A few questions about water cooling

[Pck21]

How easy is it to set up and how often do you need to refill the system? What kind of water do you use? Can the system break or leak? I'm looking for another project and it seems to me that my computer has been running far too well as of lately and I need an excuse to screw it up . As my gf rolls her eyes at me...

 

[Geoff]

How easy is it to set up

It depends what you want to cool, usually it's just the CPU and possibly the video card. I havent set one up personally, but i've looked into them. And usually they require you to install a backplate on the back side of the motherboard for support, which you then need to secure the heatsinks, tubing, radiators, water pump, etc. From what i've heard, its not too difficult to setup, but very time consuming.

What kind of water do you use?

I believe you use a special coolant, similar to that which is used in your car (but dont use that!!)

Can the system break or leak?

Yes it can, which is one of the major concerns people have with liquid cooling.

 

[sniperchang]

What kind of water do you use?

I do believe the bottles you buy for water cooling setups are a mix of water and anti-freeze (To slightly increase thermal capacity of water).

 

[The_Beast]

How easy is it to set up

Putting it together really isn't too hard, cutting tube, sticking it on the barbs, putting on clamps, repeat.

how often do you need to refill the system?

it depends, will you be putting in a reservoir??? if so then not to often, if not maybe once a week if that

What kind of water do you use?

distilled water

Can the system break or leak?

yes but you do a leak test before you put it in your case

I believe you use a special coolant, similar to that which is used in your car (but dont use that!!)

Yes it can, which is one of the major concerns people have with liquid cooling.

You use distilled water, whatever you do DO NOT PUT IN TAP WATER, tap water has minerals in it so it will tend to build up on your tubing, pumps, ect.


they can but you usually do a 24 hour leak test


edit: if you need any help ask me, i love putting together system for other people

 

[Geoff]

You use distilled water, whatever you do DO NOT PUT IN TAP WATER, tap water has minerals in it so it will tend to build up on your tubing, pumps, ect.

I know they sell special coolant for water cooling systems, so I guess you could either use that or distilled water.

 

[The_Beast]

I know they sell special coolant for water cooling systems, so I guess you could either use that or distilled water.

they do sell "special coolants" for water cooling but most of the time it is just a rip-off, most of the time you use distilled water and add color or UV reactive dies

 

[Pck21]

Oh wow thanks for all of the replies! I was thinking of putting one in the computer in my sig. I was thinking of using a reservoir but I don't know if it will fit in the room here. Can anyone recommend a liquid cooling system that is reputable and stable? I don't really have a budget for it so whatever comes to mind. I was also thinking of getting this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811221002

It has an a/c in it and I was wondering if that would be a good idea or liquid cooling? Or both??

Man I'm excited!

 

[The_Beast]

Oh wow thanks for all of the replies! I was thinking of putting one in the computer in my sig. I was thinking of using a reservoir but I don't know if it will fit in the room here. Can anyone recommend a liquid cooling system that is reputable and stable? I don't really have a budget for it so whatever comes to mind. I was also thinking of getting this case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811221002

It has an a/c in it and I was wondering if that would be a good idea or liquid cooling? Or both??

Man I'm excited!

well do you want a cooling system that is already put together or order all the part separately, you get to chose pumps, rads, blocks ect.

try to find a budget too

 

[Pck21]

well do you want a cooling system that is already put together or order all the part separately, you get to chose pumps, rads, blocks ect.

try to find a budget too

Hmm that's a good question. I'm not really sure to be honest. I really want to do it myself so I can have a project to cuss at for a few days, weeks, months, etc. But at the same time I really need it to work so it doesn't leak in the middle of the night because of my mess up. I mean it's one thing when something like software or hardware goes wrong because most of the time I can find and fix it. However if water gets all over and shorts everything well I got a p***ed off girlfriend (b/c it's in her room) and I have to buy a whole new system. What is your best recommendation?

As for the budget, I'd like to see what the best of the best costs. I'm only water cooling the cpu right now. I only have a low level card and decent ram. I don't think they need it. But I'm going to upgrade my cpu to an FX b/c they are so cheap right now. Possibly over clock as well, we'll see. If you can, what does the best, middle, and low level water cooling systems cost?

 

[The_Beast]

Hmm that's a good question. I'm not really sure to be honest. I really want to do it myself so I can have a project to cuss at for a few days, weeks, months, etc. But at the same time I really need it to work so it doesn't leak in the middle of the night because of my mess up. I mean it's one thing when something like software or hardware goes wrong because most of the time I can find and fix it. However if water gets all over and shorts everything well I got a p***ed off girlfriend (b/c it's in her room) and I have to buy a whole new system. What is your best recommendation?

As for the budget, I'd like to see what the best of the best costs. I'm only water cooling the cpu right now. I only have a low level card and decent ram. I don't think they need it. But I'm going to upgrade my cpu to an FX b/c they are so cheap right now. Possibly over clock as well, we'll see. If you can, what does the best, middle, and low level water cooling systems cost?

well how many rads can you put in, how many fan ports and would you want to put the rad on top???

 

[Pck21]

well how many rads can you put in, how many fan ports and would you want to put on top???

Holy jumpin I have no idea what you're talking about LOL Ok let's start with rads. What are they and where do they go? What purpose do they serve? As far as fan ports I have room for an 80mm and a 120mm in the case. Not sure if that's what you're talking about though. I have about a 3 or 3 and 1/2 inches of room to work with on top of the case. Would that be enough room? What should I be looking for in a water cooling system?

 

[The_Beast]

Ok let's start with rads. What are they and where do they go? What purpose do they serve?

it is kinda sad that you don't know what radiators are

well the radiators are what actually cools the system down, the pump moves the water, the radiator cools the water down, the water is then pumped to the CPU block which takes the heat off the CPU, like a heatsink, and the process repeats over and over, but you can also cool the chipset, GPU, RAM, HDD using water

now you can mount the radiator in any of your fan ports or on top of your case, the bigger the radiator are better the cooling

 

[sniperchang]

it is kinda sad that you don't know what radiators are

He might of not have associated rads with Radiators.