Pump pulling from CPU does it make a difference?

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lol I'm surprised this debate is going on. It seems like something everyone setting up water cooling should ask. I'm finding that I have to figure it all out myself with water cooling because there are so many competing opinions in this sub forum.

Regarding pump before block I have had opposite suggestions and couldn't decide which way to go. I saw this thread and decided to go rad>cpu>pump and now I'm having second thoughts after overnight leak testing. There are no leaks, but the "clear" fluid looks like milk as it's getting churned up into foam water. I would think coldest water straight out of rad to cpu, but maybe not a good flow with the Koolance block?

I'm using the swiftech mcr320-res (which is kinda junky imo, bent inlets, fins etc.), Koolance CPU-350 and MCP355 with xspc top. Feser 1/2 ID 3/4 od tubing and feser fluid.

Questions -

Should I stick with this loop and let it bleed longer or reassemble with pump before cpu?

Should I bail on this swiftech res/rad and get a xspc 360 rad and a separate res?

Do they make a res that screws into the XSPC top or do I need a whole new "res top"?

Is it normal that radiator inlets are slightly bent and that they feel cheap overall?


I was really looking forward to this being quiet and cool and fun to work with and so far it's seemed like cheap toys. Maybe I need better parts? The guy from FrozenCPU advised me without checking and I ended up with a bunch of fittings that don't fit on my blocks - bitspower/too close together. I guess there is a bunch of trial and error with this stuff. In the future is there a place I can call that knows their stuff? This stuff is not rocket science for god's sake.