Dead Spots and Cooling Stands

[[2dP]MightyMatt]

I've been trying to spend more and more time reading about water cooling and catching up for my lack of knowledge on the subject. I'm thinking about putting together a water-cooled system when I get my E6600 or E6420 in Q2, this year. I've been hearing a lot about when making a radiator/fan rig that you want space between the radiator and fan to get rid a the "dead spot" in the airflow, from where the fans aren't moving in the middle. If this is true and unless I'm misunderstanding this issue, then why doesn't this Swiftech setup look like it's capitalizing on fixing that issue? This picture/product makes it look like there is no such thing as a dead spot, or maybe they just don't think it affects their product and it's performance that much? EDIT: I just read about a shroud. Is that little amount of space between the radiator and fan enough to get rid of a dead spot?

[URL="http://www.swiftnets.com/store/product_details.asp?ProdID=313"][/URL]

I really like the things I'm reading about Swiftech, good quality and a great price. I am just curious about this setup and it's performance. Would you setup up this Radbox, radiator, and fan any differently?


Another thought, idea, and an issue I'm having is that I still have no idea if it's worth it to mod my case and put fans and a radiator(s) inside, or if I should forget about modding and stick fans and a radiator(s) somewhere outside my case, like in this diagram I whipped up.

Someone on the internet (maybe these forums) did this and I tried to mimic his idea in the drawing, it's all the normal components of a water-cooling system inside the PC case (blocks, some tubing, maybe a reservoir, and a pump) with a set of radiators and mounted fans grouped together on a stand to maximize airflow and cut down on any potential modding. The only issue with this idea (hope it's obvious) is the dust that would easily be collected on this panel of fans and radiators. Any thoughts on this? Does anyone have a picture of a comp with this idea in action or where to buy a stand that could fulfill this little dream of mine???

 

[BillParrish]

Something close,
http://mysite.verizon.net/ressdxka/id3.html

and actually the 2x120 rad came with "feet" to stand it up sideways like you are thinking, but its Tt, havent seen simular on the mainstream rads. would be easy to make tho.

dust no problem and even easier if stood up, 2 inch soft bristle paintbush wisks any buildup right off, canned air if you really want to blow em out, filters can be found or made easily as well.

yes that 3/8 in between the fan and the fin surface is marginal at best but is better than flush. somewhere back in old school days someone did a study, I seem to remember 1/2 min 3/4 better and more than 1 inch didnt matter for shroud depth. Would depend on fans but I cant remember exactly how. I am sure the number were for medium or high CFM as low speed fans were not really in use back then. Look thru the watercooling stuff on overclockers.com think you will find a lot of good stuff there, dated a bit, but still good, all kinds of neat projects for the do-it -yourself and some still very valid tech stuff too. look under "tips and hints."

 

[BillParrish]

hmm forgot about rad box, i would want the fan to pull air (proven to work best but I cant document that) I would cover/block any vents that would pull warm case air and only let fan suck cool ambient air. I am big on ambient air LOL, its why my rads are "flying" . You could cut a thick (say 3/8 thick) neoprene gasket for the fan that would help with getting it farther away from the rad fins.

hehe so with above it looks like I would completely rearrange that radbox setup.

 

[[2dP]MightyMatt]

Do you have any ideas where you could buy one of those stands, or maybe how you would make it? I was thinking it would be really neat to be able to have 4 fans/radiators all put next to each other in that square shape, like above, just to keep everything in order and give the setup a slick look.