Radiators: FPI vs. Thickness

[kemist]

Hey everyone

I was just wondering if any testing has been done to calculate which is more restrictive to air flow: FPI density or rad thickness. I'm assuming both must be taken into account but, for example, Ive been comparing the BIP's to the new swiftech rads and the FPI and Thickness are different for the two. The BIP's appeared to be ~17.5 FPI from their pictures while the Swiftech rad's appeared to be ~12.5-12 FPI. However, the BIP's are 1 inch thick while the Swiftech radi's are 1.3 inches thick. Overall which would be more restrictive to air? I was thinking that the high FPI BIP would be more restrictive than the swiftech but was wondering if anyone has verified this or not. Thanks for any info on this.

[MaxxxRacer]

they are both exponential curves.. which one is tighter... who knows..

I would venture a guess, about the same, but what units would u be refering too.. 1fpi for every icnh of thickness.. that wouldnt be good.. so its all a matter of perspective really.

[kemist]

they are both exponential curves.. which one is tighter... who knows..

I would venture a guess, about the same, but what units would u be refering too.. 1fpi for every icnh of thickness.. that wouldnt be good.. so its all a matter of perspective really.

Im not sure which units you are referring to either. Im thinking the swiftech is less restrictive due to this reasoning: 17.5 x 1 = 17.5 12 x 1.3 = 15.6 just a quick calc before i go to bed but the overall surface area should be less with the swiftech and hence less restrictive (which im assuming surface area causes restrictiveness due to friction with the air). I could be wrong though, i dont know a whole lot about air flow theory and this is just off the top of my head.

[Craig]

Im thinking the swiftech is less restrictive due to this reasoning: 17.5 x 1 = 17.5 12 x 1.3 = 15.6 just a quick calc before i go to bed but the overall surface area should be less with the swiftech and hence less restrictive

This is true only if the fins surface is the same. If the BIP fins are smooth & the Swifty's are corrigated for increased air turbulence and surface per fin......... More data needed.

I expect the Swifty to be very good when reviews are seen. This is only due to my faith in Bill Adams as the designer, not in facts I can offer you. Will be interested in seeing how the newest generation of rads of the same size from Thermochill & HWLabs + Swifty's new 120.2 rad compare to each other. I hope HWLabs release the new line of rads they are working on soon, Thermochill's should be showing up in retail within the next week.

[kemist]

Thats true about the fins, basically impossible to tell from the pics though.

The new rads should be interesting but they will probably also be very expensive. The thermochill will for a fact, mainly cuz they are made in the uk, but hwlabs will probably also. (Like how they gouged before the new swifty rads came out, then suddenly everything is half the price it used to be.)

[Marci]

This is where the battle lies between all the rad manufacturers. Thickness vs FPI. Separate camps taking separate sides as to which is better... Swiftech has testing data that they're holding onto for now it would appear. Expect data for most mass-produced-for-pc rads to start appearing towards end of novemeber I reckon...

[kemist]

Marci, i dont know if it would lower your costs very much if you did, but have you ever considered opening a production center in the US to lower your costs/prices here? Might not be feasible but just a thought. I can appreciate not wanting to do so if it would take jobs away from your UK factory, though.

[Marci]

If it was going to be done, it would be China, Romania or India... but it's just not an option unfortunately for various reasons... workforce loyalty in both directions is a big part of how we operate too. Just kinda goes against our business ethics.

[kemist]

If it was going to be done, it would be China, Romania or India... but it's just not an option unfortunately for various reasons... workforce loyalty in both directions is a big part of how we operate too. Just kinda goes against our business ethics.

I respect that. Thank you for your reply :)

[Marci]

It's actually a discussion that went on indepth not so long ago over at ProCooling - worth a read for the input from various manufacturers - gives a nice insight into the folks behind them etc - http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=12069&highlight=business+ethics

[kemist]

It's actually a discussion that went on indepth not so long ago over at ProCooling - worth a read for the input from various manufacturers - gives a nice insight into the folks behind them etc - http://forums.procooling.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=12069&highlight=business+ethics

I've actually read that thread before. Kinda what i was getting at about making a US production center was how thermochill in the UK lowered costs due to decreased shipping, having costs/salaries in US$ and not UK pounds, kinda what you say here:

"Back then also, the shipping costs escalated the price of the rads too much to import them into the UK unless bought in unrealistically large quantities - much the same problem that others are experiencing now with ThermoChill rads overseas..."

I think that thermochill has a great product and i would definitely like to buy it, but it costs over 2x as much as comparable products (as of right now and in the US, youve mentioned before that costs in the UK are similar to BIP/BIX etc.). Even if there was somewhat of a premium (say 20-30$) I think that people would be willing to buy it if it provided better performance and especially (in america for the american market) the people knew that it was produced in the USA.

I can understand that there are probably many reasons for not doing so, especially considering, as you said, it would be cheaper to open a new factory in somewhere like china.