Thermal Performance

Everything needed—monitor, peripherals, motherboard w/CPU and GPU, radiator, PSU, and so forth—is placed in a sealed, climate-controlled box at 25°C +/- 0.05 °C. Each radiator is connected by Koolance QD3 quick disconnects for easier changing of the fans and radiator. The flow rate is held at 1 GPM constant flow rate. The CPU, an Intel Core-i7 4770K at 4.6 GHz and 1.3 V, is held at a constant load using a custom Intel XTU profile, and the GPU, an EVGA GTX 780 Ti Classified under load from Unigine Heaven 4.0 at 1080p with extreme HD settings, is overclocked and overvolted in such a way that the total system power draw is 550 W as measured by a power meter.

A near-constant heat load into the liquid loop by the addition of the CPU and GPU helps quickly achieve stable liquid-loop temperatures as measured by three separate in-line temperature sensors hooked up to an Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 XT. The tubing and fittings are insulated by a sleeve heater, but its heat function is not utilized. Every single measurement is done twice as a means of verification. Any possibility of running a fan outside of its static maximum RPM is minimized by as much as possible by using a comprehensive series of separate fans (Noiseblocker eLoop, B12-1 through B12-4) to cover a broad RPM range while minimizing fan speed variance and, thus, airflow. The results below are the ∆T (coolant temperature - ambient temperature) in °C.


Keep in mind that the current test database does not include many other radiators, with most radiators I have tested before being 480 or 560 mm. Once again, the closest comparison would be the Black Ice Nemesis GTS and Bitspower Leviathan SF, but the Hydro XR5 actually outperforms the retail Nemesis GTS that theoretically should perform better, let alone the Leviathan SF which is even further away from error margins. It is more consistent in this regard too, which suggests it may just be a better manufactured sample. Performance is really good for low-medium airflow, especially noting this is a 30 mm thick radiator that hangs easily among the bigger boys. It does not scale as well as some of the thicker radiators, but this at least was not a surprise given what we know.