Watercooling radiator heat dissipation: black fins vs white fins

[KrzysiekX10]

Has anyone tested how painting radiator fins white instead of black affects the heat dissipation of the radiator?

For instance, Hardware Labs makes these cool-looking white radiators, but they do not only paint the body white; the fins are also white on the white models. Could this significantly decrease heat dissipation of the radiator? Because if so, then buying the black version and painting it with white spray paint with fins masked would be a much better option.

 

[Lutfij]

In truth I personally find that the paint of any radiator be it by EKWB or even XSPC extend only up to the shrouds and the fins are partially painted. Improvements in manufacturing processes have led o some radiators with more than partially painted fins. If you end up with bare copper fins to dissipate the heat, it's a better option than having paint over them. True that the paint prevents tarnishing and corrosion of the copper and affecting the heat dissipation but you also need to factor that the layer of paint is hampering heat dissipation as well.

Are you sure the fins are painted all the way through? Physically it's impossible to paint ever mm of the bends in the fins on a radiator.

 

[KrzysiekX10]

In truth I personally find that the paint of any radiator be it by EKWB or even XSPC extend only up to the shrouds and the fins are partially painted. Improvements in manufacturing processes have led o some radiators with more than partially painted fins. If you end up with bare copper fins to dissipate the heat, it's a better option than having paint over them. True that the paint prevents tarnishing and corrosion of the copper and affecting the heat dissipation but you also need to factor that the layer of paint is hampering heat dissipation as well.

Are you sure the fins are painted all the way through? Physically it's impossible to paint ever mm of the bends in the fins on a radiator.

Well, I'm not entirely sure what proportion of the fins is painted. Here you can see the radiator that I had in mind when writing the post: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hardware-Labs-Black-Nemesis-Radiator-x/dp/B01NCF5MRO