When is Water-Cooling needed?

[Resonance]

I was wondering if I need liquid cooling if i'm running at 3.8GHz at 16.5 multiplier, where the FSB is running at 230 MHz, and the total temperature is at 44 C. I'm running on stock heat sink and it still seems stable.. even with CnC enabled. Will I need water cooling if I want to get anything from 4.5-5GHz? If so, what water cooling kit is is most recommended?

 

[AndyMosh]

What processor do you have? Also have you ran prime95 for 8 hours+ yet? I wouldn't suggest overclocking on the stock heatsink, atleast get a decent air cooler like the Noctua NH-D14 because 44c is a little high for stock temps (in my opinion).

Watercooling is needed for extreme overclocking really, depending what architecture your cpu is it can reach different heats, for instance the SandyBridge 2500k/2600k can reach 4.7 easily on a good aftermarket air cooler.

 

[SieB]

Watercooling isn't really needed, it's more of something to do if you want a quiet rig and the lowest temps you can get. A decent air cooler like the D14 will give you good temps and be quiet, but if you want to go that bit further, thats where water cooling comes in.

The only time watercooling is really needed is if you are pushing your OC further than what an air cooler can cope with, you still want to stay in the safe voltage zone though because even under water you still risk damaging your CPU with using to much voltage.

 

[Resonance]

What processor do you have? Also have you ran prime95 for 8 hours+ yet? I wouldn't suggest overclocking on the stock heatsink, atleast get a decent air cooler like the Noctua NH-D14 because 44c is a little high for stock temps (in my opinion).

Watercooling is needed for extreme overclocking really, depending what architecture your cpu is it can reach different heats, for instance the SandyBridge 2500k/2600k can reach 4.7 easily on a good aftermarket air cooler.

I have the Fx-6100, thanks for the advise. Might be well worth investing.

I've never even heard of prime95, what's it used for?

 

[ruthless_villain]

no point putting a fx-6100 under water imo £100+ to cool a £90 cpu just doesnt make sense unless your talkin about one of the antec kuhlers or a corsair hxx

 

[Resonance]

no point putting a fx-6100 under water imo £100+ to cool a £90 cpu just doesnt make sense unless your talkin about one of the antec kuhlers or a corsair hxx

So, it'd be more wise to just buy a corsair h70 or a h100?

 

[AndyMosh]

I have the Fx-6100, thanks for the advise. Might be well worth investing.

I've never even heard of prime95, what's it used for?

You need to run Prime95 for a good 8 hours or more to make sure your overclock is stable, if it isn't stable, try upping the voltage a bit at a time, also look at other peoples overclocks on the internet.

 

[PetrolHead247]

no point putting a fx-6100 under water imo £100+ to cool a £90 cpu just doesnt make sense unless your talkin about one of the antec kuhlers or a corsair hxx

Totally agree with you. Spending all that money WC'in an FX6100 is a bit of a waste.

So, it'd be more wise to just buy a corsair h70 or a h100?

Yeah, i'd say a H100 is a good choice if your case can fit it. If not, a H80 is your best bet (or a H70 if you already have a set of good fans for rads available).

 

[ruthless_villain]

You need to run Prime95 for a good 8 hours or more to make sure your overclock is stable, if it isn't stable, try upping the voltage a bit at a time, also look at other peoples overclocks on the internet.

honestly i would just get a silver arrow or a d14 by the time you buy a h100 and decent fans you may aswell watercool

 

[Resonance]

the h100 has 2 120mm fans... meaning 240mm, the top part of my case is 230mm-ish, does that mean the other 10mm is just the space from the hole to the outer side? if so, i think i can fit in a h100 nicely

 

[S_I_N]

y'all are totally missing the point water cooling is not a NEED thing its a I want it thing. Well for most of us its that. Its the WOW this looks freaking awesome aspect of computer modding. So spending 100$-400$ to cool a 90$ cpu isnt any kind of valid point. Its what you want to make your computer.

and while i do agree 8+ hours of prime shows stability wtfh does it have to do with the question this person asked????

 

[Resonance]

haha, sin, yeah... i was somewhat pushed back from the idea of having water cooling, though, i could get it because i plan on getting the next gen amd processors, whenever or if ever they come out. I just want to hit a high speed while having my temps low.

 

[S_I_N]

understandable bro then i'd suggest you start doing alot of research on the in and outs of water cooling (its addicting) and then after you have read everything read it again lol then as most do you'll have questions make a post and ask away we'll be more than glad to answer any and all questions.

lol cool ur in Houston I'm in San Antonio

 

[Resonance]

that's what i've been doing for the past few days, trying to learn every component, the possible upgrades, the ideas behind how things work and such.. i wished I learned all the things i know now, before i bought and put together the pc i have now, although, it still works fine for what i do, intense gaming...

yeah, i notice you were from san antonio from the first post i've posted, so i figured i'd write down my location, haha.

 

[AndyMosh]

y'all are totally missing the point water cooling is not a NEED thing its a I want it thing. Well for most of us its that. Its the WOW this looks freaking awesome aspect of computer modding. So spending 100$-400$ to cool a 90$ cpu isnt any kind of valid point. Its what you want to make your computer.

and while i do agree 8+ hours of prime shows stability wtfh does it have to do with the question this person asked????

I've seen Resonance ask a few questions recently I just wanted to make sure he knew how to find if his OC was stable or not, don't want him ruining his gear.

 

[Resonance]

I've seen Resonance ask a few questions recently I just wanted to make sure he knew how to find if his OC was stable or not, don't want him ruining his gear.

Thanks man, really helped a lot. I did try out Prime95, just turned it on and waited for it to do it's thing.. (i still don't know how to adjust anything)... and while under the torture thing, my cpu jumped to 65C which my threshold is set to... So I automatically turned off Prime95, is it because it's unstable, or is it because of my settings?

 

[S_I_N]

if your oc is unstable prime will either bsod you or freeze up. high temps are expected when running prime

 

[Resonance]

if your oc is unstable prime will either bsod you or freeze up. high temps are expected when running prime

it hasn't shown any freezing or hasn't bsod'd yet... so i shouldn't worry about the temperatures? or should i worry at a point?

 

[S_I_N]

no worry if they get like say in the upper 80-low 90's then shut it down but if its not bsod'n or freezing up its stable let it run. I'd say if it hits 85 time to stop the run and find better cooling for your cpu but high temps are expected when stressing it.

 

[Resonance]

no worry if they get like say in the upper 80-low 90's then shut it down but if its not bsod'n or freezing up its stable let it run. I'd say if it hits 85 time to stop the run and find better cooling for your cpu but high temps are expected when stressing it.

all right then, you've been a great help.