Upgrade from a 280 to 360 Rad? Or got to 2 Loops

[Fuganater]

Hey all,

First off. Hardware:
i7 2600K OC'd to 4.6Ghz
2x GTX 560Ti

I fold 24x7 on this rig so I want to make it run cooler.

I have a CM HAF-X with a 1.140 EK Rad on the back and a 2.140 Phobya G-Changer in the top. Right now my idle water temp is 26C with the AC set to 22 in the room and 30C with the AC off. When folding, my water temp is right around 36C.

The question is, Will a 3.120 rad in the top give me much better temp than the 2.140 rad? I was looking at EK, XSPC and Black Ice 360 rads for the replacement.

I was looking at these rads mainly for the price range. Suggestions?

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_200&products_id=3123

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_671&products_id=30285

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_671&products_id=32460
or

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=59_457_667_668&products_id=26777

I'm also debating going to 2 loops. I can put the 360 up top for the CPU since its OC'd and maybe cut the HDD at the bottom down to 2 and put the 280 down there?

Lemme know what you guys think.

Thanks for the help!

[NightrainSrt4]

It would depend on the efficiency of the radiator itself, but a 3x120 radiator has ~10% more area than a 2x140. Not a huge difference. Assuming a similar thickness, quality, and fin / channel density, there probably wouldn't be a huge difference in performance. It wouldn't be worth it to me to rip everything apart and refill, unless you already were planning on doing that.

Setting up two loops would yield lower temps assuming adequate airflow to the radiators but you are already at relatively low temps, so you might not get the large drop you are looking for. You are already at only a 6-10C delta, so diminishing returns would more than likely take effect.

[diluzio91]

He's right. you would be better off adding another small - medium sized rad to the loop.

[Fuganater]

After talking to some people on Facebook and Bit-Tech, I think I'm going to just do 2 loops. I'll put the 360 up top for the GPUs and mod my HDD drive bays so I can fit the 280 in the bottom for the CPU. I still have the 140 attached so I may keep that in the loops too.

[blaze15301]

i would say for best temps you should go to loops. that way the cpu and gpu temps aren't interfering, but you may only see a 5c difference.