[JimS]

These flow rate arguments are really getting interesting. Here is the way I look at it.

Imagine for a minute that you are taking a small quantity of your coolant, say a droplet and using it as a reference. Say the droplet makes the loop throughout your system in 10 seconds, and spends 2 seconds of that time inside the radiator. In one minute you will have cooled your coolant for a period of 12 seconds. 6 x 10 = 60 seconds, 6 x 2 = 12 seconds.

Now you double your flow rate. Your droplet makes its way through your system in 5 seconds, and spends one second in the radiator. In one minute, you will have cooled your coolant for a period of 12 seconds. 12 x 5 = 60 seconds. 12 x 1 = 12 seconds.

Flow rates in watercooled systems are fairly consistent throughout. There is not a drastic difference in flow rate from any one point in the system to another.

This simple example is why the only thing we watercoolers need to worry about is MINIMUM flow rate. As long as your pump can sustain a flow over 25 gph( this includes the resistance of all the restrictions in a typical watercooled system), your temperature will not fluctuate much no matter how much you increase flow.

There was a test done a while back which pretty much proved this. I think it was an article by Bill Adams from overclockers.com.