Reservoirs

[bobisgod]

What is the purpose of a big reservoir? Do they keep the liquid cooler or what?

[liguhy]

Assuming you're using a smooth-sided reservoir (like 95% of them all), size does nothing except help the filling process go more smoothly and quickly. Some people like reservoirs for asethetic reasons however ,and light them up or have fancy reservoirs and/or holders.

[DarthBeavis]

the length of a reservoir is not as important as its girth

[bobisgod]

@liguhy
What do you mean my smooth-sided
@DarthBeavis
What does the girth of the reservoir determine?

[liguhy]

smooth sided: simple cylinder with a smooth inside and outside.
Ex: nearly all reservoirs
http://images.x2tek.co.uk/product_images/main/RES2_rev1.jpg

not smooth sided: fins inside and/or outside to create a heatsink effect, transferring heat from liquid inside container to container itself, and then away from container via passive cooling or asssisted by air.
Ex: Zalman Reserator or XPSC Passive
http://www.3dvelocity.com/reviews/reserator/Zalman%20Reservator1_files/image045.jpg http://www.aquacooledpc.co.uk/images/XSPC/PAR500D_01.jpg http://www.million-dollar-pc.com/gallery-2008/lian-li/a01/lian-li-a01-14.jpg

[DarthBeavis]

@liguhy
What do you mean my smooth-sided
@DarthBeavis
What does the girth of the reservoir determine?

satisfaction level - at least that is what I have heard

[StAndrew]

satisfaction level - at least that is what I have heard

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Leave it to you to make my day :D

[Soulwind]

Gotta love DB :)

To answer your question Bob. Your water is in a closed loop and (as long as we're talking normal in-case res and not those funky heat-exchanger res's [which I doubt actually work all that well and are usually made of AL anyway]) are aren't going to have any effect on temps. They are really only of use in doing a couple of things:

1) Makes filling and bleeding of your loop much easier than a t-line.
2) Gives you a buffer-zone of water against evaporation (tubes are slightly porus and some evaporation over time does occur).
3) Looks pretty.

[NKrader]

satisfaction level - at least that is what I have heard

you know its how you use it.. not the size.. :up:



+1+1 to waterlogged statement below!!

[Waterlogged]

Need to add a disclaimer here.

DO NOT USE THESE! They are made from eviluminum.

http://www.3dvelocity.com/reviews/reserator/Zalman%20Reservator1_files/image045.jpg http://www.aquacooledpc.co.uk/images/XSPC/PAR500D_01.jpg

...and these are actually "radiators" (I use that word very loosely as they don't radiate too well ;)).

http://www.million-dollar-pc.com/gallery-2008/lian-li/a01/lian-li-a01-14.jpg

[bobisgod]

Thanks everybody for the great and clear answers. It was really helpful.

[Jamestuk]

If you took it to the extreme you'd see water temperature taking longer to reach maximum resulting in components taking longer to heat up, but this might only be useful if you had a giant reservoir outside in the snow or something I doubt there's much difference in conventional set ups. Useful comment is useful :P.