Mini Test Report: Detroit Thermo D5 Top

Detroit Thermo
Laing D5 Pump Top


First off, I would like to thank Erik (DetroitAC) at Detroit Thermo for providing a production sample of the D5 top for testing purposes. Erik was a pleasure to work with through the testing process and even sent a final production sample for updated photos to be included in the test report. A big thank you goes out for their generosity and the opportunity to test and review his creation.

For the full review, please visit skinnee labs



The Detroit Thermo D5 Top is custom top, designed and built by DetroitAC. A thread on XtremeSystems.org was started back in early September regarding DetroitAC's creation, since that time a lot of buzz has been growing around the use of D5 tops and the Detroit Thermo top. DetroitAC is regular contributing member on XtremeSystems and has been a pleasure to deal with through the testing process here at skinnee labs.

The Detroit Thermo top fits the Laing D5, which is re-branded by Swiftech (MCP655) and Koolance (PMP450). This top is a full replacement for the stock top that we all have become used to on the D5. Aftermarket tops have become standard for the Laing DDC series, but the D5 is new territory, and I am happy to see another aftermarket top enter the ring as a viable replacement to the stock top for the extremely popular D5.



http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/..._package-2.jpg


http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/...ermo_kit-2.jpg



http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/...mo_housing.jpg



http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/..._mountmech.jpg



Configuration Options


http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/..._std-mount.jpg


http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/...o_un-mount.jpg




Performance Test Results (compiled)

For the full test report of each D5 speed setting, you will have to visit skinnee labs. These are just the compiled results for each speed setting.


http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/...mo_5-Chart.jpg


http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/...mo_4-Chart.jpg


http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/...mo_3-Chart.jpg


http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/...mo_2-Chart.jpg


http://www.skinneelabs.com/Pumps/D5/...mo_1-Chart.jpg




Conclusion

The Detroit Thermo top provides a nice performance boost to the stock D5 top. If you notice in the scatter plots, the Detroit Thermo top provides a slight increase in flow rate over the stock top, all while increasing the Total Dynamic Head Pressure at almost every flow rate tested, only below 0.5GPM does the stock top outperform the Detroit Thermo top. However, that amount of restriction is not a "real world" loop. Anyone with that amount in their loop should really look at adding a second loop, as the cooling performance in their loop is greatly degraded...but that is completely different topic.

Besides performance, the feature that I like most about the Detroit Thermo top is the ability to use the stock D5 mounting bracket or other compatible brackets. This feature allows for anyone with an existing D5 mounted in their case to perform an upgrade and not have to worry about drilling new mount holes into their case.

I only have one very small complaint about the Detroit Thermo top, this was even adjusted in a revision that was sent to me. When using the (UN)Designs bracket the bottom gromet becomes compressed and slips out the bottom slightly, I am almost certain that this was not accounted for in the design of the top. Like I said, a very small complaint and cannot be listed as a con since the (UN)designs bracket was not used as part of the design criteria.

Overall, the Detroit Thermo top was a pleasure to have on the test bench. The performance gains are worth the upgrade, the simple installation and ability to use the stock or (UN)designs bracket make the Detroit Thermo top an excellent product.

Very nice!

Love the quality of your pictures! :up:

Good review. I have been waiting for a top, and waiting specifically for this review.

Just ordered one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aberration

Just ordered one.

---

Where do you order these????

http://cgi.ebay.com/DetroitAC-Pump-T...3286.m20.l1116

how did you achieve the nice white background?

personally I don't find that pump top very attractive, definitely not worth the extra 40$.

The Laing D5 and MCP655 are the same thing right?(i'm very sure they are.. Just making sure i don't sound like an idiot.)

I'd totally go ahead and pick up a pump top for my MCP655, but the problem is they just aren't very attractive. I love how the XSPC pump tops look ontop of a DDC pump, especially the integrated reservoirs. Half a GPM doesn't warrant an extra 40$, half a GPM + sexy looks warrants 40$ IMO...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aberration

http://cgi.ebay.com/DetroitAC-Pump-T...3286.m20.l1116

---

You can also PM DetroitAC or the For Sale section of XS, http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=206278

Nice review. Cant wait to get back home and install mine.:up:

I'm curious if a G3/8 tap would improve flow

Sorry if this is a silly question, but is it compatible with a D4?

Edit: Nevermind, who would spend $40 on a pump top for a $30 pump? :rofl:

Thanks for the review.

Good to see data which so closely matches my own--looks like we're both on the right track (either that, or we're both horribly wrong but identically so ;) ).

Great Review Skinee :up:
I would definitely buy 2 of them for my upcoming upgrade.

P.S.
Can you elaborate on your issue (complaint) with the UN-Design mount ? as I am already using it and about to use it again with my second D5.

Thanks. :clap:

It looks like it was designed to have something solid on both sides. My brackets are all made to hold the pump from one side so you would probably have to put a washer on the far side to make it rigid. That's what the problem looks like to me but perhaps skinnee has some more insight to add. I don't have one of these tops so I'm just guessing based on the picture.

Nice review Skinnee :up:

I have 3 of these available if yall are interested i will let them go for 30.00 shipped...Never used..I installed 1 on a pump but since they wouldnot let me put the Chrome shroud i wanted to use for my D5's i decided to not use them...So water has never touched these...2 have not even been taken out of the box..

Pm me if your interested

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gmod

I have 3 of these available if yall are interested i will let them go for 30.00 shipped...Never used..I installed 1 on a pump but since they wouldnot let me put the Chrome shroud i wanted to use for my D5's i decided to not use them...So water has never touched these...2 have not even been taken out of the box..

Pm me if your interested

---

Not exactly the right section, but they look great. Sweet testing too Skinnee, love it man!

Thanks for the review Skinnee! I appreciate your time and efforts! Now I might have to pick up a D5 and Detroit top to tinker with!

Nice review and that sure is a nice product.

Very nice results!
The top isent that pretty, but it sure does increase flow.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nate P.

Not exactly the right section, but they look great. Sweet testing too Skinnee, love it man!

---

thats because for some stupid reason i cant post in the for sale thread..So you have to do what you have to do

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Apollo4g

Very nice results!
The top isent that pretty, but it sure does increase flow.

---

It's also smaller than that wagon wheel, thus gives you a little more room.

Axis

Who cares about looks, this isnt XtremeBling.com!

Thanks for the kind words everyone, much appreciated! :up:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boogerlad

how did you achieve the nice white background?

---

I use a light tent (also known as a light box) for taking product shots.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Petra

Good to see data which so closely matches my own--looks like we're both on the right track (either that, or we're both horribly wrong but identically so ;) ).

---

I was very happy to see we were quite close to each other on performance data. What I did find interesting is that amp draw on the D5-B seems to be a bit higher than the D5 Vario at setting 4. So, I am speculating here but, there is a bit more difference to the Basic version than just locked at speed setting 4.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The-Fox

P.S.
Can you elaborate on your issue (complaint) with the UN-Design mount ? as I am already using it and about to use it again with my second D5.

Thanks. :clap:

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by armeniandave

It looks like it was designed to have something solid on both sides. My brackets are all made to hold the pump from one side so you would probably have to put a washer on the far side to make it rigid. That's what the problem looks like to me but perhaps skinnee has some more insight to add. I don't have one of these tops so I'm just guessing based on the picture.

---

armeniandave nailed it, if you put a small washer ( > 7/16" or 12mm) washer between the nut and the grommet, it completely remedies my tiny issue. With the washer, the grommet does not fully compress. Like I said, its a very small issue at that. I remounted the pump using the (UN)Designs bracket and two 7/16" nylon washers a couple minutes ago, grommet does not compress to the point of squeezing out the bottom. Problem solved! :up:

Looks like this top gives the Koolance one a thorough thrashing

Gotta say it is quite impressive.

Any chance of Petras selling these through their community showcase?

Very nice review!:up:

Were might I procure this. Pardon me if this has been asked already.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shoopdawoopa

Were might I procure this. Pardon me if this has been asked already.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gmod

I have 3 of these available if yall are interested i will let them go for 30.00 shipped...Never used..I installed 1 on a pump but since they wouldnot let me put the Chrome shroud i wanted to use for my D5's i decided to not use them...So water has never touched these...2 have not even been taken out of the box..

Pm me if your interested

---

:shakes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by shoopdawoopa

Were might I procure this. Pardon me if this has been asked already.

---

DetroitAC is a regular contributing member here and the maker of the top, PM him for details on procurement.

Thanks you!
Sorry I am so lazy =)

while performance is certainly increased using this top, it still doesn't make the d5 a logical choice over the mcp355+TOP

I like the addition of the isolation mounts. That's a nice touch. Everybody already knows I like Delrin. Looks very nice on the machine work too. Very smooth and no grooves. Looks like that thing kicks it up a notch. Especially at full performance speed. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SNiiPE_DoGG

while performance is certainly increased using this top, it still doesn't make the d5 a logical choice over the mcp355+TOP

---

Actually, I think you might want to look over the data on both of those two pumps with tops. With exception to the XSPC tops, the D5 with Detroit Thermo top is on par with the DCC3.2 + top grouping, its definitely right in the hunt for the average restriction range.

Who knows, we might see some comparison data on this very matter sometime in the future. :wasntme:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aspire.comptech

:shakes:

---

Wow we sure have a lot of wannabe's around here...

Finnaly a D5 top which you can mount on a (UN) Design bracket :D :up:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gmod

Wow we sure have a lot of wannabe's around here...

---

How does being frustrated with someone for being too lazy to scroll up and find the correct info make me a wannabe...

Great review Skinnee! I really like the Detroit AC top, especially the mounting ease compared to other D5 tops.

I picked one up along with some DD FatBoy barbs. We'll see how it does!

--Matt

Great review Skinnee! Your pictures put mine to shame:worship:

Are you still waiting for parts to test the EK and Typhoon?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DetroitAC

Great review Skinnee! Your pictures put mine to shame:worship:

Are you still waiting for parts to test the EK and Typhoon?

---

Haha, ty...feel free to use them DetroitAC.

I spoke with Eddy @ EK this morning, parts should be shipping out this week. I sent an email regarding the Typhoon, but have not heard back as of yet.

Cannot wait to try mine out....Come on stupid mail system! I like the fact of it having one inlet and outlet without having to resort to a stop plug that gets in the way of compression fittings. Plus being able to use the stock mount or a more stylish mount where the others you simply cannot. This top was well thought out and good review Skinnee! :up:

Awesome review, thanks for all the work and time in testing!

The photos and full curve data is perfect!!

The strong performance doesn't surprise me, it's really squeezing every last drop from the D5 with that sharp cutting edge and sprial shaped volute. Every last design element was all about performance, that's the way it ought to be..:D

I still have a sample here I never got around to testing. If someone else wants a go at putting some effort into testing this, let me know. I'll forward the sample on to you...
Thanks!
Martin

martin!!!

can i test it? i'll send it back..i'm just waiting for the fitting for my liquatec

:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Martinm210

Awesome review, thanks for all the work and time in testing!

The photos and full curve data is perfect!!

The strong performance doesn't surprise me, it's really squeezing every last drop from the D5 with that sharp cutting edge and sprial shaped volute. Every last design element was all about performance, that's the way it ought to be..:D

I still have a sample here I never got around to testing. If someone else wants a go at putting some effort into testing this, let me know. I'll forward the sample on to you...
Thanks!
Martin

---

Wouldn't have been possible without your assistance! Very much appreciated my friend! :up:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hondacity

martin!!!

can i test it? i'll send it back..i'm just waiting for the fitting for my liquatec

:D

---

You've got my email in a PM, send me your address and I'll ship it your way..:up:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skinnee

Wouldn't have been possible without your assistance! Very much appreciated my friend! :up:

---

I've been goofing off and playing on dirt bikes....

Great work on your part and DetroitAC for raising the bar for D5 top performance..:yepp:

i got your email thanks dude....i'll practice with open office right now...about those graphs..lol

great top!! fast shipping!! This is going to power my GPU loop.

Just Bought to two of these @ eBay yesterday and they are already shipped to me :D
Will be going to my CPU loop and GPU loop.

I enjoyed communicating back and forth with DetroitAC and shipping was always quick. (I'm a hop, skip and a jump away though).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skinnee

I enjoyed communicating back and forth with DetroitAC and shipping was always quick. (I'm a hop, skip and a jump away though).

---

Agreed. The package came promptly, and was packed very professionally. When I requested instructions (I know, picky picky...probably could have done it without them), he responded within an hour. I'll (hopefully) be installing mine tomorrow, but I haven't heard back on how likely it will be to re-use my existing o-ring yet. I don't have any CPU air cooling around, and don't want to be without a rig while I wait for a new ring to come. My pump is only about a month old, but I don't know if that necessarily means anything.

--Matt

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mattkosem

Agreed. The package came promptly, and was packed very professionally. When I requested instructions (I know, picky picky), he responded within an hour. I'll (hopefully) be installing mine tomorrow, but I haven't heard back on how likely it will be to re-use my existing o-ring yet. I don't have any CPU air cooling around, and don't want to be without a rig while I wait for a new ring to come. My pump is only about a month old, but I don't know if that necessarily means anything.

--Matt

---

I did not use the stock o-ring. If you look at the inside of the top, you should see a lubricated o-ring already seated in the o-ring cavity surrounding the spot where you place the motor and impeller.

Follow the installation instructions, and you're set!

Think this would A. Fit a D4, and B. be of any use?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skinnee

I did not use the stock o-ring. If you look at the inside of the top, you should see a lubricated o-ring already seated in the o-ring cavity surrounding the spot where you place the motor and impeller.

Follow the installation instructions, and you're set!

---

Ooooh, nice. I see it in there. I misunderstood what he meant by "If the stock O-ring is still stuck to the face of the motor, get rid of it."

Thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by [XC] Kayin

Think this would A. Fit a D4

---

It should, since the D4 and D5 are very similar (read: practically identical, aside from the motor... and maybe some small impeller differences).

Quote:

---

and B. be of any use?

---

Haven't had time to work up a curve for the D4 with Detroit top yet.

BTW, I got those pumps shipped out to you today (sorry for the delay)... I'll PM you a tracking number in a bit.

Just put my DtroitAC tops on today. Was easy as pie! Mmmm pie! But these things are fantastic and also a hidden bonus that I did not even think of was that I was able to get the two pumps even closer together since the rings were no longer in the way at the bottom of my build. So that was pretty sweet too! Thanks DetroitAC for these pump tops. Can't wait to play with them now when I go home. Just had enough time to get the tops on and leave for work. I think I am going to get some custom brackets made for this as well since it did not need as much clearance since it has no ring and could easily come down almost an inch.

I got my DetroitAC top in today as well. I don't yet have all of the air completely bled from my system, but my max Linpak temps are down 2C. The hotter (primary) core on the X2 is down 3C. My ambient is 1C higher than is typical too! I have to say, I wasn't really expecting to see more than 1C difference with this top. This loop must be more restrictive than I thought! I installed it on a MCP655-B along with DD FatBoy barbs. Just a note to anyone that might choose to use these barbs, you need to tighten them down until the flares are flush with the body of the pump head. I tightened mine to snug initially, and found that it wasn't sufficient. It may not hurt to get some thicker o-rings for the barbs if you get nervous about things like that. The install was a breeze, took no more than 30 minutes to remove the pump from the loop, swap the top, and get it back in for bleeding. It's been in and running for 2 hours now, no signs of leakage!

Thank you DetroitAC! Wonderful product!

--Matt

My GPUs and CPU are now closer temperatures at idle. I'm seeing 24/23C on the GPUs and 24 on the CPU at idle. I was previously seeing 26/24 on the GPUs and 26C on the CPU at idle. All examples with an ambient of 22C.

--Matt

I got my top today, all I can say is WOW, the size is small as Sadasius mentioned above! I have not yet tested this top, but I am very happy with the quality and looks, not having to use the stupid ring to tighten the top to the pump is a great idea! DetroitAC has done an amazing job!! ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mcoffey

Here's a question. When using the UN Design pump bracket, is there enough clearence between the pumps back and bracket base to flip the pump so the center inlet is facing up? If I use the tops, I still want to be able to orientate the pumps as shown here.

---

Yes there should be enough room. The diameter of the stock mounting ring is ~3.4" and my pump top is 2.8" wide, so there should be an extra 0.3" space.

I don't have a UN designs bracket, maybe someone else could check it to be sure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mcoffey

2nd question. You got 4 of those bad boys left for ASAP shipping:D

andyc

---

I've got a silly number of them on hand :up:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mcoffey

Yeah, that would be great if somebody could confirm. The one tricky thing will be the pumps offset outlet from center.
andyc

---

I have two tops coming my way, hopefully they will arrive soon, in a few days.
and I happen to have the UN 360 bracket for the D5 (got two actually).
If you are not on the rush with this I can take measurements after mounting.
and see if the pump can rotate 360 degrees, which you specifically want to know if it can face up right ?

let me know.

2.8" is the width of the top
outlet is offset 0.9" from the center of the block

I'm also interested to see how this fits my bracket. I'm in the middle of doing the next revisions for my brackets and one of the criteria is that they are universal for all the different aftermarket tops.
I don't have Detroits top so I can't test it with the new revisions. I'll be watching this thread to see how things fit up.
By the way the top looks really well done Detroit.

Hey armeniandave,
If you are preparing a little revision for your UN brackets, I suggest offering just the small plate with screw and nuts will be a nice offer.
In that way, users can mount 2 pumps on the same bracket (as I am planning to do) and only buy 1 Bracket and the additional plate and not a complete new bracket.
Probably not a lot of user will do that but worth trying IMO.

Moreover, I think a new design which will offer vertical and horizontal 360 degrees rotation would be very nice.
You are already half way there :up:

On a side note, I really like your brackets, don't get me wrong, it's just an offer to make a great product even better :D

As I said, I will be posting fitment notes along with pictures for the guys here :cool:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mcoffey

Great and thanks for getting back. That means the overall footprint of the two pumps would be around 1" wider than normal give or take. So now I can see what fits in the bottom of the rad box.

One more question if you would please. How much more narrow is the pump with your top, than it was stock? It seems like it's quite a bit less wide with your top. If so, that would help the offset also.

andyc

---

Stock is 3.4" wide and mine is 2.8" wide, or are you asking something else and I'm not getting it?

Andy, I can confirm that the Detroit Thermo top on the (UN)designs bracket has the clearance for a inlet straight up orientation, plenty of clearance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Petra

It should, since the D4 and D5 are very similar (read: practically identical, aside from the motor... and maybe some small impeller differences).


Haven't had time to work up a curve for the D4 with Detroit top yet.

BTW, I got those pumps shipped out to you today (sorry for the delay)... I'll PM you a tracking number in a bit.

---

I'd like to see how well they work on the D4 also. I have my microres mounted very close to my D4 and that causes the inlet on the reservoir to have to bend to get past the outlet on the D4. The DC top offsets the outlet and inlet on the pump which would work great for my setup.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aberration

Who cares about looks, this isnt XtremeBling.com!

---

Exactly :clap: