[XSPC] New AX 120mm Series Radiators - Page 3

FPI anyone?

Heh, yeah...half the thickness and double the price.

16 split-fins per inch, so ~32 fins in one inch between tubes; the EX is 19 split-fins per inch, thus 38 fins in one inch between tubes. Essentially, the AX seems to be offering more surface area by increasing the thickness by 4mm and slightly reducing the fin density, which allows it to compete with the RX better at equivalent speeds, while the EX (despite what XSPC may say) really does need higher speeds to stretch its legs.


EDIT: I don't trust a review with so many high fin density rads, i.e. high fan speed rads, that doesn't test anything beyond 1250rpm.... That's kinda pathetic tbh, and gives only a very incomplete picture of the different performance profiles of the rads; Martin's (and Skinee's) testing methodology is FAR superior, as they ran the fans up to 3,000rpm which allows you to see how well a given radiator scales, what it's "sweet spot" between noise/performance is, and weed-out radiators that lack upper end "oomph" if that is what you want. These reviews offer NONE of that.

I will away SkinneeLabs or BundyMania reviews, as I don't trust any other site/reviewer to be completely impartial nor to have an absolutely impeccable and perfectly repeatable testing methodology.
(Kinda sad that there are only THREE PEOPLE who do a good job testing and comparing radiators... isn't it? And because of reasons that I don't know, it's down to two as far as I know. If the manufacturers were willing to send me rads/etc, I would be more than willing to do my absolute best to continue testing equipment in the shadow of THE Legend himself, Martin, so maybe I'll look into that. Until then, thank you Bundy for your awesome reviews)
Edited by nleksan - 9/13/12 at 3:59pm

Thank you sir. I don't see this replacing the SR-1 for quiet (<1000rpm fans) watercooling then. Damn.

In their forum, they said they never test anything higher than 1250rpm because they believe the whole spirit of watercooling is to have a quieter system than with air cooling. I don't agree because if I leave my PC folding at night then I'd rather have lower temps since I'm not in the room anyway and so the fan speed wouldn't bother me.

The brand just offers such great price performance it's great !! All my Fitton three dads and two blocks are xspc and they are fultless, not perfect but at the price I don consider it a fult, for a 100 bucks au dollars u can have a ex360 + expc brand fans and some barbs, that's a steal when other brands are a 100 bucks for just the rad,

This is exactly what I was wondering, how the SR1 and AX series compare.

I bought two 480 SR1 rads for quiet watercooling and these XSPC AX rads interested me...

What makes you say they are not as good as the SR1? And by how much? Are they louder?

One one hand, I really like that you can get good performance from a thinner rad like the XSPC AX, but I am getting a Case Labs Merlin Case, so I wonder if I even have to worry about rad space at all from a case that is so built for thick rads. I also like the removable core for rad case painting and easy cleaning. Not to mention this design looks pretty cool.

On the other, the SR1 seemingly earned a spot as one of the best silent rads and has a rep for build quality, so that is why I bought it. And I suppose it lines up better than the AX series for my silence goals.

Anybody think I should be jealous? Switch up my rads? I am really warming up to XSPC as a brand.

One aside thought, I wonder if the Chrome Plating on the AX rad inlets/outlets is really worth the risk of mixing two metals that are touching... Kind of like the Raystorm Chrome Edition... It looks so sexy and I want it, but I wonder if the chrome plating will hold up to corrosion. One imperfection in the plating process, and you have metals that COULD eat each other.
Edited by Neo Zuko - 9/14/12 at 5:47am

its me or ams-360 is out of it league? looked at the graph , I dont know anything about wc , i have a H100

Chrome and copper are both on the cathodic end of the scale. It's aluminium, steel and zinc which are more anodic and cause galvanisation with copper. Unless you put salt water in your loop there's no problem here

Good to know, I really like that chrome raystorm, I shall buy it!!