Liquid Flow Restriction

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


Phanteks states a features of the Glacier C350i to be "High Flow Engineering" that "reduces flow resistance", and that does end up being the case here. As a result of the relatively wide microchannels and a small gap through which some of the coolant potentially just bypasses the fin stack, it is one of the least restrictive CPU water blocks available today. For what it is worth, this is also not as low as it would have been if the coolant were to completely bypass the fins, so that does help allay my fear about a possible design flaw here. But the thermal test results will show for sure if things are all good here. As it is, the Glacier C350i is fine to use with a smaller pump that does not have as high a head pressure or rated flow rate as the usual Laing suspects.