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Pilo
Senior Member
Saturday, May 3rd 2014, 11:35am
There are some differences between a radiator with copper (Cu) fins compared to a rad with aluminium (Al) fins.
1. The price: copper is much more expensive.
2. The weight/density: Cu = 8,92 g/cm3; Al = 2,7 g/cm3 ; Copper is more than three times heavier than Aluminium.
3. The optics: copper red against a silverish look; also copper tends to tarnish over time, AL has a natural oxide coating of aluminium oxide [Al2O3] which is pretty much inert.
4. Thermal conductivity: Cu = 400 W/(m · K); Al = 235 W/(m · K); Copper has the ability to almost conduct twice as much heat over time than Aluminium.
vs. 
Conclusion:
If you are rich, like the copper looks to death, are a strength athlete or own a crane to move your rig (with mutiple Cu fin rads installed) and/or need as much thermal conductivity as possible - for instance you don't have much space in your rig and can only install one radiator - than a copper fin radiator is your thing.
On the other hand: Al rads are favorable in price (~50€ cheaper per rad) the lesser weight is also a in favour for Aluminium in relation to Copper if you have multiple big rads installed. The thermal conductivity is neglectable in my opinion if you use multiple big radiators like you intend to do, because if you have fans installed and they run at low speed, the cooling capability is already overkill with those aluminium fin radiators. Nothing in a rig produces so much heat that it needs such intense cooling. You see, even pure air cooling is already enough to keep the CPU and GPU(s) in stable conditions.
I hope my post helps you to make a profound decision.
1. The price: copper is much more expensive.
2. The weight/density: Cu = 8,92 g/cm3; Al = 2,7 g/cm3 ; Copper is more than three times heavier than Aluminium.
3. The optics: copper red against a silverish look; also copper tends to tarnish over time, AL has a natural oxide coating of aluminium oxide [Al2O3] which is pretty much inert.
4. Thermal conductivity: Cu = 400 W/(m · K); Al = 235 W/(m · K); Copper has the ability to almost conduct twice as much heat over time than Aluminium.
vs. Conclusion:
If you are rich, like the copper looks to death, are a strength athlete or own a crane to move your rig (with mutiple Cu fin rads installed) and/or need as much thermal conductivity as possible - for instance you don't have much space in your rig and can only install one radiator - than a copper fin radiator is your thing.
On the other hand: Al rads are favorable in price (~50€ cheaper per rad) the lesser weight is also a in favour for Aluminium in relation to Copper if you have multiple big rads installed. The thermal conductivity is neglectable in my opinion if you use multiple big radiators like you intend to do, because if you have fans installed and they run at low speed, the cooling capability is already overkill with those aluminium fin radiators. Nothing in a rig produces so much heat that it needs such intense cooling. You see, even pure air cooling is already enough to keep the CPU and GPU(s) in stable conditions.
I hope my post helps you to make a profound decision.
Larry L
Junior Member
Saturday, May 3rd 2014, 1:01pm
4. Thermal conductivity: Cu = 400 W/(m · K); Al = 235 W/(m · K); Copper has the ability to almost conduct twice as much heat over time than Aluminium. 
In order to make the loop simpler be better off with three x airplex modularity system 360 mm, copper fins.
Nothing in a rig produces so much heat that it needs such intense cooling, The goal is a 4.8 GHz over clock 24/7. My concern is average ambient temperatures 94F. The old system I7 990x with a 4.5GHz with one SR-1 360 running Prime after one hour on a dual loop 79c needed a second 360 for a 4.8GHz O.C... Limited to 2 x 580 Hydros on a 360 SR-1 Rad.
New system running a single loop full water blocks water blocks on the Mother Board. The new system Asus Rampage lV B. E. with CPU i7 4930k with the luck of the lottery on the cpu hopefully 4.8 GHz Plus. Start with 2 x 780s = 5 water blocks. In4 months will install a third GPU. Never say never LOL. This is the first single loop build so my concern is heat never run the cpus over 80c on the hottest core.
Start with three 360s.
In order to make the loop simpler be better off with three x airplex modularity system 360 mm, copper fins.
Nothing in a rig produces so much heat that it needs such intense cooling, The goal is a 4.8 GHz over clock 24/7. My concern is average ambient temperatures 94F. The old system I7 990x with a 4.5GHz with one SR-1 360 running Prime after one hour on a dual loop 79c needed a second 360 for a 4.8GHz O.C... Limited to 2 x 580 Hydros on a 360 SR-1 Rad.
New system running a single loop full water blocks water blocks on the Mother Board. The new system Asus Rampage lV B. E. with CPU i7 4930k with the luck of the lottery on the cpu hopefully 4.8 GHz Plus. Start with 2 x 780s = 5 water blocks. In4 months will install a third GPU. Never say never LOL. This is the first single loop build so my concern is heat never run the cpus over 80c on the hottest core.
Start with three 360s.
lee-turbo
Junior Member
Saturday, May 10th 2014, 5:29am
unpainted, raw"average ambient temperatures 94F"
That's a hot room. My ambient can reach 86F on occasions and I see a reduction in cooling. I've been looking at chillers, I have a old aquarium chiller I do not use any more. I may see about modding it to cool loop temps. Your loop temp is 34C at that ambient, any idea what the DT is going to be?
"4. Thermal conductivity: Cu = 400 W/(m · K); Al = 235 W/(m · K); Copper
has the ability to almost conduct twice as much heat over time than
Aluminium."
Are the fins painted or unpainted? If painted it makes a significant difference.
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