Looking for assistance in locating the appropriate radiator?
Looking for assistance in locating the appropriate radiator?
Hello everyone!
I'm planning to cool my gaming PC with water but I'm unsure which radiator to choose. I can only fit a 240mm model, but I don't know which one fits best. I'd rather not buy a very large one if it's not necessary. I'm building my own mini ITX case and want to keep it compact. What would be the ideal 240mm radiator? Should I go for a high FPI? A 60mm thickness? Or a 40mm one? This is my first water cooling project, so I need some advice...
Thanks!!
I would search for components in the 45-60mm thickness category. If space allows, a fan configuration that moves air would likely give you the most benefit with thicker radiators.
I typically purchase from Performance-PCs, though you might also find items on Amazon. Other platforms exist, but some (such as FrozenCPU) have closed or are uncertain about continuing operations. I tend to steer clear of browsing those sites now.
http://www.performance-pcs.com/radiators...2-x-120mm/?
What is being cooled within the loop? Which additional parts are you examining for the loop assembly? What performance improvement are you aiming for?
What components are you focusing on in the loop? Are there any other parts you're checking for the build? What temperature range are you aiming for?
We discussed this earlier in another thread.
40C on both... load? Are you referring to Prime95 or a bench test, or just gaming? Gaming doesn't strain your CPU as much as benching does. In either scenario, if it's the latter, I’d expect your room temperature to be extremely low when targeting 40C load. Even with my 6700k and GTX 770, I can see up to 55C and 45C at full load, running a 140mm + 240mm rad. Is 40C a limit for you? It feels quite high, especially with more radiators in a loop.
Also, the 40C readings are from your die sensor and aren’t always precise—they can vary based on your motherboard and BIOS settings. These readings don’t reflect your actual loop temperatures, so it’s important to focus on room temperature versus your coolant temps.
We discussed this topic in another thread yesterday. The conversation was about whether a 40C load is feasible, what kind of load it would be, and whether it applies to Prime95, benching, or gaming. Gaming typically puts less strain on the CPU compared to benching. Regardless, if you're aiming for a 40C load, your room temperature should be very low—especially if you're targeting that level. On my system with a 6700k and GTX 770, I've seen temperatures around 55C and 45C at full load, using a 140mm + 240mm rad. Is 40C a limit for you? It seems quite high, even with more radiators. Also, the 40C readings are from the die sensor and may not always match actual loop temperatures. They can vary based on your motherboard and BIOS settings. You should focus more on ambient room temperature versus loop coolant temps. I know you clarified this in the previous discussion. My goal is to find a radiator that can handle these parts and justify the cost. Should I consider an 80mm thick radiator with 30fpi or 60fpi? If so, where can I get one? And should I invest in it or stick with air cooling given the expense and limited temperature drop?
I would search for components in the 45-60mm thickness category. If space allows, a fan configuration that moves air would likely give you the most benefit with thicker radiators.
I typically purchase from Performance-PCs, though you might also find items on Amazon. Other platforms exist, but some (such as FrozenCPU) have closed or are uncertain about continuing... I tend to steer clear of browsing those sites now, to be honest.
http://www.performance-pcs.com/radiators...2-x-120mm/?