- Joined
- Sep 20, 2001
- Location
- Bakersfield, CA
The purpose of this thread is to help those people who have read the tutorial stickies and know the basics of water cooling, and just need help in picking out the components. This thread will be updated monthly based on availability of old, current, and new parts.
WORK IN PROGRESS
Components are ordered in terms of overall performance.
Pumps (12V DC):
I am making an educated guess that for most systems, the 655 will outperform in all flow scenarios because the 655's PQ curve bests the unmodded 350s from 0LPM to maximum, though it consumes three times the power. From most data I have read, this would mean that for high power CPUs, the 655 would be the pump of choice. For low power CPUs (e.g. Dothan, undervolted Venice, Mobile Bartons non-OCed), the 350 should be used as it's power draw is lower.
Waterblocks:
Graphics Waterblocks:
I'm ridding the ranking for this, as the blocks have become more specialized. People now need to choose their blocks based on the GPU they are using. If you want a full cover block, your choices are limited. EK, Swiftech and Danger Den all make full cover blocks for high end visual processors. It is questionable if cooling memory makes any difference as opposed to cooling the BGA chips with passive heatsinks. Swiftech and Enzotech both supply nicely made forged copper BGA heatsinks. If you want to simply cool the GPU itself, you may want to cool the BGAs using this method. Furthermore, Swiftech, Dtek Customs and Danger Den all make nice GPU blocks for chip-only cooling.
Radiators:
NOTE: The radiators will be ranked in terms of absolute performance first with high power fans (>90cfm rated), with secondary ordering for performance in low noise conditions. It should also be noted that in the automotive world the saying is "There is no replacement for displacement", which for you n00bs means the bigger the better. The same holds true for rads, surface area is king.
High power fans (e.g. San Ace 120mm, Delta FFB/TFB, Panaflo H1A/U1A 120x38mm):
In high airflow applications, note that the temperature differences between radiators of similar fan and surface area arrangements will be quite small, such as 1C or less.
Low power fans (e.g. undervolted Panaflo L1A 120mm, Delta EFB, 120x25mm fans):
In these applications, the thickness of the radiator will determine best performance, where thinner is better because of the lower pressure capabilities of these fans. Coupled with the higher air resistance of thicker radiators, they perform worse with slower fans. It should be realized that for quiet operation, your priorities should be frontal area of the radiator followed by thickness, which should be lower for less restriction with a low pressure fan. For high power fans, thickness and total surface area is desired. Please keep in mind that performance numbers are hard to relate to current articles available and lack of testbeds for radiator testing, so this is going off of my knowledge of what works and what doesn't work so well. In other words, don't take it as The Word.
It should be mentioned that the PA series rads by Thermochill are the best performing rads with low speed quiet fans. You can see Marci's comparison HERE. The jury is still out on the new BI GT series, HWlabs went in the polar opposite direction of Thermochill in terms of quiet rad cooling. HWlabs went with higher FPI (fins per inch) with their new 'micro fin' design which are very fine densely packed fins. These rads are extremely thin where the PA series are very thick with a very low FPI (9 IIRC). IMO the GT will not outperform the PA series, but this is just conjecture at this point.
Note: Still need to figure out where the GTX series fits in.
Ranking for low noise applications:
Resources:
http://www.procooling.com/html/pro_testing.php - interactive waterblock testing results
http://www.overclockers.com waterblock testing
http://www.systemcooling.com for Laing DDC mod
BillA and Greenman100 for radiator clarification.
WORK IN PROGRESS
Components are ordered in terms of overall performance.
Pumps (12V DC):
- Laing D5 (AKA Swiftech MCP655), cost ~$75
Pros: Good free flow performance, good reliability, adjustable speed, now a low noise pump with the D5 revision. May be best for single block systems.
Cons: A bit bulky for some possibly, also has noticable motor noise, weak if run at lower speeds.
[*]Laing DDC/DDC+ (AKA Swiftech MCP350/355), ~cost $70. The Laing DDC+ is the 18W version vs the 10W for the non Plus. With inlet/top modifications the 18W bests the MCP655 for flow performance at slightly lower noise levels.
Pros: Very good pressure capability, very low noise (Eheim 1048 level), good for multiblock systems.
Cons: Low free flow rate (can be helped from this mod LINK or with these tops which can use the center for the inlet: Petra's Top
[*]Aquaxtreme 50Z (AKA Swiftech MCP600 Rev. 2), cost ~$80
Pros: Good free flow performance, reasonably low noise, 2 year warrantee.
Cons: Less pressure than DDC, potential reliability problem, less overall performance of a modded DDC, only runs down to 10V or so. A bit less overall performance than the D5. No reason to get this over the MCP655 now for noise and performance unless you're strapped for cash.
I am making an educated guess that for most systems, the 655 will outperform in all flow scenarios because the 655's PQ curve bests the unmodded 350s from 0LPM to maximum, though it consumes three times the power. From most data I have read, this would mean that for high power CPUs, the 655 would be the pump of choice. For low power CPUs (e.g. Dothan, undervolted Venice, Mobile Bartons non-OCed), the 350 should be used as it's power draw is lower.
Waterblocks:
- Dtek Fuzion, $65 Dtek Customs
Pros: Excellent performance. Nozzle mod helps even more.
Cons: A bit on the pricey side.
[*]Swiftech Apogee GT/GTX, cost $45 GT, GTX
Pros: Identical performance to a Storm on IHS-equipped CPUs, excellent value for performance.
Cons: Made in China, cost for GTX.
[*]Swiftech Storm, $80 Storm
Pros: Extremely good performance, universal mounting.
Cons: Cost (now available through mass production by Swiftech).
[*]AquaXtreme MP-05 SP/LE, cost $75 Cooltechnica
Pros: Excellent performance, on par with a Storm
Cons: Very pricey.
[*]Dtek Whitewater, cost $20-30 depending on version
Pros: Excellent performance/dollar, universal mounting.
Cons: 3 barb arrangement can make tubing routing more difficult.
[*]Danger Den RBX (3 barb), TDX (2 barb), cost ~$55
Pros: Good performance, tweakability (different nozzles).
Cons: Less performance than other blocks, tweakability (if you don’t like dismantling the system to change nozzles).
Graphics Waterblocks:
I'm ridding the ranking for this, as the blocks have become more specialized. People now need to choose their blocks based on the GPU they are using. If you want a full cover block, your choices are limited. EK, Swiftech and Danger Den all make full cover blocks for high end visual processors. It is questionable if cooling memory makes any difference as opposed to cooling the BGA chips with passive heatsinks. Swiftech and Enzotech both supply nicely made forged copper BGA heatsinks. If you want to simply cool the GPU itself, you may want to cool the BGAs using this method. Furthermore, Swiftech, Dtek Customs and Danger Den all make nice GPU blocks for chip-only cooling.
Radiators:
NOTE: The radiators will be ranked in terms of absolute performance first with high power fans (>90cfm rated), with secondary ordering for performance in low noise conditions. It should also be noted that in the automotive world the saying is "There is no replacement for displacement", which for you n00bs means the bigger the better. The same holds true for rads, surface area is king.
High power fans (e.g. San Ace 120mm, Delta FFB/TFB, Panaflo H1A/U1A 120x38mm):
In high airflow applications, note that the temperature differences between radiators of similar fan and surface area arrangements will be quite small, such as 1C or less.
- Blackice Extreme 2/3 or Thermochill 120.2/3
Pros: Very good performance with axial fans, easy to mount in most tower cases.
Cons: Price.
[*]Blackice GT Series
Pros: Very good performance with axial fans, easy to mount in most tower cases. Nice price.
Cons: High FPI will trap a lot of dust. HERE. Take note, regardless of the GT's performance, it will be a dust trap due to it's high FPI and will be very hard to clean without removing the rad and hosing the fins with water. I have to do this with my HE120.3. The PA series and much easier to blow out with air due to their low FPI.
[*]Double heater core
Pros: Cheap alternative to prebuilt computer radiators.
Cons: More awkward to mount, need shrouds to perform well, painting for aesthetics.
[*]Blackice Pro 2/3
Pros: Good performance, cheaper than Extreme or Thermochills.
Cons: Price.
[*]Blackice Extreme 120x1, Thermochill 120.1
Pros: Good performance, less space required.
Cons: Less performance than larger counterparts.
[*]Single heater core
Pros: Cheaper alternative to BIX1, Thermochill 120.1
Cons: More awkward to mount, need shrouds to perform well, painting for aesthetics.
[*]Blackice Pro
Pros: Cheaper than thicker counterparts.
Cons: Worst performance relative to all others.
Low power fans (e.g. undervolted Panaflo L1A 120mm, Delta EFB, 120x25mm fans):
In these applications, the thickness of the radiator will determine best performance, where thinner is better because of the lower pressure capabilities of these fans. Coupled with the higher air resistance of thicker radiators, they perform worse with slower fans. It should be realized that for quiet operation, your priorities should be frontal area of the radiator followed by thickness, which should be lower for less restriction with a low pressure fan. For high power fans, thickness and total surface area is desired. Please keep in mind that performance numbers are hard to relate to current articles available and lack of testbeds for radiator testing, so this is going off of my knowledge of what works and what doesn't work so well. In other words, don't take it as The Word.
It should be mentioned that the PA series rads by Thermochill are the best performing rads with low speed quiet fans. You can see Marci's comparison HERE. The jury is still out on the new BI GT series, HWlabs went in the polar opposite direction of Thermochill in terms of quiet rad cooling. HWlabs went with higher FPI (fins per inch) with their new 'micro fin' design which are very fine densely packed fins. These rads are extremely thin where the PA series are very thick with a very low FPI (9 IIRC). IMO the GT will not outperform the PA series, but this is just conjecture at this point.
Note: Still need to figure out where the GTX series fits in.
Ranking for low noise applications:
- Thermochill PA120.3
[*]Blackice GT Series
[*]Blackice Pro 3
[*]Blackice Extreme 3
[*]Thermochill PA160
[*]Blackice Pro 2
[*]Thermochill 120.2
[*]Blackice Extreme 2
[*]Double heater core
[*]Blackice Pro 1
[*]Thermochill 120.1
[*]Blackice Extreme 1
[*]Single heater core
Resources:
http://www.procooling.com/html/pro_testing.php - interactive waterblock testing results
http://www.overclockers.com waterblock testing
http://www.systemcooling.com for Laing DDC mod
BillA and Greenman100 for radiator clarification.
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