Hey guys I am new to custom picking all the parts for a new water cooling setup and I have a few question for you guys. First I have noticed that most radiators come standard with 1/4ID fittings I was thinking of using 1/2 tubing for my system and wonder if you can use the Koolance 1/4 to 1/2 fittings on any radiators.Also what should I look for in fittings for the radiator I chose if the fitting says one end is 1/4 and the tube fitting end is 1/2 should I be ok using any fitting? I also have a question about tubing itself. What is the best OD for 1/2ID tubing? Is using 7/16 tubing a better idea since it will fit over 1/2 barbs? Sorry if any of these questions seem dumb I'm just trying to figure out all this stuff before I start ordering anything.
New to Water Cooling have some Questions
- Thread starter agallo
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Aqua-Pc's
New member
Aqua-Pc's
New member
Thats what im here for 
between 10/8mm to 1/2" tubing the temp diff has been measured at 0.5c so tbh it dosent matter what size you pick.
between 10/8mm to 1/2" tubing the temp diff has been measured at 0.5c so tbh it dosent matter what size you pick.
°TheMadDutchDude°
Banned
If you want to be careful I think that you should get the 7/16 if you're unsure. You will have to get it heated (run it under hot water for a minute or so) and then slide it on to the end of the barb and it won't come off for sure, but also.. make sure you tighten it up with a clip (sorry cannot remember the name!)
I got 7/16" Black XSPC tubing over 1/2" D-Tek barbs and literally had to unscrew the barb from the thread and use a stanly knife to cut the tubing off. I still used cable ties as insurance (DDC Ultra and all) but if I we're using a less powerful pump I would have been quite happy to trust the grip of the tubing alone.
°TheMadDutchDude°
Banned
That is something stupid to say if you ask me (no offence!)
Why trust it alone.. if it pops off say good-bye to your system.. better safe than sorry!
Why trust it alone.. if it pops off say good-bye to your system.. better safe than sorry!
SwaleSmith
New member
I use 1/2'' just for the looks but as was stated before my any will do really 3/8'' is easier to work with
Well there's not a big advantage with bigger ID on tubings.. Like the Aqua pc dude say the temp differential is about 0.5c. The advantage with 1/2" ID tubes and highflow systems are the ability to run longer loops, or cool more blocks before returning to radiators to bleed of heat.
I ran a 1/2" ID 11/16" OD tubing system and the tubes are humongous, it doesn't sound so big until you get them.. Then there's the question on how much tubing you want, I find 8x1 tubes and compression barbs the best around, easy to install and easy to remove and watertight..
Just a thought
.. also G1/4 barbs have better flow than G1/8 but it doesn't really matter much on performance. And if you absolutely need to go between tube sizes there's not that much loss of flow going from 1/2" ID to 3/8" ID with a "converter". But as long as you can stay on one "standard" then it makes tubing easier for you..
-Bubba
I ran a 1/2" ID 11/16" OD tubing system and the tubes are humongous, it doesn't sound so big until you get them.. Then there's the question on how much tubing you want, I find 8x1 tubes and compression barbs the best around, easy to install and easy to remove and watertight..
Just a thought
.. also G1/4 barbs have better flow than G1/8 but it doesn't really matter much on performance. And if you absolutely need to go between tube sizes there's not that much loss of flow going from 1/2" ID to 3/8" ID with a "converter". But as long as you can stay on one "standard" then it makes tubing easier for you.. -Bubba
name='Bubba' said:Well there's not a big advantage with bigger ID on tubings.. Like the Aqua pc dude say the temp differential is about 0.5c. The advantage with 1/2" ID tubes and highflow systems are the ability to run longer loops, or cool more blocks before returning to radiators to bleed of heat.
I ran a 1/2" ID 11/16" OD tubing system and the tubes are humongous, it doesn't sound so big until you get them.. Then there's the question on how much tubing you want, I find 8x1 tubes and compression barbs the best around, easy to install and easy to remove and watertight..
Just a thought
-Bubba
I see a lot of people use compression fittings now. Whats the difference between compression fittings and just normal high flow barbs, and can you use compression fittings with most rads and systems or is a special rad needed?
Nope.. compression fittings only mean you don't have to worry about using hoseclamps to tighten the seal around the barb.. The flow is the same as both compression fittings and normal barbs go inside the tube, you can get 1/2" id compression fittings aswell, the only issue is that compression fittings require more space than normal barbs. I'll try to explain how they work..
You've got a shorter barb than usual, meaning less hose gets over the barb, but instead of hoseclamps you've thread a screw/nut on the hose which then screws on over/around the barb, which does 2 things: 1 it locks the hose to the barb and it makes it watertight.. it's called compression fittings because the screw/nut compresses the hose against the barb.. It's easier to do maintenance on since you don't have to cut cableties or unscrew clamps.. But it's really down to preference.. Compression fittings also are more expensive than normal barbs.
Since I've recently bought from aqua-computer I know about their compression fittings.. But Innovatek also use them. Koolance offers both normal barbs and compression fittings.
The thread on the compression fittings are as standard as anything else.. Aqua-computer sells G1/8 and G1/4 threaded compression fittings with 11/8 and 10/8 sizes. Koolance have quite a bit more to chose from.. But be aware that they do take up more space on your block so 2 of them might not fit next to eachother if it's allready a tight fit with regular barbs.
There's also a third kind of barbs, which utilize the entire ID of the hose.. That's using thicker and way way stiffer hoses. So far I've only seen Asetek (waterchill) and Aqua-computer (Plug&Cool) use it (system names in '()').. That's even easier than compression fittings, but alot more care have to be taken when cutting the tubes so that it's a even and nice cut.. The Push-in systems have the same threads as regualr and compression fittings aswell..
so.. it's just a matter of what you prefer.
-Bubba
You've got a shorter barb than usual, meaning less hose gets over the barb, but instead of hoseclamps you've thread a screw/nut on the hose which then screws on over/around the barb, which does 2 things: 1 it locks the hose to the barb and it makes it watertight.. it's called compression fittings because the screw/nut compresses the hose against the barb.. It's easier to do maintenance on since you don't have to cut cableties or unscrew clamps.. But it's really down to preference.. Compression fittings also are more expensive than normal barbs.
Since I've recently bought from aqua-computer I know about their compression fittings.. But Innovatek also use them. Koolance offers both normal barbs and compression fittings.
The thread on the compression fittings are as standard as anything else.. Aqua-computer sells G1/8 and G1/4 threaded compression fittings with 11/8 and 10/8 sizes. Koolance have quite a bit more to chose from.. But be aware that they do take up more space on your block so 2 of them might not fit next to eachother if it's allready a tight fit with regular barbs.
There's also a third kind of barbs, which utilize the entire ID of the hose.. That's using thicker and way way stiffer hoses. So far I've only seen Asetek (waterchill) and Aqua-computer (Plug&Cool) use it (system names in '()').. That's even easier than compression fittings, but alot more care have to be taken when cutting the tubes so that it's a even and nice cut.. The Push-in systems have the same threads as regualr and compression fittings aswell
..so.. it's just a matter of what you prefer.
-Bubba
name='Bubba' said:Nope.. compression fittings only mean you don't have to worry about using hoseclamps to tighten the seal around the barb.. The flow is the same as both compression fittings and normal barbs go inside the tube, you can get 1/2" id compression fittings aswell, the only issue is that compression fittings require more space than normal barbs. I'll try to explain how they work..
You've got a shorter barb than usual, meaning less hose gets over the barb, but instead of hoseclamps you've thread a screw/nut on the hose which then screws on over/around the barb, which does 2 things: 1 it locks the hose to the barb and it makes it watertight.. it's called compression fittings because the screw/nut compresses the hose against the barb.. It's easier to do maintenance on since you don't have to cut cableties or unscrew clamps.. But it's really down to preference.. Compression fittings also are more expensive than normal barbs.
Since I've recently bought from aqua-computer I know about their compression fittings.. But Innovatek also use them. Koolance offers both normal barbs and compression fittings.
The thread on the compression fittings are as standard as anything else.. Aqua-computer sells G1/8 and G1/4 threaded compression fittings with 11/8 and 10/8 sizes. Koolance have quite a bit more to chose from.. But be aware that they do take up more space on your block so 2 of them might not fit next to eachother if it's allready a tight fit with regular barbs.
There's also a third kind of barbs, which utilize the entire ID of the hose.. That's using thicker and way way stiffer hoses. So far I've only seen Asetek (waterchill) and Aqua-computer (Plug&Cool) use it (system names in '()').. That's even easier than compression fittings, but alot more care have to be taken when cutting the tubes so that it's a even and nice cut.. The Push-in systems have the same threads as regualr and compression fittings aswell
so.. it's just a matter of what you prefer.
-Bubba
Sorry if Im having a hard time understanding. With compression fitting I thought you didnt have to use clamps or zip ties?
