rads in series or parallel

[Double Jesus]

I remember this thread being in the old forums and I'm just about to head out to pick up a second rad to see if it helps any in the summer. Wondering what some of you dual rad guys are running, series or parallel? and why?

 

[cypher_138]

I'm running mine in parallel with a MCP-600 pump. The reason is it splits the load between the two and increases the head as a reslut. Running in series is good if you're using a powerfull pump such as the Iwaki RZ20 or 30 with multiple blocks (3 or more). You could do:
Pump>rad>cpu>NB>rad>GPU>ect,
If you have two similar rads I would go parallel without a doubt.

 

[BeastSS]

Another good reason for parallel is that the water stays in each radiator twice as long, shedding more heat than it could in series.

 

[Warriorprophet]

Uhm, no it's pretty much 6 and one half dozen the other as far as water time-in-radiator between parralel vs series, which is jsut common sense.

Mostly I'd ask what size of radiator are you using? high speed low drag 120mm radiors, hell keep 'em series, I like the order the one guy posted with cpu and nb, rad, gpu thats cool.

Smaller 80mm high drag heatercore type? Keep 'em parralel, especially with slower pumps like the first dude said.


Peace.

 

[dandragonrage]

Half the rate, double the distance = double the rate, half the distance

Parallel might be better in the case of a leak....

 

[Warriorprophet]

Half the rate, double the distance = double the rate, half the distance.

Exactly my thinking I jsut couldn't iterate it that way.

 

[DermicSavage]

Half the rate, double the distance = double the rate, half the distance

there are more variables in play then just that

if you push water thru the rad really fast, it will have almost no time to cool off
while if it goes really slow, then it will cool off a lot more

so in my mind, parallel seems like an excellent idea

 

[dandragonrage]

It has less time to cool off PER RAD, but it is going thru 2 rads.

 

[Warriorprophet]

there are more variables in play then just that

if you push water thru the rad really fast, it will have almost no time to cool off
while if it goes really slow, then it will cool off a lot more

so in my mind, parallel seems like an excellent idea

Actually according to what you're saying series is better...parralel = higher speed, lower drag...

EG: There is MORE pressure drop in series than parralel, so series = higher drag, lower speed, = more water-in-radiator time..

 

[HeThatKnows]

Water doesn't need to goes slow through the radiator to cool down, that's a myth too many get sucked into. Think about it: is the metal inside of your rad ever not in contact with water? So, that metal is gonna be conducting heat from the warm water to the cool air whether or not the water is slow or fast. What matters is the temperature difference between the inside of the rad (the water) and the outside (the air).

If your rads are near each other, run 'em in parallel. That'll reduce the total resistance in the loop and increase the overall flow rate.

If your rads are a ways away from each other, you'll need to experiment. The flow resistance from the extra tubing/connectors needed to run parallel might overwhelm the benefits. The only way to know is try both and check your CPU temps.

I run two 6x9 heatercores in parallel. Water temp is just under 2° C over ambient.