Thinking about going water cooled.

[Chris230291]

Alright guys? Im thinking of giving a water loop a try. I have no experience with water cooling so i thought id get some feedback from you guys.

I'm not sure weather to get an all in one or just build one from bits myself. I was only going to cool my CPU and leave the GPU alone. Originally i was going to get an all in one, but after watching the latest water loop video on OC3D's channel i'm not so sure. This is because it's not going in a standard case and I'm pretty sure the hose sizes will need/want resizing to keep it aesthetically pleasing. Tom mentioned that as soon as you start adjusting a closed loop you may as well have just gone DIY. So really I'm after your thoughts there.

If i go DIY i would like to use a CPU block that has a pump attached, as apposed to having a res and pump sitting in my case. If this is a bad idea i would like to hear why.

It might be worth mentioning that the machine this would be for primarily runs OS X, so any dependancy on windows would render it useless to me. Also id like to try and avoid spending additional money on gimmicks that i will never be able to use/control outside of windows. Cost is something i need to watch in general, i don't wanna spend much more (if at all) going DIY when i can just buy a closed loop and adjust it as needs be.

What do you guys suggest i do?

Cheers,
Chris.

 

[Cru]

first of all, you won't be able to do a good custom loop for the price of an AIO unit

I'm personally not a big fan of custom loops just for the CPU since the AIO units tend to perform really well
But if you want to do it, I also don't like the idea of a block/pump combo. A 5.25" res/pump combo is better imo
but it's really going to be more expensive than an AIO unit if you want to do it properly

 

[SeekaX]

your OS has nothing to do with your loop.
if you are completely new to watercooling go with an all in one kit, especially because you aren't even cooling the GPU. i can't imagine any case that would be too large for an h100i, and even if that was the case the swiftech h220 is by far large enough.

 

[Chris230291]

If i can't make a good loop for the price of a AIO i guess i better go AIO.
I only mention the OS because i've heard people talking about the software and stuff.

Which AIO should i look at? H100, H100i, X60... Any others?

 

[Cru]

H100i would be my choice

 

[SeekaX]

H100i would be my choice

i second that.

 

[Chris230291]

Ok thanks guys.
What are the fans like?

 

[Cru]

np mate, that's why we are here!

 

[SeekaX]

the fans perform really well, but they are noisy. either you get some noctua nf-p12 pwm fans (oh god they perform so good, they are so amazingly quiet, but the colour isn't really pleasing and they are rather pricey), or some Corsair SP120 QE (look great, perform a bit worse and are noisier than the noctua fans, but they are cheaper as well. they don't have PWM, which is sad).

 

[Chris230291]

Hmm yeah those Noctuas aren't the most aesthetically pleasing are they.
I guess i may as well give the stock fans a try before i go out buying more. You never know i might be happy with them. The main reason i'm looking at water is so i can have a silent system but still has low-ish temps. So i don't want any noisy fans in my case or else i may as well not bother.

Thanks,
Chris.

 

[NRG!]

I don't think AIOs are quieter than high end air, are they?

 

[Cru]

I don't think AIOs are quieter than high end air, are they?

if the pump is louder than the fans (assuming same fans for air and aio-loop) they aren't
but they definitely look better

 

[SeekaX]

Hmm yeah those Noctuas aren't the most aesthetically pleasing are they.
I guess i may as well give the stock fans a try before i go out buying more. You never know i might be happy with them. The main reason i'm looking at water is so i can have a silent system but still has low-ish temps. So i don't want any noisy fans in my case or else i may as well not bother.

Thanks,
Chris.

they aren't aesthetically pleasing, but i love them.

 

[iBeInspire]

I don't think AIOs are quieter than high end air, are they?

I second this, isn't a NHD14 meant to be far quieter (if a little warmer) than a h100..?

 

[AverageNinja]

Honestly I'd say the Kraken X60. The H100i seems to have a lot of software issues. After that I'd say the H220, but it's more expensive.

 

[SeekaX]

I second this, isn't a NHD14 meant to be far quieter (if a little warmer) than a h100..?

always depends on the fans.

 

[SeekaX]

Honestly I'd say the Kraken X60. The H100i seems to have a lot of software issues. After that I'd say the H220, but it's more expensive.

H220? wasn't that thing rather disappointing?

 

[Dark NighT]

H220? wasn't that thing rather disappointing?

It is, it has got a lot of hype behind it which it frankly doesnt deserve and technically it isnt a All in one, but rather a kit that looks like an all in one.

 

[Chris230291]

Yeah the H220 is my last choice based on reviews. Last choice out of the larger AIO units anyways.

Are the pumps on these things audible? In fact, how loud are these things in general. Like i said my aim is to have a silent system with really low temps. I don't wanna go out and buy one of these if it's louder than my stock intel cooler.

Chris.

 

[Cru]

can't really hear the pump on my h80i