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water cooling radiator advice

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October 4, 2013 5:54:07 PM

Hey everyone,

I'm getting ready for my new watecooling build. I'm generally going for quiet. However, I understand if the I'm gaming or something of that nature and the fans ramp up significantly. I've been doing a lot of research of fans and rads. Km thinking the mid tier gentle typhoons fit the bill as I'll be using a aqua computer fan controller to undervolt them and would like to not even have to have them running when just borning the web etc. My main question I want to ask is about the new eke Pe series radiators. I understand they have a middle of the road fin count and supposedly a low restriction. I haven't found any full reviews on them since they are new. They look amazing and would go great with my build. So I'm wondering what do you guys think of the combo. And will gentle typhoons be able to push air at a reasonable db level through the radiator.

I apologize if I'm in the wrong area. I didn't see a specific water cooling area. I'd love any first hand info or opinions on this.

Thanks for all the help!

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October 5, 2013 3:06:05 PM

Welcome to the world of watercooling!

Lets see if we can address all those questions, shall we? :) 
1| Have you taken a look through the watercooling sticky located on the top of the overclocking section(or in my sig)? Its packed with useful info and will help you in narrowing down your radiator needs/choices.
2| The problem with new rads is that they haven't had the necessary exposure apart from marketing so if you do find them at your retailer and are willing to be the guinea pig - its your call. I went with my AMS rad for alot of reasons and my OCD also drove me to its inevitable purchase. Back when I got it, it had a mere 2 reviewers look at it although alot of people owned it and reported good temps. Don't get me wrong though I love the AMS rad :)  its just the fact that if I was performance driven and not aesthetics driven(as well as functionality) I'd be gunning for a cheaper custom setup.

PE's are new to market - might want to wait a bit for Martinsliquidlab to perform some tests although I hear he's out on a long awaited vacation :) 

If anything can be added to ^ , the PE's are similar in design to the AX series of rads - might want to check them out.

3| Fan choice depends upon the end user really as the definition of quiet differs from one listener to the other :)  The best approach is to get the highest spec'd fan and hook them to a fan controller - turn them down when you're browsing and have them at mid-full blast when in gaming sessions.

Some choices for fans can be:
Noctua NF F fans
Silverstone AP series
Cougar vortex
Bitfenix Pro
Noisblocker eloop

Hope these help
:) 
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October 5, 2013 4:09:55 PM

That helps a lot. I appreciate the insight. Ill probably go with a different rad since that one is kind of a unknown. I believe the Pe rad says it's 38 fpi. However those are split fins so I'm wondering if in reality it'll perform more in the quiet rad bracket. Since that would be more like a 19 fpi full fin radiator.

I'll take a look at those fans you suggested. And I'll take a look at that forum. Built a few computers, but this is my first waterproofing build so any info helps!

What do you think of the aqua computer fan controller. I'm looking at the pro. I know the six is coming out, but I don't needpwm. I'm thinking of getting the water block for it too since people have suggested it. Does it need it over the passive cooler?
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October 5, 2013 4:15:33 PM

No your good with the fan controller as is but do remember that the waterblocks looks cool but you can run without it and avoid restriction in your loop. :)  Nice line up on hardware though, you got taste! :D 

All the info you'll need is in my watercooling sticky link in my sig...check it out
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October 5, 2013 5:18:47 PM

Appreciate it! I'll check out your forum.

Thanks for all the help and the quick reply. Unless it seriously matters I'll probably just get the passive heatsink. Little cheaper and that much less restriction.
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October 5, 2013 5:19:06 PM

I'll definitely be checking out your forum
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October 5, 2013 7:51:47 PM

Good tip when your going for a silent build, overrrad like crazy. The more rad space you have, the slower your fans can go and achieve the same cooling.
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October 5, 2013 8:36:54 PM

I've heard you can never have too much rad space for a silent build. I will be cooling a 3570k at 4.7 and eventually a 4770k overclocked. I'll also be cooling a gtx 680 or if I upgrade the new 290x. Possibly the aqua computer controller too. Is a 360 and 240 going to be enough?
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October 5, 2013 8:42:13 PM

A 360+240mm sounds about right for that build, though you will want to do the TDP calculations to be sure. Though that doesnt give a lot of thermal headroom to turn down fans unless your getting particularly thick rads and good fans.
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October 5, 2013 10:58:00 PM

Gotcha. Haven't settled on the rad yet. Thinking gentle typhoons for the fans though. I'm looking at the phantom 820 so there isn't a ton of more room for extra rads. A 120 on back would be about it
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October 5, 2013 11:06:36 PM

manofchalks made a good point. Getting a lil creative and thinking outside the box would help in locating a large rad preferably a 1080 rad :) 
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October 5, 2013 11:21:05 PM

I could always mount it outside the case. I ass trying to avoid that if possible. If you pull all the cages out you could fit a 240. Both wouldn't be preferable though.
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October 6, 2013 1:30:44 AM

You can pull out just the bottom cage and fit a 240mm on the floor of the case.
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October 6, 2013 1:47:16 AM

Yeah. That is where I was thinking the 240 would go. And the 360 on top.
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