Details
The Aquacomputer Airplex Modularity 480 mm Radiator - Dual Circuit | Aluminum (33027) is a 480 mm water cooling radiator for four 120 mm fans. It has aluminum fins, stainless steel side panels and two separate circuits. It is 146 mm wide, has a height of 63.5 mm and G1/4 connection threads, and comes without mounting hardware.
Properties
- Fans
- 4x 120 mm
- Size
- 524 x 146 x 64 mm (L x W x H)
- Ports
- G1/4, recess 19 mm in diameter and 3.5 mm deep
- Fins
- Aluminum, on 21 copper tubes
- Circuits
- Two, about 70% primary and 30% secondary
A fully modular radiator system
At a glance, the main features start with an absolute modular system of exchangeable components. Aquacomputer says the series shows the competence and know-how of its ten year history at that time. Aqua Computer has been manufacturing water cooling systems since 2001, and it claims extremely high cooling performance for the series.
The radiator is very compact: shorter than most other radiators for the same fan size, and only 146 mm wide. The system is expandable in all dimensions, to unlimited size. Many colors were available for the side panels (brushed stainless steel, black aluminum, blue, red); this radiator has the stainless steel ones.
How it is built
Every airplex modularity radiator is based on a fin package of 21 copper tubes, with stainless steel flanges pressed on at the factory. This one has aluminum fins. Copper fins are available on many models of the range, for maximum performance in the smallest space and higher cooling capacity. On both sides of the fin package a terminal made from Delrin (acetal) sits facing the flanges, with a sealing gasket and o-ring seals, bolted on with screws.
There are no solder joints and no welding is performed during production, so no soldering or welding residues can stay inside. Because nothing is soldered, the radiator can be dismantled completely if necessary, for example to clean it. The fins carry no paint or coating, for optimal heat transfer. The fin spacing is optimized for low fan speed, and Aquacomputer says the slats have an optimal structure with excellent passive cooling performance.
No base metals are in contact with the coolant: the water path is only copper and stainless steel, plus the Delrin terminals. The pipes are made of copper, so the cooling liquid has no direct contact to the aluminum fins. CNC machined components made from Delrin and stainless steel parts are used throughout. Aquacomputer says the highest accuracy of the individual components and its high precision production guarantee perfect installation and a perfect fit. Riveted threads take the fan mounting screws.
Two separate cooling circuits
This is the two-circuit version. For the first time, the airplex modularity system made it possible to operate two separate cooling circuits with one radiator. In the corresponding radiators, which include this one, about 70% of the cooling surface is associated with the primary circuit and about 30% with the secondary. Thus an extremely compact two-loop system can, for example, cool both the CPU and graphics card on one loop and heat-sensitive hard drives on the other. The two circuits are completely separated from each other, so mixing of the coolant is impossible. Systems with multiple circuits can thus share one radiator.
Flow and connecting radiators
Aquacomputer gives the series optimal flow, with optimized flow resistance through parallel pipe routes. In the Delrin terminal, a round pocket has been deepened over each threaded connection attached there. 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. Coolant flows through horizontally stacked radiators in parallel.
The system can also grow indefinitely in length: further fin packages are connected via optional Delrin connection modules. The interconnection plates are sold 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, a radiator can be rebuilt into another size through the acquisition of those components. All sizes share the width of 146 mm, so they fit perfectly into standard 5 1/4 inch drive bays. In standard configuration, without the pump module, every radiator is 63.5 mm high. Its length is 44 mm longer than the respective fan size. For example, 3x 120 mm = 360 mm, plus 44 mm, gives 404 mm; for this radiator, 4x 120 mm = 480 mm, plus 44 mm, gives 524 mm.
The connectors are supplied as standard in G1/4, so all G1/4 connections from our shop can be used. The recess around each thread is 19 mm in diameter and 3.5 mm deep. Connectors with a larger outer diameter can only be installed with suitable extensions, which are not included in delivery.
Pump modules in the range
Pump modules with reservoir are available too. With the optional equipment of a pump module, 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. 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, in the range, is the Compact 600 pump module in the 12V version. It runs on 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 can be installed easily, and the job is quickly done.
The USB version of 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 aquasuite software for monitoring and configuring is a free download. Its 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 a fan output with speed signal evaluation (such as the motherboard). It can also be a switching output, for example to switch a LED in case of alarm. Besides the pump's speed signal, 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
Mounting hardware is not in the box, so plan the fan screws for the riveted threads; see our fan screws. The radiator takes four 120 mm fans. Each port in use takes one G1/4 fitting from our fittings section; a fitting wider than the 19 mm recess needs one of the male to female extension fittings. Brackets and other parts for fixing the radiator are in our radiator mounting hardware section. Aquacomputer's wide range of accessories also covers expansion tanks, pump modules, feet, filters and sensors.
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
