Thin Rad in Push/Pull vs Thick Rad in Push?

[eBiz]

In terms of performance would a AlphaCool 30mm radiator in push/pull or their 60mm rad in push (or pull) be better at dissipating heat? 

[TheKDub]

I'd say the thicker rad would be better, but be sure to have high static pressure fans.

[Enderman]

The thicker rad because push+pull does not make much of a performance difference over push or pull.

What makes the temperature decrease more is the surface area, which the thicker rad has a lot more of.

[W-L]

In terms of performance would a AlphaCool 30mm radiator in push/pull or their 60mm rad in push (or pull) be better at dissipating heat? 

 

If they both used pressure optimized fans the thicker one should still perform better using either push or pull since it's just plain thicker, usually you only get a few degrees of difference on a thin rad and since the Alphacool 30mm rads have fairly low fine density of around 15fpi or so it won't be a huge jump in performance, ideally you's want push pull on the thick rad as long as you have that type of room.

[79wjd]

The thicker rad because push+pull does not make much of a performance difference over push or pull.

What makes the temperature decrease more is the surface area, which the thicker rad has a lot more of.

Well, push-pull on a thin rad doesn't make much of a difference, but on a thicker rad it would/should.

Regardless, @eBiz thick rad.

[Enderman]

Well, push-pull on a thin rad doesn't make much of a difference, but on a thicker rad it would/should.

Regardless, @eBiz thick rad.

Thats only if the fans you are using have bad static pressure, which you should not be using on a thick rad in the first place.

[79wjd]

Thats only if the fans you are using have bad static pressure, which you should not be using on a thick rad in the first place.

Or if you're not running them at 100%....which I guess falls in line with bad sp...but still push-pull does have some merit on thick rads since 100% fans are usually loud (not silent).

[VSG]

The thicker rad because push+pull does not make much of a performance difference over push or pull.

What makes the temperature decrease more is the surface area, which the thicker rad has a lot more of.

Thickness doesn't increase the active surface area. I'd say the thin rad with push-pull will be better performing and quieter than the thicker one with a single set of fans but will be able to see for myself soon.

[Enderman]

Thickness doesn't increase the active surface area. I'd say the thin rad with push-pull will be better performing and quieter than the thicker one with a single set of fans but will be able to see for myself soon.

Yes thicker radiators give more surface area. A x B has 50% the surface area of A x 2B in which B is the radiator thickness.

[W-L]

Thickness doesn't increase the active surface area. I'd say the thin rad with push-pull will be better performing and quieter than the thicker one with a single set of fans but will be able to see for myself soon.

 

I would think more thickness equals more surface area the Alphacool 30mm rads do have a moderate fin density and aren't super high like some other out there, then again it does depend on the rad.

[VSG]

Yes thicker radiators give more surface area. A x B has 50% the surface area of A x 2B in which B is the radiator thickness.

You are confusing volume and surface area. You can't split up a volume stack into several stacks of surface area because the airflow is not the same and neither is the coolant temps (unless it's a front to back style flow).

[Enderman]

You are confusing volume and surface area. You can't split up a volume stack into several stacks of surface area because the airflow is not the same and neither is the coolant temps (unless it's a front to back style flow).

what are you talking about?

when you increase the thickness of the radiator, the fins have more surface area, which dissipates more heat.

This is why a 60mm radiator performs twice as good as a 30mm radiator at the same fin density.

[Shaqo_Wyn]

In terms of performance would a AlphaCool 30mm radiator in push/pull or their 60mm rad in push (or pull) be better at dissipating heat? 

 

The Alphacool ST30 is thin and low fpi, you won't get any significant benefit from running it in push pull. 

 

The 60mm rad, the UT60 doesn't really need push/pull either with some good static pressure fans.

It will perform better because of it's thickness because in terms of fins per inch the ST30 and UT60 are roughly the same.

 

So as long as the rads are the same size (for example 360mm) and you're comparing the ST30 with the UT60. The UT60 is better at dissipating heat.

[VSG]

what are you talking about?

when you increase the thickness of the radiator, the fins have more surface area, which dissipates more heat.

This is why a 60mm radiator performs twice as good as a 30mm radiator at the same fin density.

Only if the fins all get the same air flow and same ambient air temps. By your logic, a Monsta would be 2.75x better than the ST30. But at what conditions?

Also, please show me where a UT60 is 2x better than an ST30. Let alone the part where the OP wanted to know thing rad with push-pull vs thicker with just push or pull.

[Enderman]

Only if the fins all get the same air flow and same ambient air temps. By your logic, a Monsta would be 2.75x better than the ST30. But at what conditions?

Also, please show me where a UT60 is 2x better than an ST30. Let alone the part where the OP wanted to know thing rad with push-pull vs thicker with just push or pull.

The scaling performance of doubling the rad thickness doesnt exactly double the performance because of a slight change in air temperature as it passes through the fins, but that change of air temperature is only a few degrees and actually still provides cooling to the fins. So having twice the surface area (with a 2x thicker radiator) will perform between 1.5 to 2x better than the thin radiator. The faster the air moves, the closer to 2x it performs.

Push pull fans only reduce the temperature a couple degrees vs push or pull, which is far less of a performance increase than using a thick radiator.

[VSG]

The scaling performance of doubling the rad thickness doesnt exactly double the performance because of a slight change in air temperature as it passes through the fins, but that change of air temperature is only a few degrees and actually still provides cooling to the fins. So having twice the surface area (with a 2x thicker radiator) will perform between 1.5 to 2x better than the thin radiator. The faster the air moves, the closer to 2x it performs.

Push pull fans only reduce the temperature a couple degrees vs push or pull, which is far less of a performance increase than using a thick radiator.

Again, I'd like to see tests that back these claims.

[Enderman]

Again, I'd like to see tests that back these claims.

Well I cant find any comparisons on google images but I'm smart enough to know my theoretical physics and fluid dynamics.

I don't care if you believe me, but OP should know that a thick rad will perform much better than a thin rad in push pull.