Watercooling - Radiator thicknesses: 60mm Push, 45mm Push-Pull or 30mm Push-Pull?

[Apoca1ypse]

Just after some recommendations on what to run for my new rig.

I'm using a 900D and intend to have 4 radiators: 2x 480mm [top and basement] and 2x 240mm [front and basement]. I know for the front I have to use a 30mm radiator in a push configuration, but I'm curious as to what to run in the other spots. I know push-pull will be more expensive because of fans, but what will be the performance difference?

Note: the basement will be partitioned off. air will come in through one side of the basement [480mm rad] and exhausted out the other side [240mm rad]

Options for Top:
60mm thick rad in a push configuration
45mm thick rad in push-pull.

Options for Basement:
2x 60mm thick rads in a push configuration
2x 45mm thick rads in push-pull
1x 60mm thick rad in a push configuration and 1x 30mm thick rad in push-pull

All basement options leave 45mm between rads.

Monetarily, and ease of setup, the 60mm thick rads in the bottom will be easier to manage, but I'm just concerned that they may be too thick for only a push setup.

The fans I will be using are Noiseblocker e-loop PS.

 

[i7Baby]

The thicker the radiator, the better. Push-pull doesn't make as big a difference.

 

[Apoca1ypse]

so there wont be an issue with 1 fan on a 60mm thick rad?

Also, it occurs to me that I only have 3 fans taking air into the upper section of the case [2 through a 30mm rad] and 4 fans exhausting through through a 60mm rad. Will that lead to much of an issue with dust from negative air pressure? or am I overestimating the effect?

 

[i7Baby]

No issue.

It would be nicer to have more air going in than out. But its not a deal breaker. You can always fine tune down the track.

 

[Apoca1ypse]

Cheers for the help. I'm not sure what I could do with the setup to fix the air flow tbh as there wont be enough places to take air into the main area of the case. I ~could~ invert the fans so that air comes in through the top and out the front/back, but that strikes me as being able to let even more dust into the system...

Also would a single D5 pump be ok to push water through 4 rads and 2 water blocks [EK supremacy evo and EK r295x2] or should I look into running 2 pumps in series?

 

[i7Baby]

I think you'd need something bigger. Partly depends on the amount of heat your trying to dissipate. The more heat, the faster flow rate you need. All those radiators and the two blocks will slow it down a fair bit. I'd go at least two loops on that lot.

 

[cozmium]

Just fyi, the biggest factor regarding whether or not push/pull is beneficial, is all down to fin density. Some radiators have quite sparse fins (4-5mm or so) which will make no difference if it's push pull. If you have a radiator with a high density (say 1-1.5mm) then the fan's ability to provide enough pressure will come in to play, which can be countered with push/pull.

Also, people are wrong to think flow rate is particularly relevant. Flow rate is just a product, not a factor - the positic head pressure is what matters. If a small pump can only provide so much pressure and is used on lots of blocks, a large restrictive radiator, it will struggle and the flow rate will drop. If a bigger pump is used with a better head pressure it will not struggle and maintain good flow rate. Both pumps could have the same flow rate for all it matters, it isn't something you buy a pump for though.

 

[Apoca1ypse]

Well, I'm looking at using all Alphacool radiators and EK blocks.

This is what the part list looks like now:

2x Alphacool NexXxos UT60 480mm rads
1x Alphacool NexXxos UT60 240mm rads
1x Alphacool NexXxos UT30 240mm rads
1x EK-Supremacy Evo waterblock with LGA2011 jet place
1x EK-FC R9-290X2
1x EK-RES X3

Its looking like I'm also going to have to use 4x 90 degree fittings to get things fitting in the basement.

I guess I could just use 2 D5 vario pumps in series as EK make some nice adapter plates, or I could go without the UT30 rad on the front