Watercooling

[Nickerz]

Hello guys,

Many in here have evangelised about the benefits of water-cooling, but it always seemed like far too much hassle to me. I want the benefits without the headache basically.

I realise that’s half the fun for some of you for me, designing things and fitting them doesn’t really appeal. Buying a well designed cooler like the Zalman in a box and fitting it in a few short minutes appeals to me ;)

However (as you can from my set up below) I am running an XP2000+ and with the Zalman on silent mode it runs in the 50’s(c) Yank up the speed a bit more and it comes down to a more reasonable 37- 40(ish)c, but then its no longer silent.

I haven’t got papst fans anymore which I think are the most silent, I got cheaper Enermax ones with their own speed control. On the slowest speed they are quiet (not silent) but they don’t seem to shift enough air cause the mobo temps (and CPU) are too hot. So had to yank those up a bit too, the net result being a fairly audible PC again – argghh! Its not nightmare levels, but its not great either. Can be a bit distracting working at night....

The best solution in my eyes is a case like Vipochill, but I am just NOT spending £400 on a case, my system has already cost too much money. So I have been thinking about a water set up, but like I said it really looks like a lot of hassle, with a fair amount of room for (fatal) error if you don’t get it right! And also quiet pricey. However I see now that some of the manufacturers are starting to make easier to install kits, and for around £100 - £150.
But I can’t help thinking its not that simple, as most of them look a bit scrappy..

So can those of you that have already set up or know about water-cooling give the rest of us some advise on water-cooling and whether it’s a worthwhile endeavour for silent systems??

[The Jez Man]

I've been entertaining the idea of watercooling as well mate, from what I gather its usually best to (if you dont want to build your own components :D) buy the individual components, this way you are able to cater for your pc precisely. It made perfect sense when i read it over at coolhardware.co.uk (these ppl know about w/c systems), but not so much sense after I've just said it! :confused:

Basically buy the tubing, radiator, pump, resevoir and whatever else you may need seperatly, this way you might safe money but you will be sure that each meets your needs (and any space requirements you may have). The other thing is deciding what type of w/c setup you want, whether you keep everything inside your case or you start dangling tubes out to external radiators and resvoirs. I think you will want to keep it all inside as its a lot neater etc.

One last thing and I'll stfu :D
From what I've heard [I've read a hell of a lot of forums and articles on watercooling but havent practiced it... yet!!!] you can assemble your watercooling setup before putting it in your pc, then start filling it with water, this is good cuz u can check for leaks etc without it being near your comp, thus reducing the risk somewhat.

/me crawls back into his little research hole

- The Jezman

[Matthew]

Nickerz, The Jez Man:

some pointers. i would definitely advise you test your purchased watercooling setups - and i mean set them up and leave them running for at least 12 hours.

before you buy, choose between the different tubing size: 1/2" or 3/8" - because this will affect the waterblock, radiator and pump/reservoir size. 1/2" has its benefits, but sometimes compatible size components can be hard to source over here... if you can find the best quality tubing possible...

then u decide whether you want reservoir (internal pump), reservoir external pump or just pump setup... i personally prefer a reservoir (internal pump) setup, but again, its hard to find this component over here... eheim pumps seem to be the way to go over here and they're good - but one of the main problems when using the closed loop setup (pump - no reservoir) is having to bleed the setup first time - and get rid of those bubbles??

the radiator choice is quite easy.
the worst is the waterblock, because there are growing no of waterblocks on the market over here.

finally the setup of you water cooling is non-important to be. in general most people go for:

reservoir/pump -> radiator -> waterblock -> reservoir/pump

this is the basic setup - for ppl who want to cool graphics and harddrive, and motherboard, then have a little think... the best thing about watercooling, is that you can do a little experimenting (but be careful)...

for larger setups, like on my YY cube, i watercool my CPU only, but have 2 radiators, like:

reservoir -> waterblock -> radiator1 -> radiator 2 -> reservoir

i used 2 radiators so that i could cool the water down, but instead of using a really high CFM fan in one radiator, i used 2 radiators each with a low Papst CFM fan. the overall result is roughly the same water temp and a lower noise level. i have been thinking of the following setup:

reservoir -> radiator1 -> waterblock -> radiator 2 -> reservoir

basically, i thought of this setup as an alternative - that's the wonder of watercooling - always thinking of ideas - but common sense tells me:
1. the results would be at most equal or worst
2. the tubing would be all over the place.

[Fuzz]

If you're after simple this might be up your street Nickerz but I don't know where you can get it from or how much!
Any any body finds out please let us know!!!

EverCool Water Cooling System (http://www.evercool.com.tw/w_cooler.htm)

[Kynoch]

This all in one system will be ****e compared to a propper 3/8" 1/2" water cooling job with custom blocks and better pump and a larger radiator.

Ive seen one of these all in one units before from another manufacturer and it cant beat the air coolers.

[efcoins]

http://www.viperlair.com/reviews/case_cool/other/water/wetchill/wetchill1.shtml

looks attractive, but there is not room for a 120 mm fan in my case, two 80mm radiators might fit.

[Dingo]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Matthew

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one of the main problems when using the closed loop setup (pump - no reservoir) is having to bleed the setup first time - and get rid of those bubbles??
-------
Are you sure of this, the differance between an open loop and closed loop system is that the open loop system is open to atmosphere and the closed loop is a sealed system, nothing to do with the presance of a reservoir. I think your terminology is all wrong and may confuse the novice. Perhaps you mean that it is difficult to bleed a system (all water systems need bleeding) if no method of venting is fitted, ie the filling cap on a reservoir, which just so happens to be an easy way of toping up a system with coolant. After all bubbles don't just magically appear because no reservoir is fitted.
Personally I would not use a reservoir it only adds to the cost.(read con). A well designed system does not need a large reserve of water. A simple domestic heating radiator type vent screw on the end of a piece of tube is all that is required.

[slartiBardfarst]

the terminology is correct. they are indeed called open and closed systems depending on whether or not there is a reservoir fitted, or at least some sort of access point.
in terms of bleeding it is also far, far easier to bleed the system with a reservoir because it's a sort of resting place for the water. the only way to get the air out is to let the water stand and allow the air to rise. if it's in a closed loop then it is being pumped round constantly so the air just continues around with it. i'm not talking about the big bubbles as they are (fairly) easy to get rid of, but there are also very fine bubbles that get broken even smaller every time they pass through the pump. eventually they settle on the inside of the tubing and it looks terrible.

yes it is another cost to the setup but if your are a novice at water cooling, trying to setup a closed loop can be very frustrating, unless you are a plumber or something.

[chris ladbrook]

Vapochill here its :D top dollar, quiet and -32 :p

[Dingo]

Well you are right about the frustration. Especially if you have digested mis-information. Always liked refrige cooling myself, but I remember seeing a modded IBM (you know the double wardrobe sized variety which overheated) blow up because of condensation from a poorly insulated pipes. Not pretty. But that was long before PC's appeared.