Rad Temps

[Buntz]

I am building my first water cooling system and would like to know what you guys think the temperature different would be if I mount the rad inside the case up top or should I mount the rad outside the case on top . I am using a Lian Li PC-G70 server case so I have plenty of room in the case. I have 3 -120mm intake fans and 1-120 /2-80mm fan i think on my video cards and the power supply for exhaust fans.

Here is the list of parts for my watercooling system
1-Swiftech MCR-320 rad
D-TEK FuZion CPU water block
Laing D5 pump
Swiftech MCRES-MICRO Reservoir
Yate 120mm /88cfm fan with a fan controller
1/2 Masterkleer tubing.

Right now I am only going to watercool the CPU till I have a chance to upgrade the rest of my computer.

 

[BillParrish]

where you mount the rad is not so important. What matters is the temp of the air you are blowing through the rad as the difference in the temp of the air vs the temp of the rad (or the coolant flowing through it, whichever way you wish to think about it) is what determines how much heat is removed from the rad. So cool ambient room air flowing through the rad is much better than warm case air flowing through the rad. With good case airflow , the warm air injected into the case is not a big problem, it is not very hot and should be quickly exhausted by a rear fan. There are very attractive grills that can be used to disguise/cover/enhance the visible portion of the rad if you do put it on top. Where you put it depends on the case and the room available. Go with what works for you.

Another tidbit:

Fans that suck air through the rad have been demonstrated to work better unless a shroud is used to provide about an inch of clearance between the fan blades and the rad when pushing air.

 

[Buntz]

I just started the computer up.I have it running Orthos so it should heat up fast. Right now the room temperature is 79F[ 26c] the start up temp was 37c for the CPU and 34c for the motherboard. The cpu is watercooled with a Koolance EXOS 2, everything else is air cooled. The motherboard temps are always in the low to mid 30c. The case has good airflow and the wire are tied out of the way. I may run 6 fans in a push/pull set up ,I am not sure what I am going to do yet.

Edit - The computer been running Orthos for over 22 minutes. With a overclocked X2 4400+ [2716 - 286x9.5@1.55 volts] Core Temp says the CPU temperature is up to 60c/66c,the motherboard temp is bouncing between 34c and 35c. The room temperature is still 79F [26c]