The Data

As all the testing in this round up was performed with the exact same equipment, using the exact same methods I have decided to keep each radiators page uncluttered by posting our testing methodology, test set-ups and equipment used in a single location. To see exactly how the tests were carried out, details of the test set ups and equipment used, please head back to the RRU’15 Test Equipment Page.

Restriction Test

It’s generally agreed that radiators are one of, if not the least restrictive components in the water cooling loop. There are some exceptions however, so this must still be verified through testing:

Nemesis 360GTS (13)

Above we see the first rad to have bested the Iwaki RD30 and not reach the maximum reading on the 3.5 GPM King Flow meter. This puppy has some restriction it seems!

Below I took a shot of the Iwaki in action I cranked it with 24 Volts to see the resulting system pressure. The system pressure is not part of any of the test results but I found it interesting as it is the highest ever pressure reading for a radiator on the test bench.

Nemesis 360GTS (14)

Here is the raw data at the tested flow rates, displaying the measured Differential Pressure across the radiator as flow rate was increased.

The table numbers indicate that the Nemesis 360GTS is a highly restrictive radiator.  However numbers in isolation can only tell half the story. By plotting against other components it more easily shows the whole story.

I have decided to use a HeatKiller 3.0 CPU block as the reference in these plots for two reasons. Firstly there is no chance of the plot being cluttered by curves overlapping and secondly it gives a reference point against a fairly common loop component of average restriction.

As with all the radiator restriction plots I have limited the maximum flow rate displayed to 2.0 GPM as I suspect there are very few systems that operate above 2.0 GPM. For more information on how to read a restriction plot check out our guide.

Now when I said the plot lines would not be cluttered I had not envisaged a rad in the test group to be as restrictive as the Nemesis 360GTS is. From the above plot it can be seen that it is slightly more restrictive than the HeatKiller CPU block (up to 1.1 gpm) – the only radiator in the group (at the time of testing) to return such results. This plot shows us that the GTS is a medium restriction component as it is fairly even with the “average” restriction reference block.

Let’s see how it fares against the other radiators in the test group.

The next three plots show the GTS’s restriction level relative to other slim radiators in the test group at 3 different flow rates – what we consider to be low, medium and high system flow rates.

From these tables it would be fair assessment to call the GTS a medim to high restrictive radiator when compared to the other slims, but before we make that conclusion let’s take a quick look at the restriction levels all our 360 rads at 1.0 gpm.

N 360GTS - RC 28.1 - 1.0

Clearly the Nemesis GTS is a very restrictive radiator at about 7 times the level of least restrictive radiators.

Our previous restriction assessment on the 360GTS is out the window and clearly demonstrates Sometimes we do need to look at a larger data set to come to accurate conclusions.

We would consider this unacceptably restrictive for a radiator.  Care will have to be taken with loop design.

Onwards to Thermal Performance!

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

14 COMMENTS

  2. I wish they did multi port versions of the Nemesis GTS. That would be the logical next design evolution for HWLabs.

  3. What are the implications for using a highly restrictive rad like the 360gts? Does it play nice with other rads in a multi rad cpu/gpu cooled rig?

    thanks

    • Hi David,
      This is a great question, that is rather complicated to answer, as so much of the detail is reliant on the other components in you water cooling loop.
      I’ll try to make the answer as simple as possible to understand, even if some the terminology isn’t technically correct.
      So…
      Let’s start back with the pump/s & pump top set up (which I’ll just call pump) that one may be using as it is the heart of any water cooling system.
      The pump has a maximum amount of “power” with which it is able to move the coolant.
      The maximum “power” has 2 dynamically linked properties which we call “Flow Rate” and “Pressure”
      As one of these properties goes up, then the other must come down, because the pump has a limit on it’s (maximum) “power”

      So let’s imagine that the pump is set up in a loop all of it’s own, with no other components.
      The flow rate will be very high because the restriction level is low and the none of the pump’s “power/pressure” is needed to overcome any restrictions.
      Now – if we start adding in components such as blocks and radiators we are placing restrictions the pump must overcome.
      To do this the pump’s “power” is dynamically changed depending on the restriction level of the components.
      More restriction = is more pressure needed by the the pump to get the coolant through the block/radiator….
      which results in a lower flow rate.
      So with a restrictive radiator like the 360GTS it will play nicely with other components in the loop.
      The question is, does your pump have enough “power” to achieve a flow rate you desire after using up “pressure” on the components.

      If nothing else, that should get you thinking 🙂

  4. Wonder if anyone knows how much the 360 GTS Nemesis weighs in grams? I almost replaced it with the Coolgate 360HD as the specs seemed better but when I held both in my hands it seemed liked the Nemesis GTS 360 was heavier as in better materials and more copper and had just as much radiator height internally though the 360hd had a taller casing and weighed 790g. Could not find wieght info published online anywhere. Mine is the X-Flow version however. Thanks

  8. Thanks for the excellent review. I really can’t figure out if this rad is for me though?? I will be using x2 360 rads to cool a 5820K+1080 GPU, using lower RPM fan speeds, but the flow restriction issue has me concerned. The Alphacool Nexxxos ST30 360 seems VERY close in performance, but with better flow restriction. Really don’t know which one to go for?! I have an EK-XRES 140 Revo D5 PWM pump/res.

    • I also have the Ek X-Res 140 Revo D5 and also like to know what’s the better 360m slim rad at the moment?

      Will the Nemesis GTS 360 work ok with this pump? I will only have the an EK block for the cpu in my loop.

      Thanks.

    • A D5 puts out about 4.5 PSI at 1GPM, let’s assume 1 PSI for your cpu block and 0.5 PSI for your gpu block. 1 Nemesis GTS rad is ~1 PSI at 1GPM. So that’s a total of 3.5PSI at 1GPM which is well within reach of a D5 🙂 So yes the GTS will be fine. It’s more of a problem if you’re going to be using 3-4 as well as multiple gpu blocks and a weaker pump 🙂

      • What about pump like Magicool DCP450?

        Im planing to use Alphacool Eisblock XFX – its very restrictive
        2x Nemesis GTS 240mm – again… very restrictive
        and single GPU full cover block.

Comments are closed.