" in your case will seriously restrict airflow inside the case, to the point that will force you to put in more/louder fans to compensate. Yuck!
Air flow usually takes a hit from WC anyways.

Because of all of the Nay-Sayers here and the inept reviews this thing has received, I think I'll try to review them. Not just have to place an order.

[Alien1099]

Ok, I'll throw in my comments too:

Having those huge "tubes" in your case will seriously restrict airflow inside the case, to the point that will force you to put in more/louder fans to compensate. Yuck!

They might make nice industrial art to some folks I suppose.

The heat exchangers aren't much thicker than normal 3/4" OD tubing. :rolleyes:

[Sneaky]

completely useless and a waste of money... not to mention that they're made of aluminum :eek:

[MoreGooder]

The heat exchangers aren't much thicker than normal 3/4" OD tubing. :rolleyes:

Oh lordy.... If that's the case, the what is the ID of the tubing then?!?