PA 120.1 loop position

[sswilson]

I'm pretty sure how I'm going to set up my new loop, but I want to throw it out to see if anybody can point out an error in my thinking.

In my Cosmos S case, I currently have a Swiftech MCR320 push/pull internal install which exhasts out of the case.

I've got a PA 120.1 in hand and intend to mount it (push/pull) at the bottom/front to take advantage of the fan intake there. This will be in the same loop as the MCR320.

Here's the question.... I'm thinking that since the MCR320 exhausts out of the case, and the PA 120.1 is going to draw fresh air in from the bottom and exhaust into the case that I'd be better off to have the 320 first in the loop to wick off as much heat as possible rather than having the thermochill exhaust it all into the case.

Any issues with that theory?

[Cptn Vortex]

Well....from most things I have heard, the loop order is not really that important. But to me, it sounds most effective to have the PA120.1 have the higher heatload first. That way, the intake air will have more effect on cooling it. It's not like the air coming out the other side of the RAD will be HOT. It is my guess it will be 2-3 degrees higher than the air coming in. I am definitely no expert, but I wouldnt worry about it too much.

[MpG]

As far as the final coolant temps are concerned, I'm pretty sure the math would work out almost identical, no matter which rad got the coolest air.

You've got a definite exhaust bias to your fans on that case, so I have to wonder what kind of an effect putting a radiator (even a fairly low-restriction one) on the intake will have. I suppose that as long as air can get into the case elsewhere, it shouldn't be too bad, but just a thought.

Edit: Completely forgot about that case's side fan intake. Go for it.

[CanadaRox]

I would say put the 320 first. If the 120.1 is first, the 320 will only be able to cool down the water to the temperature in the air, which will have been raised more significantly if the 120.1 has the larger heat load. And in the situation that the water temp is equal to (or just close) to the air leaving the 120.1, the 320 wont do anything if it is second, but if it is first, the water will already have been cooled when it reaches the 120.1, so they will both be working to cool the air. But that assumes that you have no other intakes, or even cracks/vents in your case, which is very unlikely.

Overall, I doubt the change in temperature will be more than a degree or two, but if it can easily be set up with the 120.1 second, thats what I would do.

[sswilson]

I'm hoping to install this tomorrow, and I'll be going with the original plan to try to wick most of the heat out with the MCR320 at top and then "clean" up a bit with the Thermochill.

I have to say that until you get one of these bad boys in your hand you don't quite get how much deeper they are than the swiftech MCR line. Just by looking at it I can understand why it would probably perform as well as a dual fan MCR.

Maybe I'm hoping for too much, but I'd be quite pleased if it gets me an extra 5C. :)

[MpG]

If you posted this elsewhere, I didn't catch it, but are your temps abnormally high with the triple?

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by MpG

If you posted this elsewhere, I didn't catch it, but are your temps abnormally high with the triple?

Nope, I'm still under 60C load temps, but my E8400 is taking a lot more Vcore than I like to get where I want it so I'm going to throw as much cooling as possible at it. Next step will probably be one of the new D-Tec blocks once I see some more #s on them.

I realise it's a bit of overkill, but I've wanted a 120 rad on that bottom fan mount as soon as I saw the layout of the case. :)

[MpG]

I was just curious, and was hoping you weren't looking for any miracles from the extra single, that's all. Once you've got enough rad, you start to really hit a point of diminishing returns. At that point, you're usually better off trying to improve the CPU -> Water delta.

You saw Martin's results, right? Looking pretty nice, IMO. Heck, I'm already running a Fusion, and I'm still kind of interested.

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by MpG

I was just curious, and was hoping you weren't looking for any miracles from the extra single, that's all. Once you've got enough rad, you start to really hit a point of diminishing returns. At that point, you're usually better off trying to improve the CPU -> Water delta.

You saw Martin's results, right? Looking pretty nice, IMO. Heck, I'm already running a Fusion, and I'm still kind of interested.

No I hadn't seen those yet. Thanks for the link.

4C difference between stock V1 and Stock V2? That's pretty damn good!!! :)

I'll be doing a bit more research this weekend on the difference between the Apogee GT and the V1, but if memory serves correctly there was already a few degrees celsius benefit to the original D-Tec over the Swiftech so I should see fairly significant gains by switching to the V2.

[sswilson]

Well..... had to scrap this idea alltogether. The PA 120.1 will not fit on the lower fan intake. It's close, but the drain screw at the bottom sticks out just enough to interfere with the side panel. I'm also not able to mount it on the back using a radbox as the rear of the Cosmos S has a lip which impinges on the fan mounting screws.

So now what???

I wonder if 2X PA 120.1 at opposite ends of the 3X top mount of the case would provide better cooling than the single MCR 120? That would leave the center fan mount up top as a true top exhaust.......

Thoughts????