'L' Fittings... Restrictive?

Z

Zallek

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 12, 2004
Messages
449
Im just curious how restrictive L fittings are, if at all. Im finally putting some of my stuff together in a 'custom-but-not' case (using a case frame but redoing the outside to match something else), and my optimal rad/fan placement (its a 120.2 rad) places the barbs facing the videocard.

Now, theres enough room to through an L in there straight off the rad but Im just curious if that'll make the flow suffer.
 
You will lose some pressure going around a 90 degree corner, but the losses probably won't affect your cooling loop much. The bulk of the resistance is in the water blocks and the radiator.

Each component, including the hoses will contribute a little bit of pressure loss. This pressure loss will be greater with more flow. The pump has to make up the total cumulative pressure loss, and at greater flow its pressure gain decreases. So at whatever flow rate the pumps ability to create a pressure differential is equal to the loops total pressure loss, that will be your flow rate.
 
Since I only have understood what just came out of your mouth (might have something to do with the tiredness, or I just dont know haha). I'll be running a 120.2 black ice stealth (I believe is the rad type... I've had it for probably 2 years now.. just waiting to be used..), custom gpu and cpu blocks, running off of an MCP355 pump. All 3/8 tubing, and the loop will be physically small - if you remember the Antec Aria, I'm modifying that case to make it my own, just using the frame as a base line.

Im undecided on using the swiftech micro-resi that I already have, or just get a fillport though.. I'd imagine that would make a difference in pressure loss if I went with the resi.

And I'll be honest, Im not entirely sure what I need.. high pressure or not... So I believe I'm going about it as balanced as I know how too.
 
I have never seen any impact from using 90 degree elbows in a water cooling loop. I'm sure that if you used 40 of them or something that could be a problem but one or two should be fine.
 
Yes, but why care?

I've read countless threads about water cooling, and this subject always comes up.

It is restrictive, but you won't see it in temperature differences. There's so MUCH more, comparatively speaking, that affects temperature. Radiator type, fan speed, block type, tubing length, pump size, mounting of block, etc.

Don't worry about one or two 90degree bends. Do worry about a kink in the tubing, or a water block mount that isn't seated properly.
 
It's okay to want a WC loop to be as optimized as possible. Martin's Flow Estimator takes the elbow out of the realm of personal opinion/individual priorities.
 
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