modern bolt on air cooling vs watercooling

[avatar12m]

480gtx/580gtx water vs gelid air cooler

and mugen 2 cpu cooler vs water on a 2600k @4ghz

under load how much better are the modern vga air coolers now compared to water, i have seen the zalman / gelid ones , but only reviewed on sites that prob get payed to give good reviews.

don't know to go back to air and rip my water out ( allways get that "whats that wierd noise" worry about possible leaks )

 

[Cleeecooo]

It depends on your watercooling loop.
The air coolers are sufficient but watercooling will always be better.
As for leaks, why would you need to worry if you did your loop properly?

I would keep the liquid cooling unless you are really bothered about leaks.

 

[OLDPHART]

It depends on your watercooling loop.
The air coolers are sufficient but watercooling will always be better.
As for leaks, why would you need to worry if you did your loop properly?

I would keep the liquid cooling unless you are really bothered about leaks.

+1 - I check my loop for leaks every 3 months when l spring clean my case.

 

[rolypolyman]

If it helps, right now my 470(with a Gelid Icy Vision)is idling at 30c. When OC upto around 875\1752\1674 running loops of Heaven(latest version) max at 63c. Pretty good for an air cooler. Very impressed with the Gelid, only criticism would be fans run flatout at about 1800-2000 though they are not noisy they are noticable. I put a fanmate on them and they run at 1100rpm and are silent. Cant comment on water cooling and I would not have it in my system, water and electricity, not for me.