4790K Watercooled PC

Lhaeni

Lhaeni

Lhaeni

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5 Dec 2024
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United Kingdom
Hi there!

I'm planning to create a custom water-cooled PC which has my delidded i7-4790K, an ASUS ROG Maximus VII Motherboard, with 16GB Corsair Vengeance 2400MHz RAM, I'm a beginner in PC hardware, and I wanted to ask if an MSI GTX 1080Ti Sea Hawk EK GPU would be a good combination, or would it be easier if I were to use an AIO/Air Cooler, with the LGA1150 socket?

If anyone could help me it'd be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
 
Hi and welcome to the forums. :)

I certainly wouldn't be going custom watercooling on what is now a ancient cpu and I wouldn't spend silly amounts on a AIO either. Something like one of Thermalright's £50-60 240/360mm AIO would be the most I would spend and even then it's still more than I would like to pay. Even one of the current low end cpu's would give that 4790k a hiding. You could try a air cooler such as a Thermalright Phantom Spirit which is a twin tower seven heatpipe dual fan cooler for just under £32 which should handle the 4790k nicely as long as you have space to fit it in your case.
 
pastymuncher said:
Hi and welcome to the forums. :)

I certainly wouldn't be going custom watercooling on what is now a ancient cpu and I wouldn't spend silly amounts on a AIO either. Something like one of Thermalright's £50-60 240/360mm AIO would be the most I would spend and even then it's still more than I would like to pay. Even one of the current low end cpu's would give that 4790k a hiding. You could try a air cooler such as a Thermalright Phantom Spirit which is a twin tower seven heatpipe dual fan cooler for just under £32 which should handle the 4790k nicely as long as you have space to fit it in your case.
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Thank you for the help! ☺️
 
For such an old CPU and platform, don’t go for a custom loop. Although a AIO cooler can be considered as I can be reused in future upgrades.

A custom look can cost upwards of £200 (for entry level), save that money for an upgrade instead
 
I had a watercooled 4790K previously, in the same motherboard as you, with 32 gb DDR3-2400 ram.
I would get a decent AIO cooler. Also, the 1080Ti is a perfect match as a gpu. Wouldn't bother with a watercooled example in this case.
Look for a Strix/Aorus or other such card with a hefty air cooler.
 
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BornEvil said:
For such an old CPU and platform, don’t go for a custom loop. Although a AIO cooler can be considered as I can be reused in future upgrades.

A custom look can cost upwards of £200 (for entry level), save that money for an upgrade instead
Click to expand...
Only excpetion i'd say is second hand parts can be dirt cheap. Bought a case with custom loop for undr £50
 
Lhaeni said:
Hi there!

I'm planning to create a custom water-cooled PC which has my delidded i7-4790K, an ASUS ROG Maximus VII Motherboard, with 16GB Corsair Vengeance 2400MHz RAM, I'm a beginner in PC hardware, and I wanted to ask if an MSI GTX 1080Ti Sea Hawk EK GPU would be a good combination, or would it be easier if I were to use an AIO/Air Cooler, with the LGA1150 socket?

If anyone could help me it'd be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The MSI GTX 1080Ti Sea Hawk EK has a factory fitted waterblock, if you get that you will need to go custom WC. Then IMO no point going AIO/AIR cooling on CPU.

Even though it's old HW you have or thinking of getting, and not worth going custom WC, my perspective would be different. Firstly you've stated you're a beginner, perhaps you feel hesitant to go custom WC on newer HW due to cost if it all goes wrong. So as a learning exercise it might be ok to try WC on this HW.

I went custom WC back in 2017, the whole setup I purchased I still use today. Same rads, fans, pump, hoses, fittings, temperature sensors. Only thing that changes is GPU waterblock and or CPU block if needed. Some CPU blocks can have multiple socket compatibility. As an example my EK Supremacy EVO block has compatibility with some Intel and AMD sockets. Even my Bykski CPU block fit's Threadripper/AM4/AM5. GPU blocks are specific to a PCB, so not re-useable. You can get universal GPU blocks, but can still be limited compatibility, as a beginner something you may not want to do.

The CPU you have OC very well, I enjoyed my time with Devil's Canyon, may get some gains with custom WC and may not. If you like tinkering may well be sweet to try custom WC with the kit you state :) .
 
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Lhaeni said:
Hi there!

I'm planning to create a custom water-cooled PC which has my delidded i7-4790K, an ASUS ROG Maximus VII Motherboard, with 16GB Corsair Vengeance 2400MHz RAM, I'm a beginner in PC hardware, and I wanted to ask if an MSI GTX 1080Ti Sea Hawk EK GPU would be a good combination, or would it be easier if I were to use an AIO/Air Cooler, with the LGA1150 socket?

If anyone could help me it'd be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Welcome!

Is this an adventure, or are you looking to do WC as this is your main rig and you want to dress it up?

Former, grab some second hand parts and run wild.

Latter, divert your funds to an upgrade instead.
 
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