Good 480mm radiators for silent operation / Low RPMs

[BenTan]

Hi,

 

I'm planning a water cooled build in a Phanteks Enthoo Primo case. I'll be doing a top 480 in pull and a bottom 480 in push. I'll be cooling an i7 5820K and two 980 Ti's.

 

I'm going for a silent build with low RPM fans, so I was wondering what radiators I should go for.

 

Right now I'm looking at getting a pair of EK-Coolstream PE 480 or Alphacool ST30. Are either of these sufficient?

 

What other radiators could I consider? It needs to have a clean, all black aesthetic as I'm going for an all black build.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

EDIT: I'll be using 4x Noctua NF-F12 at the top and 4x EK-Vardar F1-120 at the bottom.

[Necrodead]

For low RPM go for the alphacool rad, the EK is high FPI which is better for high rpm fans.

[BenTan]

For low RPM go for the alphacool rad, the EK is high FPI which is better for high rpm fans.

I was looking at the EK-Coolstream XE480, 60mm thick, 16FPI. I heard the ST30 is about 14-15 FPI. Is this a big difference in FPI?

 

I'm also confused about RPM, thickness and FPI. I know the higher the FPI, the higher the RPM needs to be. I read somewhere that low RPM fans work fine with higher FPI radiators that are thinner (~30mm).

[W-L]

I was looking at the EK-Coolstream XE480, 60mm thick, 16FPI. I heard the ST30 is about 14-15 FPI. Is this a big difference in FPI?

 

I'm also confused about RPM, thickness and FPI. I know the higher the FPI, the higher the RPM needs to be. I read somewhere that low RPM fans work fine with higher FPI radiators that are thinner (~30mm).

 

The Alphacool rad tends to do better with medium to lower RPM fans but even at 16 FPI for the EKWB rads that wouldn't really be considered a high FPI rad of sorts. Lower RPM fans tend to work best with low FPI and not overly thick rads like the 60-80 mm ones from alphacool but since those are very low FPI (~10-12) even a good quality pressure fan in either push or pull can be very capable.

[Lays]

Are hardwarelabs radiators out of the question?

 

They most likely will perform better than both of your current options, and have better build quality & aesthetics IMO.

 

http://www.hardwarelabs.com/nemesis/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=122

[BenTan]

Are hardwarelabs radiators out of the question?

 

They most likely will perform better than both of your current options, and have better build quality & aesthetics IMO.

 

http://www.hardwarelabs.com/nemesis/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=122

I'm considering the Black Ice Nemesis GTX but I prefer the Alphacool and EK radiators for their cleaner aesthetic.

 

EDIT: I saw the review on thermalbench.com before, so I'm aware it performs better.

[BenTan]

The Alphacool rad tends to do better with medium to lower RPM fans but even at 16 FPI for the EKWB rads that wouldn't really be considered a high FPI rad of sorts. Lower RPM fans tend to work best with low FPI and not overly thick rads like the 60-80 mm ones from alphacool but since those are very low FPI (~10-12) even a good quality pressure fan in either push or pull can be very capable.

I'm kinda facing a dilemma atm. I want to get the Alphacool XT45 or ST30 but I'm having trouble finding a place which still sells the older design (i.e. without the blue logo at the side). Between the EK Coolstream and the Nemesis GTX, the EK looks better IMO but the Nemesis GTX performs better at lower RPMs based on the review from thermalbench.com.

[Avarus]

You might want to check out the tests on http://thermalbench.com/

Especially this one: http://thermalbench.com/2015/01/05/hardwarelabs-black-ice-nemesis-480gtx/5/

 

That website is run by the forum member VSG, as far as I know, and all credit belongs to him.

 

Edit: Just checked your last reply, never mind then.

You could also take a look at the XSPC RX480 V3 though.

[BenTan]

You might want to check out the tests on http://thermalbench.com/

Especially this one: http://thermalbench.com/2015/01/05/hardwarelabs-black-ice-nemesis-480gtx/5/

 

That website is run by the forum member VSG, as far as I know, and all credit belongs to him.

 

Edit: Just checked your last reply, never mind then.

You could also take a look at the XSPC RX480 V3 though.

Thanks for the suggestion but I think I'll stick to the other 3 options.

[BenTan]

Does anyone have pictures of the Black Ice Nemesis GTX in a Carbon black finish? Can't seem to find any.

[W-L]

I'm kinda facing a dilemma atm. I want to get the Alphacool XT45 or ST30 but I'm having trouble finding a place which still sells the older design (i.e. without the blue logo at the side). Between the EK Coolstream and the Nemesis GTX, the EK looks better IMO but the Nemesis GTX performs better at lower RPMs based on the review from thermalbench.com.

 

EKWB's rads looks very clean in builds with the shroud around it, but for the Nemesis GTX if your talking about theses it's a matte black type finish:

http://www.techpowerup.com/199104/hardware-labs-nemesis-gtx-series-radiators-now-available.html

[BenTan]

EKWB's rads looks very clean in builds with the shroud around it, but for the Nemesis GTX if your talking about theses it's a matte black type finish:

http://www.techpowerup.com/199104/hardware-labs-nemesis-gtx-series-radiators-now-available.html

Thanks, but I already saw these pictures. I'm trying to find photos at different angles or maybe in a build so I can have a better idea of what it looks like.

 

I'm not sure if it's exactly the same kind of finish but Jayztwocents showed the Nemesis GTS in this video at 4:16: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9xdE8u-5iw

[W-L]

Thanks, but I already saw these pictures. I'm trying to find photos at different angles or maybe in a build so I can have a better idea of what it looks like.

I'm not sure if it's exactly the same kind of finish but Jayztwocents showed the Nemesis GTS in this video at 4:16: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9xdE8u-5iw

 

Yeah that's basically the finish on it, it's a smooth matte finish, he got that custom done on the GTS though it usually comes with a wrinkled type of finish on that one.

[BenTan]

Between the EK Coolstream XE and PE, which would be the better option? According to Thermalbench.com, they perform similarly in the 600 to 800 rpm range with the PE marginally beating it.

[W-L]

Between the EK Coolstream XE and PE, which would be the better option? According to Thermalbench.com, they perform similarly in the 600 to 800 rpm range with the PE marginally beating it.

 

I would say they are within margin of each other the PE though is a double folded fin array so it's a fair bit more restrictive than the other two even with the extra thickness. I would say for ultra low RPM's though the GTX may be a better choice due to it being a little thinner making it easier to push air through but at high RPM's the 60mm PE may be a bit more capable.

 

I personally use a UT60 on mine but ran with push pull since I kept everything below 700RPM even while on load.

[BenTan]

I would say they are within margin of each other the PE though is a double folded fin array so it's a fair bit more restrictive than the other two even with the extra thickness. I would say for ultra low RPM's though the GTX may be a better choice due to it being a little thinner making it easier to push air through but at high RPM's the 60mm PE may be a bit more capable.

 

I personally use a UT60 on mine but ran with push pull since I kept everything below 700RPM even while on load.

Any idea how the temps differ in either push or pull from push/pull on  your UT60 with the same RPMs? It's still fine with just push or pull right?

[W-L]

Any idea how the temps differ in either push or pull from push/pull on  your UT60 with the same RPMs? It's still fine with just push or pull right?

 

From what I can tell almost marginal not very much(maybe a few degrees) when I did some stress testing with super low RPM's, since the fin density is pretty low it's not overly restrictive. The UT60 series though tends to do better at higher RPM's like around 1000 or more where it can really pull ahead.

[BenTan]

Are hardwarelabs radiators out of the question?

 

They most likely will perform better than both of your current options, and have better build quality & aesthetics IMO.

 

http://www.hardwarelabs.com/nemesis/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=122

Would you recommend the Nemesis GTS or the GTX?

[W-L]

Would you recommend the Nemesis GTS or the GTX?

 

If you want silence go for the GTS is thinner and since both of those are a double folded fin array or something like the XT45 from alphacool which is thicker but has a lower fin density.

[skline00]

I use XSPC RX480 Ver 3 rads and am VERY please with them.

[BenTan]

I use XSPC RX480 Ver 3 rads and am VERY please with them.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm not a fan of the imprinted logo on the side. It does seem to be a very well regarded radiator though.

[BenTan]

If you want silence go for the GTS is thinner and since both of those are a double folded fin array or something like the XT45 from alphacool which is thicker but has a lower fin density.

Sorry for the late reply. I think I might get either the GTS or GTX. The review on thermalbench.com actually showed the GTX performing marginally better than the GTS at 600 and 800 RPM. Would it be better for me to get the GTX, since I have enough clearance in the case?

[W-L]

Sorry for the late reply. I think I might get either the GTS or GTX. The review on thermalbench.com actually showed the GTX performing marginally better than the GTS at 600 and 800 RPM. Would it be better for me to get the GTX, since I have enough clearance in the case?

If you have good pressure optimized fans and don't mind running them a little faster like 1000rpm then the GTX would be a good choice for the extra cooling capability.

[BenTan]

If you have good pressure optimized fans and don't mind running them a little faster like 1000rpm then the GTX would be a good choice for the extra cooling capability.

Thanks, I'll probably get the GTS then.