A basic,
mid-height dual 120mm radiator that’s also cheap
Aquacomputer’s
airplex radiators run from the budget to the ludicrous (its modular radiators
cost well over $225), with the XT 240 falling into the former category. At just
$55, it’s the cheapest piece of kit in this month’s Labs, but that doesn’t mean
it’s lacking in quality or ability.
With
dimensions of 275mm x 123mm x 45mm, the XT 240 offers a mid-point between
half-and full-height. This means that many more cases can accommodate it, as
well as the necessary cooling fans, without compromising too much surface area.
Aquacomputer airplex XT 240
However,
there have been some sacrifices to get the price down, with the XT 240 offering
only a pair of 1/4in thread fittings in the standard 90-degree orientation from
the radiator. Each port is fully separate from the other, forcing flow through
the radiator fins. However, just having two 1/4in thread fittings limits the
direction at which fittings can enter the radiator, and may necessitate the use
of angled or 90-degree fittings, depending on your loop layout. The lack of an
aeration port also means you’ll need to rotate the radiator fully once it’s
plumbed in and filled, before fitting it into your case, to ensure there are no
air bubbles in the radiator.
Aquacomputer also includes a pair of 120mm
rubber vibration-dampening pads to reduce fan noise, and eight 30mm screws to
mount a pair of 120mm fans to the radiator.
Despite
only shipping with a pair of ports, the XT 240 includes plastics screw caps for
both its ports to prevent oxidisation during shipping. Aquacomputer also
includes a pair of 120mm rubber vibration-dampening pads to reduce fan noise,
and eight 30mm screws to mount a pair of 120mm fans to the radiator.
Plumbed
into our fully water-cooled test system, using the XSPC RayStorm and XSPC Razor
GTX 680, the XT 240 delivered disappointing cooling ability considering its
45mm thickness. A CPU delta T of 520C was the highest of the four
radiators tested, as was the GPU delta T of 310C. The coolant delta
T temperature of 120C was also 20C higher than the 60mm
full-height radiators, indicating the XT 240’s reduced thermal capacity. Its
high-flow rate of 4.25 litres/min was also lower than that of the Alphacool,
but surpassed that of both the Phobya and XSPC.
Conclusion
We were
hoping that the Aquacomputer airplex XT240 would offer better cooling thanks to
its 45mm thickness and increased surface area. Sadly, its cooling was the worst
on test, although there were only a few degrees between it and the very best.
Its no-fuss approach is still sure to attract those looking for a cheaper loop,
and in this regard, its budget price tag also makes it strong. However, a
quality 60mm radiator such as the Alphacool should still be your first choice
if your case can accommodate it.
|
Pros
and cons
Airplex
Low
price; no unnecessary extras
Complex
Lacks
flexibility; disappointing cooling ability
How
much?
Product
code: 31103
Price:
$55 inc VAT
Supplier:
www.aquatuning.co.uk
Manufacturer:
www.aquacomputer.de
|
|
Scores
|
|
Cooling
|
7/10
|
|
Design
|
6/10
|
|
Value
|
9/10
|
|
Overall:
74%
|
7/10
|
