Best performing radiator colour

[ClevedonWX]

Do black rads perform significantly better than white rads? What about black fins with white borders?

[MorganO]

10 minutes ago, ClevedonWX said:

Do black rads perform significantly better than white rads? What about black fins with white borders?

no they should be all the same assuming the same fans and heat goes through it

[samcool55]

No, the difference is minimal and is so insignificant it doesn't matter in a PC.

Getting the right rad and the right fans for it is much more important.

[stealth80]

It makes absolutely zero difference as the fins aren't painted anyway.

[19_blackie_73]

why should it matter? white fins could potentially be worse as there would be the need to paint them and paint depending on what you put on is a heat barrier whereas with black fins, it could be slightly oxidized copper.

Though I highly doubt that you'll see any siginificant difference when comparing two identical rads, one in white and one in black.

The rim itself where the fans are mounted on should matter even less, and even if you paint it yourself, I bet you won't see any difference.

 

TLDR: no it does not matter

[ClevedonWX]

2 minutes ago, 19_blackie_73 said:

why should it matter? white fins could potentially be worse as there would be the need to paint them and paint depending on what you put on is a heat barrier whereas with black fins, it could be slightly oxidized copper.

Though I highly doubt that you'll see any siginificant difference when comparing two identical rads, one in white and one in black.

The rim itself where the fans are mounted on should matter even less, and even if you paint it yourself, I bet you won't see any difference.

 

TLDR: no it does not matter

I was actually intending to buy it pre-painted with white fins: http://www.performance-pcs.com/hardware-labs-black-ice-sr2-multiport-satin-white-radiator-white-fins-240mm.html

[19_blackie_73]

7 minutes ago, ClevedonWX said:

I was actually intending to buy it pre-painted with white fins: http://www.performance-pcs.com/hardware-labs-black-ice-sr2-multiport-satin-white-radiator-white-fins-240mm.html

Don't think it really matters especially when prepainted. If you really unsure, use google and find some tests of the white and the black one and see if theres a difference

[RollinLower]

to be honest the best performing radiator colour is probbaly the bare metal, since then the heat can transfer directly to the air instead of moving through a layer of paint.

will any of this matter in a real world scenario though? not with the temps and air movement found inside a pc case.

[Griefa]

The guys at Mighty Car Mods can help with this one