Main differences of...

[Fibbles]

High flow and low flow. I know there is nearly one of these threads on every forum that mentions water somewhere, but since a portion of us here use either one and get along, how would some of you guys explain the differences of the two styles to some one that wanted water and was torn between the two camps?

It's not my intention to have our own "US VS. German" system thread as seen on Pro Cooling more or less, just expain differences and points of each as a "how/why I chose my water cooling". I'd just like to know what everyone has and why they chose it. Lets stay away from arguing about which is better and instead, focus on the how and why. I feel that whichever system you use is your personal choice, and it is not my intention to bash one over the other.

Long story short: I had a 1/2" system and tossed it aside for a 1/4" system. I love my 1/4" system to death (or bits and pieces). I think the switch had to do with the looks, esp the Cuplex EVO and Aquatube (don't forgbet the green glowmotion!) :wub: . I love the option of having a nice reservoir, and my tube is in titanium, with a UV LED, as well as an Aquajet. In my case (black Lian Li Pc 70, soon to be a silver PC-7077-not done modding it), there are tubes running up and down and all over, but I can see past them and they aren't in my face, I like that. I get the same level of cooling performance, but I am using a dual radiator. My system also includes an Alphacool GPX Radeon block, a Twinplex chipset block, a Aquadrive hard drive cooler in a spiffy case (expensive but oh so nice). running off an Aquastream. I use a drop of Aqua Computer AC fluid and green Glowmotion.

[Knipex]

Ok let me be the first to use the car comparison. :lol:

American sports car.
5.8ltr V8 / V12 dodge. Big power full and thirsty.


European Sports car.
Porche straight 6

I think you got the answer in you post.

Looks better. Performs as well.

Its engineering V's brute force.

[Fibbles]

Ok let me be the first to use the car comparison. :lol:

American sports car.
5.8ltr V8 / V12 dodge. Big power full and thirsty.


European Sports car.
Porche straight 6

I think you got the answer in you post.

Looks better. Performs as well.

Its engineering V's brute force.
I haven;t thought about it like that, probably cause I know absolutly nothing about cars, other than the basics. :(

[dutchcedar]

I like 'em both... :blink:

I like big block Chevys... Dual Xeons with phat tubing...

http://www.pcperspective.com/images/reviews/41/waterblocks.jpg

But I like screamin' four bangers too... Dual 2400MP's done "German style"...

http://www.amdreview.com/graphics/00000001/BaDass19.jpg

To me, its all about fun. Little boobs or big boobs... as long as they jiggle and pinchin' 'em makes her shriek... its all good. B)

[Starbuck3733T]

Half inch. I've got the room. Parts easily available in this country. Easier to DIY, imho.

next system will be german AC stuff for the simple fact of PLUG AND COOL.

And I like my v8s and 4bangers for the record - 4 is economy and ease, where V8 is grunt and pure agreesive fun. I can't turn a 4 cylinder car sideways very easily. A v8 mustang, you bet.

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

Lucky theres not many corners on American roads then! :lol:


It would good to have a sticky post detailing the benefits of low flow for people new to the forums. :) I have AC gear cause IMO it looks the nuts and suits the style of my Lian Li perfectly. If i didnt care what it looked like, had the room and was going for max performance then i would go high flow.

High flow has the peformance edge but only if the loop is designed carefully and the components all complement each other. Due to the nature of the components its easy to constrict your flow which can adversly affect your performance.

Low flow on the other hand offers greater flexibility as the performance of the components isnt dependent on the flow of water. You can therefore add more turns and constrictions to your loop, i.e. more blocks, HDD coolers, Rads etc. The performance gap between and a well designed low flow system and a high flow system isnt that great anyway and should be within most people tolereances. Plus theres the obvious advantages of the thinner tubing which helps with routing. :cool:

[Cowd Tyke]

not an expert :mellow: but some of my thoughts on the subject are:

heat is absorbed by the liquid heating up:)

high flow is getting more liquid to absorb the heat in a given time
low flow uses less liquid :)

this means that the average temperature of the liquid in a low flow system is higher as heat has raised each gram of liquid to a higher temperature

a radiator is working more efficiently if the temperature difference between the incoming and the ambient is higher - so low flow is taking advantage of the radiator being able to get rid of the heat - but also more dependant on the radiator being able to get rid of enough heat

if you measured the temperature of the liquid every cm of travel from pump to pump you'd expect a flatter curve from high flow than you would from low flow

avoid low flow systems with insufficient cooling as they are called kettles :D

Cowd Tyke

[mrplow]

That sounds fairly reasonable Mr Tyke.

But... does the water in small bore systems travel faster than that in large bore systems since we often seem to use the same type pumps...?

If so then the volume of water moving is probably fairly similar no?


I use a small bore (8/10) system mainly because I think it looks a little tidier and my midi tower case would probably get a little crammed with a 1/2" tubing system. And it's quite widely available (although so is 1/2" stuff tbh).

[Nexxo]

At a given pump performance, coolant will frow through narrow diameter tubing faster than through wide diameter tubing (if the pump pressure can overcome restriction, that is).

Now if we could move coolant through a system approaching infinite speed (hypothetically), we would find difference in diameter making a decreasing difference as speeds approach infinite.

What would matter in the short term is the total volume of coolant; wider diameter systems contain more so it would take somewhat longer for coolant to hit that temp at which rate of heat gain in the blocks (and very minor extent, pump) equals rate of heat loss in the rad. But after that, again, no difference.

So it all comes down to how well the block(s) transfer heat from the chip to the coolant, and how well the radiator transfers heat from the coolant to ambient air. In case of the radiator, you just look at maximum surface area, fan performance etc. In case of the block, well, it all gets a bit more complicated... and there are many variables involved: clamping pressure, amount of thermal paste used, system setup etc.

I therefore think that the importance of tube diameters is overplayed. There are other, much more important factors to consider. But as they tend to be more complicated and have all sorts of complex interactions, people don't get their head around that easily. People need concepts to be simple, so they latch on to the "more is better" principle: wider tubing, bigger rads, faster flow etc.

[Pug]

Off topic forum bashing removed.
Thread reopened.
Keep it civil this time please, repeat offenders will be banned. :rant::h34r: