Air or water?

ovia · 21 Mar 2012 at 13:13

Hey all,

I am currently running a water cooled rig (below in sig) however i have just got myself a i5 2500K and will be ordering the 680 tomorrow.

What i cant decide is if i should continue with water (which i do like) or go for top end air cooling. I would like the rig to be as near silent as possible.

Now if i was to go the water route what would i need to change on my rig to allow me to to so? Obviously I have to wait for the 680 blocks to come out and replace water/tubing etc, but what about the CPU block? Can i keep that or would i have to replace that also?

If i was to go for air, I relly have no idea what heatsink to go for either.

What are peoples thoughts on this and what direction would you take?

Thanks

Webzta · 21 Mar 2012 at 14:05

Keep the water if you're happy with it, probably get a replacement CPU block for less than a decent air cooler i'd imagine?

Also from looking at your sig, you're ditching vista, right?

ovia · 21 Mar 2012 at 14:59

I am happy, just a case of how much water will cost more than air, but looking at it all i need to buy is a GPU block (when available), CPU block, tubing and water. Pump and radiator are both good

And Vista went a long time ago, although i never had any problems with it :cool:

Rusty0611 · 21 Mar 2012 at 15:44

Webzta said:
Keep the water if you're happy with it, probably get a replacement CPU block for less than a decent air cooler i'd imagine?

Also from looking at your sig, you're ditching vista, right?

Vista is a good OS now. Wasn't at the beginning though!

Webzta · 21 Mar 2012 at 17:14

Rusty0611 said:
Vista is a good OS now. Wasn't at the beginning though!

Windows 7 is a lot better, I never really had any problems with Vista either, but see no reason for anyone to run it these days.

Can't see CPU block costing that much more than a decent air cooler - I'd personally keep the water.

I was in the same situation and ditched the water, and I do miss it

pgi947 · 21 Mar 2012 at 17:41

Cpu block = XSPC Raystorm, probably one of if not the best CPU block on the market, retails at £49.99 or you can go full copper for double the price.

It won't be long until the 680 FC blocks are out, EK were pretty quick off the mark with 7970 blocks and no doubt have had a 680 reference in possession for a few weeks to measure up for blocks.

Cleeecooo · 21 Mar 2012 at 18:18

Seeing as you already have a wtaer loop, i'd stick with that as otherwise you've wasted it

ovia · 21 Mar 2012 at 18:39

Sounds good to me

Will plan what i need tonight and then order with the graphics card tomorrow ready for a weekend build

Thanks all

PMol · 21 Mar 2012 at 19:05

I would say, whatever suits your budget. I see to be getting much lower temps than most, with an overclocked Q6600 on air. (20 degrees average on idle, 40 max at 100% load)

ovia · 21 Mar 2012 at 19:54

I can afford to watercool so may as well. Only annoying thing is they have run out of 1/2" tubing which complicates it a bit

Now teh decision of wait or change barbs for smaller tubing, the joys :S

pgi947 · 21 Mar 2012 at 20:17

If you are just using 1/2" barbs, get 7/16" ID tubing

No need for clips/clamps that way too.

ovia · 21 Mar 2012 at 20:41

As long as it fits over thats great, I thought it would have but wasnt sure

Neo-Geo · 21 Mar 2012 at 21:10

I use lager in my loop so i can just dip a straw in and take a big slurp.

ovia · 22 Mar 2012 at 07:44

Only probem with that is it would cost a fortune keeping in topped up.

Very tempting idea, how well does it cool in comparison to water?

!TIMMY! · 23 Mar 2012 at 23:37

Personally when I upgraded to i7 I went back to a good air cooler. The i7 is a lot cooler than the Q6600 that I bought the water cooling for originally. The noise is about the same as I didn't have the graphics card water cooled. From what I have read the 680 is quiet compared to other cards (e.g. the 480 which is dam loud).