Performance Testing- Part 2

The charts of the previous graph are all well and good, but providing context for pumps such as the EK SPC-60 is harder since very few have tried them out. As such, let us try it out in an average loop to see the actual difference. I used an XSPC Raystorm Pro CPU block, a Swiftech Komodo R9-LE GPU block, a HardwareLabs Black Ice Nemesis GTS 360 radiator, and two sets of Koolance QD3 quick disconnects with 6 Bitspower 1/2" x 3/4" fittings and Primochill Advanced LRT tubing in the same size. The water blocks are one of the least restrictive in each category, and adding the QDCs and relatively more restrictive radiator brings the average restriction close to what most typical loops would have these days. Aside from the Topsflo TDC, XSPC X20 420, and D5 Vario at the two settings mentioned above, I also added an 18 W Laing DDC PWM (At 100% and 50% PWM signal) and a Swiftech MCP30 (a slower version of the MCP50X, again at 100% and 50% PWM signal and with the MCP50X top). Note that the DDC does not have a big difference in RPM response from 50% PWM to 100% PWM, which makes its respective numbers similar.


The EK SPC-60 pump ends up performing nearly identical to the XSPC X2O 420 and D5 on Setting 3, but gets outperformed by the Topsflo TDC slightly. The SPC-60 is the quietest pump at full speed here even if again just slightly so, and lower maximum speed plays a role here as well. The MCP30 (at 100% PWM) and Laing DDC perform better, but are also louder. In fact, the SPC-60 does better and is quieter than the MCP30 when slowed down, which is of interest to potential customers as well.

What if we have all these pumps provide the same amount of flow rate? Since the X2O 420 can not be controlled, it was chosen as the point to which the other pumps were slowed down:


This is possibly a more telling chart. Knowing what we do, the EK SPC-60 and, thus, EK-XRES 140 SPC PWM Classic RGB as a whole, is best for a small loop: two blocks, 1–2 radiators, and <2 PSI pressure drop at 1 US GPM flow. Having a trickle of flow is still enough to reap the benefits of water cooling, and noise levels will then be more important. Please do remember that these numbers were measured 6" away; the pump will be perceptively quieter in a closed case a few feet away. The SPC-60 is again bested by the Topsflo TDC here, but there is not much between them or the Laing D5 even while the others are significantly louder.