How does radiator thickness compare to area?

[VanGoghComplex]

I'm considering a move from my Enthoo Evolv ATX to a Raijintek Paean. While I've got 3x140 of 35mm thick Swiftech radiators in my Evolv, I'd be limited to 3x120 in the Paean... but I could fit an 80mm Monsta in there.

My current rad volume: 2,058,000mm^3.

Monsta rad volume: 3,456,000mm^3.

If performance scales with volume (all other things being equal), then I should expect the Monsta to cool almost 75% more effectively than the Swifties... right?

Does it work that way? XD

 

[Zarathustra[H]]

I'm considering a move from my Enthoo Evolv ATX to a Raijintek Paean. While I've got 3x140 of 35mm thick Swiftech radiators in my Evolv, I'd be limited to 3x120 in the Paean... but I could fit an 80mm Monsta in there.

My current rad volume: 2,058,000mm^3.

Monsta rad volume: 3,456,000mm^3.

If performance scales with volume (all other things being equal), then I should expect the Monsta to cool almost 75% more effectively than the Swifties... right?

Does it work that way? XD

Added thickness can help, but doesn't always, and when it does, it does not scale as well as swept surface area.

I have a Monsta 280 in my rig. I bought it assuming it would perform much better than a 280mm XT45, but the reviews I have read since suggest that maybe that isn't the case.

Despite having a low FPI count the thickness of the Monsta radiator means you need more powerful/faster fans to push air through them, that and whenever you add thickness to a radiator you are still dealing with the same air, which has warmed up already in the first part of the radiator. Think of it like stacking multiple radiators. The second radiator gets the air already warmed up by the first, so it is less effective.

So, all things considered, thicker radiators can add performance if you lack the space for more swept area, but they can never fully make up for a drop in area. That and you may need louder fans to fully take advantage of them.

 

[thesmokingman]

Many things to consider... 140mm fans suck for static pressure, thin rads require high fan speeds to cool decently, and there's more to cooling efficiency them just volume. Fin density per inch is more important than volume which has a direct correlation on required static pressure of fans and that has a direct impact on noise levels. Putting all that aside for a minute if we take known deltas, the difference between individual radiators in the scope of things the differences are very small. For instance the monsta beats the xt45 thru out the range anywhere from .5 degree to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The differences come into play when we add up all those differences. Taken individually the differences are not great.

The main thing I think you're confusing is the reason ppl go with thicker rads, it's not necessarily for better cooling but to maintain the same or similar cooling but at lower fan speeds therefore lower noise footprint. And at the end of the day it's just as the saying goes there's no replacement for displacement.

 

[Nobu]

The idea is similar when talking about transferring heat from the water to the fins or from the fins to the air--the faster the fluid (air or water) moves, the less it's average temperature will change before exiting the other side. This means that the more quickly you can move the fluid, the more efficient the heat exchanger will be.

The amount of restriction in the path of flow (determined by the number of fins and their arrangement, as well as filters and other obstructions) will affect the flow rate of the fluid. More fins means greater potential, but first you need to overcome the restriction to benefit. Less fins means less potential, but you can more easily reach maximum efficiency (meaning you don't need as many fans running as quickly).

A thicker rad will have greater potential, given the same fpi, but will require slightly more effort to push the air through, and higher fluid speeds to reach max potential.

All that said, with enough area, you can achieve the same cooling potential with fewer fins per inch (meaning less restriction) and thus less fan.

TL;DR, if they have the same fpi and tube construction (Remember, you need to remove the heat from the water first), then yes the potential efficiency should be close to that. If fpi is lower, then don't expect such a difference (although it will likely be able to pull more heat from the water, it may not be able to dissipate that heat without more fan).