Thermal Performance
Thermal Performance scores are derived from the relevant Performance Factor scores. We set this scale with 75% and below as the 0 mark, with each 2.5% increase in relative performance adding 0.5 to the awarded performance score.
Note: Our test group of 10 radiators range in thickness from 29.5mm to 84.5mm with core density ranging from 9 FPI to 21 FPI. This greatly differing array of samples means that the better performing thicker radiators (generally speaking) will actually make the thinner radiators scores appear worse. This is an unavoidable side effect of the scoring system and we again advise readers to focus on radiators which are suitable for the specific case scenario. Depending on the amount of variance in the results, this could end up with misleading scores based on the comparative performance.
Push Only Thermal Performance
- 4/5
The UT60 280’s Push Only APF result of 93.7% translated into a performance score of 4/5. It’s 43.5mm thick core combined with the low density FPI fin array proved to be a great match for Push Only fans. It has a marginal bias for faster speed fan speeds where it’s comparison rankings got slightly better, but had good results at the slowest fans speeds also. The UT60 280 placed 4th in the Push Only APF rankings.
Push/Pull Thermal Performance
- 3.5/5
The Push/Pull APF result of 90.2 translated into a thermal performance score of 3.5 out of 5. The UT60 280 being one the thickest radiator of the test group was expected to perform well in Push/Pull, and achieved a very respectable 4th place in the P/P APF rankings.
The Nemesis 280 GTX which scored a perfect 100 in this category pushed all the other rad’s scores down.
Imagine for a second the results without the Nemesis GTX – the UT60 280 would have placed 3rd and had a Push/Pull AFT of 96.5 with a performance score of 4.5/5.
Overall Thermal Performance
- 3.5/5
The Master Performance score of 91.9 generates an above average performance score of 3.5/5. This system generated score does seem a little harsh but again the Nemesis GTX pushed many other radiator’s scores lower having an APF result of 98.2.
Performance is not the be all and end all factor in making a purchase decision, though for many it is high on the selection criteria.
Because of the UT60’s 60mm thickness, it did not score very well in our Thermal Performance Vs. Space Efficiency metric. Additionally it’s Value performance score was also very weak in comparison to the thinner radiators which excel in both these scoring systems.
Features & Quality – 4.5/5
The UT60 280 has steel side panels which help this reasonably large radiator feel very robust. It has brass end tanks and the core is constructed of copper tubes and fins which are spaced very evenly. The satin black finish is excellent but our sample did have a few very minor blemishes. We are very pleased that Alphacool radiators now have internal cleanliness which is acceptable.
Apart from it’s size, the amount of G 1/4 ports which are fitted is the stand out physical feature of the UT60 280. With 3 each inlet/outlet ports to chose from plus an auxiliary port it has almost the maximum possible number of ports. Unfortunately Alphacool have chosen to paint the G 1/4 port threads which we believe has the potential to cause issues and unnecessary maintenance.
Tube protection plates are fitted which is great, but a shallow shroud depth meant the supplied screws were not 100% compatible out of the box.
The core is well balanced for performance across all fan assemblies despite having a very low fin count of 10 FPI. This low FPI count should mean the UT60 280 will need cleaning less often than most other radiators.
The very low restriction level will not pose any issues for pump power requirements when planning out your loop, even with multiple UT60 series radiators in the system.
Summary – 4.0/5
The UT60 280 proved to be a very good all round performer and placed 4th overall in our performance tests. It has a slight bias towards higher fan speeds due to it 43mm thick core, but still performs very well with low speed fans because of it’s low FPI count.
Unfortunately the excellent thermal performance didn’t translate so well into space efficiency or value where thinner radiators dominate the results.
It has a very low restriction level and a very low FPI count. The design is traditional looking if somewhat thicker than many other 280mm radiators on the market. The multitude of port options makes the UT60 stand out from many other models. Multi-port radiators offer end users extra freedom when planning out tubing runs and create easy options for installing temperature sensors and drainage taps.
Of the two thick Alphacool 280mm radiator options, the UT60 280 is our preferred choice over the Monsta as it offers almost identical performance with all fan assemblies and speeds, yet is ~25mm thinner.
There were two thick radiators from a competing manufacturer which had better overall performance, but one of them has only 2 ports and the other has more ports but is currently $20 more expensive.
Ultimately only you as the end user can decide which is is the best solution for you, but the UT60 280 should definitely be on your short list of options to select from because we believe it has just the right balance of options, performance and price. For these reasons the UT60 280 is being awarded ER Gold!
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