Too many radiators?

[bwgames]

My plan is to get a PC-V2000B, but I'm not sure what to do with regards to radiators...

I was considering mounting a Evo 240/360 on the top, but that means cutting my lovely LL case up. (I'll also be putting a AquaTube at the top).

What I COULD do, without any cutting would be to fit a 2 x 80mm above PSU, 120mm by HDDs, and another 120mm by mobo I/O board.
This means I could also run dual loops at a later date...

But.. is there such a thing as fitting too many radiators?
Would it be better to fit a 240 on the top, and a 160 on the bottom? leaving space for air cooling for other components?

Stuff I'm planning to cool:
Currently XP-M 2500 @ 2.2ghz, but eventually a A64.
Graphics card (just one, probably a 9800 pro)
Northbridge, just for the hell of it.
Maybe eventually a Peltier cooling on the A64.

[Psykotik]

Bung a 240 in the top of the case, it will quite happily cope with aan XP M 2500 and a 9800 Pro, and don't bother cooling the NB, just whack a passive heatsink on it instead as it's really not worth the effort.Also, I wouldn't bother pelt cooling a CPU anymore as you can buy a phase change solution which is far safer and much more efficient for about the same amount of money.

Andy

[Fibbles]

What fans do you have in mind for cooling the rads? Following Nexxo's Metaversa, he's cooling dual CPU's and a 9800 with a single 120mm rad and a low flow/noise Panaflo L1, and his temps are great. If you feel you need more cooling power, why not look into a fan with more airflow on a single rad first?

With regards to the northbridge, if it appeals to you, you're the only one who can tell if it's worth it or not. I cooled mine and rarely did any OC'ing. I'm not going to be cooling the one on my AMD64, because it's in a bad spot (right under the end of the GPU card and is already passively cooled (if it was fan cooled, I'd be looking at water). My radiator is a single Innovatek Maxi sized passive. All I want is silence ^_^

[bwgames]

What I might do, is have the 240 there, and see what temps I get cooling it passively first.
If its too high, two quiet fans (panaflo?) or maybe a 120/160 somewhere to try and keep it passive.

Could I have a 240 with only one 120mm fan?

[Fibbles]

Aqua Computer uses a triple 120mm rad in their passive set, so that might be possible. What sort of system are you planning (low/high flow and/or big/small tubing)?

Yep, you can use however many fans you want, up to how many will fit. Most radiators have mounting holes on both sides, so you can have up to 2 on each side, totaling 4 on a double rad. The rads that don't have the holes on both sides will usually sell brackets so you can add holes for them (Aqua Computer and Innovatek have optional brackets).

The passive rad I'm using is made for passive use though. The smaller version can be seen in scopEDog's Casewars (http://www.wizdforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1573) and the Maxi one is featured in Crowd Tyke's Crimsomnia (http://www.wizdforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1393). Mine's blue ^_^

[bwgames]

Planning an AC system....


What I'm now considering is....

Getting a C-Systems MAG (£30, compared to £50 for the DDC/D4/AquaStream - although a DDC is tempting), as that'd leave space free for rads - putting a 240 at the top (means I can fit a AquaTube, 240, and a handle on the top), and a 160 (2x80mm) above the PSU.

Hopefully... That would eventually cool a A64 and 9800 Pro without the need for fans...

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

I have an OC'd 2500 and 9800 Pro cooled by a 120 with no problems so the 240 should be laughing.

[Fibbles]

I have an OC'd 2500 and 9800 Pro cooled by a 120 with no problems so the 240 should be laughing.Do us a favor, turn off the fan and report back on what happens to your temps. He's planning to run it passive.

An EVO 160 & 240 are €44.90 each. So that's €89.80

A Single regualr sized Innovatek Konvect O Matic is €119

Cape's Cora convection radiators are another option. They come in single columns and up to 6 (or more) can be chained together. They start at €18.50 for a single, €84.90 for 4 and, €109.90 for 6. The quad version would cool well & it's about the same size as the small Innovatek unit. Linky (http://www.alphacool.de/perl/shop.pl?s=4962a97fbc1668f59582&l=2&rm=show_art&menu_id=2&prod_id=140&art_kz=149) Any size would easily attach to your side panel.

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

No.


I'm of the opinion that if you want to run passive you get a rad designed for it. My rad is at the top of the case mounted in the center and with the fan off i dont think it would cope.

[Fibbles]

No.


I'm of the opinion that if you want to run passive you get a rad designed for it. My rad is at the top of the case mounted in the center and with the fan off i dont think it would cope.
:huh: Please? :lol:

If all the heat in the case is going to rise, your main rad is going to be directly in the way. Why not go for a single 120 and quiet fan or buy a passive rad instead of trying the others and hoping they work allright. I do remember somewhere where Pug stated something about running his triple (maybe double, I can't quite remember) fanless and getting OK temps/stability (stability is more important). I'll look for what I just said and hope I didn't make it up :unsure:

[Risky]

Suely the design difference would be that a rad for passive cooling should be built to encourage convection rather than expecting air to be forced through it. Thhus you'd want lang fins in the vertical plane, I suppose....

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

Exactly. My rad is not designed to run passively so i wouldnt attempt it. I think with my configuration it would get uncomfortably hot. It would probably take a while before it reached the point where it became unstable but atm i'm not willing to try it. I would prefer a passive config eventually but i would buy a rad specifically made for that purpose.


Fibbs sorry if my last replay looked a bit abrupt but i forgot to add the smiley.

[Fibbles]

Exactly. My rad is not designed to run passively so i wouldnt attempt it. I think with my configuration it would get uncomfortably hot. It would probably take a while before it reached the point where it became unstable but atm i'm not willing to try it. I would prefer a passive config eventually but i would buy a rad specifically made for that purpose.


Fibbs sorry if my last replay looked a bit abrupt but i forgot to add the smiley.
You guys are thinking exactly what I am, so that's why I think BW needs a Cora...

Abrupt? Well, not really. Anyone who's uncomfy turning off the fan with a forced air based rad certainly has a point. ^_^

[Yellowsnow17]

Just for the sake of argument^_^, I have an APE120 mounted at the top inside of my case and it can passively cool my CPU and GPU for simple tasks like websurfing and emailing. CPU is an Intel P4 2.6C and GPU is a Radeon 9800pro 128. CPU holds steady at about 37C (reported by MBM) and my water temp is about 28C. The only time my radiator fan kicks on is when I'm playing warcraft.

Forgot to add: Ambient temp was around 24C during these observations.