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Kit or case?

B

baggers

n00b
Joined
Nov 12, 2004
Messages
10
Hi all! I'm thinking of watercolling one of my systems (based on an Athlon FX-51) because the fans are driving me mad (it's suppsoed to be a video editing system, but the noise of the fans is all I can hear). So I'm looking at water cooling, but am not sure about whether to get a kit and add into an existing case or to get one of the Koolance cases with the water coolling stuff built in. Any thoughts or suggestions?

To clarify a few points:

- I'm not bothered about overclocking. I don't like doing that when i'm editing video - it just leads to instability and genreal wierdness (the PC that is, not me).

- The system is in a rackmount case, but I don't like it. So I'd be buying a new casre anyways.

Like I said, quieter is better...
 
If you're buying a new case, consider that rackmount cases can be really noisy just because you need to use smaller fans at high RPM's (I'm assuming you've got a case 2.5U or smaller). Using a mid-tower case with quiet 120mm fans (say, Vantec Stealths) will lower the noise level quite a bit, at a far lower cost than water cooling. Use a power supply with a single 120mm fan if you can instead of a dual-fan setup, and use a large quiet CPU cooler like the Thermalright XP-120 if your mainboard can support it.

Just my .02...Watercooling can be a great solution, but I think it's overkill for what you want to accomplish.
 
water cooling isn't overkill necessarily, you can never get a fully air cooled computer to be as quiet as a watercooled one, the question is really how sensitive are you to noise. I dont have too much experience with the koolance cases, but I think my impressions of them was that they were overpriced for what they delivered, at least the prices and the cases that I saw were.

I think you would be better off chosing a case that you like and getting a custom WCing kit to match what you want out of your system.

(On a side note, I hate MAC keyboards, this one that I am using keeps missing my key presses)
 
LoneWolf said:
Watercooling can be a great solution, but I think it's overkill for what you want to accomplish.
Click to expand...

WEll, you may be right, but I do like the idea of having everything (CPU, GPU, chipset, etc) cooled by one unit instead of eighteen thousands fans blasting away. And I figured that if I am going to get a new case anyway, it might be good to kill two birds with one stone...

Someone else mentioned the Koolance rackmount cases: I've seen them, but they are a bit on the expensive side.
 
The EXOS is a great cooling solution. It cools as well as high end air cooling and is nice and quiet. Just keep in mind that this won't eliminate all your fans on your system. You still need some airflow in there.

Just coincidentally, I happen to have a slightly used EXOS Al w/cpu and nb block for sale. PM me if your interested.
 
Another option you may consider is passive\convection radiators [Zalman\Innovatek] .... which don't require fans because they cool the liquid outside of the case.

A major determining factor in this type of solution is the type of CPU you are using, and if you are H2O cooling chipset and GPU as well.

But it is a viable solution and many have employed this in all types of situations, including Music studios, and video editing.
 
Ohh... Well I thought he might like the one I pointed to as it was really designed for those who use their case on a professional level. Considering that it would be a capital expense it could be amortized off in a relatively short period of time ;)
 
Top Nurse said:
Ohh... Well I thought he might like the one I pointed to as it was really designed for those who use their case on a professional level. Considering that it would be a capital expense it could be amortized off in a relatively short period of time ;)
Click to expand...

Amor.... what? Is that french? ;) :D
 
:eek: Sorry don't know french. and sorry for any offense, wasn't intentional, i was just trying to make a joke.... :D


But yea, TopNurse makes a good point. If u want totally silent system which will increase ur work efficiency (less noise to distract u from work), it's will certainly pay off in a short run to shell out a few bucks to get that Zalman monster case. I would, if my computer work was mission-critical :D :cool:
 
Thanks to everyone who came up with ideas on this. What I am actually going to do is to buy that Exos that Sideroxylon has for sale and try sticking that onto a spare case I have. To answer a few of the questions that I've seen:

- The Zalman no-fan case is an interesting looking thing, but amoritization/amorization aside, it's a bit more than i'm looking to spend right now. You've got to have the money before you can amoritize it over 5 years...

- The Reserator also looks interesting, but it wouldn't last five minuites around here. Anything higher than 2 feet gets jumped on , climbed over, used as a snoozing platrfom and knocked down (not by me - by the cats). So I'm not sure it would survive the rigors of my household.

Thanks all!
 
Sorry don't know french. and sorry for any offense, wasn't intentional, i was just trying to make a joke
Click to expand...

None intended none taken. But I did think it was a joke and thought my answer was a "joke" as well :D
 
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