240 VS 280 Radiator: Which One Is The Best For Your System Performance?

By: Edon Lazaj

The cooling system has always been a crucial part of the computer, and water-cooling (or AIO – All in One) is one of the best ways to cool down your system.

These cooling parts are available in different sizes, and the most common sizes are 240mm and 280mm. Those various choices may confuse you, but luckily Digitalne.tv here to help you decide between 240 vs 280 radiators.

240 Vs 280 Radiators: What Is The Difference?

You can quickly notice that the main difference between these kinds of radiators is their size. Those numbers indicate the radiator’s length, which means the 240 radiator is 240mm long, and the 280 one is 280mm in length.

Those two kinds of radiators both come with two cooling fans, but because of their size, each one supports different types of fans. The 240 radiator uses two 120mm cooling fans, while the 280 radiators are dedicated to 140mm fans instead.

How Differently Would They Affect My System?

Radiators are the most critical part when it comes to cooling ability, which means the bigger radiator, the better performance. Theoretically, we can easily say the 280 radiator is the better one.

240 vs 280 radiator

But real-life experiments show that these two kinds with the same specifications don’t create a big difference in lowering your system’s temperature. So what are the other aspects of these two radiators that separate their cooling ability?

FPI

The first thing is the FPI (Fins per inch) of the core. They are zig-zag pieces of the core, which increase the amount of the metal that absorbs temperature.

For a more efficient radiator, you would like to have a higher FPI because it can increase the surface area or the cooling capacity by manipulating the core.

By that, a 240mm radiator with a higher FPI can surpass the cooling ability of the 280mm. The problem is, higher FPI produces more noises during the fan’s operation.

Core Thickness

The next thing is the radiator’s thickness. Using a thicker radiator is another way to increase the core’s surface area. With a thick radiator, you can have less FPI to lower the noises generating from the airflow hitting the fins.

Cooling Fans

The last thing we want to talk about is the radiator’s cooling fans. Cooling fans are responsible for creating airflow to cool down the core. That means the more airflow the fans produce, the better.

Thanks to the greater size of the fans, the 280mm radiator usually performs better than the 240mm.

But do mind that cooling fans are the least important parts when it comes to lowering your system temperature since most of the cooling comes from the radiator’s core.

Even if you use the passive cooling ability of the core without fans, the temperature difference would only be around 10 degrees Celsius.

Which One Is Compatible With My System?

The most important thing you should consider is the AIO’s supported sockets. Please make sure the cooling system fits your main socket, or you won’t be able to mount it.

The second thing you should bear in mind is the radiator’s size. Bigger radiators would indeed perform better, but you have to ensure that it fits into the case without blocking any other components.

Final Thoughts

Having a proper cooling system plays a key role in decreasing and increasing your system performance. But when it comes to radiators that use two fans, 240 vs 280 ones may confuse you to pick up the best cooling method for your system.

With all the information given above, we hope that you can gather enough knowledge to decide which one is the best to complete your beloved computer build.

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