Liquid Flow Restriction

I used a Swiftech MCP50X pump with a FrozenQ 400mL cylindrical reservoir. The pump was powered by a direct SATA connection to an EVGA 1300G2 PSU and was controlled by an Aquacomputer Aquaero 6 XT. There was a previously calibrated in-line flow meter and a Dwyer 490 Series 1 wet-wet manometer to measure the pressure drop of the component being tested. Every component was connected to the manometer by the way of 1/2" x 3/4" tubing, compression fittings, and two T-fittings.


As expected, the serial flow design coupled with the thinner microchannels resulted in the Koolance VID-NX1080 having a higher liquid flow restriction relative to most others. The actual difference is not a lot in the grand scheme of things, however, with only the Alphacool NexXxos GPX being a real outlier.

Note that the chart above has some item lines for blocks and backplates, and this was done to help distinguish any thermal performance differences. With the Koolance block, the included backplate was used for a separate entry, and since it plays no role as far as coolant flow restriction goes, that second entry naturally has the same value in the chart above.