Details
The Aquacomputer Airplex Modularity 280 mm | Copper (33073) is a 280 mm water cooling radiator for two fans side by side, with one cooling circuit. Fins are copper and the side panels stainless steel. It is 146 mm wide and 63.5 mm high, with G1/4 connection threads. It comes without mounting hardware.
Properties
- Fans
- Two, 280 mm size
- Size
- 324 x 146 x 64 mm (L x W x H)
- Ports
- G1/4, with a recess 19 mm across and 3.5 mm deep
- Fins
- Copper, on 21 copper tubes
- Circuits
- One
The airplex modularity system
The airplex modularity system is fully modular. Its main features at a glance start with that: an absolute modular system, built from components you can exchange. Aquacomputer says the system shows the competence and know-how of the ten-year history Aqua Computer had at the time; the company has been manufacturing water cooling systems since 2001. It also claims extremely high cooling performance for the series.
For the same fan size the radiator is very compact, shorter than most other radiators and only 146 mm wide. The system is expandable in all dimensions, up to an unlimited size. Side panels were offered in many colors (brushed stainless steel, black aluminum, blue, red), and this article carries the stainless steel panels.
Construction
Every radiator is based on a fin package: 21 copper tubes with stainless steel flanges pressed on at the factory. This article has copper fins, which Aquacomputer sells for maximum performance in the smallest space and a higher cooling capacity. On both sides of the fin package, a terminal made from Delrin (acetal) sits facing the flanges. A sealing gasket with o-ring seals sits between them, and each terminal is bolted on and securely fastened by screws.
Nothing is soldered and no welding is performed during production, so there are no solder joints and no soldering or welding residues. Because of that, the radiator can be completely dismantled if necessary, for example to clean it. The fins have no paint and are free of coating, which Aquacomputer gives as the reason for optimal heat transfer. Fin spacing is optimized for low fan speed, and Aquacomputer describes the slats as having an optimal structure and excellent passive cooling performance.
The coolant touches no base metals, only copper and stainless steel besides the Delrin terminals, so the cooling liquid has no direct contact to aluminum. The parts are CNC machined components made from Delrin, together with stainless steel parts. Aquacomputer says the highest accuracy of the individual components, from high precision production, will guarantee perfect installation and a perfect fit. Riveted threads are provided for fan mounting.
Flow and joining radiators
Parallel pipe routes give the radiator what Aquacomputer calls optimal flow and an optimized flow resistance. Connection threads are attached in the Delrin terminal, and a round pocket is deepened over each threaded opening. Small connection adapters plugged into these pockets let two radiators be mounted directly flush with each other, without bothersome hose connections or bulky tubing. The orientation of the radiators to each other determines the flow of coolant. Two radiators interconnected laterally, next to each other, run in series, while coolant flows through horizontally stacked radiators in parallel.
In addition, the system can grow indefinitely in length, with the fin packages connected via optional Delrin connection modules. For joining radiators we carry the side-by-side interconnection plates (33503) and the horizontally stacked set (33504).
Sizes and threads
Radiators in all lengths use the same Delrin terminals; only the side panels and fin packages are different. Accordingly, a radiator can be rebuilt into another size through the acquisition of those components. Every size shares the 146 mm width and so fits perfectly into standard 5 1/4 inch drive bays. In standard configuration, without the pump module, the radiator height is 63.5 mm. The length is 44 mm longer than the respective fan dimension. For this 280 mm model that works out to 280 mm + 44 mm = 324 mm. Aquacomputer's own example is the 360 with 3x 120 mm: 360 + 44 = 404 mm.
All threads are G1/4: the connectors are supplied as standard in that thread, so all G1/4 connections from our shop can be used. Around each connection thread the recess has a diameter of 19 mm and a depth of 3.5 mm. A connector with a larger outer diameter can only be installed with suitable extensions, not included in delivery.
Two circuits and pump modules in the range
The airplex modularity system made it possible for the first time to operate two separate cooling circuits with one radiator, and every size is offered in such a version. In the corresponding radiators, about 70% of the cooling surface is associated with the primary circuit and about 30% with the secondary. An extremely compact two-loop system can thus cool both the CPU and graphics card on one loop, for example, and heat-sensitive hard drives on the other. The two circuits are completely separated, so mixing of the coolant is impossible. Systems with multiple circuits can share one radiator that way; this article is the one-circuit version.
Pump modules with reservoir are available as optional equipment, and with one an extremely compact and easy to install water cooling can be realized. On the radiators offered with a pump module, pump and expansion tank are integrated directly into the Delrin terminal. Depending on the type, a USB fan controller with water temperature measuring is added, and optionally a flow meter and/or water filters. Of particular note here, in the range, is the Compact 600 pump module in the 12V version. It uses Aqua Computer's proven ceramic bearing, for whisper-quiet operation, and its integrated pump controller with USB interface allows a variety of monitoring and control options. A flow sensor and filter are easily installed, and the installation can be done quickly.
In the USB version of the Aqua Computer D5 pump mechanics, integrated control and monitoring electronics provide a USB and aquabus interface, a programmable alarm output and an external temperature sensor input. For monitoring and configuring, the aquasuite software is a free download. The four-pole aquabus interface also allows direct connection to an aquaero 5 controller (not included). Optionally, the alarm output can be configured as an artificial speed signal for a fan output with speed signal evaluation, such as the motherboard. It can also act as a switching output, for example to switch a LED in case of alarm. Besides the speed signal of the pump, the external temperature sensor input is used for alarm monitoring as well. That input is compatible with all temperature sensors offered by Aqua Computer.
What the loop needs
No mounting hardware comes in the box, so the riveted fan threads need screws from our fan screws section. The radiator takes two fans side by side; our fan section for that size has them. Each port you use takes one G1/4 fitting from our fittings section, and a fitting wider than the 19 mm recess sits on one of the male to female extension fittings. To stand the radiator up, the on-edge stands (33508) come from the wide range of accessories, which also lists expansion tanks, pump modules, feet, filters and sensors.
Notes
- Approved for pressures up to 0.8 bar. On request, a special design for up to 5 bar pressure is possible.
In the box
- One radiator
- Attention: these radiators do not come with mounting hardware
