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Open--loop liquid cooling

D

dscherf

Weaksauce
Joined
Jan 11, 2010
Messages
87
Hello, my wife and I are upgrading our systems soon. I use air-cooling and she uses liquid cooling. Neither of us overclock.

With that being said, we intend on building a system with a 2500K or its IB equivalent. I don't believe the system she currently has (Thermaltake BigWater; don't know the model number off-hand) which, at maximum speed keeps her dual-core processor at around 50 C at idle, is capable of cooling the quad-core SB/IB processor. Which means that she's going to need to upgrade her cooler.

Because of issues with closed-loop systems in the past, she's adamant about upgrading to another open-loop cooling system. I've looked over quite a few of the reviews on this site and every one that I've seen reviewed is closed-loop. So, any recommendations for open-loop liquid cooling that should work well with a SB/IB quad-core chip?
 
Closed loop systems are a better choice than that thermaltake. Look at the corsair h60 or h80. They will easily outperform the bigwater.

And what issues of the past? This is 2012, the leaky closed loop coolers of 2006 and 2008 don't exist anymore.

If you want to spend more effort, work on a custom loop. Xspc, swiftech, and now coolermaster all have nice kits.
 
She's allowing me to upgrade my computer, so if she wants an open-loop cooler, who am I to argue? :D

I'll look into the other options you mentioned for custom loop...
 
Well, installing a full loop, even pre-configured like the xspc ones, sounds kind of excessive for their needs, unless they have some desire to tinker with it.

dscherf said:
Hello, my wife and I are upgrading our systems soon. I use air-cooling and she uses liquid cooling. Neither of us overclock.
Click to expand...

If you don't mind me asking, is there any particular reason for either a) not overclocking at all (SB is a great platform for easy oc's), or b) investing the time/effort for watercooling a stock-clocked chip. If its "just-because," that's understandable, but just looking for some insight.


dscherf said:
With that being said, we intend on building a system with a 2500K or its IB equivalent. I don't believe the system she currently has (Thermaltake BigWater; don't know the model number off-hand) which, at maximum speed keeps her dual-core processor at around 50 C at idle, is capable of cooling the quad-core SB/IB processor. Which means that she's going to need to upgrade her cooler.

Because of issues with closed-loop systems in the past, she's adamant about upgrading to another open-loop cooling system. I've looked over quite a few of the reviews on this site and every one that I've seen reviewed is closed-loop. So, any recommendations for open-loop liquid cooling that should work well with a SB/IB quad-core chip?
Click to expand...

Based on this, I'd have to guess that anything more than something like a Corsair H60/80 would be wasted money. And then, that solution's biggest benefit for you would be for you to be able to put some very quiet fan(s) on the radiator and keep it practically silent. As you're not overclocking, and the SB/IB chips are pretty cool-running chips, you don't really have any concern with heat production - hell, the stock cooler would probably be able to keep up, despite my hatred for those intel HSF's =).

As far as doubts over using one of the Corsair H-series, I've personally used and installed them several time and been very happy with their performance as well as the build quality. General reception is very good (check around these forums as well as many others and reviews). And there's shockingly low number of issues cropping up from them, and even in the oddest case scenario that I've seen of one failing, Corsair was active in responding and offering to replace any possibly affected components - there's a thread somewhere on these forums about it, and I have to say it up'd my respect for corsair a considerable amount. All in all, at least its something to consider.

If she truly is adamant for a open loop despite all of this, then the xspc is probably one of the better known and easier to configure "custom" loops out there, but its still going to take some effort, and not sure quite how much gain you're going to get from it. And honestly, I'd be more afraid of a leak in these than the newer model closed loop coolers, as the custom loops are simply more prone to human error and other random things cropping up. But, if its really an issue of no other options, best of luck with it!
 
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Jorona said:
Just put it in oil. Open Liquid Cooling, no loop required!
Click to expand...

I remember seeing one of those on a FS post on these forums a couple months back. The thing weighed something like 500 pounds and there was a giant drum to hold the oil for transport. Something you definitely don't see every day, and borderline terrifying.
 
Tiporaro said:
If you don't mind me asking, is there any particular reason for either a) not overclocking at all (SB is a great platform for easy oc's), or b) investing the time/effort for watercooling a stock-clocked chip. If its "just-because," that's understandable, but just looking for some insight.
Click to expand...

Just because. :)

Tiporaro said:
If she truly is adamant for a open loop despite all of this, then the xspc is probably one of the better known and easier to configure "custom" loops out there, but its still going to take some effort, and not sure quite how much gain you're going to get from it. And honestly, I'd be more afraid of a leak in these than the newer model closed loop coolers, as the custom loops are simply more prone to human error and other random things cropping up. But, if its really an issue of no other options, best of luck with it!
Click to expand...

I'm trying to find out what good open-loop systems are because the majority of the reviews I've seen are only for closed-loop ones. Hopefully we'll be able to sit down with this thread and see what options are available and whether or not she wants to consider open- vs closed-loop. But her design paramater was open-loop so that's what I am trying to find the information on.

Thanks for all your suggestions so far! :cool:
 
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If you want a really nice all-in-one, external system and have money to burn.......http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...ack_EX2-1055_-_no_nozzles_.html?tl=g30c83s138

Cheaper and excellent alternative: http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...156_1366_2011_AM2_AM2_AM3.html?tl=g30c83s1593

If you are not overclocking, I'd highly recommend the Corsair.....these new systems are essentially nOob proof, and Corsair sands behind their products.:D

The advantage I could see if you are not going to OC would be quiet.
 
ask why Open-loop.... reliability is great on current closed units , an open system will be custom and cost tons more for Zero benefit.since you are not over clocking why not go air an the setup for no issues? Or is it one of the "for the hell of it " things?
 
I say buy a refrigerator and place your computer inside. Drill some holes for the cables to come out haha.
 
extide said:
If not overclocking the stock heatsinks will be just fine.
Click to expand...

While that's probably true, it sounds like the OP is not necessarily trying to find the most logical or <cough> rational solution to the overall issue, but more just nodding and saying "yes dear" to his wife's request because...well...why bother arguing over that one. While I don't have to have the same conversation when it comes to computers (mine tolerates my electonrics obsession b/c it results in a htpc that she actually likes), I can unfortunately understand the general nature.

And as far as the other suggestions, as much as one would like to lead someone to water, the OP has at least laid out a clear and non-argumentative criteria with a somewhat "out of his hands" explanation
dscherf said:
But her design paramater was open-loop so that's what I am trying to find the information on.

Thanks for all your suggestions so far! :cool:
Click to expand...

so while I think we can all agree there are great alternatives, hopefully the OP is able to get the needed information. If I might add, might be useful to check in the water-cooling subforum here, as well as some of the other sites like overclock.net where there's more information on custom loops.
 
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dscherf said:
Hello, my wife and I are upgrading our systems soon. I use air-cooling and she uses liquid cooling. Neither of us overclock.

With that being said, we intend on building a system with a 2500K or its IB equivalent. I don't believe the system she currently has (Thermaltake BigWater; don't know the model number off-hand) which, at maximum speed keeps her dual-core processor at around 50 C at idle, is capable of cooling the quad-core SB/IB processor. Which means that she's going to need to upgrade her cooler.

Because of issues with closed-loop systems in the past, she's adamant about upgrading to another open-loop cooling system. I've looked over quite a few of the reviews on this site and every one that I've seen reviewed is closed-loop. So, any recommendations for open-loop liquid cooling that should work well with a SB/IB quad-core chip?
Click to expand...

By "open-loop" I assume you mean a custom part watercooling system with the following:

CPU block, radiator,pump, reservoir and of course tubing.

I will be glad to recommend a couple of set-ups, all besting the Thermaltake Big-Water by a mile; but these are going to cost some bucks to assemble and place in your wife's computer.......which is why I recommended a closed, ready to use system the first time.

Just let me know and I'll give you my ideas.
 
Your not going to find many open loop reviews because its a standardized part of the industry (for the most part) so parts from one company are completely interchangeable with parts from another company. This leaves us with thousands of possible configurations to go with.

As its been said, the closed loop systems are pretty good nowadays. I used a Corsair H50 for about 2 years without issue and just recently upgraded to a dual loop custom solution. During my research into building my current system I found reviews and cooling information for various parts a bit hard to come by and came to a personal conclusion that regardless of the parts you get, they all offer the same performance within 1-3 degrees seperation of eachother. The greatest factor seems to be the radiator and fans you choose to use.
 
Tiporaro said:
so while I think we can all agree there are great alternatives, hopefully the OP is able to get the needed information. If I might add, might be useful to check in the water-cooling subforum here, as well as some of the other sites like overclock.net where there's more information on custom loops.
Click to expand...

I didn't even notice that this forum had the watercooling sub-forum above. D'oh! Thanks for mentioning it! I'll dive into that section and look around.
 
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