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Watercooling question

RampantAndroid

RampantAndroid

Diamond Member
How well would I be able to have water cooling if I have to more my computer to school and back every semester (that's at least 4 car rides in a year, though more likely 8)

If its kit specific, could someone give tips please?

I'd be mounting it on the GPU & CPU, but prob not the motherboard.

Thanks!
 
OK....would I need to disconnect anything/drain it? Or could I simply leave it as it were?

I've looked at some swiftechs and others, and it seems some want the rad mounted outside the case (one uses a "radbox") is it fine to mount those inside? (I have a P180)

Would any of these kits give me a good temp drop, not just make my system quieter (only reason for this would be cooling) I've seen reviews, but none that use a 7800GT/Athlon FX series.

Thanks.
 
I'd say just go with a good air cooling system, especially if you're going to be moving a lot. Air cooling will likely give you better temperatures than water cooling, as well as be a lot cheaper and it probably won't make much more noise than water cooling. After all, you've got to have fans cooling the radiators.

Edited to add something.
 
ive built a bunch of watercooled pc's for my friends and they lug them around almost on a weekly basis to lans so i wouldnt worry about it too much, as long as everything is enternal, nothing external to worry about, then u might have problems.
 
My reason is this: My P180 has poor air circulation around the videocard and I'm looking for something to do...I already have a VF700 and still hit 70C at times. I'd get a NV5 Silencer b/c that vents the hot air out, but thats another $40 gone.

I was thinking that water cooling would really elminate the need for any air cooling except that on the videocard RAM....
 
Originally posted by: RampantAndroid
OK....would I need to disconnect anything/drain it? Or could I simply leave it as it were?

I've looked at some swiftechs and others, and it seems some want the rad mounted outside the case (one uses a "radbox") is it fine to mount those inside? (I have a P180)

Would any of these kits give me a good temp drop, not just make my system quieter (only reason for this would be cooling) I've seen reviews, but none that use a 7800GT/Athlon FX series.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

you can see the temps on such a system in my sig, this is with three 1200rpm fans running @ 30%.
 
Originally posted by: RampantAndroid
How well would I be able to have water cooling if I have to more my computer to school and back every semester (that's at least 4 car rides in a year, though more likely 8)
Click to expand...

"Water-cooling" covers a broad range of potential parts. In your case I'd shoot for a very streamlined system. Meaning as little tubing as possible, a T-line instead of a res and smallish, acrylic\delrin-topped blocks. All to save on weight.

If its kit specific, could someone give tips please?
Click to expand...

If the motivation for you wanting to buy a kit is to save some money, I can understand. However, if you also want to tailor make your water-cooler for a purpose, you'll be better off picking the parts.

I'd be mounting it on the GPU & CPU, but prob not the motherboard.
Click to expand...

By this you mean you don't want to use a chipset block?
 
Originally posted by: Tu13erhead
I'd say just go with a good air cooling system, especially if you're going to be moving a lot. Air cooling will likely give you better temperatures than water cooling, as well as be a lot cheaper and it probably won't make much more noise than water cooling. After all, you've got to have fans cooling the radiators.

Edited to add something.
Click to expand...

No offense, but you don't seem to know very much about water-cooling. That being true, perhaps you should reconsider whether you're in a position to offer advice on the subject.

 
Originally posted by: HardWarrior
Originally posted by: Tu13erhead
I'd say just go with a good air cooling system, especially if you're going to be moving a lot. Air cooling will likely give you better temperatures than water cooling, as well as be a lot cheaper and it probably won't make much more noise than water cooling. After all, you've got to have fans cooling the radiators.

Edited to add something.
Click to expand...

No offense, but you don't seem to know very much about water-cooling. That being true, perhaps you should reconsider whether you're in a position to offer advice on the subject.
Click to expand...

I'm no water cooling guru, I'll admit that, but I've dealt with it in the past and ultimately made the decision to stick with air cooling. Just wanted to share that with him before he spends $xxx on water cooling and decides to stick with air cooling as I did.

😱

 
Originally posted by: Tu13erhead
Originally posted by: HardWarrior
Originally posted by: Tu13erhead
I'd say just go with a good air cooling system, especially if you're going to be moving a lot. Air cooling will likely give you better temperatures than water cooling, as well as be a lot cheaper and it probably won't make much more noise than water cooling. After all, you've got to have fans cooling the radiators.

Edited to add something.
Click to expand...

No offense, but you don't seem to know very much about water-cooling. That being true, perhaps you should reconsider whether you're in a position to offer advice on the subject.
Click to expand...

I'm no water cooling guru, I'll admit that, but I've dealt with it in the past and ultimately made the decision to stick with air cooling. Just wanted to share that with him before he spends $xxx on water cooling and decides to stick with air cooling as I did.

😱
Click to expand...
The bolded part is simply incorrect. It's possible to achieve good results with aircooling but a good watercooling setup will always be more efficient than a air cooling.
 
Originally posted by: Tu13erhead
Originally posted by: HardWarrior
Originally posted by: Tu13erhead
I'd say just go with a good air cooling system, especially if you're going to be moving a lot. Air cooling will likely give you better temperatures than water cooling, as well as be a lot cheaper and it probably won't make much more noise than water cooling. After all, you've got to have fans cooling the radiators.

Edited to add something.
Click to expand...

No offense, but you don't seem to know very much about water-cooling. That being true, perhaps you should reconsider whether you're in a position to offer advice on the subject.
Click to expand...

I'm no water cooling guru, I'll admit that, but I've dealt with it in the past and ultimately made the decision to stick with air cooling. Just wanted to share that with him before he spends $xxx on water cooling and decides to stick with air cooling as I did.

😱
Click to expand...

Understood, and you're 100% correct in what you've decided is right for you. However, I think it's important to note that you were wrong in everything you said about water. Also, and this is a matter of philosophy more than anything else and just my opinion, but is it ever a good idea to forward a personal choice based on it being "cheaper?" I spent about $600 recently to update JUST my water-cooler. I'm satisfied with the final product, and wasn't damaged financially in the process. See what I'm getting at? The OP may have resources greater than you and I combined.

 
Well, I know I've seen the prices in the hundreds....I wouldn't be able to do this until I got my summer internship & was getting a bit of money....I was thinking that I'd like to keep the costs around 150, at most 200? Is this unrealistic?

And no, no northbridge water block, just the GPU and CPU.
 
OK, that doesn't sound too bad. I'm going to seriously look into it, and maybe end up buying it once I get the money in a couple of months.

Generally, how forwards compatable are GPU water blocks if you stick with a certain company most of the time (nV in my case)?
 
It depends on how much nV and ATI decide to change their cards. The Maze 4's have been a pretty good buy for nV because the 4-hole system hasn't changed in a while, but who knows. 😉 Whatever you decide, good luck and let us know how it turns out. :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: RampantAndroid
OK, that doesn't sound too bad. I'm going to seriously look into it, and maybe end up buying it once I get the money in a couple of months.

Generally, how forwards compatable are GPU water blocks if you stick with a certain company most of the time (nV in my case)?
Click to expand...

GPU only blocks should be fairly forwards compatible, don't know about those which also cool the memory.
 
It has gotten to a point where air cooling is actually HARDER to move than water. The heatsinks now are humongous and weigh so much. while moving a air cooled case, you worry about the heatsink crushing the cpu or messing the motherboard up (mountings)

For watercooling, your worry more about leaks which isn't too hard to prevent. If the loop is properly leak tested and clamped, you shouldn't have a problem with leaks at all.
I move my system back and forth from school and have never had a single problem.

the NV coolers aren't really future proof as the mounting and ram configurations change ever generation. The maze4 block seems to work on almost all the new video cards, but you dont' get memory cooling.
 
Originally posted by: mindwreckthe NV coolers aren't really future proof as the mounting and ram configurations change ever generation. The maze4 block seems to work on almost all the new video cards, but you dont' get memory cooling.
Click to expand...

Yup, the DD NVxx solutions have been FAR less than future resistant so far. Plus, they only cool 4 BGA's on the GTX's, I use Swifty copper sinks on the other side. The good news is that the mounting hardware is a LOT more stable on the NV78's. They lock hard now with a total of 8 screws. Nothing I've seen so far can match them for sheer *bling* though, and they perform very well. With a current ambient of 22c my cards are 31 and 32c idle, and jump by about 5c under load @ 515/1325.

 
Well, I mean for me would they be worth it?

I have a 7800 GT which I HAD OC'ed to 490/1200, but backed down because temps were a bit too high. I'd like to get there again, and I'm not sure if the RAM would be OK with some copper ramsinks on them, but no real direct airflow through that part of the case.

Again, thanks. I'm really not TOO worried about this, I haven't seen many horror stories about water cooling systems that leaked (at least not with people who ran them outside the system for a full day to check for leaks.
 
Originally posted by: RampantAndroid
Are those danger den GPU blocks that cover the memory worth the extra $$$ (they cost above 100!)
Click to expand...

I purchased one for my 7800GTX and love it. I have never used any other blocks, so it is hard to compare; however, even with the waterblock the memory chips run pretty hot. I can't imagine how warm they would be with a lesser block. I would definitely invest the extra money if you plan on doing some overclocking. Otherwise, most blocks are probably fine. DangerDen is definitely one of the best manufacturers, and you get your money's worth.
 
Originally posted by: RampantAndroid
Well, I mean for me would they be worth it?

I have a 7800 GT which I HAD OC'ed to 490/1200, but backed down because temps were a bit too high. I'd like to get there again, and I'm not sure if the RAM would be OK with some copper ramsinks on them, but no real direct airflow through that part of the case.

Again, thanks. I'm really not TOO worried about this, I haven't seen many horror stories about water cooling systems that leaked (at least not with people who ran them outside the system for a full day to check for leaks.
Click to expand...

If you have $125 to spend on a well-performing luxury block, I'd say yes. There are cheaper solutions though. I usually don't get much chance to talk about the NVxx water-blocks because, frankly, lots of people seem offended that I spent more than they would have. Water-cooling discussions are freaky like that sometimes.

Again, my pleasure, RA. I believe in karma and it's fun helping people with something that I enjoy as much as water-cooling.

 
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