360 Radiator Shootout Begins! « martinsliquidlab.org

My new focus for testing over the next few months is completing a 360 radiator shootout.  I’ve been in need of a break from the block testing and wanted to contribute something on my new site radiator specific. Rad Bench built…check.  A small tower of radiator samples to start working on…check…:)

And the contenders so far:

1. XSPC RS360
2. XSPC EX360
3. XSPC RX360
4. Swiftech MCR320 QP
5. Swiftech MCR320 XP
6. Hardware Labs GTX360
7. Hardware Labs SR1360
8. Alphacool Nexxxos Pro II Radiator Rev. 2
9. Alphacool Nexxos XT45 Full Copper 360
10. Alphacool Nexxos UT60 Full Copper 360
11. Phobia G-Changer 360

I may request more as I get closer to finishing this up, but that’s what I have on hand so far.  A special thanks to my many sponsors:

Danger Den sponsored the Hardware Labs GTX and SR1 radiators as well as the MC-TDX.

Aqua Computers sponsored the flow meter and the Aquaero 5 I plan to use for fan control.

Swiftech sponsored the MCR320 QP and XP radiators as well as the MCP-35X2 pump.

XSPC sponsored the XSPC RS360, EX360, and RX360 radiators

Aquatuning sponsored the Alphacool Pro II, XT45, XT60 and Phobia G-Changer 360 radiators.

This is going to take a while, but it should be good data when it’s all said and done.

At a minimum I plan to test from 500RPM to 2,200RPM in push & Push+Pull condition with the 35X2 at an average 40% power level.  Additionally I may do some sort of shroud and pumping power sensitivity type testing.  The fans are 25mm 9 blade Titans similar in blade shape to the Gentle Typhoons but with a bit more RPM range.  I decided to forgo multi fan type tested and opting for these as I think they will represent a good average CFM/RPM performance level to that of the typhoons and other higher blade density 25mm fans.

For heat load I am looking at adjusting the heat to several increments with the intent to target about a 10C delta +-.  This will mean testing 500RPM levels at 100Watts, 1400RPM at 200Watts, and 2200RPM levels at 300Watts plus pump heat.  The lines are all insulated and the fans in push are permanently fixed to the triple radiator push template.  I will be logging RPM to average out the RPM levels throughout the test and logging data so I can ensure stability and reasonably constant ambient levels.

If you have any particular requests, now is the time to ask..:)  Also if there is a particular radiator model not already listed, please suggest that too.  I have several others I’m interested in, but holding back on making additional requests until I get caught up a bit.  I’ve been considering Thermochill, Koolance, EK, AquaComputers, Magicool, Coolgate, etc. as possible others to add to the list.

Cheers!
Martin