A radiator only cares about the temperature of incoming air

Back in late 2022 when I built my current desktop computer, I opted for a mini-ITX case rather than the typical huge ATX case. I’d been interested in liquid cooling for a long time, and for such a small case, it seemed like the best fit. Liquid cooling promises superior cooling performance, quieter operation, and is better suited for compact builds which lack space for high air flow rate. Things didn’t work out that well: my PC has been quite noisy, and I had suspicions of thermal throttling, but never made the time to properly gather data and study the situation. Until today. While I built this setup, I carried over a lot of my knowledge in building air-cooled systems. The water block’s radiator sat at the front of the case, the fans immediately behind it pushing air forward, with the intent of pushing out hot air through the front (and pulling air in through the back) and ensuring good air flow through the radiator. Gathering data[permalink] I collected data using watch sensors to…