radiator shroud

[dyingstar]

Hey Guys,

So I was thinking about doing a watercooling system eventually. But I'd be a little tight on space. So, I was wondering, how much of an effect does a radiator shroud actually have? If I don't have enough space for one, would that significantly hurt processor temps?

Thanks for your help.

[Spawn-Inc]

a shroud,

http://project-2501.net/gallery/sales/rad%20+%20shroud%20(2x120mm).jpeg

doesn't take up any more space then the rad itself. otherwise you could mount it on the outside like this.

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~chsmith/AsusBuild/WC/waterCooling%20045.jpg

i can't find anymore but some people mount then where there back fan goes.

[dyingstar]

Wow, I didn't know that was a shroud. I just thought that was a protective covering so you wouldn't damage the fins and make the fans easier to mount.

I thought a shroud lifted the fans away from the rad, by say, an inch or so, to eliminate a dead spot in the air circulation. Is that called something else, or am I crazy?

[rendermandan]

dyingstar, you are correct, a shroud will help to eliminate a dead spot of air movement where the center of the fan is located, you are going to get the same amount of air moving thru the radiator regardless of its locations. The only difference is that there is less surface area for the air to contact making it less efficient.

I dont' know how much less...

[Spawn-Inc]

going by what you said i think you are thinking about this (http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=335&products_id=1956), i don't fully remember why its used but i think its used to make space for the fans to suck air better.

[dyingstar]

I just thought that I might be able to by a thinner fan too. And if I'm really short on space, I'll just cut up a cheap shroud to make it sit closer to the radiator. I think (...hope) it won't be too bad. Maybe I can test the temp difference later.

And thanks for going out of your way to answer my random questions.

[Silenced_Coyote]

I really don' know, but I looked up this article and he only mentions the use of shrouds with heatercores.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=54331

So I assume you could ditch the shroud if you don't have enough space. But the effects of the shroud should be the same on both heatercores and radiators. Well, the guide says that the heatercores are less restrictive, which probably means less fins per square inch. So a dead spot would reduce the cooling effectiveness of a heatercore more than a radiator.

[Spawn-Inc]

if you don't want to buy one you cut 120mm holes in the side of your case and mount the fan outside with some fan grills.