After all, the radiator is the most important component in the custom water cooling loop.
After reading through this post, youll have a clear idea of which radiator to get for your PC.
Lets check them out.
So, its super important you get the most suitable radiator for your PC.
There are a handful of brands offering numerous radiator models across different series or branding.
They differ in dimensions, cooling capacity, radiator size, and other areas.
Compared to most radiators on the market, this one feels more well-built and resonates with confidence.
The 360mm radiator comes and has a dense fin density of 16 fins per inch (FPI).
It has a moderate thickness of 30mm, which will fit into most mid and full-tower PC cases.
The 25-micron-thick cooling fins ensure theres enough surface area for high-performance cooling.
As the cooling performance is above average, youre not forced to use powerful fans with the radiator.
you’re free to use low-noise fans and enjoy optimal cooling with no issues.
The radiator uses industry-standard mounts and screws, allowing for easy installation and wide compatibility.
Screw protection plates are present to prevent damage done by over-tightened screws.
So you’ve got the option to rely on the Corsair radiator easily.
Its a well-rounded product that packs enough performance under the hood.
The solid build quality and custom Dark Matter finish ensure the product looks and feels good.
A well-built product also indicates that its less prone to leakage.
Usually, the radiator performance degrades with low-profile fans.
But you dont get to see it here as the cooling performance is optimized for such cases.
Reliability is a strong factor for the radiator, so anyone can safely pick this radiator.
The XSPC TX240 Ultrathin claims to be the worlds thinnest PC radiator.
XSPC claims the 20.5mm thick radiator is 20% thinner than a regular 120mm fan.
Usually, a thin radiator means less surface area and less cooling.
Besides the compact size, you’re free to use low-noise fans with the radiator.
So you get decent cooling performance out of it.
You also get low-speed fan support and a matte black finish for aesthetics.
The XSPC TX240 Ultrathin punches above its league in terms of cooling capacity.
Despite having a slim dimension and compact size, it can produce decent results.
Among the few options available, the Thermaltake radiator stands out as a top pick.
The build quality and materials used are superior.
You get high-quality German zinc alloy aluminum in this radiator, which should provide great durability and longevity.
Thermaltake also ensured to take proper measures against leakage.
All the connections in the radiator are rigid and perfectly sealed to resist leaking.
Thermaltake is not the first brand that DIY liquid cooling enthusiasts typically think about while buying radiators.
However, we found this particular radiator quite decent.
And it doesnt break the bank.
The Thermaltake Pacific RL480 is for those who need a beefy 480mm radiator with solid build quality.
These are the two main aspects of this radiator.
The Thermaltake Pacific RL480 is a decent offering as a plus-size 480mm radiator.
For the size, its inexpensive and you might easily go with it.
It has the best build quality and engineering among all the radiators mentioned in this list.
The engineering and thought behind the product are also praiseworthy.
This radiator offers flexible mounting by using different inlet and outlet positions.
Its a step in the right direction.
Now about the cooling, it does a decent job on that.
The cooling performance is comparable to the top-of-the-line radiators and thats why this product is on the list.
We have carefully analyzed all these criteria to handpick the best of the bunch.
Using an AIO (all-in-one) water cooler is the mainstream approach for water cooling a PC.
We compared the temperature readings across different loads.
FPI is very important in the case of radiators.
It is also called the surface area.
The more FPI in the radiator, the more surface area you have for cooling.
Using the right materials in the construction of the radiator also impacts the cooling performance.
If youre building a DIY water-cooling PC, most probably you also care about the aesthetics.
So we also focused on the design of the radiator and the fit and finishing of it.
Size
The size of the radiator is another important factor.
Theres no point in buying a radiator that wont fit your PC case or the water cooling setup.
So we mentioned the radiator size and dimensions in the list.
But the fact is, you dont want a bulky radiator if you have short case specs.
Noise Reduction
Pushing air through larger gaps means less noise.
As the fins are more compactly arranged, airflow can create noise.
In this case, static pressure fans come in handy and act as noise reduction to your system.
FAQ
What brands of radiators are best for water cooling?
Is a thicker radiator better for water cooling?
Otherwise, the thicker radiator will give worse thermal efficiency.
What material is best for a PC radiator?
Copper and aluminum are the two most-used materials in a PC radiator.
Aluminum radiators are lighter and stronger and are more suitable for PC radiators.
Conclusion
Radiators are one of the most crucial components in a water-cooled PC.
