Radiator Placement

Shrane0 · 12-30-2005, 02:48 PM

Being my first post, I would like to thank everyone here. I have read a few threads that have really helped me grasp water cooling.

Now on to my question. My case is fairly limited on space, and I have been trying to figure out where I should place my radiator. I have seen quite a few cases being sold with the radiator mounted behind the case's exhaust fan, with two more fans on the opposite side.

Like this Gigabyte Aurora, using a push pull thing for their radiator...

Does this work? Is blowing case air on the rad, followed by two more fans pulling it out enough to keep the rad cool, or will it noticeably heat up?

nikhsub1 · 12-30-2005, 03:48 PM

I don't like to use case air to cool the rad... if I had to set up my machine like the pic above, I would have the fans on the rad blowing INTO the case.

Shrane0 · 12-31-2005, 02:20 AM

Blow fan through the radiator into the case? I'm not sure that would be the best idea being that the air would be trapped...

Blow warm air on the rad or in the case seem to be my options right now. Posted a thread on Extremeforums as well, more opinions the better I suppose.

Thanks nikhsub1, you'll probably see the second one over there too.

msv · 01-12-2006, 09:21 AM

There is only 1 water block in the pic, so the air in the case will be heated by graphic adapter, chipset, hard disks...
OK, just looking at the watts emitted the GPU will be the big heater.
Another topic on using case air is how much of that will be available. A negative preassure in the case will of course result in less air going through the rad, not good for cooling.

But, yes, You don´t have so many choises with that case, unless You use You metal cutting tools really generously.

regards
Mikael S.

gmat · 01-12-2006, 09:47 AM

you already have a radiator ?
This case presents a nice spot (bottom front) for a heatercore.

BillA · 01-12-2006, 10:05 AM

put the rad on standoffs, and manage the case airflow independently
drop the push-pull

Brians256 · 01-12-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillA

put the rad on standoffs, and manage the case airflow independently
drop the push-pull

If you can use ambient air for the rad instead of case air, it'd certainly help temps. Did you do any studies on whether it makes a significant difference to use vertical airflow (using thermal "lift" to augment airflow) for the rad?

BillA · 01-12-2006, 12:09 PM

no, doubt significant

Etacovda · 01-12-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brians256

If you can use ambient air for the rad instead of case air, it'd certainly help temps. Did you do any studies on whether it makes a significant difference to use vertical airflow (using thermal "lift" to augment airflow) for the rad?

You'd need a huge thermal difference above and below to make any significant difference (huge being relative to watercooling, ie more than we'd want our water temps to rise). I would be interested to see how much it helps being vertical with extremely low speed fans (ie, barely moving air).

Brians256 · 01-12-2006, 06:20 PM

TY. Wasn't thinking that it would be significant, but don't have the background to know if a rad that is 10C hotter (a large number) than ambient air would add much impetus to the air being moved through it.

BillA · 01-12-2006, 06:31 PM

if the fins are parallel to the flow (which they have to be), the rad is too thin to create a chimney effect

12-30-2005, 02:48 PM	#1
Shrane0 Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: US Posts: 2	Radiator Placement Being my first post, I would like to thank everyone here. I have read a few threads that have really helped me grasp water cooling. Now on to my question. My case is fairly limited on space, and I have been trying to figure out where I should place my radiator. I have seen quite a few cases being sold with the radiator mounted behind the case's exhaust fan, with two more fans on the opposite side. Like this Gigabyte Aurora, using a push pull thing for their radiator... Does this work? Is blowing case air on the rad, followed by two more fans pulling it out enough to keep the rad cool, or will it noticeably heat up?

12-30-2005, 03:48 PM	#2
nikhsub1 c00ling p00n Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: L.A. Posts: 758	Re: Radiator Placement I don't like to use case air to cool the rad... if I had to set up my machine like the pic above, I would have the fans on the rad blowing INTO the case. __________________ :-.,_,.-:'``':-.,_,.-:'``':-.,_,.-:'``':-.,_,.-:'``':-.,_,.-: E6700 @ 3.65Ghz / P5W DH Deluxe / 2GB 667 TeamGroup / 1900XTX PC Power & Cooling Turbo 510 Deluxe Mountain Mods U2-UFO Cube Storm G5 --> MP-01 --> PA 120.3 --> 2x DDC Ultras in Series --> Custom Clear Res "Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity." 1,223,460+ Ghz Folding@Home aNonForums :-.,_,.-:'``':-.,_,.-:'``':-.,_,.-:'``':-.,_,.-:'``':-.,_,.-:

12-31-2005, 02:20 AM	#3
Shrane0 Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: US Posts: 2	Re: Radiator Placement Blow fan through the radiator into the case? I'm not sure that would be the best idea being that the air would be trapped... Blow warm air on the rad or in the case seem to be my options right now. Posted a thread on Extremeforums as well, more opinions the better I suppose. Thanks nikhsub1, you'll probably see the second one over there too.

01-12-2006, 09:21 AM	#4
msv Cooling Savant Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 336	Re: Radiator Placement There is only 1 water block in the pic, so the air in the case will be heated by graphic adapter, chipset, hard disks... OK, just looking at the watts emitted the GPU will be the big heater. Another topic on using case air is how much of that will be available. A negative preassure in the case will of course result in less air going through the rad, not good for cooling. But, yes, You don´t have so many choises with that case, unless You use You metal cutting tools really generously. regards Mikael S. __________________ The only constant factor in all Your failures is You. Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnen mihi habis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.

01-12-2006, 09:47 AM	#5
gmat Thermophile Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: France Posts: 1,221	Re: Radiator Placement you already have a radiator ? This case presents a nice spot (bottom front) for a heatercore.

01-12-2006, 10:05 AM	#6
BillA CoolingWorks Tech Guy Formerly "Unregistered" Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Posts: 2,371.493,106 Posts: 4,440	Re: Radiator Placement put the rad on standoffs, and manage the case airflow independently drop the push-pull

01-12-2006, 12:09 PM	#8
BillA CoolingWorks Tech Guy Formerly "Unregistered" Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Posts: 2,371.493,106 Posts: 4,440	Re: Radiator Placement no, doubt significant

01-12-2006, 06:20 PM	#10
Brians256 Pro/Staff Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Klamath Falls, OR Posts: 1,439	Re: Radiator Placement TY. Wasn't thinking that it would be significant, but don't have the background to know if a rad that is 10C hotter (a large number) than ambient air would add much impetus to the air being moved through it.

01-12-2006, 06:31 PM	#11
BillA CoolingWorks Tech Guy Formerly "Unregistered" Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Posts: 2,371.493,106 Posts: 4,440	Re: Radiator Placement if the fins are parallel to the flow (which they have to be), the rad is too thin to create a chimney effect

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)