Closed Loop Watercooling Units - Any Good or Not?

shadow_boxer

shadow_boxer

shadow_boxer

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Hi folks,

I'm currently pondering whether to dip my toe into the murky world of a closed loop watercooling unit.

My current system spec (as in sig) is below:
Intel Core i7 920 @4.0GHz
Titan Fenrir NK85TTZ with Akasa Apache
Foxconn Bloodrage GTI
GTX 470 OC with Gelid Icy Vision Cooler
Coolermaster CM690 Dominator Black
Corsair HX750W

My i7 920 DO was happily running at 4.4GHz (no HT) and never topped 80c earlier in the year but now with the warmer weather upon us I quite fancy a bit of an upgrade and a change. The Fenrir won't be binned but put into another system. Currently it's running at 4.0GHz with HT and idles around 35-45c and whilst prime95 hits around 80-85c. (During BFBC2 - 65c, flight simulator X - 80c)

Not too clued up about these close units but have read around and it seems they are still quite a bit off the top end air coolers like the Noctua D14 and the Prolimatech Megahalems. I'm ideally after a bit of a performance boost compared to the Fenrir but struggling to see much improvement. Also these larger coolers won't fit in the case due to their height. I'm limited to coolers with a height clearance of about 160mm tops.

Have been looking at the new Corsair H100 but I really don't think it'll fit on the top of my Coolermaster CM690. At the moment considering Antec Kulher 620 or Corsair H60 at around the £50 mark. Will these units be better than the Fenrir or at least match it? Any other units worth considering? Have read a lot of mixed reviews where the H60 outperforms the Kuhler 620 and vice versa and the loud pumps with the H70?

Any thoughts?

Cheers.:)

edit.

I have a couple of Aklasa Apache fans that are currently being used as case intake fans to configure a pull/push setup.

Noticed OcUK have the Corsair H60 bundled with a Apache fan for £59.99 or the Antec Kuhler for £49.99. But will shop around too.
 
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with the fans on the outside of the case, but below the plastic top that clips onto the top of the case, the rad of the H100 should fit if its thin enough.
there was a thread where someone was planning on doing a full watercool in a CM690 II very recently, i'll see if i can find it.
*edit*
here it is: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18283199


there arent many reviews of the H100/H80, but the reviews of the H50/60/70 claim that they arent as good as high end air coolers like the silver arrow
 
For the cost of the closed loop stuff, they don't really compare to well to the top air stuff.

Looking at your spec you are using normal heatsink memory so the likes of the Silver Arrow/DH14 would most likely suit your needs better, the silver arrow more as its slightly cheaper then the DH14.

The only way you are going to beat those 2 coolers is going custom loop, and you'd be looking at aroung the £120 region for kits. Slightly more if u specced it yourself.
 
i think they are let down by quite high idle temps but under load my cpu hits 63c but i did get it for £39.99 plus free postage on a a offer (H50) so tbh i dont think i could have got a better cooler for £40 and its silent and kinda cool + it lets me use any ram without any issues i use the dominator ram so if i had a air cooler i would be limited to cooler and ram combos
 
Thanks Reaper, had seen that thread too. Look like the CM690 will take thin 240mm rad but may wait on the H100.

@bifday2k - Yup totally agree. Not looking for full custom loop as the case isn't really suited to it at the moment and I'll probably be moving around for the next year or so fairly often. Next time I upgrade my case I'll certainly be considering a full custom loop.

Yeah, having done a bit more reading, their quite some way off the top end air coolers but quite fancy a basic WC system. No issues the with RAM as I forgot to mention as it's normal low profile stuff.

Will probably dwell on it a bit longer but the Antec Kuhler 620 can be had for £45 so this is really tempting me at the moment. If I'm not happy with temperatures then I'll guess I'll stick to the Fenrir and pop it into the other machine.

What are peoples temperatures like with these closed loop systems with the hotter i5 / i7 (1156/1366 sockets)?

Thanks.
 
bifday2k said:
Generally on I7 @ 4Ghz your looking at 75c-85c depending on vcore used, and what fans are used also.
Click to expand...

I think thats a bit high tbh - I am running a 930 @ 4.2 and my full load temps are 67deg (after 2 hours of solid folding). That is with a h70 with stock fans.

If you want to up the performance, get after market fans. I am about to grab two vipers to stick on the h70 and other people have said they have seen temps drop by 5-8degs from that alone.
 
how important is it to add an extra fan(with keeping the stock fan on too) that is roughly the same cfm?

what if the stock fan is 60cfm and i added another that was 110cfm for a push pull, would that actually be detrimentral in anyway?
 
whipgeez said:
how important is it to add an extra fan(with keeping the stock fan on too) that is roughly the same cfm?

what if the stock fan is 60cfm and i added another that was 110cfm for a push pull, would that actually be detrimentral in anyway?
Click to expand...

No, I am assuming you are talking about the h50/60 which is only single fan. You can fit a 2nd fan like on the h70 but you can't put 3 on say the h70.

CFM isn't the only thing that effects performance - with the radiator, it takes a lot more effort to push the air through compared to an air cooler and therefore the fan also needs high static pressure.
 
Yeah from a few reviews looks like adding a second fan helps it even better two decent fans.

Out of curiosity, if you have two fans attached to a radiator with different CFM would the effectiveness of the airflow be affected for example turbulence.
 
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