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

[Martinm210]

@Martinm210

Do you know if the XSPC Acrylic Reservoir DDC Top can be used on all versions of the DDC pump as the original Black impeller is a different size to the new blue impeller pumps ?

Can you explain more on the trouble you had sealing the top ? As in did the cap leak when fitted or you couldn't screw it down ?

Thanks

I'll give it a try, I've been meaning to try couple out on my old orange impeller DDC2, I have a black impeller DDC also, but it's got a burnt chip and about to go, but if it works on the orange, it should work on the black.

The problem I had on the top of the XSPC reservoir top was the thread depth on the reservoir wasn't deep enough so the black plastic cap threads could slip when tightend alot. I probably wouldn't have noticed in a normal system without a second reservoir, but since my testing rig included a much larger reservoir, that cap has to seal perfectly, or it'll try to leak a little on me.

I wouldn't worry to much about it in a normal system if your reservoir is mounted upright, but I wouldn't want to mount one sideways. I talked with XSPC about the threads, and my sample was previously used, so it's possibly I just got one that was partly damaged.

[Martinm210]

FYI,
I got the EK G3/8" X-Top finally tested this evening. It turns out to be a decent gain over the G1/4 top which I didn't really expect. In the end it'll put it in about 4th place in most of the high/average/low restriction categories.

It seems the littl step and restriction at the inlet has proven itself in providing some gain.

Very good, I'll get this worked into the comparison.

[Digz]

I'll give it a try, I've been meaning to try couple out on my old orange impeller DDC2, I have a black impeller DDC also, but it's got a burnt chip and about to go, but if it works on the orange, it should work on the black.

The problem I had on the top of the XSPC reservoir top was the thread depth on the reservoir wasn't deep enough so the black plastic cap threads could slip when tightend alot. I probably wouldn't have noticed in a normal system without a second reservoir, but since my testing rig included a much larger reservoir, that cap has to seal perfectly, or it'll try to leak a little on me.

I wouldn't worry to much about it in a normal system if your reservoir is mounted upright, but I wouldn't want to mount one sideways. I talked with XSPC about the threads, and my sample was previously used, so it's possibly I just got one that was partly damaged.

Thanks Martin

I can't find the post but ages ago on another forum a person posted pics of the tops removed on orginal Black pump and the new Blue pumps when they first came out but when he put the pumps back together he mixed up the tops by mistake and one of the pumps then later burnt out.I can't remember which one but apperntly it was due to friction of the impeller rubbing against the top as the clearance and bore size is different around the inlet so it would be of intrest if XSPC took that into account or soley designed it for the Blue pumps.

I hear what your saying about the top fill cap could have been mistreated before you got it but it's still a concern as people will fill and empty their loops more than once and if it wears like yours has then the res is pointless using if it's not hermetically sealed as your be forever topping it up or having to change the water when it becomes contaminated and turns to pondwater.

[Martinm210]

Thanks Martin

I can't find the post but ages ago on another forum a person posted pics of the tops removed on orginal Black pump and the new Blue pumps when they first came out but when he put the pumps back together he mixed up the tops by mistake and one of the pumps then later burnt out.I can't remember which one but apperntly it was due to friction of the impeller rubbing against the top as the clearance and bore size is different around the inlet so it would be of intrest if XSPC took that into account or soley designed it for the Blue pumps.

I hear what your saying about the top fill cap could have been mistreated before you got it but it's still a concern as people will fill and empty their loops more than once and if it wears like yours has then the res is pointless using if it's not hermetically sealed as your be forever topping it up or having to change the water when it becomes contaminated and turns to pondwater.

I have an older DDC2 orange impeller and one dieing DDC1 black impeller pump sitting here. The old pump had a larger impeller inlet and the stock top and some of the custom tops incorporated an little nozzle that extended down from the ceiling of the pump volute. Unfortunately this does conflict with the smaller impeller opening of the newer pumps. So yeah, the old tops are not forward compatible, but all of the new tops should be backwards compatible. Not sure how performance pans out, the larger impeller inlet will likely have some performance preference differences. This is also probably why alot of the tops have larger openings for the inlets, they were sized good for the older pumps, but too larger for the new DDC 3.2s.

My XSPC dual bay reservoir pump uses the same sort of reservoir cap and does not have the same issue, so I'm inclined to think it's just a fluke as it was a pretty early copy. I also don't worry too much about a perfect seal at the reservoir or T-line. I've run my T-lines with a less than perfect seal for over a year without any sort of problem. Because the tubing stretches and expands under pressure a little, I like having a little venting to remove any pressure buildup in the system.

Like anything, if it's really an issue, that'll surface in the users voicing their opinon, and I'm the only one I know of that had a threading problem of the cap.

[Digz]

Then It's not a problem as i first thought.

Thanks Martin

[Digz]

Rob over at WatercoolingUK was asked about the res on the older pumps and turns out that it's ok

Quote Rob

"Yep, there is no compatibility issues on this top on any of the revision DDC pumps.. They are all compatible! "

[Martinm210]

FYI

I did a little experimenting with a slightly different testing methodology so I'll probably go ahead and retest all these tops one more time. I'm going to start measuring suction line pressures as (Total pressure drop) as well as move my voltmeter testing point to the pump plug. This will mean slightly stronger and more accurate results.

Me and my need for precision is my worst enemy. Oh well, I'll get these all redone one more time, except for the EK X-res 140, I'll have to throw that result out since I don't have it available anymore to retest. I wouldn't expect any of the relative rankings to change, as they were all tested exactly the same, but I'll post a brand new set of graphs when I'm done.

[fluke420]

Has anyone used one of these tops? The outlet tube looks very large compared to the Alphacool.

http://www.oclabs.com/particles.php?docid=1312

[aster]

I have both OCLabs Tops, it seems to be good, but i'm waiting for Martin's tests

Here are some graphs from OClabs :

Their first top



Their new XPTop :

[Martinm210]

Has anyone used one of these tops? The outlet tube looks very large compared to the Alphacool.

http://www.oclabs.com/particles.php?docid=1312

I have one of those now, so I'll get the xptop tested. A guy over on OCnet had two of the tops and both cracked on him. Not sure if it was just a certain batch or what though. I will get the performance curves established regardless.

I also have some other prototype tops I've tested, but some changes are occurring, so nothing to share yet.

[fluke420]

I have one of those now, so I'll get the xptop tested. A guy over on OCnet had two of the tops and both cracked on him. Not sure if it was just a certain batch or what though. I will get the performance curves established regardless.

I wonder why the top cracked. Are you referring to the XPTop or the PlexyTop? I can understand the XPTop since it looks like it's just plastic but the PlexyTop is acrylic.

[Martinm210]

FYI

Completed retesting all the tops with the DDC 3.1, posted links and charts in the OP here:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...61#post2800461

Cheers!
Martin

[Sugar4o]

Nice work Martinm210! As expected there are no changes in top positioning in the chart using a pump with less rpm.

[oerekum]

What fittings did you use with the G3/8 top? EK G3/8 fittings?

[Martinm210]

What fittings did you use with the G3/8 top? EK G3/8 fittings?

Yes, all the other tops used D-Tek barbs. I did notice a slightly higher ranking with the DD top on the 3.2 testing, and the only difference is I used DD fatboy barbs in the 3.2 testing.

So I would recommend the Danger Den Fatboy barbs for any of the G1/4 tops, they seem to perform the best with the larger inlet and taper down to a smaller ID at the threads, not a huge difference but some..

[Vargher Warg]

Wow Martin! I did not realized that you had finished your Laing 3.1 shotout!

Anyway! thanks martin for an interesting read once again!

I hope I can send something through paypal soon.

[teko]

Just getting an old thread to live, as it is a sticky where the information has been lost. Did anyone get the curves and information from martin's page before he closed it? Without it, this sticky doesn't work to well

[Zehnsucht]

It's in this sticky; http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=202394

Thread regarding various rehosts of Martin's Liquid Lab:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=206399

[hollaback04]

where can i get a oclab in the us?