junkyard00000

This thread compares the most used blocks. It has comparisons for performance as well as flowrates (which indicate how restrictive a block is).

High restriction blocks can and do perform well if they are designed properly, but are not a good choice with a multi-block setup, as flow is bogged down a lot.

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Dark.Wolf

Ahh I see. Thank you junkyard. So my next question is, I want to cool more than one thing in my setup, with the information presented to me, I would want blocks with more flow and a pump with more flow?

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junkyard00000

Essentially, yes. There are a few other factors though.

Obviously, you need to consider the performance of a block as well as its flow. Enzotech's Sapphire is one of the better performing blocks, and is also among the highest in regards to flowrate, so that can be an easy choice for a multi-block loop (its price is also fantastic).

Also, in regards to pumps, you have to take into account a factor called "head pressure." A pump's head pressure rating refers to how far vertically the pump can supply coolant. The higher up your components reach, the more head pressure there needs to be. For most setups inside a case, this is a minor factor, as most pumps supply ample head pressure to reach all the components.

The two most commonly used pumps are the D5 and DDC, by Liang. They can go by other names, as some companies (swiftech and koolance) buy the pumps and re-brand them. Stock, the D5 has a higher flowrate, while the DDC has higher head pressure. However, the DDC has many performance-improving aftermarket tops and accessories. Several tops allow multiple DDC's to be hooked up together in series, which essentially doubles head pressure and also increases flow. The choice between these two pump models usually depends on aesthetics and cost, as you can get a DDC setup that rivals or surpasses that of a D5, but this would cost quite a bit more.

Also, something else to think about is your tubing route. The more tubing there is, the more restriction the loop as a whole will have. As a general rule, a short and direct route is preferable.

EDIT
After a certain point, as flow increases, the increase in performance will diminish. Most setups are comfortably within range, even with lower flow pumps, but I personally prefer a setup with more flow just because

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Dark.Wolf

Ok. So that leaves tubing/barbs and the radiator. I'm pretty sure I've got a hand on the barbs. Depending on if your block comes with barbs, most commonly bought barbs are 1/2" and I would most likely want 3/8" tubing with clamps. And to make the tubes fit easier, soak them in hit warm/hot water. Next, the rad. I've seen maybe pictures of other people's set ups and it seems to me like most rads look exactly the same. Could anyone please explain to me what to look for in a rad and the differences between them.

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junkyard00000

Is there a reason that you want 3/8 tubing instead of 1/2?

The main differences between commonly used rads are the number of fins per inch. The more fins per inch, the more resistance the rad has to airflow across it. A rad with less fins per inch is best suited for fans that have less cfm and static pressure. This is ideal for a silent setup, but with lower cooling performance. A rad with more fins per inch requires fans with higher static pressure. This will have better performance, but at the price of noise.

http://skinneelabs.com/
Scroll down on the left section to Radiators. In the first link, he compares overall performance, as well as prices.

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Dark.Wolf

I just figured 3/8 inch would be a better fit, and I could possibly not have to use clamps, as they kind of ruin the looks.

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junkyard00000

Fair enough. While you CAN go without clamps if you use 7/16 tube on 1/2 fittings, I would agree you are safer with 3/8. I have heard of a few cases of tubing splitting though, so try to make clean cuts when you cut your tubing (ragged edges are probably the cause of splitting)

3/8 will cut down on your flow a lot though. If you want a clean look, have you considered compression fittings with 1/2ID tubing? While they are not compatible with all components because they are wider than regular fittings, a rotary angle fittings (like a 45) easily solves this problem.

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Dark.Wolf

Ah yes, I have seen those before. I would actually prefer the look of those over just the tubing on the barb. To me, they look better, and make me feel safer. I'm still unclear about rads. The whole noise comparison to performance just makes me lost. Right now, I'm air cooling, and would like to move to watercooling for performance over the sound. I could careless of the sound. I went 7 months with a screeching fan/mobo (never figured it out since I replaced the fan twice). Aside from sound, what makes a rad superior to another?

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junkyard00000

To me at least, compression fittings do seem safer than straight tubing on larger fittings.

Hopefully I can explain this a little better

Basically, the rad has flat tubes that run down its length. This is where the water flows. On one half, water flows in one barb and goes down through the rad. It then takes a U turn and comes back up the other half, and comes out the other barb. In between these vertical tubes, you have horizontal fins, that act like the fins in an aircooling heatsink. The only difference is that here, you have water flowing through tubes instead of having heatpipes. Does this make sense? I attached a really crappy paint to illustrate this.

What makes a radiator superior over another is the amount of horizontal fins that are packed together. The more fins, the greater capacity to cool. But as a result, you would need more powerful fans. As you aren't concerned about noise, you would want a radiator with the most fins, combined with powerful fans to make the most use out of it.

Keep in mind that the more powerful radiators will also cost more.

Does that clear things up a little better?

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junkyard00000

The file didn't stay attached... Heres another go at it.

EDIT
http://www.skinneelabs.com/Radiators...-SR1_wGTX1.jpg
This is a good picture to illustrate the amount of fins in a radiator. The upper one has more fins (small holes between fins), the lower one has less (larger holes).

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Looking for WC components? PerformancePcs Jabtech Sidewinders Petras FrozenCpu
Here is a comparison of most current cpu blocks.


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