360 Radiator Shootout Begins!..

[Martinm210]

Test Bench
The test bench is fully enclosed to reduce environment circulation errors and also better simulate the installation in a case where some additional air restriction is present. In addition the lines are all insulated to more closely represent dissipation by the radiator only. This does result in lower dissipation numbers, but the important part is relative data. Do not take the watts dissipated as absolute, additional losses will occur in the test loop through tubing and blocks and many many other places.



Results So Far
I will update as I get more done.

Detailed Reviews:

XSPC RS360
XSPC RX360
Swiftech MCR320-QP
Swiftech MCR320-XP
Hardware Labs SR-1 360
Hardware Labs GTX 360
Alphacool NexXxos Xtreme III Rev 2
Alphacool NexXxos UT60 360
Phobya G-Changer 360 V2
Alphacool Nexxxos XT45 360
EK-Coolstream RAD XT (360)
EK-Coolstream RAD XTX (360)
Alphacool Nexxxos ST30 360
Coolgate Single Row Acrylic 360
Coolgate Single Row HD 360
Aquacomputer AMS Copper 360

Summary Performance Charts

Restriction
This represent relative restriction compared to CPU blocks and the rads themselves. While flow rate is a relatively minor consideration in most installations, it is something to consider in multiple radiator installations.


Thermal Performance
This represents thermal performance using 40% PWM pumping power (approx. 1.5GPM +-) and using Titan Kukri fans in push. The less restrictive rads naturally get slightly higher flow rates as you would expect in an actual loop and the fans used are average in CFM/RPM for most 25mm fans. Using fans like Gentle Typhoon AP-15 or Delta 38mm fans would adjust the RPM axis numbers by as much as 400RPM (IE 2200RPM Titan = 1800RPM GT15)


Conclusion

Well.. 16 radiators done and as usual with most watercooling, the differences between radiators is also very small. When only 6 watts separates the top 11 radiators at 600RPM, testing error alone does become a problem. On the little bit of error checking I’ve done on a few radiators I am seeing in the neighborhood of 2-3 watt error present in my trendline results. You should also consider the scale of those 6 watts when a very small thing like switching out your pump from a D5 to DDC could likely get you that 6 watts reduction in heat.

With that I would say generally the thermal performance differences are relatively small, but there are some generalities:

• Copper Tubes are better than Brass Tubes
• Thicker multiple row radiators generally can be tuned for a broader range of RPMs and have lower restriction than single row radiators
• Thicker radiators can perform better than thinner radiators, but the difference is not more than 5-10% typically and mostly for medium to higher speeds.
• Flat tubed radiators perform better than round tubed radiators
• Slim 30mm radiators can be tuned to perform extremely well in specific areas, but generally that means loosing more in the opposite area (ie a high speed tuned slim radiator won’t perform well at slow speeds)
• Build quality does vary and here you do get what you pay for.
• In performance, you don’t get what you pay for.

Best Bang for the Buck Thermal Performance (Value or Benefit/Cost)
I’ve always been one for emphasizing value, and with results this tight, the lower the cost the more bang for the buck. The XSPC RS360 being the lowest price rad holds a very high benefit/cost across the board. While not quite as cheap in price, the Swiftech MCR320XP gets high marks for being more value oriented and maintaining awesome performance in the mid/high speed ranges. The Alphacool ST30 is similar in being an amazing value rad, but optimized for slower speed fans.

• Slow Speed Value = Alphacool ST30
• All Around Value = XSPC RS360
• High Speed Value = Swiftech MCR320-XP

Top Thermal Performance ($ is no object)

• Slow Speed Performance = Alphacool ST30, HWlabs SR-1, and the neighboring top 6 are all really really close.
• All Around Performance = Alphacool UT60 & EK XTX are both really good all around performers
• High Speed Performance = Swiftehc MCR320-XP, Alphacool UT60, and the EK XTX are all great higher speed performers

Lowest Restriction ($ is no object)
Pretty much a four way tie with the Phobya G-Changer V2, XSPC RS360, Alphacool UT60, and EK Coolstream XTX. The more rows of tubes wider the tubes, the lower the restriction.

Best Build Quality

• Hardware Labs GTX & SR1
• Aquacomputers AMS
• Several other close runners up.

Most Feature Rich

• Alphacool UT60,XT45,ST30 & Phobya G-Changer for having that screw protector feature. Also extra ports and bleed screw on the UT60.
• Aquacomputers AMS for the modularity features.

Most Unique

• Aquacomputers AMS for it’s solder free and round tube construction and bare copper core
• Coolgate Copper Radiators for their copper plating finish and the Acrylic for it’s clear end tanks.

In the end there is no one size fits all, but there are plenty of very good options and they all perform very closely to one another. To say one wipes the floor with another is simply false when typically we’re talking single digit percentage differences and at most 20-30% difference. Don’t expect that you can upgrade any one core size and see dramatic measurable improvements, you have to consider the finer details and want a change in areas outside of performance.

Cheers!
Martin