Watercooling. Is it hard?

Guitarman0 · 24 Dec 2009 at 00:08

I have helped a couple of my mates with builds and am about to get my own build but would like to know, is it hard to install watercooling. I mean, I have a pretty good understanding of computer builds and components and if I did watercool it would only be the CPU (because my friend just managed to break his 5870 by removing the cooler and other stuff......). Also, is it worth it?
Cheers

JonJ678 · 24 Dec 2009 at 00:14

Nope, it's only plumbing. Simple really.

Its quieter and cooler than air, but you pay for it. Whether its worth it depends solely on whether you can reasonably afford it.

If however you, like your friend, are incapable of taking heatsinks off things without breaking them, then water cooling is probably not for you.

Guitarman0 · 24 Dec 2009 at 00:21

Thanks for quick reply. How much do you reckon I will need to spend to get a decent water cooling system for just a CPU? Also, what are your thoughts on the Corsair H50-1?

JonJ678 · 24 Dec 2009 at 00:40

It can be done quite well using a mix of new and second hand for around £200, less if you're lucky or use either a cheap pump or 30mm thick radiators with louder fans. The case section has many, many photos which make the normal set up pretty clear. Laing ddc with xspc reservoir top, ek supreme lt or heatkiller lt, 240 radiator is simple and effective and probably under 200.

I'm not keen on the H50. Water coolers tend to be fairly negative about it. Essentially it performs as well as a good air cooler, costs as much as a good air cooler, and is far more likely to break. I don't see these as compelling reasons to buy it, however it seems to have attracted a fairly fanatical following regardless. I also think they're going to start dropping like flies in 6 months or so, but we'll see. Not many broken ones yet.

rjk · 24 Dec 2009 at 00:48

watercooling is easy if you take your time and dont do it 'on the cheap'

my only advice is to read EVERYTHING you can find on the subject

read peoples build logs
read every guide you can find

Guitarman0 · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:13

rjkoneill said:
watercooling is easy if you take your time and dont do it 'on the cheap'

my only advice is to read EVERYTHING you can find on the subject

read peoples build logs
read every guide you can find

Thanks for the info

weescott · 26 Dec 2009 at 20:15

There is a load of info in the sticky. Have a look at some builds linked in there.

tipes · 26 Dec 2009 at 22:09

rjkoneill said:
watercooling is easy if you take your time and dont do it 'on the cheap'

my only advice is to read EVERYTHING you can find on the subject

read peoples build logs
read every guide you can find

I'll seccond that - good advice, and exactly what I did before going to water, but once you do the benefits are great depending on your expectations and what you want to achieve with your system.

Mark

Guitarman0 · 26 Dec 2009 at 22:32

tipes said:
I'll seccond that - good advice, and exactly what I did before going to water, but once you do the benefits are great depending on your expectations and what you want to achieve with your system.

Mark

Many thanks for input

daz.wallace · 27 Dec 2009 at 12:00

weescott said:
There is a load of info in the sticky. Have a look at some builds linked in there.

I had a look through all the stuff in the sticky before doing my first WC build, I found it invaluable. Like has been mentioned before, read as much as you can, trawl through this section for anything watercool related and take your time planning everything before you start.

I am so pleased with the way mine turned out and am so glad I took the time to research it, it made my build so much easier in the long run.

Good luck

Andrew G · 27 Dec 2009 at 16:31

rjkoneill said:
watercooling is easy if you take your time and dont do it 'on the cheap'

my only advice is to read EVERYTHING you can find on the subject

read peoples build logs
read every guide you can find

tipes said:
I'll seccond that - good advice, and exactly what I did before going to water, but once you do the benefits are great depending on your expectations and what you want to achieve with your system.

Mark

How would one know what is good and what is average though, a lot of the reviews are not unlike most men's gadget magazines just adverts wraped in a review not actually telling you anything you couldn't find out visiting the manufactures website doesn't give any info about weak points

daz.wallace · 27 Dec 2009 at 16:40

Andrew G said:
How would one know what is good and what is average though, a lot of the reviews are not unlike most men's gadget magazines just adverts wraped in a review not actually telling you anything you couldn't find out visiting the manufactures website doesn't give any info about weak points

Ask on here, get an idea of what you want then post it here and people will tell you if ity is ok or not

Zenduri · 27 Dec 2009 at 16:40

Number 1 rule fo watercooling IMO... Do it only if you can afford to replace everything in the case should the worst happen

Guitarman0 · 27 Dec 2009 at 19:04

HybridX said:
Number 1 rule fo watercooling IMO... Do it only if you can afford to replace everything in the case should the worst happen

well, I won't be doing it then

My friend has just completely backed up everything that rjkoneill said because he just got £400 of water cooling for xmas but made an easy mistake (using nickel and copper in same circuit.)

Thanks for all advice

Zenduri · 27 Dec 2009 at 20:41

I would love to run a water cooled rig and in the future when moneys more flush i will have a crack at it but as rjkoneill said i wouldnt do it on the cheap as your asking for issues and i would be eternally afraid of a leak.

*Subtly hides his H50*
:rolleyes:

weescott · 27 Dec 2009 at 21:45

HybridX said:
Number 1 rule fo watercooling IMO... Do it only if you can afford to replace everything in the case should the worst happen

Don't be stupid. That's what leak testing is for.

DavyBoy · 27 Dec 2009 at 21:54

I was just about to say the same thing weescott..

If you leaktest overnight to make sure everything is sealed properly, then you will be just fine.

I put together my first custom watercooled rig a few months back, and I wasn't in a position to replace any of my components if I accidentally fried them.

As long as you read and learn as much as you possibly can on the subject, you take your time plumbing the loop, and make sure you leaktest, then there really isn't much that can go wrong..

The only thing that I was really weary about, was fitting my graphics card block, but once I got started I was fine, though a lot of my worry was to do with the fact that there have been quite a lot of people that have had issues with the block I am using, and I'd read a few posts where guys had borked their cards just before I started fitting my own one!!

Amidar · 27 Dec 2009 at 22:05

Guitarman0 said:
well, I won't be doing it then

My friend has just completely backed up everything that rjkoneill said because he just got £400 of water cooling for xmas but made an easy mistake (using nickel and copper in same circuit.)

Thanks for all advice

I thought copper & nickel is fine :confused:

& it's copper & aluminium that is a no no :confused:

Just thought i'd ask this as my barbs are nickel plated (Not put togeather yet)

Sayso · 27 Dec 2009 at 22:08

tbh water cooling is not worth the cost, unless you really cant take the noise of high end air, you might get a couple extra 100mghz overclock and cooler temps but day to day there is no difference.
if i was building a rig today i wouldn't bother!

clv101 · 27 Dec 2009 at 22:12

How well do they last? I mean can you build a water cooled system then run it for 18 months without opening the case once? Or is there a degree of constant maintenance/observation required?