PC Radiator Cooling Capacity

[HBSound]

I am looking at your two radiators: the EKWB X420 and Black Ice 420GTX. My setup will place this single radiator in the front of a tower for a complete water-cooled system. I will offer fan support via Push-Pull to run the fans at 800 to 1000 ma under load. The system dynamics is about 1600 watts including all GPU/CPU and components.

According to Black Ice info, the Black Ice Nemesis 420GTX® Dual-Core Xtreme Profile Radiator is optimized for a fan use of 800 rpm on the fans and handles 2000W according to the specs (see first image).

According to the EKWB X420 website, this unit handles only 763 watts.

How does this compare? Is one of these ratings off? Is EK being extremely conservative in their ratings?

 

[dgianstefani]

It depends on how fast you run the fans and what coolant you use. Typically the bottleneck will the the IHS and the thermal paste you use with modern dense CPUs. For GPUs it doesn't really matter but a good block helps.

For reference, I run a 450-500 W load on a single 240/40mm radiator with two fans running around 1500 rpm or less and get temps in the 60s.

If you're going to spend this much on a custom loop, delid your CPU and use liquid metal.

 

[gurusmi]

Before thinking about the possible transfer of the heat from Water to air I would reflect on the question how the heat gets from a CPU/GPU into the water. There is a much bigger problem you will face with modern processors.

 

[dgianstefani]

EK may base their wattage calculations when paired with their fans at a set RPM, which aren't class leading.

 

[HBSound]

It depends on how fast you run the fans and what coolant you use. Typically the bottleneck will the the IHS and the thermal paste you use with modern dense CPUs. For GPUs it doesn't really matter but a good block helps.

For reference, I run a 450-500 W load on a single 240/40mm radiator with two fans running around 1500 rpm or less and get temps in the 60s.

If you're going to spend this much on a custom loop, delid your CPU and use liquid metal.

This will be a complete loop for the GPU and CPU. I want to run this loop at 800min to 1000 max on the speed of the fans.

What particular brand of liquid metal are you using? Is it extremely beneficial?

 

[ir_cow]

I have the 480 one. put two 1080 Tis and CPU for about a year. It was lukewarm and I ran it 24/7. HardwareLabs Rads are the best in my opinion.

 

[HBSound]

Before thinking about the possible transfer of the heat from Water to air I would reflect on the question how the heat gets from a CPU/GPU into the water. There is a much bigger problem you will face with modern processors.

I do not understand your questions.
Right now I use the EKWB solid tubing for the loop.

EK may base their wattage calculations when paired with their fans at a set RPM, which aren't class leading.

So do I take there ratings and throw them out the window?

I have the 480 one. put two 1080 Tis and CPU for about a year. It was lukewarm and I ran it 24/7. HardwareLabs Rads are the best in my opinion.

Thank you for sharing - Did you have some high or low-moving fans? How did you improve on your system? Going to HWL?

 

[dgianstefani]

This will be a complete loop for the GPU and CPU. I want to run this loop at 800min to 1000 max on the speed of the fans.

What particular brand of liquid metal are you using? Is it extremely beneficial?

Before thinking about the possible transfer of the heat from Water to air I would reflect on the question how the heat gets from a CPU/GPU into the water. There is a much bigger problem you will face with modern processors.

As myself and @gurusmi have mentioned, you need to delid your CPU and run direct die with liquid metal, or just with liquid metal between the IHS/die for good temps on modern CPUs, such as 13900K/Zen 4.

I find that Conductonaut extreme is a good liquid metal, make sure to use the appropriate precautions such as TG Shield, CPU guard/direct die frame etc.

Otherwise there's not much point custom watercooling your CPU, the bottleneck of the IHS will lead to temps that aren't much better than air or an AIO.

https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/products these guys make good products, but there are others.

Delidding is easy and safe if you have the correct tool.

 

[HBSound]

As myself and @gurusmi have mentioned, you need to delid your CPU and run direct die with liquid metal, or just with liquid metal between the IHS/die for good temps on modern CPUs, such as 13900K/Zen 4.

I find that Conductonaut extreme is a good liquid metal, make sure to use the appropriate precautions such as TG Shield, CPU guard/direct die frame etc.

Otherwise there's not much point custom watercooling your CPU, the bottleneck of the IHS will lead to temps that aren't much better than air or an AIO.

https://www.thermal-grizzly.com/en/products these guys make good products, but there are others.

Delidding is easy and safe if you have the correct tool.

I use the AMD Threadripper Pro 3X processor. I believe what I have read, this processor can not take part in the benefit of delid. Due to context, boot and etc. Unless you know of a source to do this correctly. Let me know. I thought deliding was left to the smaller Intel i chips, and the AMD smaller chips. Right now I use the AMD

For me personally I would like to get to the next level of cooling with the next setup I am preparing for. But if I have to tear up the chip, and motherboard? I am not sure.

I have used my fair share of AIO with the GPU and CPU. For me personally, not my cup of tea when I compare to the waterloop. Especially when I compare the HEAT left in my office space from the AIO. Sure the system now disposes of the heat, but not on the level of an AIO. I am grateful now, my system does not struggle with cooling.

EK may base their wattage calculations when paired with their fans at a set RPM, which aren't class leading.

Do you feel their fan's speeds are too high? I like low running speeds. Right now my speeds are 600 low idel, 800 under loads. I like to keep the noise to a minimum for sure.

 

[dgianstefani]

I use the AMD Threadripper Pro 3X processor. I believe what I have read, this processor can not take part in the benefit of delid. Due to context, boot and etc. Unless you know of a source to do this correctly. Let me know. I thought deliding was left to the smaller Intel i chips, and the AMD smaller chips. Right now I use the AMD

For me personally I would like to get to the next level of cooling with the next setup I am preparing for. But if I have to tear up the chip, and motherboard? I am not sure.

I have used my fair share of AIO with the GPU and CPU. For me personally, not my cup of tea when I compare to the waterloop. Especially when I compare the HEAT left in my office space from the AIO. Sure the system now disposes of the heat, but not on the level of an AIO. I am grateful now, my system does not struggle with cooling.


Do you feel their fan's speeds are too high? I like low running speeds. Right now my speeds are 600 low idel, 800 under loads. I like to keep the noise to a minimum for sure.

What do you hope to gain from liquid cooling it?

You'd most likely be better off putting that money towards a newer platform, or actual hardware upgrades.

Do you feel their fan's speeds are too high? I like low running speeds. Right now my speeds are 600 low idel, 800 under loads. I like to keep the noise to a minimum for sure.

Their fans are average. TPU fan testing shows Noctua NF-A12x25 and Phanteks T30 being the best radiator fans.

 

[HBSound]

What do you hope to gain from liquid cooling it?

I personally like the performance of my GPU/CPU, and I like the less noise of air cooling or AIO cooling.

 

[P4-630]

Air cooled or watercooled you still need fans to do it, watercooled has even one more downside, pump noise...

 

[HBSound]

What do you hope to gain from liquid cooling it?

You'd most likely be better off putting that money towards a newer platform, or actual hardware upgrades.


Their fans are average. TPU fan testing shows Noctua NF-A12x25 and Phanteks T30 being the best radiator fans.

Hardware Upgrades - I did consider it, but the cost to swap out to an updated AMD chip or Xeon chip is not worth it. Especially with the cost of things these days. Right now AMD, and Asus support the items. I will change out the motherboard from the Asus WRX to the Asrock Rack WRX - AMD motherboard. The main reason, the ASUS WRX board only allows for GPU service at 4.0 x 16 on 4 lanes. The remaining lanes are 4.0 x 8, and the motherboard is 12 x 13. Swapping to the asrock board, I get full 7 4.0 x 16 slots out the gate, and on an ATX motherboard. Outside of GPU support, I will need to insert a sound card.

Fans - This time around I am using the Noctua 140 and 120 fans. No issues at all.

Next Setup, Right now I have some of the Phantec 120 fans I was about to get a nice deal. I WISH Phanteck would finish up with the 140-t30 before this build started. I would do the Phantek 140 x T30 for sure.

 

[dgianstefani]

Air cooled or watercooled you still need fans to do it, watercooled has even one more downside, pump noise...

Irrelevant with a D5. Literally inaudible unless your ear is to the pump housing.

 

[HBSound]

Irrelevant with a D5. Literally inaudible unless your ear is to the pump housing.

Pump wife, I use the EKWB Dual D5 Serial pump! - Game Changer. One thing I did notice, in an odd way. I saw better results with faster water speed going through the system verse high fan speed. I was impressed to see the numbers drop. This is why my fan speed is extremely low. My pump speeds are rolling ! And I do not hear a thing.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Irrelevant with a D5. Literally inaudible unless your ear is to the pump housing.

With a distroplate that resonates badly with the pump it can be annoyingly audible at certain rpm, such as the one I have.

 

[gurusmi]

I do not understand your questions.
Right now I use the EKWB solid tubing for the loop.

I do not have a question. I said that you should think abour the coolers for CPU and GPU first before thinking about the Rads. The heat has to go from the CPU/GPU headspreaders into the Water before transferring it into the Radiator and the air, And exactly there i would think about first. I use EKWB Rads since at least 4 years. I also own a external Phobya 9*144mm Rad in spare. In my actual one a 360mm and in my new one a 420mm X-Flow. Ans also i own different coolers for my CPU. So believe me. I don't have any question. I can choose which one fits well, works as desired and cool down the CPU effectively.

 

[HBSound]

So right now, I am going to do my research on the

I do not have a question. I said that you should think abour the coolers for CPU and GPU first before thinking about the Rads. The heat has to go from the CPU/GPU headspreaders into the Water before transferring it into the Radiator and the air, And exactly there i would think about first. I use EKWB Rads since at least 4 years. I also own a external Phobya 9*144mm Rad in spare. In my actual one a 360mm and in my new one a 420mm X-Flow. Ans also i own different coolers for my CPU. So believe me. I don't have any question. I can choose which one fits well, works as desired and cool down the CPU effectively.

Cooling CPU: EK Quantum Magnitude sTRX4 Cooler
Cooling GPU: EK-Pro GPU RTX Rack Cooler

From what I have experienced the EK Pro items treat what I have well. I like the pro line of the EK items, I can use the single PCI lane and have complete access to the rest of my PCI lanes. The mistake I made previously, was with the 3090. They had to have active front and rear cooling. Well, that took up three PCI lanes, and for me, I did not like that. So I pulled back and found just what I need for what I do.

Right now I am asking about the rads because If I can get a SINGLE rad to cover the system. This is something I am interested in for sure! I do believe we are not getting told the complete trust about cooling and etc. Causing folks to get three and four radiators and fans in a single loop. At some point, it is extreme overkill. I do believe in supporting the system in terms of colling. I defiltiy want a little extra cooling JUST in case I have to add GPU to the system. I do not want to swap out anything.

 

[dgianstefani]

Absolute Threadripper 3+ CPU Block

optimuspc.com

Check out these blocks.

 

[eidairaman1]

What about Alphacool?

 

[HBSound]

What about Alphacool?

The top three I am looking at: are EK, ALphacool, and Black Ice Nemesis.

Outside looking in, I am a fan of the Alphacool radiators.

The Alphacool NexXxoS XT45 Full Copper 420mm radiator. I am not sure if this will work or have enough capacity. I wish the HPE version came in a 60mm

Alphacool NexXxoS Monsta 420mm Radiator. So I am scared of the Monsta, he is 86 mm deep and has a physical weight of 6 pounds without fluids. Also, placing 30 mm fans on each side equals 5.75" of space before the motherboard. IN a world that is not wide at all, but in a PC tower, that could be a little dominating BUT this one has the ability to take care of all my needs in one shot.

Do you have any real world expenses with Alphacool?

Absolute Threadripper 3+ CPU Block

optimuspc.com

Check out these blocks.

Yes, I have checked out these blocks. EXTREMELY nice!

The only thing that kept me from getting it. When I heard about the place - I already have everything else locked and loaded. As of right now, they are sold out of everything. I will reach out and see IF they have some around.

Thanks

 

[Bones]

Let's also consider something I haven't seen mentioned and that's res size.

That combined with your rad size determines the system's total capacity.

You know how it is when you go to heat up a cup of water in the microwave? The same basics applies to how much heat energy is required to warm it up and how quickly it will get to a certain temp. A larger cup takes longer to warm up and a smaller cup doesn't take as long so if you can run more total liquid capacity, that may help keep temps lower for a longer period of time or just lower period.
However if you have a rad(s) on it you shoudn't have a heat buildup problem taking place and if you do, you've got a problem somewhere but it shoudn't be due to not having enough coolant capacity/volume.

The tower I made a few years ago had about a 4 gallon capacity and that was just for the CPU alone.
If I didn't have the tower's cooling fan running I could still run it for a good while before it built up enough heat to be a problem.

Another thing (option) you can do is to have two rads - One for the CPU itself and the other for your GPU(s) so the heat load is more easily removed per rad rather than placing the entire heat load of it all for removal on a single rad.
To set up:
You'd have a split (Probrably a T-Fitting) inline coming from the pump's pressure tube (Outlet) for each rad and simply let both rad's have their own return line straight to the res - It's that simple to set up that way if you want to.

Of course this requires a custom setup instead of an AIO - I don't believe you can setup an AIO that way but probrably can setup two AIO's in similar fashion with one for the CPU and the other for the GPU but only if running a single GPU.

 

[A Computer Guy]

The tower I made a few years ago had about a 4 gallon capacity and that was just for the CPU alone.

Do you have a picture of that by any chance?

Another thing (option) you can do is to have two rads - One for the CPU itself and the other for your GPU(s) so the heat load is more easily removed per rad rather than placing the entire heat load of it all for removal on a single rad.
To set up:
You have a split coming from the pump's pressure tube (Outlet) for each rad and simply let both rad's have their own return line straight to the res - It's that simple to set up that way if you want to.

Is there really a benefit to having them split opposed to hooking the rads in series? What would be the difference and/or advantage in a split setup vs. a series setup?

 

[dgianstefani]

Makes no difference.

If you want something like this you go dual loops, not split loops.

Can actually lead to the more flow restricted segment not getting enough cooling in split.

 

[HBSound]

Let's also consider something I haven't seen mentioned and that's res size.

That combined with your rad size determines the system's total capacity.

You know how it is when you go to heat up a cup of water in the microwave? The same basics applies to how much heat energy is required to warm it up and how quickly it will get to a certain temp. A larger cup takes longer to warm up and a smaller cup doesn't take as long so if you can run more total liquid capacity, that may help keep temps lower for a longer period of time or just lower period.
However if you have a rad(s) on it you shoudn't have a heat buildup problem taking place and if you do, you've got a problem somewhere but it shoudn't be due to not having enough coolant capacity/volume.

The tower I made a few years ago had about a 4 gallon capacity and that was just for the CPU alone.
If I didn't have the tower's cooling fan running I could still run it for a good while before it built up enough heat to be a problem.

Another thing (option) you can do is to have two rads - One for the CPU itself and the other for your GPU(s) so the heat load is more easily removed per rad rather than placing the entire heat load of it all for removal on a single rad.
To set up:
You'd have a split (Probrably a T-Fitting) inline coming from the pump's pressure tube (Outlet) for each rad and simply let both rad's have their own return line straight to the res - It's that simple to set up that way if you want to.

Of course this requires a custom setup instead of an AIO - I don't believe you can setup an AIO that way but probrably can setup two AIO's in similar fashion with one for the CPU and the other for the GPU but only if running a single GPU.

Amazing info. That is the first time I have ever heard of heating up water in a larger volume. Nice!
The Rads I am looking at are the EK Dimensions: 465 x 145 x 58mm (L x W x H), Black Ice, 452mm x 153mm x 54mm (L x W x H).

Both rads are right at about the exact same size.

I have seen a few systems, where folks are using a single rad, about 60mm to tame the whole system. Prime example - Comio system, high-grade CPYU, and 4-HIgh Grade GPU. And all that power is going in and out of a single 3 / 120 / 360 radiator by Alphacool.

Now from what I see, Comino does not pull the air from the radiators then over the equipment and out the back. But they pull the air through the back side and over all the dated equipment and out the case via 3/140/25 fans and the Alphacool radiators. This computer setup alone gets amazing results and reviews.

So this is a source, just how much does it really take to cool a high-grade system? Comino is wearing out the competition, with there high-grade systems.

High