DDC3.2 Pump Top Shootout! 10 tops tested..

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Originally Posted by Jupiler

Thanks for sharing the results Martin. :up:

About the XSPC res top :

In your conclusion, you stated that you had problems sealing the reservoir and you used the XSPC barbs.
Does this mean that someone would have the same problem if they used EK or DD barbs?
Or would using a bigger O-ring solve this?
Does this apply to the XSPC Laing DDC Top too?

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My particular issue was the actual "Cap", the little black plastic cap threading wasn't sealing right for me. This was probably only an issue for me because I also had a big test reservoir feeding the reservoir, so my loop had two openings and because this one wasn't sealing for me static water pressure from the taller reservoir was pushing a drop of water out of the cap when tilted over. The issue with mine I think is hopefully just a fluke, but the acrylic threads weren't deep enough to prevent the cap plastic threading to have enough strength. In a real water cooling loop, having the reservoir cap perfectly sealed isn't that critical if its upright. My own system I don't leave this sealed perfectly because I like a little venting capability. It seems like the system warming and cooling down does enough expansion and contraction to where a little opening to the atmosphere is probably good.

Anyhow, my sample was previously tested, so it's possible I just had a slightly damaged thread from the previous user.

The barb threads and everything else was fine, just the little sealing issue on the res cap.

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Originally Posted by Vargher Warg

Thanks for the great work and an interesting reed! :clap: :up:

I would love to some results from a testing with the Laing 3.1 10w

While you could find tests on the internet done with the Laing 3.2 18w
It's almost impossible to find tests done with the weaker Laing 3.1 10w

The results I'd be most interested in, would be the results between the
'Alphacool top' and the 'XSPC top'

I'm really interested to know how XSPC top hold's up with the Laing 10w

And do you think that the Alphacool top would do a little better
against the rest of the tops with the Laing 3.1 /1-T 10w

Not only I bought the the inferior Laing pump! I also choosed the worst top! :ROTF:

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I think one of my DDC2's is actually a DDC1, but that's probably going to be a little different result.

I could test a DDC3.1 if I had one, but I don't. I could probably undervolt my DDC3.2 to simulate a 3.1 though...hmmm

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Originally Posted by Waterlogged

Awesome work yet again Martin. :up:

I have a question about the Koolance notes though. You say

By "center inlet", am I correct in guessing that you mean over the rotor? Also, what exactly does "large step loss in dual outlet" mean? I already have one of these tops and I may need to put it on a 3.1 and into a shiates & giggles aluminum loop I'm building if my CSP-mag ever goes bad.


Just noticed you misspelled "dual" in the above.

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Yes, I only tested the Koolance top and the DD top with the inlet barb centered over the rotor to eliminate the 90 degree bend. Reintroducing the 90 degree bend on the inlet by using the side inlets can be seen by looking at the alphacool regular top to reservoir top results. It would give you a little boost in pressure for extremely restrictive systems, but it would also hurt flow quite a bit and do much worse for average to low restriciton systems.

The large step loss I mean is the Koolance top outlet threading hole. It intersects the normal outlet and creats a pretty sharp and big cavity that likely adds some loss there. Koolance used pretty big ports so when they created dual inlet and dual outlet options, it creates some added restriction. Pumps for some reason are even more sensetive to little restrictions than other parts of the loop.

Fixed the dual, thanks!

All of the tops did really well, I consider them all a very very good improvement over the stock pump top...:clap:

For the love of everything that is holy, STICKY!!!!! Thanks Martin, you are an animal!

Awesome Write up! Great for new WC enthusiast like me! very easy to understand and straight forward! Please Sticky!

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Originally Posted by Martinm210

I think one of my DDC2's is actually a DDC1, but that's probably going to be a little different result.

I could test a DDC3.1 if I had one, but I don't. I could probably undervolt my DDC3.2 to simulate a 3.1 though...hmmm

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Pretty please! :cheer: :eleph: :cheer:

I know that a lot of people are interested in having a more silent H2O system
and you would be doing us a great favor, and I know the results would
be much appreciated for a silent freak as myself!

So don't feel any pressure! ;) but the results would be hailed as a holy script
by the 'silent community' for years to come! :D

Thanks again for the great efforts you make for the WC community! :up: :clap:

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Originally Posted by NaeKuh

well my idea was a Tline. Use one end to bleed the res, the other as a return and use the top as a return. :up:

oh wait.. martin that tube works??? Your kidding me right? on the XSPC res top? OMG SilverTygon tubing in EK res anyone?

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Hey Naekuh,

Just a tip. Look at the Alphacool Melvin pipe for their Cape Bullseye reservoir. I think it would even look better.

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Originally Posted by virtualrain

It's also interesting to note that the (once/still?) highly revered Petra top is just middle of the pack now.

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Considering that I haven't made any substantial changes to the design in well over a year, it's not all that surprising. We'll see how long that lasts, though... ;)

Anyway, great job Martin! :)

I see an evil twinkle in Alex's eye... :P

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Originally Posted by Martinm210

The large step loss I mean is the Koolance top outlet threading hole. It intersects the normal outlet and creats a pretty sharp and big cavity that likely adds some loss there. Koolance used pretty big ports so when they created dual inlet and dual outlet options, it creates some added restriction. Pumps for some reason are even more sensetive to little restrictions than other parts of the loop.

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That's kind of what I thought you were talking about, but wanted to make sure. Thanks again for your time and for the review. :up:

grat job Martin:up:

what can you tell me about oclabs xptop? i'm trying to know the real power of this top compare to the others:)

Great info! :clap:

Excellent work Martin! :thumbsup:

The last week or so I've been searching for these comparisons only to find one or two compared here or there. This is great info.

Cheers
GAM

dayum!
if i had seen this before, i'd have ordered an xspc top instead... to see how well it performs :P

nice work with this highly anticipated test :up:

Great work! I love that XSPC res. Been thinking about getting it when I go SLI.

Excellent work as always Martin. :clap: :clap:

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Originally Posted by Petra

Considering that I haven't made any substantial changes to the design in well over a year, it's not all that surprising. We'll see how long that lasts, though... ;)

Anyway, great job Martin! :)

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Cant wait Petra!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vargher Warg

Pretty please! :cheer: :eleph: :cheer:

I know that a lot of people are interested in having a more silent H2O system
and you would be doing us a great favor, and I know the results would
be much appreciated for a silent freak as myself!

So don't feel any pressure! ;) but the results would be hailed as a holy script
by the 'silent community' for years to come! :D

Thanks again for the great efforts you make for the WC community! :up: :clap:

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I'll see what I can do about simulating with a DDC 3.1. I think somewhere around 10V will be close, I'll compare a stock undervolted curve to a DDC3.1 curve and tweak voltage until it's close. I already get enough wierd looks from my wife about all my testing stuff. Kind of hard to explain buying another pump when I've got three D5, a DDC3.2, a DDC2, and a DDC1 lying around.

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Originally Posted by Petra

We'll see how long that lasts, though... ;)

Anyway, great job Martin! :)

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Whoohoo! I'm seeing the bar raised another notch already and in Delrin style!!:up:

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Originally Posted by Martinm210

I'll see what I can do about simulating with a DDC 3.1.

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The DDC-3.1 and 3.2 are the same pump, really--just mod your 3.2 to be able to switch back and fourth (yes, it really is that simple). PM me if you want me to dig up the mod.

don't you just have to add a bigger solder blob to ddc 3.1 to turn it into a ddc 3.2?

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Originally Posted by Boogerlad

don't you just have to add a bigger solder blob to ddc 3.1 to turn it into a ddc 3.2?

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Yes, you're just bridging two solder pads to turn the 3.1 into a 3.2 (and breaking the connection to go backward). To make the pump easily interchangeable, simply rig up a switch to open and close the connection between the pads.

Ahh...I see it now. That's easy. I heard about that with the older pumps, I just didn't think they are still doing it. Thanks!!

I see both my old orange impeller DDC2 and black impeller DDC2 both are not bridged, so I'm wondering if they are both the 10watt versions...
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/219...pellersks1.jpg

the black impeller and orange impeller pumps you cannot switch back and forth, they are two separate pumps with different electronics.

The blue impellered pump is either 10W or 18W depending on whether the bridge is there, they both use the same circuitry otherwise. That one you can switch back and forth.

And BTW, the black impellered one is a 9W, orange is 18W. 10W is only for the blue impeller pump in the non-bridged connection mode, bridged is 18W.

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Originally Posted by SparkyJJO

the black impeller and orange impeller pumps you cannot switch back and forth, they are two separate pumps with different electronics.

The blue impellered pump is either 10W or 18W depending on whether the bridge is there, they both use the same circuitry otherwise. That one you can switch back and forth.

And BTW, the black impellered one is a 9W, orange is 18W. 10W is only for the blue impeller pump in the non-bridged connection mode, bridged is 18W.

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Ok, thanks!
This is what they look like on the back side. The orange impeller also isn't bridged, but I can see it on the blue DDC3.2.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6...cmotorsxa0.jpg

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Originally Posted by Soulman84

grat job Martin:up:

what can you tell me about oclabs xptop? i'm trying to know the real power of this top compare to the others:)

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lol... i was thinkn about sending him this, however it was in use at the time when i loaned him my parts. :\

Its suposed to be a little lower then the XSPC, however its almost half the price. :T


Maybe if martin has time i'll pull the pump from the rig, and mail the top to him. Martin u down for 1 more test with this top?
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...a/IMG_0856.jpg

Great job on the review Martin :up: :up:

Lots of helpful info in that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Petra

Considering that I haven't made any substantial changes to the design in well over a year, it's not all that surprising. We'll see how long that lasts, though... ;)

Anyway, great job Martin! :)

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Cant wait to see it Petra :)

Where can one buy the resevoir XSPC in the states?