Triple radiators roundup

[skinnee]

Your testing resulted in the exact same Delta T (Water Out-Air In) for a BIX360 and an RX360 @ 2500RPM?

I'm not ready to release numbers yet for my Radiator Rd2 tests, but that is not quite what my results show.

[HESmelaugh]

Yes, exactly the same temps. I expected something else, but that's what I got.

Maybe retest tomorrow?

EDIT: The RX was tested later than the GTX, so if anything, the loop was more warmed up when I tested the RX...

[Hondacity]

skinnee

bring out your gtx360 results already

edit: damn you guys type XS fast

[skinnee]

see, why do I peek my head out of the hole I go into when testing. Just gets me into trouble.

I have pressure drop and the write-up to complete tonight, then I will.

[HESmelaugh]

Looking forward, to seeing your results, skinnee. I'll retest tomorrow and post my results of the second run.

[Hondacity]

Looking forward, to seeing your results, skinnee. I'll retest tomorrow and post my results of the second run.

i love the spirit of testing

good job

[gillbot]

see, why do I peek my head out of the hole I go into when testing. Just gets me into trouble.

I have pressure drop and the write-up to complete tonight, then I will.

Go eat pie, get your energy and get back to work! ::cracks whip::

[CyberDruid]

Thanks for this review. I would have eschewed the Magicool Elegant as pure bling but now I think I will have to build a quiet system with one. From my own perspective looking at the graphs the PA120.3 would still be my top choice. But for the dollar/watt-dissipated wouldn't the MCR320 be top dog?

[Martinm210]

Thanks for testing, it was great to see the magicool rads in there too. I always was curious about that elegant version.

400RPM is really slow, I'm not surprised you couldn't carry out the test. I tried to test a TFC480 passively with only 150 watts. It was litterally still raising in temperature over 3 hours later when I finally gave up and shut it down.

[HESmelaugh]

Ok, just finished the rerun of XSPC RX360 vs. Black Ice GTX 360 @ 2500rpm Ultra Kaze.

This time, I used both heater for a heat load of 575W, so that there would be a greater spread in the results.

Again, delta water-ambient:

RX: 8.4 K
GTX: 7.9 K

So the GTX is giving me .5 K better temps at almost 600W load? That is not a huge advantage. IMO, HWLabs should rethink their fin-spacing.

[Sadasius]

Are your heaters somehow trying to keep a constant temp setting on the water? Something is not right here. I have tried a few rads and none could keep up to a GTX of the same size using fans at 2000 RPM especially in a push/pull config (never tried shrouds though). The margin was very noticable. I am thinking your heaters are skewing the results somehow. If not that then something else.

[HESmelaugh]

Nope, my heaters are modified to keep heating at full power. I'm also monitoring the heat-load via Watt-meter and it's pretty constant. Ambient temps were also very similar.

[Gurkis]

Would it be possible to do a performance per dollar chart of this?

Great work btw!

[HESmelaugh]

Since I don't live in the US, I don't know what prices you guys get. From what I understand, for you the MCR320 is one of the cheapest radiators. This isn't so over here. Here, the Magicool rads are far lower priced. Feel free to use my date to do a performance per dollar comparison, though.

[Gurkis]

I live in Sweden
(thats in Europe for ya haha)
I'm actually planning on ordering a watercooling system from aquatuning, so if you could do a chart of that in euros, I think those who live in the US could convert it bu themselves.

Cheers!

[HESmelaugh]

Link
The graph at the bottom of the page shows the prices in Euros.

[Gurkis]

:O. Wow, do I feel silly for not finding that when you've actually done it, haha.

Thanks alot!
Cheers!

[Nickel020]

If you order from Aquatuning then I would go for the Magicool Elegant or a Magicool Slim if you're on a tight budget. This is assuming that you prefer slow fans, as most people do. Ordering Thermochills fromt he UK is also quite lucrative at the current € to GBP exchange rate, if you don't order from Sweden anyways then this might be a good choice as well, GBP or € doesn't matter for you then.
It's out of stock in many places though, but over-clock.co.uk has them:
http://www.over-clock.co.uk/acatalog..._radiator.html
Shipping form the UK is relatively cheap as well usually, at least shipping to Germany is.

[LogAn'sRun]

If you order from Aquatuning then I would go for the Magicool Elegant or a Magicool Slim if you're on a tight budget. This is assuming that you prefer slow fans, as most people do. Ordering Thermochills fromt he UK is also quite lucrative at the current € to GBP exchange rate, if you don't order from Sweden anyways then this might be a good choice as well, GBP or € doesn't matter for you then.
It's out of stock in many places though, but over-clock.co.uk has them:
http://www.over-clock.co.uk/acatalog..._radiator.html
Shipping form the UK is relatively cheap as well usually, at least shipping to Germany is.

Man, you must live in germany because we get r@ped on all shipping/exchange rates right now:

1 EUR = 11,08 SEK
1 USD = 8,16SEk
1 GBP = 11,82
shipping from the UK tends to be around 12pounds for triple rads (if you get lucky).

So no, I don't feel we're saving money at this time.

OT= Thx for the review!!!

[Jah]

Man, you must live in germany because we get r@ped on all shipping/exchange rates right now:

1 EUR = 11,08 SEK
1 USD = 8,16SEk
1 GBP = 11,82
shipping from the UK tends to be around 12pounds for triple rads (if you get lucky).

So no, I don't feel we're saving money at this time.

OT= Thx for the review!!!

Regarding exchange rates,
The GBP exchange rate is actual better then pre economic crisis, 1 £ used to be like 14 SEK, UK seems to getting screwed over even more then we are, as in swedes. So TC rads have actually gotten cheaper as far as I know. Shopping in € hurts bad though

[4Qman]

This is a great read and i thank you for your time and effort in testing. Well explained with great data to back your findings.

I think i will go for a Magicool for a uber silent rig

[LogAn'sRun]

Regarding exchange rates,
The GBP exchange rate is actual better then pre economic crisis, 1 £ used to be like 14 SEK, UK seems to getting screwed over even more then we are, as in swedes. So TC rads have actually gotten cheaper as far as I know. Shopping in € hurts bad though

I disagree:

Average Rates
January
12.6134 SEK (23 days average)
February
12.4622 SEK (21 days average)
March
12.1314 SEK (21 days average)
April
11.7843 SEK (22 days average)
May
11.7634 SEK (22 days average)
June
11.8474 SEK (21 days average)
July
11.9328 SEK (23 days average)
August
11.8512 SEK (21 days average)
September
11.9936 SEK (22 days average)
October
12.5184 SEK (23 days average)
November
12.2013 SEK (20 days average)
December
11.8961 SEK (23 days average)


that's your monthly in 2008. 14sek to the GPB I would have remembered, since I work with rates daily. Judging by the avg of 2008, what they currently have is not historically different than before. So no, economic crisis does not seem to have effected their rates at least. . . not against the SEK.

Edit: 2005 it avg 14sek for 1 month (Nov) as the only time to hit that height in the last 3,5 yrs

[MomijiTMO]

Bumping. Why? Well I needed to reread this stuff and noticed a few 'What rad' questions.

Thanks again Shane

[LOUISSSSS]

Bumping. Why? Well I needed to reread this stuff and noticed a few 'What rad' questions.

Thanks again Shane

well from the graphs, the XSPC RX360 does very well @ 1200rpm. I think 1200rpm is what most people here think is a good balance of cfm/dB.

the magicool may excel @ 400rpm, but doesn't have the capabilities of the RX and other fat rads above 1200rpm. + i think its very very ugly.

in the end, i purchased the RX360 because it performs just as well as the PA120.3 for much less money ($95)

[defect9]

I wish we could see a sale like Jab-Tech had for a bit again, only without the paint defects. that $75 RX360 rad was a freaking steal