Hardware Labs Nemesis 280 GTS X-Flow Radiator Review

Technical Specifications as listed by HWLabs:

• “140 mm x 1 fan slim form factor one-pass radiator – Pretty sure that is meant to be “140mm x 2 fan”
  
• 326mm x 153mm x 29.6mm (L x W x H)
• 16 FPI 25 Micron Copper Fins
• Now optimized for sub-800 rpm ultra-stealth fans
• Supercruise optimizations for scalable performance with higher speed fans
• 15% more tubing area in the same Black Ice^® GTS^™ 280 XFLOW form factor
• Increased internal coolant flow rates
• Standard G 1/4″ inlet/outlet fittings
• Standard M4 mounting threads
• Custom Dark Matter^™ high quality finish
• Fully ROHS Compliant
• 100% Made from conflict-free materials
• Industry standard Black Ice^® quality
• Lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects^*“

Dimensions Measured on the Radiator Tested:

The X-Flow is ~15mm longer than the NON X-Flow version of the Nemesis 280 GTS. The port locations at each end do make it slightly longer than most dual pass radiators with “traditional” port placements. Therefore it is advisable to check that the extra length can be accommodated in your build before committing to purchase.

Radiator Core Dimensions:

The 19 mm thick core is made up of a single layer of 16 tubes arranged in an end to end (single pass) configuration. The fin arrangement consists of split, non louvered fins with a 16 FPI count. The Nemesis 280 GTS X-Flow looks to be a really well balance core package for a radiator of this thickness and appears to be exactly the same core as we saw on the NON X-Flow variant.

The difference with the X-Flow is it’s flow path. Coolant enters at one end of the radiator, and is split to travel down the 16 tubes (single pass), before exiting the port at the other end. This greatly reduces the restriction level of the radiator which was our main concern with the regular version of the Nemesis 280 GTS.

The split, louvered fins are spaced quite evenly between the tubes and our sample had a fin count of 14 – 17 FPI.

Finish and Features

The matte black finish on the review sample was perfect. Hardware Labs has earned it’s reputation as the benchmark for PC radiators because of their excellent build quality, superb finishes, and top tier performance. The finish on latest generation of Nemesis radiators lives up to HWLabs own very high standards. All visible joints are well done, port locations are well placed and fan mounting holes are position correctly.

Screw protection plates are fitted under each fan attachment hole on the Nemesis 280 GTS X-Flow.

Fitting of protection plates is always great, even though on the Nemesis 280 GTS X-Flow the mounting holes are not located directly above any tubes.

A standard 15mm spacing is used between the center fan attachment holes..

Fan spacing across and length ways was near perfect, measuring 124.5mm – 125.0mm

Speaking of fans, let’s take a look at the Nemesis 280 GTS X-Flow with a few different fans attached.

For the 29mm thick 140mm e-Loop fans, 32mm length screws are ideal and you will almost certainly need to cut these to length as 30mm is too short and 35mm is too long.

The Nemesis 280 GTS X-Flow is fitted with just 2 x G 1/4 ports and as the name implies, are located on opposite ends of the radiator. Normally here I might complain a little about a radiator having only 2 ports fitted, but for the X-Flow I guess it can be somewhat forgiven.

It would be nice to see a port on the opposite side of at least one of the tanks to allow for easy filling and bleeding when in a roof mounted installation.
IF opposite ports were fitted on both sides of the tanks even more tube routing options would open up. Fingers crossed for the next revision.

Care has been taken to avoid paint getting onto the threads of the ports. It’s small details like this which can mean carefree integration into your loop, or unnecessary maintenance issues.

The angled tanks should make for very easy bleeding of air from the radiator when in a vertical installation.

Having the fan mounting holes offset back from the tanks slightly means even the largest of fittings can be used on the Nemesis 280 GTS X-Flow.
Here Bitspower’s jumbo sized 1/2″ x 3/4″ compression fittings are installed with plenty of room (a couple of mm) to spare.

So we have a slim (30mm thick) X-Flow radiator with a medium density core. Two G 1/4 ports are fitted to angled end tanks and screw protection plates are installed. The paint finish on the matte black sample was excellent as was the overall build quality.

All very good so far!

Let’s see how it performs…