Experience from radiators in parallel setup?

[surfarhy]

Hello everyone,

this is my first post so pls be gentle... 🙂

I'm about to setup a new water cooling rig for my two PCs and a soon to be file server. And as you can imagine, there will be a decent amount of heat that will be exchanged from the radiators from three machines during max load.
My main question is if anyone have seen or used themself radiators in parallel setup? I will be using two 360mm radiators (hopefully thats enough), but instead of having them connected in serial I'm going to let the water go in parallel to increase cooling effiency (thats what I was hoping for at least). Does the theory work in real life as well?

My main goal is moderately overclocked computers at a very low noise level. Please have a look at the schematics here and let me know what you think.

Regards, Surfarhy.

 

[aigomorla]

seperate each computer on its own loop.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
seperate each computer on its own loop.

QFT. With that setup, it will be much easier with no performance difference really, especially because it is your first time. The simplicity of the loop would be your main plus, because with your suggestion, it would be hard to calculate the differences in flow rates, heat outputs, and any other environmental factor. Just keep it simple.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

either buy the parts to make it a dual loop, or put it in serial.

 

[surfarhy]

Actually the computers do have their own serial loops, its just before and after the radiators that the system is combined in parallel. Flow rate differences is no issue since each pc has its own pump and the water is joined just before the radiator and split up again after. When either of the computers are shutdown that loop wont move any water since the pump itself works as a water blocker.
Regarding heat output I do estimate it to somewhere around 500W during load. Since we dont use both computers at the same time most of the time, I will have two radiators available instead of one as it would been in a separate radiator setup.

I do have some experience with water cooling from before but nothing from dual radiator setup, so thats why I'm asking if anyone have some real experience from it. I'm well aware that things could be much simpler if I'd just stick with separate radiators. The only parts that are self made will be the connections before and after the radiators to split up the water to each loop (still thinking about it).

But do you agree or disagree with me about water velocity/time in the radiators? It must be better if the fans have as much time as possible to cool a certain amount of water before it leaves the radiator? Dont need to be a genius to understand that, or am I lost as usual again?