Got another opinion in the top vs.side cooling debate. See 3rotor's response to me here:
http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/sho...&threadid=7010
While he expressed preference for top cooling, he didn't seem to feel it made a big difference either way. I'm thinking it is probably a case of which approach is easier for the setup you are using.
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Wouldn't it be better to rip the pipe in half and then solder it on. So there is a more direct path for the heat to take.
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Probably would be better in theory to do a split pipe, but I don't think the hassles would be worth the gains.
1. Drives don't generate THAT much heat (Seagate Cheetah 15K U160 SCSI's are only rated for 18 watts max) I doubt the efficiency difference would amount to a significant difference, possibly not even a measurable one.
2. Soldering on a split pipe means LONG seams, and lots of fussy surface prep and very exact fitting of the pipe to avoid the many chances for leaks. Soldering on an intact tube will be leak free if you don't burn a hole in it (difficult) and it's no big deal if you miss a few spots.
3. An intact tube means an easy hookup for tubing, just leave an end sticking out and slide the tube over it. No barbs, no fuss. You'll need do some fancy transition to go from a split tube to a round fitting, and you can't put a tube on a semi-circle very well.
4. Unless you use a much bigger diameter tube, you will end up with alot more flow restriction than you get with an intact tube.
5. As a minor cost issue, soldering an intact tube to a plate is very material efficient. I don't see a way to do a split tube without wasting alot of material...
I could go on, but I think you'll agree that overall the benefit doesn't look worth it.
Gooserider