Details
The Aquacomputer Airplex Modularity 280 mm Radiator - Dual Circuit | Aluminum (33012) is a 280 mm water cooling radiator for two fans. It carries two separate coolant circuits in one fin package. Its aluminum fins on copper tubes sit between stainless steel side panels. Every port is G1/4, and no mounting hardware comes with it.
Properties
- Fans
- Two, 280 mm radiator size
- Circuits
- Two, sharing the fin surface about 70:30
- Size
- 324 x 146 x 64 mm (L x W x H)
- Ports
- G1/4, each in a recess 19 mm across and 3.5 mm deep
- Fins
- Aluminum, on 21 copper tubes
A radiator built from modules
Aquacomputer's airplex modularity series is a fully modular radiator system for water cooling systems. Aquacomputer says it shows the competence and know-how of the ten-year history at Aqua Computer, which has been manufacturing water cooling systems since 2001. Its main features, seen at a glance, start with that absolute modular system: the components are exchangeable. Aquacomputer also claims extremely high cooling performance for the series.
The design is very compact. Each radiator is shorter than most other radiators for the same fan size and only 146 mm wide, and the system is expandable in all dimensions, up to unlimited size. Many colors were available for the side panels (brushed stainless steel, black aluminum, blue, red); this one wears stainless steel.
How it is built
The radiator is based on a fin package of 21 copper tubes, with stainless steel flanges pressed on at the factory. The fins here are aluminum. Many models are also available with copper fins, which Aquacomputer offers for maximum performance in the smallest space and for higher cooling capacity. A terminal made from Delrin (acetal) sits on both sides of the fin package, facing the flange. Each one has a sealing gasket with o-ring seals and is bolted to the flange with screws.
Nothing is soldered and no welding is performed during production, so there are no solder joints and no soldering residues. If necessary, the radiator can be completely dismantled, for example to clean it. The fins carry no paint or coating, for optimal heat transfer. Aquacomputer optimized the fin spacing for low fan speed, and says the slats have an optimal structure and excellent passive cooling performance.
No base metals are in contact with the coolant: it touches only copper and stainless steel, plus the Delrin of the terminals, so the cooling liquid has no direct contact to aluminum. The terminals and stainless steel parts are CNC machined components. Aquacomputer says that the highest accuracy of the individual components and high precision production guarantee perfect installation and a perfect fit. Riveted threads take the screws for fan mounting.
Flow and joining radiators
Parallel pipe routes give what Aquacomputer calls optimal flow, with optimized flow resistance. Connection threads are attached in the Delrin terminal, and over each threaded hole a round pocket has been deepened. Small connection adapters plugged into these pockets join two radiators, mounted directly flush to each other, without bothersome hose connections or bulky tubing.
The orientation of the radiators to each other determines the flow of coolant. Radiators interconnected laterally, next to each other, are connected in series; with horizontally stacked radiators, the coolant flows through them in parallel. In addition, the system can grow indefinitely in length, because further fin packages are connected via optional Delrin connection modules. For joining, we stock the interconnection plates as a side-by-side set (33503) and a horizontally stacked set (33504).
Sizes and rebuilding
Radiators in all lengths use the same Delrin terminals; only the side panels and fin packages are different. Accordingly, through the acquisition of those components, a radiator can be rebuilt into another size. All sizes share a width of 146 mm, so they fit perfectly into standard 5 1/4 inch drive bays. In standard configuration, without the pump module, the height is 63.5 mm. The length is 44 mm longer than the respective fan size: for example 3x 120 mm = 360 mm, and 360 + 44 = 404 mm. For this one that gives 280 mm + 44 mm = 324 mm.
The connectors are supplied in G1/4 as standard, so all G1/4 connections from our shop can be used. The recess around each thread measures 19 mm in diameter and 3.5 mm in depth. Aquacomputer notes that connectors with a larger outer diameter can only be installed with suitable extensions, which are not included in delivery.
Two circuits and pump modules
The airplex modularity system made it possible for the first time to operate two separate cooling circuits with one radiator, and this is such a radiator. As in the corresponding radiators of other sizes, about 70% of its cooling surface is associated with the primary circuit and about 30% with the secondary. The split thus allows extremely compact two-loop cooling systems: one loop can cool both the CPU and graphics card, for example, while the other serves heat-sensitive hard drives. The two circuits are completely separated from each other, so mixing of the coolant is impossible, and systems with multiple circuits need only this one radiator.
Pump modules with reservoir are available in the range. With the optional equipment of a pump module, an extremely compact water cooling that is easy to install can be realized. On the radiators offered with a pump module, the pump and expansion tank are integrated directly into the Delrin terminal of the radiator. In addition, depending on the type, there is a USB fan controller with water temperature measuring, and optionally a flow meter and/or water filters.
Of particular note here is the Compact 600 pump module in the 12V version. It runs on the proven ceramic bearing from Aqua Computer for whisper-quiet operation. Its integrated pump controller with USB interface allows a variety of monitoring and control options. The installation of a flow sensor and filter is easily possible, and it can be done quickly.
In its USB version, the Aqua Computer D5 pump mechanics has integrated control and monitoring electronics, with USB and aquabus interface, a programmable alarm output and an external temperature sensor input. The software for monitoring and configuring is aquasuite, which is a free download. The four-pole aquabus interface also allows direct connection to an aquaero 5 controller (not included).
The alarm output can optionally be configured as an artificial speed signal, for connection to a fan output with speed signal evaluation (as on the motherboard). It can also act as a switching output, for example to switch a LED in case of alarm. For alarm monitoring, the external temperature sensor input is watched as well, in addition to the speed signal of the pump. That input is compatible with all temperature sensors offered by Aqua Computer, such as the G1/4 temperature sensor (53067).
What the loop needs
Mounting hardware is not in the box, so the fan screws for the riveted threads come separately from our fan screws. The radiator takes two fans of its size. Every port you use needs one G1/4 fitting from our fittings, and a fitting wider than the 19 mm recess needs one of the male to female extension fittings. The loop also needs a pump; see our D5 pumps. A wide range of accessories (expansion tank, pump modules, feet, filters, sensors, ...) belongs to the system; the on-edge stands (33508) are one of them.
Notes
- Approved for pressures up to 0.8 bar. A special design for up to 5 bar pressure is possible on request.
In the box
- One radiator
- Attention: no mounting hardware is included
