Zalman LQ-320 Water Cooler, $40 AR

Fooshnik

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Link.

It's evidently a very good cooler, though no better than the LQ-315 that was on sale the other day.

The main difference being 2" radiator vs 1.5". I imagine the reason it performed no better was because they're still using the same single fan on it vs a quality push/push. I have the 315 and using two of these (which are the best radiator fans I've used. You might be able to get them for $8 using code BTEXVWM45) and it lowered temps on a 2500K I have that runs hot from 83 to 68. I just don't see a single fan being able to effectively move air through a two inch radiator, especially that fan.

Anyway it's much cheaper than the 315 at that price so if it fits...
 
Not entirely related, but you can get 30% off Xigmatek fans with code EMCXVWL236. These, are a good value, quiet and well made (though not suitable for radiators - inadequate static pressure) and I'd like to get more and naturally they're OOS.
 
1) How does the Zalman LQ-320 Water Cooler compare to the Cooler Master Hyper 212+ (should I upgrade or not?)

2) Can the Zalman LQ-320 Water Cooler be used on a video card? If so, how?

3) If you buy two of the Zalman LQ-320 Water Coolers, can you get two rebates or is it just one per household?
 
1) How does the Zalman LQ-320 Water Cooler compare to the Cooler Master Hyper 212+ (should I upgrade or not?)

2) Can the Zalman LQ-320 Water Cooler be used on a video card? If so, how?

3) If you buy two of the Zalman LQ-320 Water Coolers, can you get two rebates or is it just one per household?

1. google

2. It looks like the same design as the kuhler h60 which means yes you can use it on a video card. Dwood could help you with a bracket. http://www.overclock.net/t/1235902/antec-kuhler-620-on-my-gtx-680-pictures-and-temps-inside/130

3. Read the rebate information. It will say something like "1 per household" or "2 per address"
 
this look more like antec 920
antec_920_straight.jpg


but it will be better than your hyper 212. Just make sure you get another fan for it, because it only comes with 1fan.
 
http://triptcc.com/shop/ is the link for the brackets needed for use on video cards..... its "DWOOD's" website
i have the lq310 with a similar 2nd fan. this thing is badass. i just bought the lq320 becuase i was so impressed with the 310. it "looks" just like the corsair h50 but with updated tubes. i actually returned the h50 and the h60 and kept the lq 310... was able to bump my OC from 3.8 -------> to 4.2 on my i7 920
i only hope the 320 is as good.... since ill have the 2nd fan as well.
i couldnt get the corsair hydro products to to do any better than my coolermaster V8 air cooler. one thing to keep in mind the corsair hydro's "prefer" you use them as an "intake" fan port not the usual exhaust port. they defanitely worked better that way and you have the option of switching the stock fan around either way....... but with the zalman coolers when just using the stock fan it has the screw holes cut away from one side of the fan housing so you HAVE TO USE IT as an exhaust port you cannot flip the airflow unless you completely replace the stock fan. i didnt bother with that and kept it as an exhaust and it defanitely outperforms the corsair counterparts.....at least in my setup..... i cannot say for the other brands though...... i absolutely love my zalman closed loop water cooler..... of the 3 coolers from the 2 brands i tried it is defanitely the best.
 
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and these are back in stock by the way......

Not entirely related, but you can get 30% off Xigmatek fans with code EMCXVWL236. These, are a good value, quiet and well made (though not suitable for radiators - inadequate static pressure) and I'd like to get more and naturally they're OOS.
 
Not entirely related, but you can get 30% off Xigmatek fans with code EMCXVWL236. These, are a good value, quiet and well made (though not suitable for radiators - inadequate static pressure) and I'd like to get more and naturally they're OOS.

Are you saying these won't work well with the Zalman LQ-320? If they do, should I just get one or two and replace the stock fan?
 
Wish it wasnt such a big rebate otherwise id buy 2. Anyone have any issues with rebates from zalman?
 
Are you saying these won't work well with the Zalman LQ-320? If they do, should I just get one or two and replace the stock fan?

i was wondering the same thing..... the product description says it has optimal static pressure or something like that.... the thing that got me was it doesnt move much air..... 45 cfm at max rpms vs like the coolermaster sickleflow at 69 cfm that im running with my zalman......
 
Are you saying these won't work well with the Zalman LQ-320? If they do, should I just get one or two and replace the stock fan?

No. They're good quiet case fans, but they're not going to effectively cool a 2" radiator. You want either two Cooler Master R4-BMBS-20PK-R0 (what I'm using) or two Corsair SP120 Performance Edition. The SP120s are rated at 3.1 mm of water max and the Cooler Masters 3.9. Its really not required to use them at max RPM. At about 1400 rpm the air leaving the radiator feels no warmer than room temperature running Prime on a 2500K at 4.6. The Cooler Masters are rated quieter, though without using the SP120s I can't say if they actually are quieter. They are cheaper. They're also uglier.

I imagine you could use one of those fans with the stock fan, though since the stock fan has no mounting holes on the exit side it can't gracefully be used as a "pull" fan.

I tried two Enermax Magmas and basically nothing came out the other end at max RPM.
 
nice.... im going to grab one of those coolermaster blademasters as well.... is 2.9mm water max..... a little low for a 2in radiator? that is what the fan i WAS planning on running with it had.....
 
I don't think so. That should be plenty for a 24/7 overclock, especially mated with the stock fan.
 
I'm surprised this hasn't gotten a lot more attention. I guess people like the Corsair CPU water cooler for $100 more lol :eek:
 
I tested this with the stock fan and with two of the Cooler Master Blademasters to see if there was any point at all in replacing the stock fan. These tests were done outside the case to eliminate case design as a variable. The results:

Stock fan, in degrees C, 2500K @ 4600 running Prime95

62.3 @ 960 RPM; very little air getting through the radiator
60.3 @ 1500 RPM; fan emits an annoying buzz, exhaust is warm but not significantly
60.2 @ 1990 RPM; max RPM, audible hum but not too bad. Exhaust air cooler, still not a tremendous amount of air getting through


Cooler Master Blade Master x 2, push/pull

58.5 @ 960 RPM; Can feel air exiting but not a lot of it
58.4 @ 1500 RPM; some buzz from the fans, fairly significant amount of air exiting
56.5 @ 1900 RPM; some whine, a little louder than stock fan at max, exhaust air is not noticably warmer than room temperature

So, do you need to replace the stock fan? Short answer: No. Two degrees probably isn't going to make or break your overclock.

Long answer: I think it depends on your case dynamic. In my case the radiator is the primary exhaust, having the stock fan moving so little air the case is going to heat up, video cards and motherboard are going to bake and air moving through the radiator is going to get hotter. If the radiator is on an intake that's probably not as big a factor. Also, at 960 RPM the Cooler Masters are barely a whisper and they cool more effectively than the stock fan at 1990 RPM.


Here's what it looks like inside a Silverstone TJ08e.

tj08.jpg


It fits. Those ghetto-rigged fans over the video cards actually work well to cool the Powercolor Myst crossfire, I'm going to have to make a bracket.
 
I tested this with the stock fan and with two of the Cooler Master Blademasters to see if there was any point at all in replacing the stock fan. These tests were done outside the case to eliminate case design as a variable. The results:

Stock fan, in degrees C, 2500K @ 4600 running Prime95

62.3 @ 960 RPM; very little air getting through the radiator
60.3 @ 1500 RPM; fan emits an annoying buzz, exhaust is warm but not significantly
60.2 @ 1990 RPM; max RPM, audible hum but not too bad. Exhaust air cooler, still not a tremendous amount of air getting through


Cooler Master Blade Master x 2, push/pull

58.5 @ 960 RPM; Can feel air exiting but not a lot of it
58.4 @ 1500 RPM; some buzz from the fans, fairly significant amount of air exiting
56.5 @ 1900 RPM; some whine, a little louder than stock fan at max, exhaust air is not noticably warmer than room temperature

So, do you need to replace the stock fan? Short answer: No. Two degrees probably isn't going to make or break your overclock.

Long answer: I think it depends on your case dynamic. In my case the radiator is the primary exhaust, having the stock fan moving so little air the case is going to heat up, video cards and motherboard are going to bake and air moving through the radiator is going to get hotter. If the radiator is on an intake that's probably not as big a factor. Also, at 960 RPM the Cooler Masters are barely a whisper and they cool more effectively than the stock fan at 1990 RPM.


Here's what it looks like inside a Silverstone TJ08e.

tj08.jpg


It fits. Those ghetto-rigged fans over the video cards actually work well to cool the Powercolor Myst crossfire, I'm going to have to make a bracket.

Man that is a tight fit.

I installed mine over the weekend. So for very happy. I setup a push pull configuration and I am getting almost 15C cooler than my previous setup. I was previously using a Coolermaster Hyper 212.
 
How are you guys going about doing the huge MIR? It's confusing as hell. You have to do it online as well as send stuff into Zalman.
 
Wish I coulda bought this instead of the Zalman CNPS9900MAX with the same $40 rebate. Stilll waiting on my rebate, but that was $20AR. For $20 more I would have gotten this although it doesn't look nearly as cool
 
How are you guys going about doing the huge MIR? It's confusing as hell. You have to do it online as well as send stuff into Zalman.

You have to fill out the forms online then print them and mail everything in. Its pretty standard these days. Just make sure to follow the directions exactly.
 
Corsair H70, which looks very similar to the Zalman/Thermaltake/Antec for $45 AR. 1.5" radiator. Doesn't appear to come with a fan.
 
The 320 at $40 is a better value, I think. I picked up one recently and it seems well made, and I had no issues with the rebate.
 
What's with the links not working? They all go to amazon where the said product is more than twice the price.
 
it was redirecting to the wrogn page... i just checked it too... but it doesnt matter much... deal dead again... 55$ now
 
"EMCXTWL222 is unrecognized please call newegg customer support" ......it is acting funny.... 3 of 4 clicks on the link takes me to the lq-315 not the lq-320... i think the EGG is just having some issues.
 
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