Air vs. Liquid cooling - need advice

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krutkimon

n00b
Joined
Dec 14, 2006
Messages
5
Hi

Since I don't have time and most likely expertise (last time I build a comp. was 4 years ago) then I will relay on you guys to help me decide. I’m planning to purchase a rig from AvaDirect and don’t know if I should go with either:

1.
Black Thermaltake VA8003BWS Armor Full Tower, with (according to AVA description)

Front (intake) 120x120x25 mm, Blue LED Fan,
Side (Intake) 250 x 250 x 30 mm fan, 600rpm,
Rear (exhaust) 120 x 120 x25 mm blue LED fan, 1300rpm,
90 x 90 x 25mm, 1800rpm, 19dBA
Top (exhaust) 90 x 90 x 25mm, 1800rpm,

And SWIFTECH, Premium 1xCPU + 2xGPU Liquid Cooling Kit - which is most likely Swiftech H20-120 PREMIUM CPU Liquid Cooling Kits, plus 2 VGA Cooling Water-blocks

OR

2.
Stacker 830 with Monsoon II CPU Active Cooler System and 8 case fans.

DIFFERENCE IN PRICE IS ABOUT $70 IN FAVOR OF STACKER 830


I’m planning to go with QX6700, 2 XFX 8800 GTX (not XXX edition since you can OC it yourself to over 630 MHz), CORSAIR 2GB XMS2 Dominator PC2-9136 DDR2 and ENERMAX Galaxy DXX Modular Gamers Edition Power Supply 1000W.
I want to do moderate OC – little over 3 GHz on CPU, over 630 MHz on GPU.

Please let me know what you guys think about the set up and if maybe I should change something about other parts in the config. Please keep in mind that I’m blowing my Christmas bonus on this and most likely I will not be able to enjoy the rig (I mean playing games through the entire weekend :D :D ) for more than the next 9 months ( If you know what I mean ). Please provide any kind of remark, criticism, feedback or whatever.

P.S.
Don’t tell my wife :cool: :D
 
dont get that swiftech kit, get the h220, the refresh of yours with a bigger rad.
 
With the heatload 2 x 8800GTX and your CPU together is gonna
put out, you would need a 3x120mm radiator to keep everything
cool and leave head room for some OC'ing.

I'm not sure what radiator AvaDirect will provide you... do you know?

Additionally, I would suggest WC if you get a good radiator, since
better cooling = OCibility; and also much quieter with a good selection
of fans.

However, I would only suggest WC if you DO get a radiator(s)
equivalent of 3x120mm rad's performance.

If not, just go air cooling.

BTW, if you do get WC, you gotta educate yourself on it.
Just in case something goes wrong with your WC loop.
(build up, leaks, etc.)
 
If you are one of those that just like to put your system together and forget about it. Then air is for you.
But if you like to tinker then water all the way!
If you decide on water just do your homework. I read 5 different forums for a few weeks.
Good luck :D
 
Very few kits (IE: any non HIGHEND petras kit) won't cope with that heatload very well...

You NEED a 3.120mm radiator or a GOOD (READ: PA thermochill) 2.120mm rad.
 
On AVA website it doesn't really say what radiator they use. Looks like I have to call them and do some more research. Thanks for your replies
 
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