need RAD advice::: 2 EK CoolStream RAD XT or ________ ?

[Vinas]

Hi all, today you get to help me shape my loop in terms of which rad(s) I will use. :up:

I got approval from my parental advisor *aka the wife* :yepp: to go ahead and upgrade my loop. I've been looking at several radiators but TBH I've been using this old heatercore for so many years I don't know for sure what the best 120.2 rad is anymore.

Price point is negotiable, but I'm looking for the best price/performance ratio. I can fit two 120.2 rads in my mozart case, so long as the fans mount flush on the edge of the rad. Unfortunately two dd GTS240s won't work because they are too wide. :rolleyes:

Currently setup is a 120.2 bonnie heatercore and a dangerden 240GTS in series... I use an iwaki pump that does 480GPH @ 13' head. The CPU is a i7 860 @ 4GHz because I'm pushing 80C on prime and linx. CPU wb is the Apogee XT.

I'm planning reuse my 240GTS later on since I can't fit two in here. At least not flush on the back of the case so... On to the fun part! :D


My main choices are:
(posting ppcs link for convenience, may buy from another vedor)

Single feser 240mm (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_669&products_id=23557&zenid=97c16bf21d3f33c8e9e64ad4096e08b0) <-- i've never used feser before, are they THAT good?

TWO EK-CoolStream Rad XT's (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_668&products_id=26776) <--- leaning toward this option

Two XSPC RS240's (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_671&products_id=25388) <--- more expensive than the EK, is it worth it?

I thought about the HW labs/dd GTX Gen Two Xtreme 240 (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_200&products_id=20983), but they will not fit because the edge is beveled, making the rad too wide. The edge of the fans must touch like the picture suggests.


The Rads will be internal, but hopefully you can see how they will mount in my picture below. Thanks guys/gals! Your input is truly appreciated (yes even you NaeKuh)!


http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk127/vinas_photo/mozart_tx-3_rad_placement.jpg

[sniperbob]

I'd love to see a straight answer for this too, as I'm also searching for a good 2.120 radiator that isn't Humongous (as far as 2.120 rads go lol). Looking forward to an answer.

[Kadett]

If you dont want big radiators and still want to use low/mid range rpm fans Swiftech rads are the only solution. 34mm thick and price/performance the best to get.

[Vinas]

Thick is okay, its just the width near the edges... I forgot to mention that I have 25mm deltas to use with these!

[Nickel020]

For Deltas the optimal rad choice would be Black Ice GTX. Here in Germany we've got Black Ice GTX "lite" rads, which are a narrower version of the GTX. They are 120mm, same exact width as a fan:
http://www.aquatuning.de/product_info.php/info/p3147_Black-ICE-Radiator-GT-Xtreme-240---lite---black.html?refID=geizhals

Most Koolance rads also have a very narrow fin spacing making them great with high speed fans:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=59_457_667_673

[Waterlogged]

If I were you, I would concentrate my search on rads that are as close to 120mm wide as possible. I've seen a few Mozart builds and the biggest problem with all of them was mounting 2 240 rad there without modification. You mentioned the XSPC RS240 (although your link goes to an RX240 which is 125mm) which would probably be your best bet as it 121mm wide. With a little luck, you won't need to do any modding but even if you do, all it should take is a minor enlarging of the screw holes.

There is also the thin Magicool rads (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_670&products_id=21116) that are 120mm wide as well.

[Kadett]

From looking at interior pics of the Mozart, there is room to fit any 240 radiator 2x as long as you can move the mounting holes further apart.
So why not fix the problem yourself. Cut out the entire area where the 2 radiators need to go with enough 'flesh' on the outer sides to screw/pop ribbit a panel. Make a custom rear radiator panel from alu/steel with enough room between eachother so radiator fit snugly next to one another. That way it doesn't matter which radiator you need and you can choose the right radiator for your fans.

[Vinas]

Thanks guys. Those are some really good suggestions that frankly, I was unable to think of!

I didn't know about the magicool or the black ice "lite" rads. Also the XSPC RS240 looks like a good choice. Decisions decisions!


Edit: I decided to go with the Magicool Extreme Slim Profile 2X120mm, just because it is exactly 120mm wide. Thanks again guys!

[Nickel020]

I would go with a Koolance for those Deltas, this one looks pretty much identical to the GTS Lite:
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_673&products_id=25440

An nice chart for you from HESmelaugh:
http://www.dexgo.com/graph/bild.php?id=798

Full results here:
http://www.dexgo.com/index.php?site=artikel/view.php&id=355&rubrik=Hardware&seite=5

[Vinas]

I don't mind the Koolance, but I was worried about mixed metals. Is that even a problem with their products anymore?

[Nickel020]

Materials: Copper Fins, Brass Pipes

Check the link! ;)

[drbhatti]

I have a mozart TX and it is definately possible to fit in two PA120.2s in the back. Both are mounted horizontally. The bottom rad lines up the scews holes of one of the 120mm fans, and that is more than sufficient to keep it up there. The second rad just uses the spaces between the grill at the top - and I have managed to get two screws into it. Perfect fit, no modding required.........Things are quite tight on the insides though.

[Boulard83]

The PA120.2 are great rad. You cant go wrong.

The TFC 240 is an excellent choise but need higher flow/pressure ( noise ).

[Vinas]

Thanks guys! I ended up purchasing the magicools because the price was right at $55 per rad and I knew they would fit. That's pretty awesome that the PA 120.2 will fit too! If the PA120.2 fits and is 128mm wide, then in theory other rads should fit too. The Mozart really is a great case for W/C.

I'm hoping that two Magicools will be enough to tame my searingly hot i7 860 @ 4GHz under prime. Goal is to have less than 80c max with 23c ambient.


Now that the rads are out of the way, time for another question! I have an extra dangerden (hwlabs) GTS240 rad that I was gonna use to cool my 5870 FC wb.


Should I:

A) Keep the 5870 on a separate loop? I have a XSPC res/pump single 5.25 bay combo I could use with this. Order would be: xspc res/pump combo --> dd GTS240 --> EK full cover block

B) Now that I have the two magicools on the way and a strong iwaki 480GPH pump, should I plumb the dangerden GTS240 and EK fullcover in the same loop? pump --> magicool 1 --> magicool 2 --> CPU --> dd GTS240 --> 5870 EK fullcover --> T line

Any thoughts on all this?

[SkItZo]

Believe it or not, but i purchased myself the exact same case as you not long ago for a file server/htpc/gaming machine. I personally plan on going with 2x RX240's (For silence's sake), 2 MCP655's on a EK Dual Loop top, EK Supreme HF 2 EK res' a EK 5870 FC block and a stack of BP fittings. Its gunna be my BPEK baby :D
As far as splitting the loops, i would personally split the loops up, here is how i would do it:
iwaki > Magicool 1 > GTS240 > i7 > t-line
xspc res/pump > Magicool 2 > 5870 > t-line
Reason being that the 5870 is actually a rather cool running chip (several reports of getting 1ghz on the core on air), the i7, is not.

[drbhatti]

ill be honest..the only good thing about the mozart tx is ability to have 2 120.2 rads inside it. It is a VERY shallow case, and the way I have it is to have the rad barbs pointing out at the extreme right of the case (above the PSU), then tubing connecting the two, and one down to pump, and one back from my gfx card. It is quite tricky to work with.

[SkItZo]

It is actually not that amazing when you consider that you can have a 120x3 + a 120x2 in several cases.
The thing i like about this case is the fact that it can be modded to hold more hdds quite easily.
Its only tricky to work with if you let it be ;)