Custom Watercooling loop

Tomcat825

Tomcat825

Tomcat825

Associate
Joined
23 Sep 2010
Posts
1,331
Location
Bucks
Hiya guys, I've got a CoolerMaster Storm Scout coming soon and I was tempted at sticking a custom waterloop in there with a red colouring. But the problem is that I've never done watercooling before.

So I have a few questions... Or if possible a link to a walkthru?
Ideally, I just need CPU cooling, but if it's not too much more hassle I could go for GPU cooling too.

Is there much maintenance required for a custom loop?
Are the temperatures THAT much lower?
I'd like to keep the cost to a minimum but without skimping on components as such.
Anything nasty I should know about installing or using a loop??
Do I need to keep airflow in the case with the loop going?
Are they noisy?

Anymore info would be fantastic as well if possible please :)

Thanks in advance
 
Reading is necessary. You have to know what you're doing before you start. The first place I'd recommend looking is the sticky at the top of this sub forum. Then, use google and read two or three guides. OcUK is always here if you have questions :)

1. You'll probably have to clean your loop out a few times a year.
2. Temperatures can be lower, but a gpu tends to benefit a lot more from watercooling than a cpu.
3. There's always dangers with watercooling, most of these should be addressed in any guides you read.
4. You'll want good airflow in the case if your rad is internal, and for the components that are not being watercooled.
5. Watercooling is only as noisy as the fans you put on your rad, or if you run a d5 on full speed.
 
Thanks for 9 minute reply ;) Didn't realise the sticky had watercooling info, didn't bother looking :O Will google and read up now ;)
 
Is there much maintenance required for a custom loop?

Different maintenance but I would say about as much as an air cooled system. Once or twice a year should be often enough.

Are the temperatures THAT much lower?

Depends on components but generally speaking yes. CPU temps will drop some, GPU's a lot. Overclocked CPU and custom water dropped temps ~10-12C over H50, GPU dropped about 40C under load.

Anything nasty I should know about installing or using a loop??

Beyond the obvious of water in a pc :p As long as you read up on it and parts shouldn't really be anything nasty.

Do I need to keep airflow in the case with the loop going?

Yes some, some air for mobo and gpu if cpu only loop. Also if rad is used an exhaust good to have some fresh air into your case.

Are they noisy?

Depends why you are watercooling what parts you pick which defines noise but generally yes. Again going on my loop, loudest part of my pc now if I leave it over night is my hdd.

Edit: red on blue doesn't work and beaten :(
 
Last edited:
HW91 said:
also use red tubing instead of red dye as dye cloggs up everything after a while
Click to expand...

I've read reasons to use coloured tubing and reasons to use dye... it seems to be a choice thing rather than much difference if you're cleaning the system 3 or more times a year
 
Dyes will eventually separate from the liquid and will clogg up a restrictive system/block. NEVER use dyes unless you intend to replace the fluid on a regular basis.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom