Quote:
Originally posted by Random Nonsense
bigger wider channels = less surface area, and also lower velocity, so the water is getting warmer in the block. E.G. one waterblock will always maintaing a core temp of 10c over the coolant temp. now, if the coolant is in the block for longer (lower velocity) then its going to get warmer. so core temp will be higher, surface area and velocity are pretty important! yes, a narrower channel will mean lower flow rate, but if you have more surface area because of it, and more fluid velocity it will perform better. |
I would think that the water in the block with the smaller channels would get warmer. Since there is more resistance, fewer gph is going to pass through the small-channeled block than the large-channeled one. Also, since more water is in contact with the small-channeled block, the water will heat up faster.
If water is be pumped too slowly through smaller channels it will reach its heat capacity and won't remove heat from the end of the channel, lowering the efficiency of the system. In this case you would want larger channels so that there is more water to heat up.
You don't want water moving too fast through large channels though because the water in the center of the channel will not heat up and will prove useless.
Depending on how your pump moves water through the block, there must be an ideal channel size/surface area which proves to be most efficient.
Just going with a block with smaller channels and more surface area may not be a good idea if your pump can't force water through it fast enough.