will this kill my flow?

[amoeba1126]

I am thinking about using a y fitting to send it to both my bip120 and my swiftech 220qp at the same time for simulatneous cooling due to space restriction in my stacker. will this be really bad for my flow?

 

[sabregen]

a Y to separate out on the input will require a Y to recombine the outputs. That means more points of failure/leakage, and more hoses. Your call. Sounds like a potentially cool mod to do for visual reasons, but I can't think of any others. logistical nightmare IMO.

 

[amoeba1126]

what about my flow?

 

[sabregen]

yes, I know, that was the original question, and I should have attempted to answer it, or just keep my mouth shut, right? okay, fine

If you're going from any given number of PSI at the point where you want to put a Y, to two lines on the other side, there will be a pressure drop, obviously, to each of the lines on the other side of the Y. Taking this into consideration, and with the idea being that each line after the Y will go to a rad (which induces more pressure drop), then recombining...I'd say you may lose a bit. The lower pressure per line, then through the rads (losing more pressure), and then a recombination from lower PSI lines to a single higher PSI line would be problematic with leak-testing the fittings. At any rate, you maye lose a bit, but for the sake of space, if you must, then go for it. I can't imagine the flow rate loss would be a lot, or even more than a few tenths of a PSI. My concern would be at the back end of the first Y, and the single line end of the recombining Y.

 

[amoeba1126]

thats not what i mean and i completely appreciate your opinions and advice. i am especially interested in flow rate because i do not want my temps to suffer much.

o yea...completely forgot...thanks for the answer. i assumed the flow rate will drop since that is an obvious outcome. unfortunately, i am not that adept in wc and do not know how much it will drop. now i know and knowing is half the battle thanks man!

 

[Thor]

keep in mind that water, like electricity, will always take the path of least resistance unless you take pains to equalise the resistance on both lines one will allways end up doing more work that the other, and depending on the difference one may end up doing all of the work... thought this is typically not the case.

if you want to know what it takes to equalise the pressure, have a look at this thread HERE

5th post down, 7th picture

 

[Thor]

thats not what i mean and i completely appreciate your opinions and advice. i am especially interested in flow rate because i do not want my temps to suffer much.

o yea...completely forgot...thanks for the answer. i assumed the flow rate will drop since that is an obvious outcome. unfortunately, i am not that adept in wc and do not know how much it will drop. now i know and knowing is half the battle thanks man!

of course your flow ratre will drop some.. every part you add in will drop your flow rate some... even if you take a standard loop, and simply add in an extra foot of tubeing, you will loose flow rate.. but flow is neglible as you are useing a push pull system just like any other closed loop system.. the pump is pushing on one side, while pulling on the other, since water cant be compressed, it will work its way up to a given speed, speed dosent matter much becuase if it is slower, then it spends more time in the cpu block gathering heat... as long as it dosent boil.. your ok.. (cpu is dead by then any way) likewise, if it is moveing slower, it spends more time in the rad dumping heat (again,, to a given extent)

the long and short.. it dosent really matter that much

 

[Erasmus354]

Splitting the loop to go through the radiators in parallel lessens the resistance of the two radiators as a whole. Meanwhile the extra fittings add slightly to the resistance. It probably either equals out, or would increase your flowrate. The problem you do have is that the two radiators aren't of equal resistance themselves so you will get uneven flow through the radiators. The double is likely more resistive, and would get less flow which is exactly the opposite of what you would want.

When all is said and done, you probably wont get much difference either way.

 

[headala]

I agree with what Erasmus said (for once ). I think any benefits of having the extra cooling capacity would be outweighed by the fact that most of the water will travel through only one of them (and he's right, it will be the smaller/shorter/less restrictive one). And, if you try to equalize the flow by adding a pair of valves or whatnot, then you WILL be adding major restriction and then you're back to square one.

Sorry.

 

[Erasmus354]

I agree with what Erasmus said (for once ). I think any benefits of having the extra cooling capacity would be outweighed by the fact that most of the water will travel through only one of them (and he's right, it will be the smaller/shorter/less restrictive one). And, if you try to equalize the flow by adding a pair of valves or whatnot, then you WILL be adding major restriction and then you're back to square one.

Sorry.

I think you misinterpreted me slightly. In the cooling game surface area is everything, a slight reduction in flowrate is a lot less important than more surface area. When I said it didn't matter either way I was referring to putting the two radiators in series or in parallel.

As for two radiators, it really all depends upon what the rest of the loop looks like. If he only has a CPU there is no need to even have the two radiators. If he is cooling a quad and two 8800's that is a different story. If the total heat output of the components in his loop is under about 200-250W then I say just stick with the single MCR220. If he is higher than that, then you might see a drop in temperatures from adding the BIP.

 

[amoeba1126]

alright thanks!