Cooling: Water -vs- Air

[foodfightr]

Thanks, I'm debating which to use in my next build.

 

[suszterpatt]

Air: cheap, easy to install, less space requirement, risk of damage from failure = low (except CPU fan). Less cooling power.

Water: Expensive, takes more time to set up, bulky, risk of damage from failure = high (water pouring all over the mobo). Better cooling, allows for higher clocks.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: suszterpatt
Air: cheap, easy to install, less space requirement, risk of damage from failure = low (except CPU fan). Less cooling power.

Water: Expensive, takes more time to set up, bulky, risk of damage from failure = high (water pouring all over the mobo). Better cooling, allows for higher clocks.

and Air: More noisy Water: Less noisy

 

[suszterpatt]

Good point, truly good air cooling means a lot of noise.

 

[foodfightr]

So if I decided to water cool, that case I choose doesn't make much difference as long as it has room for the equipment correct?

 

[mindwreck]

which case did you pick? It shouldn't make too much of a diffence in performance. Most of the performance is based on the components you use. The risk of having water leak is a lot lower if you seal or clamp things properly.

My computer was in the back of my dads truck when i moved into my dorm. It didn't leak or anything.

 

[JBDan]

Originally posted by: CraKaJaX

Originally posted by: suszterpatt
Air: cheap, easy to install, less space requirement, risk of damage from failure = low (except CPU fan). Less cooling power.

Water: Expensive, takes more time to set up, bulky, risk of damage from failure = high (water pouring all over the mobo). Better cooling, allows for higher clocks.

and Air: More noisy Water: Less noisy

This is not always the case. The simple facts that you have a pump and still have case fans (especially for the rad which in most cases is on the rear w/ attached fan/fans and creates noise) & the psu fan, therefore sources of "noise" still remain. But obviously, your load temps will be considerably lower with water. Idle temps will be similiar, but a little lower than good air cooling. I debated WC'ing and just didn't see the need with my temps. If you are a heavy oc'er & don't mind the maintenance, then go water by all means. I'm sure setting up a WC'ing rig would be a lot of fun as well.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: JBDan

Originally posted by: CraKaJaX

Originally posted by: suszterpatt
Air: cheap, easy to install, less space requirement, risk of damage from failure = low (except CPU fan). Less cooling power.

Water: Expensive, takes more time to set up, bulky, risk of damage from failure = high (water pouring all over the mobo). Better cooling, allows for higher clocks.

and Air: More noisy Water: Less noisy

This is not always the case. The simple facts that you have a pump and still have case fans (especially for the rad which in most cases is on the rear w/ attached fan/fans and creates noise) & the psu fan, therefore sources of "noise" still remain. But obviously, your load temps will be considerably lower with water. Idle temps will be similiar, but a little lower than good air cooling. I debated WC'ing and just didn't see the need with my temps. If you are a heavy oc'er & don't mind the maintenance, then go water by all means. I'm sure setting up a WC'ing rig would be a lot of fun as well.

Plus it's vaguely likely something might be mounted outside of the case, which would increase noise as the case wouldn't provide a barrier to sound.

 

[mindwreck]

I have my radiator mounted outside the case and its a bit quieter than my xp90+panaflo combo. With watercooling i got way better temperatures, but at the same or quieter amount of noise.

I think what crakajax was trying to say is that air cooling is going to be more noisy if both of them were to get the same temps.

 

[CraKaJaX]

I was just saying basically that.... the majority of watercooling is better overall imo. But obviously, more expensive and a little more difficult to install

 

[mdchesne]

Originally posted by: CraKaJaX

and Air: More noisy Water: Less noisy

unless you count the radiator of a decent cooling system like koolance. THey have 3 120mm fans but they do make quite a bit of noise compared to a caseload of L1As

 

[JBDan]

Originally posted by: mindwreck
I have my radiator mounted outside the case and its a bit quieter than my xp90+panaflo combo. With watercooling i got way better temperatures, but at the same or quieter amount of noise.

I think what crakajax was trying to say is that air cooling is going to be more noisy if both of them were to get the same temps.

Agreed under load, but not idle. 😉

 

[Unkno]

IMO, water is not worth the extra cool due to the risks involved...