Radiators and Fan Arrangement Questions to improve performance

[kinghong1970]

Hi guys,
great forum you have here...

basically, a couple of years ago, I've gotten involved in the hobby of watercooling computers by adding a radiator, pump and waterblocks on the cpus and other heat sources.

well, as I've been researching builds by other folks, i notice that some folks put fans on their radiators in various methods...

i just have some questions that perhaps you guys can help with...

120mm Fans:

Stacked Push:

Stacked Pull:

Push Pull:

140mm Fans + 40mm Tapered Shroud

Stacked Push

Stacked Pull

the fans used quite commonly are:

120mm Yate Loon
Model: D12SM-12
Fan Size: 120mm x 120mm x 25mm
Speed: 1650 +/- 10% RPM
Airflow: 70.5 CFM
Noise: 33.0 dBA
Bearing: Sleeve
Voltage: 12 V
Current: .3 Amp Max
Fan Life: 30,000 hours
Connector: 3pin and 4pin pass-through connector

140mm Yate Loon
Model: D14SM-12
Fan Size: 140mm x 140mm x 25mm
Speed: 1400 +/- 10% RPM
Airflow: 62 CFM
Noise: 29.0 dBA
Bearing: Sleeve
Voltage: 12 V
Current: .7 Amp Max
Connector: 3pin and 4pin pass-through connector


1) now, in the 120mm fan arrangements, what would be the better fan arrangement of choice to improve the performance of the radiator?

2) in the 140mm fan arrangements, will there be an improvement over 120mm fan in similar arrangements, say stacked push 120mm vs stacked push 140mm?

3) with the 140mm fans, which would be perfered choice of arrangements to improve radiator performance?

4) is there an advantage of using 140mm fans to feed a 120mm fan sized radiator?

i hope that this was not inappropriate for this forum...

thanks in advance.

 

[russ_watters]

To find these answers, you really need to be able to look at fan performance curves. Are they available for these fans? It would also be helpful to have radiator design airlow and pressure drop.

 

[charng]

Hi there,

I can offer some insights into your questions about radiator and fan arrangements for computer watercooling.

1) The best fan arrangement for improving radiator performance would depend on several factors such as the size and type of radiator, the heat load of the system, and the desired noise level. In general, a push-pull configuration (fans on both sides of the radiator) tends to provide the best performance as it allows for better air flow and heat dissipation. Stacked push and pull configurations can also work well, but they may not be as effective as push-pull.

2) Generally, the larger the fan size, the better the performance. So, a stacked push 140mm fan arrangement would likely provide better performance than a stacked push 120mm fan arrangement, assuming all other factors are the same.

3) Similar to the 120mm fan arrangements, a push-pull configuration would likely be the best choice for improving radiator performance with 140mm fans. However, stacked push or pull configurations can also work well.

4) There may be some advantages to using 140mm fans to feed a 120mm fan sized radiator, such as increased air flow and potentially lower noise levels. However, it would be important to ensure that the 140mm fans are compatible with the radiator and can provide enough air flow to effectively cool the system.

I hope this helps answer your questions. Keep in mind that the best fan arrangement for your specific setup may require some experimentation and tweaking to find the optimal balance between performance and noise levels. Happy watercooling!