Have you left custom water cooled setups

[HB]Rugrat · 12 Sep 2025 at 15:30

I replaced my custom loop a few months back with an AIO as I got fed up of having to drain/refill the loop nearly every time I replaced some hardware... I lasted about 2 weeks before I got the itch again and rebuilt my loop

Van Diemen · 18 Sep 2025 at 14:51

[HB]Rugrat said:
I replaced my custom loop a few months back with an AIO as I got fed up of having to drain/refill the loop nearly every time I replaced some hardware... I lasted about 2 weeks before I got the itch again and rebuilt my loop

One of the reasons why I'm now seriously considering moving away from a custom loop. Looking at the prices of some of the more premium AIO units makes me reconsider as I have almost all bits I'd need for a new loop.

Rab · 19 Sep 2025 at 14:44

still doing after all these year's . but will admit, getting old, eyes ain't so good now. so this one i have the now probs be last.

qbazdz · 19 Sep 2025 at 22:31

I've been on WC for past 12+ years and never thought of moving away. Then, after building a few PCs recently I had a wild thoughts is far less hassle, especialy when doing a big new build - like some said already, its the part availability and in my case, trying to downsize on case, rather ten have a massive case that will take it all.
However, soon after that though, I heared.. yes, heard the few gaming setups that had nice GPU, AIOs, good fans, and while gaming the damn things were nothing what I am used to with my WC.
So far, I'd rather have the 'experience' (although sometimes time consuming and a bit painful) of WC, as I appriciate the quiet running machine no matter what I do.

[HB]Rugrat · 20 Sep 2025 at 09:10

qbazdz said:
I've been on WC for past 12+ years and never thought of moving away. Then, after building a few PCs recently I had a wild thoughts is far less hassle, especialy when doing a big new build - like some said already, its the part availability and in my case, trying to downsize on case, rather ten have a massive case that will take it all.
However, soon after that though, I heared.. yes, heard the few gaming setups that had nice GPU, AIOs, good fans, and while gaming the damn things were nothing what I am used to with my WC.
So far, I'd rather have the 'experience' (although sometimes time consuming and a bit painful) of WC, as I appriciate the quiet running machine no matter what I do.

Yeah I think that partially sums up my own feelings - I enjoy the process of working on a loop probably more than the actual benefits, thought I do enjoy the benefits, particularly the aesthetics. I have to say though, after briefly returning to "regular" cooling I was surprised at how effective and quiet AIOs (and even air coolers) have become.

WantoN · 21 Sep 2025 at 19:39

Van Diemen said:
One of the reasons why I'm now seriously considering moving away from a custom loop. Looking at the prices of some of the more premium AIO units makes me reconsider as I have almost all bits I'd need for a new loop.

Precisely why I'm building into a bigger case, using longer ZMT runs, and finally giving in and using quick disconnects.

My Meshify C build was so, so tight I couldn't even access fan headers or sata ports, and when I just did a GPU swap, it was so arduous.

I've always used proper drains with a ball valve, but getting my filler bottle into the G1/4 port of a tiny res near the roof was a massive pain. Got a res with over 3x the capacity and a fill port will become a deal breaker feature, too.

I love building loops, and maintaining is fine, I love the silence and oc/undervolting. I love the accomplishment.

But as I've advanced in years, my taste for loops seems to have become the same as cars; I want comfort, room, and quality of life

FloppyPoppy · 23 Oct 2025 at 20:32

I haven’t done a custom loop in around 8 years now the only benefit to them for me now is aesthetics. I can get a tolerably quiet and cool system on air at a fraction of the cost

Meridian · 23 Oct 2025 at 20:37

Not yet, ad I started in about 2003. I briefly considered it when I kew I was upgrading to the 9950X3D, and knew I would need a new block; plus a new rad due to slight leaks in the old one. But decided against it. Still prefer custom - in my case old-school soft pipe.

Vidar · 24 Oct 2025 at 16:38

Ive binned off custom cooling, at least for now. I love how it looks and performs but with my disability and the weight of it all its just too much for me now.

Farore · Monday at 11:46

Custom loops are not popular any more. Just go for a simple air cooler or a AIO.

InkZ · Monday at 21:16

I've never had the patience to get into custom loops. I like the idea and they look cool, but think I would just end up rushing it and messing it up. I've run air the majority of the time, and got an AIO for the first time 5 years ago. I just liked the AIO because it gives more room in the case vs a massive cooler and I was always cutting myself on my D14 trying to work around it :s Cases have more room now though

moogle · Monday at 22:59

Sold it all off a number of years ago. Went for high end air cooling for less maintenance, as I got to a point where I stopped enjoying doing a build every year or two and wanted a stable system for as long as I could play some games.
Then work got in the way and life and never looked at going back. Only regret is when playing games at 4K the GPU is pretty noisy which isn't as nice as a watercooled setup, however I have an idea/plan for solving that eventually.

Toasty · Tuesday at 11:35

I moved off for a while as was going through a phase of changing parts out all the time and so was a pain but now would just rather game so will keep a build for 2 years.

Planning to move back for my next build as I dont really like the temps you get with AIO and went for a RGB and inbuilt screen etc but found that the software needed for all that is dog poop so have most of it removed now.

One of the major hitches is a water cooled GPU, barely any of the AIB do a waterblocked card now and if they do they are really hard to buy. Potential warranty rejection from a cooler removal is harder to swallow on a £2000 card compared to like £600.

doggles · Tuesday at 18:59

Oops wrong thread

sandys · Wednesday at 01:25

moogle said:
Only regret is when playing games at 4K the GPU is pretty noisy

Pretty much the only reason I still do it whilst my water is not quiet, the sound is consistent and knocks a good 20c of off the temps versus running the stock air fans noisy to keep temps low.

Also my Palit 5080 Air cooler vents over the DDR5 which is less than Ideal, on water no such issue.

turbot1984 · Wednesday at 01:26

AGREE

moogle · Wednesday at 19:42

sandys said:
Pretty much the only reason I still do it whilst my water is not quiet, the sound is consistent and knocks a good 20c of off the temps versus running the stock air fans noisy to keep temps low.

I've been looking into placing the PC in a cupboard or different room and using fibre cables to just have the screen, speakers and mouse and keyboard in the room. There's devices for the screen, but my problem is trying to find a way to connect USB devices in the same way. Hopefully as more people look to doing this the devices out there become more mainstream and easy to find.

Toasty · 2025-11-06T10:17:19+0000

I have found the simple USB 3.0 extenders are fine, so like 3m extender with the 1.8m or so cable you usually get.
Mouse and Keyboard,Xbox controller dongle and headset dongle all on the end of those.

moogle · 2025-11-06T10:29:48+0000

Toasty said:
I have found the simple USB 3.0 extenders are fine, so like 3m extender with the 1.8m or so cable you usually get.
Mouse and Keyboard,Xbox controller dongle and headset dongle all on the end of those.

I think I need 10m or so taking the cable along the floorboards

It needs to be active at lengths above 5m I believe. I haven't done a lot of research for a while since other things got in the way but will definitely resume it.

One downside is it will make my room colder in the winter so will need the heating on more lol.

RedMogg · 2025-11-06T18:52:40+0000

Watercooled my m-ATX PC in 2020, then did a case update (Lian Li Lancool 3) with ZMT tubing. My son's air cooled rig had issues running Fortnite (AMD drivers for his 7800XT), so we temporarily swapped rigs...

...and it made more sense that he have the quieter, cooler system, considering he's on his PC most of the day.

I've been hoarding WC bits for a while, with a bunch of hard & soft tube fittings, pumps, blocks, multiple 280, 360 & 480mm radiators, an EK FLT360 and even a MoRa 420 with 200mm Noctua NF-A20s attached (I dread to think of the value, but it must be in the thousands).

I plan to do a system update (AM5, 9070XT) when I finally finish my study and at least make use of the MoRa - but haven't made any firm decisions on whether to go ITX or O11D Evo (to use the FLT360). I love seeing the builds @Jay85 puts together, so I'll likely use him for some inspiration.

Currently running everything on air in a Lancool 2, which is perfectly functional, but I want to make use of the kit I've got hoarded, before The Boss makes me get rid of it all...