Ok guys and gals...the tax return is IN. I need to decide!
 

I still haven't pinned down a radiator. And to make matters worse, now I'm having second thoughts about my custom waterblock due to the new Maze-2. Arrgghh.

All my water cooling crap is going to be installed into a custom made enclosure so size and fit isn't really an issue anymore...phew!

Right now, I'm thinking something like (2)Big Mama's or Black Ice radiators. The reason for 2 is that I want this custom water cooling enclosure to be something that will be adequate for many moons to come and NOT have to be updated anytime soon. Therefore, everything going into this setup is being "supersized". So even though it will prolly be overkill in the beginning I want to be able to grow into it when I add another TEC or a SMP setup or whatever.

So anyway, I'm pretty up on all the radiator news and reviews but even with all the info that's available, I STILL feel like I don't have adequate information to make an informed choice. (There just haven't been any REALLY decent comparison of radiators!)

I'm waiting right now for Chip to complete a radiator shoot-out. Have NO idea when that'll be completed as busy as the poor guy is! The info he will derive from that test will be invaluable to water cooling o/c'ers everywhere! Go Chip!!

So, any comments or ideas?
I'm SERIOUSLY ready to get this water cooled rig setup like YESTERDAY and I'm tired of the wait.

ok...feeling a little better now that I've blown off a little steam (no pun inteded)

Well CK I don't see the problem, you might be having second thoughts about commiting to something "dangerous", but I think you know what you are doing as far as setting one up. Just install the sucker, 2 Big Mommas will work just fine, and they will give you lots of room to grow.

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Blah Blah Blah
Overclocked Dual PIII 933
sitting on a VP6 mobo featuring liquid intercooling.
AIM[SN]: PhreeNET

The Big Momma is great. I'm currently in the process of modding my cube to fit the big mofo. The Dangerden cube should also work awesome. As long as you are getting two, get the two cheapest.

Glad you mentioned the cube Kevin.

While the cube about about $5 more, that would in NO way sway my decision if I thought for a second that the cube would perform better.

With that said, I couldn't help but wonder how well the Big Moma performs compared to the cube.

Anyone happen to know of ANY test that's been done comparing the two??? I sure don't http://www.procooling.com/ubb/frown.gif

Any thoughts on *why* either would perform better than the other?

Here comes a bullshit theory I made up (well not really). I feel that radiators that thin out the water will work better. The reason behind this is because if you think about it: It doesn't take as long to cool a glass of boiling water as it does say a fish tank full. While the DangerDen cube is a great performer, the radiators that thin out the water cool better because the water volume to surface area is lower, lets say (make believe) 1mL:1cuIN, that would be in the Haydens' and Big Mommas'. In the dangerden cube and every other tube pass radiator the water has a place to hide, in the center of the tube. And that the ratio above might be something like (make believe) 10ml:1cuIN (water volume:Surface Area (in cubic inches)}. The big momma and all other heater core radiators, I believe, perform better.

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Blah Blah Blah
Overclocked Dual PIII 933
sitting on a VP6 mobo featuring liquid intercooling.
AIM[SN]: PhreeNET

Makes sense. Having more water exposed to more cooling surface area provides greater opportunity for cooling.

About the ONLY thing I don't like about Big Moma is having to find some way to attach the 120mm fan to it. The duct taping is kinda cheesey. Maybe I'll try and make some kind of adapter piece that's a little more professional looling.

If you need to attach a 120mm fan to a radiator, then use some superglue or some silicon sealent or RTV then would diffenitly hold the fan on there.

Yes, it would hold it....BUT, if you've seen pix of the radiator, you would have seen that the radiator is quite a bit larger than the 120mm fan itself.
If I were to just slap it on there, quite a bit of radiator surface area would not have any air flow....ie, it NEEDS a shroud of *some* kind.

I have the big mamma...I am using 2 120mm/120CFM fans on it...I set up the fans in a teepee shape, and made a custom duct with foil tape....

heh...you should feel the airflow through this thing at 15V...

with this radiator set up like this, and a second tube/fin 5X10 radiator, my water temp is 1 degree above ambient

of course, I have my water tubes going through the wall behind the computer and into the garage so that I don't have to hear any fans =P

Cablepro:

Interesting setup!

My box is going to be all about QUIETNESS tho. I'll be using Panaflo L1's on the radiators and L1's anywhere else a fan is needed. HOPEFULLY with the 156W TEC I'll be able to hold ambient + 1-2C with 2 Big Momas!

My enclosure I'm building for all this will be a sealed unit using 3/4" something wood...birch? dunno yet.

I'll even line the inside if necessary with something like Dynomat if the noise level is more than a whisper.

ck42,

do u use the 92mm or 120mm panaflows??
2 i guess..

i've recently ordered 4x 92mm panaflows..
and im dealing with 2 156W's..
so if it works with u... http://www.procooling.com/ubb/smile.gif

170CFM.. @4x27dB!!
and an aditional 100CFM @ 47dB http://www.procooling.com/ubb/frown.gif

but I still like to hear when i'm shot... http://www.procooling.com/ubb/wink.gif

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OC'ing is my middlename

My next article with the revised little stealth will have a nice section about how I ducted my 120mm up to 160mm for my big momma.. Turned out really nice..

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The UnaClocker
Overclock till it goes BOOM!
Watercooler extraordinaire!

FreakyFrank:

I already have the 120mm L1's and and 3 80mm L1's.
I didn't know about BigMoma at the time so I figured I'd end up with a rad. that needed 120mm.

Will the four 92mm fans cover the BigMoma perfectly? (or near perfect?) That would be an interesting idea especially since it would give QUITE a bit more air flow vs just 1 120mm and also keep the noise down at the same time!! I'll have to think about that!

edit: Ack! that'd be another $88 is fans if I DID do that. Hmmm

Unaclocker:

Look forward to seeing it!

[This message has been edited by ck42 (edited 03-03-2001).]

Ok...2 BigMomas on the way.

next stop...get my custom waterblock/TEC/coldplate > http://www.procooling.com/ubb/wink.gif

Being 160mm, I'd guess that 4 80mm's would work alot better than 2 92mm.. Tho I didn't measure the radiator to be exactly 160mm square, just kind of took a guess.. http://www.procooling.com/ubb/smile.gif

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The UnaClocker
Overclock till it goes BOOM!
Watercooler extraordinaire!

Doh!
I musta missed that day in math class when we did multiplication. Thanks for pointing that out Una!

dont forget to recalculate the airflow! http://www.procooling.com/ubb/wink.gif

i think i will stack two yjard rads and let my 4 panas move some air thought..

when done right, i should work better than two separate rads with 2 panas each.. (i think)

http://www2.apex.net/users/timwhita/bunkertornado.html
yes i know its ghetto

Hehe!!!

Jep! That's some cool ghetto hardware!

Seriously tho, good improvizing.

!!!!!

Wow! CaseETC must be going for some kinda shipping record! If you look in the thread you'll see that I ordered 2 BigMomas on SAT. Well, I just got them in this a.m. (Monday!) Shipped USPS priority mail.

That is friggin incredible!
Good job CaseETC!

On a side note, the radiators look(edit) good. One of them had a small dent mark in a corner and mashed some of the fins inwards covering about a 1" x 1" area. I attempted to fix this as best I could. Other one looks perfect.

Have to ask tho.... How the heck does the water circulate through these things???!!!

For the life of me, I can't see how water gets from one barb to the other! Does the water actually go thru the all the fins? They seem too thin for that. I feel pretty stoopid about this. :O

Side note, waterblock, coldplate, chipset waterblock, and TEC ordered last night. I post some pix with my new DigiCamera as soon as they get here if anyone is interested in the cusom waterblock.

[This message has been edited by ck42 (edited 03-05-2001).]

WOOOHOO!!

my tecs are delivered!! (5 days total)
(with paying 10 days)

15 pieces.. http://www.procooling.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

now i need that *(^&@#$ copper!! http://www.procooling.com/ubb/frown.gif hehe