Radiator vs. Heat Core, and how to mount

[Noxious020189]

Alright I'm getting a water cooling system (finnaly)...What I need to know is what is better a radiator or heat core...?

http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product_image.php?imageid=162
Heat Core

or...

http://www.dangerdenstore.com/images/radiators/BI/BIXII_black_100.jpg
Radiator

Items
Heat Core
The link to the heat core it's self can be found here (http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=48&cat=14&page=1), and if you don't want to look then it is made by Danger Den, and it is "Double Heater Core with Fittings".

Radiator
The link to the radiator it's self can be found here (http://www.dangerdenstore.com/product.php?productid=162&cat=72&page=1), and if you don't want to look then it is also made by Danger Den, and it is "Black Ice Pro II Radiator".

I hear that the Heat Core is better cooling for a better price, but no matter the face I have no clue how to mount both items onto the the case inside. I want it to look like this (with olny two fans, and the holes will be circular not squared off.):
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=37161&stc=1

So what I'm asking is how do I mount a heat core/radiator, and do I need a shrowed and if so where can I find one for dual? (I know I never mentiond the shrowed)

The last thing is that it will be mounted in a CHEMING 901AD-BLACK case...
http://images10.newegg.com/ProductImageCompressAll125/11-125-468-10.jpg

[carmelo]

Mounting a heatercore is a bit annoying from what I learned. Its very easy with the proper hardware. All you really need is a few washers, and something long and very skiny to slide through the heatcore fins. I was looking for long nylon bolts but co:banana::banana::banana::banana: find any, I found metal ones, but felt uneasy using them due to them grabbin some fins, I didnt want to end up damaging my heater core. As for the core it self I picked mine up at autozone for about 20 dollars, and soldered a piece on that allows me to have interchangable ends, depending on the hose size I use, so i dont have to keep cutting and soldering. For a shroud, your most likely best making one, I think DD sells one but I havent checked the specs out. In my temporary koolance build http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75832
I used zip ties to mount, and I do not have a shroud, but its also not my main cooling device so its alright in my case. Im sure if i had a shroud it would help a bit, but theres no room for a shroud in this build so i just gotta do without for now.

Theres a few topics going on rite now about the new radiators that are coming out that are supposed to be Teh Uber awesome it seems. I think one is what the Bix ? and another the PAx120 ? or some jazz im not sure I havent been fallowing them, but seen the links and checked them out every so often. They seem very cost effective, and it seems you get alot for your money. A rad, mounting system, and apperently great performance, and a greatly reduced cost compared to the last set of rads that were produced for the water cooling generation before. Sooo I would say read up a little more on those links, I think one is on this page and see if you want something with a mounting system thats easiy done, and still looks good, or something you have to do pretty much your self.

EDIT: Why did I get bananaed ?

[Noxious020189]

I don't think I'm going to be getting a shrowed because if I don't need one I don't care...The olny thing I want is a decent water cooling system that won't make much noise like aire, and will cool better than air. So in general any water cooling system will cool better than air and be quiter...Now as for the mounting how exactly did you mount with zip ties? (pictures would be nice) :)

[carmelo]

I don't think I'm going to be getting a shrowed because if I don't need one I don't care...The olny thing I want is a decent water cooling system that won't make much noise like aire, and will cool better than air. So in general any water cooling system will cool better than air and be quiter...Now as for the mounting how exactly did you mount with zip ties? (pictures would be nice) :)

I gave you a link above. That link will bring to another thread about how I put together my koolance hybrid. I think you should use a shroud, especially if you have room to, you will improve your performance. I dont need a shroud because Im running to rads in the same loop. When you click that link you'll see the limited amount of space I have and understand why Im not using one. But that link will show pics of the exact heatercore your talking about.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75832

[Cyco-Dude]

you can mount a heater core just like in the picture you linked nox. i used four 2 1/2" long bolts, washers, and acorn nuts to screw the core to the front of my chasis. get narrow bolts because you have to screw them through the fins of the heater core. you can use an awl to kind of push the fins apart to make more room for the bolt. sorry, i do not have pics of my setup at this time.

[carmelo]

Just a quick note, I found a company who sells nylon threaded rods. Next week I'll be buying a few of them next week. This is an alternative to running steel rods through and potentially pulling those fins.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/N2DRVSH?PMSECT=453

[Craig]

The olny thing I want is a decent water cooling system that won't make much noise like aire, and will cool better than air. :)


This is the heart of the matter, what his needs are of a loop.

For your use I'd say the Black Ice Pro is the better choice. Much lower noise than air with moderate to low noise fans & also lower noise than the heater core. But let me suggest a third option which I think would offer a bit more performance & perhaps even a bit lower noise to boot.

http://www.jab-tech.com/Swiftech-MCR-220-Radiator-Blue-pr-3071.html

This dual fan Swiftech rad is the one I'd buy if I were buying today. IMO it's the best out today for a good balance of performance and quiet, and also very affordable.

Thermochill has a new rad called the PA120.2 coming out in a week or a bit less, but will be more than double the price, it may edge the Swifty on performance if low noise/pressure fans are used (will beat the Black Ice for sure!), but bang for the buck goes to the Swifty for sure.

While any dual fan rad is going to require some case modding, the made for PC rads do make it easier to mount/locate than a core. They come with attachment points provided, no need to run anything through them, and they are more compact to.

[Noxious020189]

I already have 2 120 Panflo's that I love so I'm going to be getting a dual 120 ;) + I want to keep a GPU and CPU temps down so ya....