Thicker Rad vs Push/Pull Thinner Rad

[AngryGoldfish]

What are the performances comparisons between a thicker radiator in push or pull vs a thinner radiator in push/pull? I'm limited to about 60-70mm of space for the radiator and second set of fans so a Alphacool UT60 in push/pull may not be possible with the setup I have planned. The fin density will ideally be selected for quieter pressure-optimized fans.

[79wjd]

thicker rad in push or pull > thinner rad in push-pull

[Ex0Thermic]

thinker rad will be better
it will have a larger surface area so will have better heat dissipation
 

[AngryGoldfish]

Even with a higher fin density and push/pull, you'd still recommend a thicker radiator (lower fin density) in push or pull?

[airdeano]

the capacity is king. if the chassis will support thicker, then use the thicker

option. the capacity will spread the time of temperature stabilization out to

a longer duration. the thinner radiator will take a shorter time to stabilize.

 

push or pull might be 3° warmer than push/pull. the idea for push/pull is to

use two low fan speed fan to equal one faster/noisier fan or to aid in a

super thick radiator (80mm+). some peeps use it to just be able to say

push/pull.

[VSG]

thinker rad will be better

it will have a larger surface area so will have better heat dissipation

Thickness doesn't change the active surface area.

As far as the topic, it depends on the fin type and density also. Thin rads with dense fins will benefit more from push-pull than one such as the Alphacool ST30 at 9 FPI. So it's impossible to make a blanket statement like that.

[AngryGoldfish]

Thickness doesn't change the active surface area.

As far as the topic, it depends on the fin type and density also. Thin rads with dense fins will benefit more from push-pull than one such as the Alphacool ST30 at 9 FPI. So it's impossible to make a blanket statement like that.

 

The question, then, is whether the highly-dense thinner rad (say, 38mm) will perform better in push/pull than the 60mm thick low-density fin array in push or pull.

 

 

the capacity is king. if the chassis will support thicker, then use the thicker

option. the capacity will spread the time of temperature stabilization out to

a longer duration. the thinner radiator will take a shorter time to stabilize.

 

push or pull might be 3° warmer than push/pull. the idea for push/pull is to

use two low fan speed fan to equal one faster/noisier fan or to aid in a

super thick radiator (80mm+). some peeps use it to just be able to say

push/pull.

 

This is something I did not mention, I'm aiming for a quiet system.

[airdeano]

it usually is a given for quietness to advance to custom water cooling.

[AngryGoldfish]

Yeah, that's my eventual intention. I'm just trying to negotiate which rads to go with. I'm finding it a challenge to find a balance of performance to noise without sacrificing on the aesthetics.

 

The options I've come up with so far. I've only included one rad with a high fin density since I won't be able to run push/pull in the roof.

 

Low fin density:

Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis 240GTS – 30mm thick in roof in pull or push
Hardware Labs Black Ice Nemesis 240GTX – 54mm thick in front in push or push/pull

 

Alphacool NexXxoS ST30 240 – 30mm thick in roof in pull or push
Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 240 – 45mm thick in front in pull/push or Alphacool NexXxoS UT60 240 – 60mm thick in front in pull or push

 

XSPC RX240 – 56mm thick in front in push or push/pull
XSPC EX240 – 35mm in roof in push or pull

 

High fin density:

EK-CoolStream PE 240 – 38mm thick in roof in push or pull

EK-CoolStream PE 240 – 38mm thick in front in push/pull

 

[airdeano]

all this would depend on your fan selection/option chosen.

 

just remove p/p from the picture and concentrate on the chassis/radiator

support to what devices are needing cooling. none of the low FPI need p/p.

 

then once the radiator sizes are determined, then find what is available. fin

density would be a candidate, but currently with many manufacturers going

to a low FPI, p/p isn't needed or necessary.

 

above 20fpi will need a strong fan, possibly fast fan. so getting two fans,

lowering the fan speed will be why p/p would be needed. as said before

possibly 80mm+ could use a p/p setup.

[AngryGoldfish]

Fans are a bit of a pain in the ass right now because the few that meet the criteria either do not match the build or are loud as balls. The kinds of fans I'm looking at are the new EK Vardar 2200RPM, Swiftech Helix 120PWM, BitFenix Spectro Pro PWM, Gentle Typhoon AP15's, NB-BlackSilentPro, Phanteks PH-F120XP, etc. They're all low noise fans with high static pressure and PWM compatible.