So what do you guys think of my pump choice? Given that I'm unlikely to add a gpu block, the Laing V5 should be fine with the Storm G4, right? If I ever decided to upgrade my graphic card, could this pump handle another block?
And the Laing V5 is quiet, right? I have to have a quiet pump.
The last piece of this equation that I can't make my mind up on are the fans. I've been all over the net reading everything I can on fans but the conclusions are all over the place depending on use, versions, and users sensitivity to noise, among a zillion other variables. I was planning on using the Nexus fans on a T-Bal but i'm wondering if the fans can handle the back pressure on this heater core (2-302). I read some favorable reports on the Papst 4412Ls but I hear of poor QC relative to sound levels. And then there are the San Ace that seem to be popular in some circles but not discussed at all in others. And then the Globes, etc.
What about the Panaflo's? You can get these in the supposedly more desirable 38mm thickness and the specs look good.
I was also considering 120V fans but only if I went with a 120v pump. At the moment, that option is off the table.
And what about 140 mm fans. Two of these would fit just about perfect on the HC. Why don't more people (anyone?) use these? Is it a question of sourcing them?
I'm also starting to rethink my overall system design. I was planning this as a separate plywood RAD box that my current case (SLK3800-B) would sit on top of. The idea is to keep all the WC bits together in a separate box that I can sound insulate as much as much as possible (including baffles
). This would end up being the length and width of the computer case and about 5 to 6 inches high plus ground clearance of 1 to 2 inches. The HC would lay flat in the bottom, with the fans in a pull configuration venting up through the case. The idea here is that these fans would do double duty of cooling the HC and providing airflow to the case. It seems that it should also dampen the noise a bit more as well if I properly dampen the case.
However, would the WC setup perform better if, instead of laying the WC on the bottom of the RAD box, I mounted it on its edge in the RAD with the fans pulling from side to side instead of bottom to top? This might improve cooling performance but at the expense of increased noise? What do you think? Also, I'm guessing the HC will be easier to bleed out the air if mounted on its edge instead of on its face.
Finally, I'm also considering just getting a new case, something like this (
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811125467) that would just allow me to easily put this all in the computer case with the HC mounted in the traditional lower front. This would make for a neater install in the end and would take up about the same amount of space. But would it be as quiet ... or quieter? Sure looks like I could stuff a lot of insulting foam in there.
Thanks for all your help and listening to my million questions.
L