Is water cooling worth it?

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Bavilo

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Apr 10, 2006
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I have researched about watercooling for a bit now and already looked at a few kits to start off with, like the Petra kits.

My question though is:

How much of a temperature drop would i get with water cooling compared to high end air cooling. And how much are the cost differences. Also, would it be sufficient to just use ambient water cooling, or is there a good and cheap way to chill the water and perhaps get a bigger temperature drop? Last question, Would is be more then enough to just water cool the CPU and GPU, or would it be wise to cool the chipset and ram aswell? All components will be overclocked btw.

Hope that someone can help me out.

Thanks
 
I have researched about watercooling for a bit now and already looked at a few kits to start off with, like the Petra kits.
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If your going to be hardcore overclocking build your own kit

My question though is:
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How much of a temperature drop would i get with water cooling compared to high end air cooling.
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Depends on your setup
And how much are the cost differences.
Click to expand...
Depends what you want to pay
Also, would it be sufficient to just use ambient water cooling, or is there a good and cheap way to chill the water and perhaps get a bigger temperature drop?
Click to expand...
Depends on the overclock and the ambient tempreture of the room
Last question, Would is be more then enough to just water cool the CPU and GPU, or would it be wise to cool the chipset and ram aswell?
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This also depends on how much you will overclock and the voltage etc.

Its all dependant on what you want to do and what you want to pay. Sorry about not being very informative. What system do you have for a start? and what overclock are you trying to achive?
 
Hey

Thanks for helping me out so far.

As of now I have a fairly basic system which i put together about a year ago.

A8N-SLI Premium
San Diego 3700+ over clocked to 2.7ghz at 1.4v
2GB Corsair XMS 3-3-3-8 at 250mhz 2.6v
eVGA 7600GT over clocked to 605/800
Antec Sonata II Case
ENERMAX Whisper II EG565P-VE 535W

My future rig will be build around AM2. Looking into getting a 8800GT or GTX, and perhaps a Windsor 6400+ 3.2GHz or whatever floods the market when I decide to upgrade.

Right now I would just like to start with water cooling to get experience, unless of course air cooling would still be better. I'm not too sure about my rooms ambient temperature. Right now I'm using an Arctic Cooling Freezer and the CPU runs idle at around 32C.

My budget will be around $300, although I am in Europe, so I'd need a way to order the supplies.

Basically what I want to achieve is higher clocks then I would get with traditional Air Cooling.

Thanks
 
as your current cpu idles at 32 there is no need for watercooling for your current setup. I am also in europe, Coolercases Have been good for me in the past.

To start off get yourself a decent pump and a double 120 radiator with a bay res. You could start by just cooling the cpu until you get your new setup so you dont waste money on blocks.
 
Thanks for the response. You say 32C idle is good. What if i had water cooling, would the temperatures go lower? or stay at about the same?
 
I checked out a few sites and put together a kit. Do you guys think this would be ok as a start?

Laing D5 Vario/D-Tek/Danger Den D5 Inline 12V DC Pump
Danger Den TDX - 1/2", Universal
1/2" ID (3/4" OD) Tygon Silver Antimicrobial Tubing
UV Reactive Pentosin G11 Coolant Additive (Blue) - 4oz.
Swiftech MCR-220 "Quiet Power" Series Radiator
2x 120mm x 38mm Scythe DFS123812L-2000 "Ultra Kaze" Case Fan

Right now I only want to cool the CPU, I'll get more blocks as I upgrade.

Will I need additional pumps if I decide to cool a CPU, GPU, and chipset? or will one pump do. Same goes for radiators, is one enough?
 
how much is that costing just out of intrest?

yeah if you get a 2x120 and that pump you should be set pump and rad wise.
 
Total costs of what i listed were about $210. Not including shipping & handling. But I'm sure I could get a few of the parts cheaper at other places. Haven't looked around much yet.

But yea, to that I would add a chipset and gpu block in the future.
 
i've did water cooling on my computer.

PROS:
pretty much silent operation
lowered heat on CPU and GPU

CONS:
expensive
pain in the ass to change anything.
every time i upgrade something (ie Video Card), i got to buy a new water block)
 
Bavilo said:
Total costs of what i listed were about $210. Not including shipping & handling. But I'm sure I could get a few of the parts cheaper at other places. Haven't looked around much yet.

But yea, to that I would add a chipset and gpu block in the future.
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what site is that ?
 
mjz_5 said:
i've did water cooling on my computer.

PROS:
pretty much silent operation
lowered heat on CPU and GPU

CONS:
expensive
pain in the ass to change anything.
every time i upgrade something (ie Video Card), i got to buy a new water block)
Click to expand...

i used to water cool my computers back in the day of athlon xp's and geforce 6600's. since then cpus have got cooler per mhz in my opinion so i decided not to bother.
 
I looked at http://www.petrastechshop.com.

But buying the kit would probably be just as good.

After hearing all these mixed opinions I'm not sure if I want to watercool anymore :(
Some say its good, some say its a waste of money with not much gain. I don't know what to do.
 
Bavilo said:
I looked at http://www.petrastechshop.com.

But buying the kit would probably be just as good.

After hearing all these mixed opinions I'm not sure if I want to watercool anymore :(
Some say its good, some say its a waste of money with not much gain. I don't know what to do.
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to be honest, it isnt worth it at this stage, you should spend the money on upgrading your overall system not trying to squeeze a tiny bit more juice out of your other one. you are only going to gain less then 15% extra performance its really not worth it. save up your money get a nice p35 motherboard a quad core and an 8800gt :D
 
So I take it that AMD finally lost and intel is taking the lead? meh! (doesn't like intel D:)
 
i do not like intel lol

amd quad cores are releaed within a week i think so you could wait for them?
 
Bavilo, with the hardware you have, it's cheaper and better to upgrade to the current stuff first then if you still have money, watercool them.

I'm watercooling mine since all the hardware I have is still current so I can sit on it for 2-3 years.

 
You should upgrade your hardware first, than consider water cooling later. Water cooling is definitely worth it if you want to squeeze more out of your system. :)
 
Ok I think I've made up my mind then. Upgrade first, then watercooling :)

Thanks for the help everyone
 
Bavilo said:
Ok I think I've made up my mind then. Upgrade first, then watercooling :)

Thanks for the help everyone
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A reason for my advice is that watercooling parts selection also depends on what hardware you will watercool.A AMD setup is different from a Intel setup so advices cannot be easily transported between them.

 
Xilikon said:
A reason for my advice is that watercooling parts selection also depends on what hardware you will watercool.A AMD setup is different from a Intel setup so advices cannot be easily transported between them.
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While they are different in their underlying architectures, for our purposes of cooling they are actually largely the same. Sure the mounting holes are in different locations, but most blocks are using universal mounting kits these days anyways. The other ways they vary are in slightly different heat output, and die size/structure. However you get these same differences comparing an Intel to a different Intel.

Advice for an AMD setup can be used in a similar Intel setup. They really aren't that different in the areas we care about.
 
The main differences would be waterblocks and by ricochet, the pump. However, for the rest (radiator and reservoir), it can be the same indeed. However, it's still very easy to build a good all-around setup so you are right as well :)

 
Xilikon said:
The main differences would be waterblocks and by ricochet, the pump. However, for the rest (radiator and reservoir), it can be the same indeed. However, it's still very easy to build a good all-around setup so you are right as well :)
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You will be hard-pressed to find a waterblock that will not work equally well on an AMD or an Intel setup. Conversely, if you recommend a good pump in the first place it shouldn't matter what waterblock you are using.
 
Yeah, that's true... For once, I admit I'm wrong :p
 
mjz_5 said:
i've did water cooling on my computer.

PROS:
pretty much silent operation
lowered heat on CPU and GPU

CONS:
expensive
pain in the ass to change anything.
every time i upgrade something (ie Video Card), i got to buy a new water block)
Click to expand...

Hows so?
Why cant you use same block again?
 
TopACe82 said:
Hows so?
Why cant you use same block again?
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Not all cards use the same mounting or the same chips position (for full cover blocks) so you need to change it each time you upgrade. However, this can be mitigated by selling the old block for 50-80% of the value then pay the difference toward a new block. You can also avoid this by getting a gpu-only block like a MCW60 and use ramsinks (which is cheap and easily recycled).

CPU blocks is usually good for years of use but older ones might not be adapted for the dual or quad cores and the IHS so a new generation is released. We are now almost on the end of the improvements room so current blocks like the Fuzion or the Apogee GTX can be used for years as long as the manufacturers can provide new mounting plates.

Expensive initially, that's true but after this, it's the same as any aircooling if you plan it well (better to be a bit excessive now and having the room to handle anything than waste money upgrading). The hassle factor is relative to everyone and this is especially true if you don't upgrade that often. Personnally, I don't find it to be a hassle as I can swap a part and refill the loop under one hour.

The key thing with watercooling is careful planning to get the right parts. Skimp on it and you will get a underperforming and expensive setup which aren't future proof.

 
Xilikon said:
Not all cards use the same mounting or the same chips position (for full cover blocks) so you need to change it each time you upgrade. However, this can be mitigated by selling the old block for 50-80% of the value then pay the difference toward a new block. You can also avoid this by getting a gpu-only block like a MCW60 and use ramsinks (which is cheap and easily recycled).

CPU blocks is usually good for years of use but older ones might not be adapted for the dual or quad cores and the IHS so a new generation is released. We are now almost on the end of the improvements room so current blocks like the Fuzion or the Apogee GTX can be used for years as long as the manufacturers can provide new mounting plates.

Expensive initially, that's true but after this, it's the same as any aircooling if you plan it well (better to be a bit excessive now and having the room to handle anything than waste money upgrading). The hassle factor is relative to everyone and this is especially true if you don't upgrade that often. Personnally, I don't find it to be a hassle as I can swap a part and refill the loop under one hour.

The key thing with watercooling is careful planning to get the right parts. Skimp on it and you will get a underperforming and expensive setup which aren't future proof.

Click to expand...

Ahhh, ok that clears it up.
Thought that if you once take out the block to change something on system etc, you cant use it again. As it would be ruined to be used again or something :)
 
i think if u water cooled it, u can drop temps to about 25-30..maybe. i have a prescott pentium, which is known to create lots of heat and i idle at 27. so i think u can go a good 5-7 temps lower.

i did watercooling mostly for the noise level. its really silent. and i only cool my cpu. watercooling also produces a lot of heat or at least in my case. i have the koolance exos, but will attempt to build my own kit for the next try.
 
Xilikon said:
We are now almost on the end of the improvements room so current blocks like the Fuzion or the Apogee GTX can be used for years as long as the manufacturers can provide new mounting plates.
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Famous last words. The same exact thing was said about the Storm G4/G5. Look how that turned out.... Someone always comes up with something new and better.

In the early 1900s a US Senator tried to get rid of the patent office because everything had already been invented, all music had already been written and nothing new was ever going to be made...
 
Erasmus354 said:
Famous last words. The same exact thing was said about the Storm G4/G5. Look how that turned out.... Someone always comes up with something new and better.
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I said almost since EK might have a Fuzion killer on his hands pending independent reviews. Any future improvement would be much smaller than the leaps and bounds seen in the last 5 years.

 
Xilikon said:
I said almost since EK might have a Fuzion killer on his hands pending independent reviews. Any future improvement would be much smaller than the leaps and bounds seen in the last 5 years.
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Two to three years from now they will be howling in the aisles about this statement. ;) They might not be even using copper by then. :D

I seem to recall someone using Inconel for a waterblock a couple of years ago and they reported it blowing the socks off anything made. Not likely to ever make it into production due to expense of materials and it's poor machinability. But then again, maybe...
 
Even if the new EK is the new cream of the crop, things will change. It's hard to find comparisons, but G4s/G5s should still be highly competitive on uncapped, single (even dual) core procs. Part of the reason FuZions and Apogees perform so well is the 775 socket design and the whole bowing deal with IHS's, and not entirely D-Tek/Swiftech's designs. FuZions and GT(X)s will likely keep up longer than single core blocks did, but something new will come around. 775s been out for a looong time, and Intel can definitely improve the mounting/IHS system.
 
ic3dblue said:
i think if u water cooled it, u can drop temps to about 25-30..maybe. i have a prescott pentium, which is known to create lots of heat and i idle at 27. so i think u can go a good 5-7 temps lower.

i did watercooling mostly for the noise level. its really silent. and i only cool my cpu. watercooling also produces a lot of heat or at least in my case. i have the koolance exos, but will attempt to build my own kit for the next try.
Click to expand...

You might get even more off, i have x2 5600 idle temps at 28 C' and never goes above 35 in use. When i used air cooling my temps would go as high as 58 C', thought that was with basic stock cooler that come with cpu.
 
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