FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

What difference does custom water cooling make?

Post Date: 2018-09-26
 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
sphanlon View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 26 Sep 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2 		  Quote sphanlon Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Topic: What difference does custom water cooling make?
    Posted: 26 Sep 2018 at 9:51am
I saw an interesting video put out by puget systems saying it wasn't worth it. It was weird because they were essentially convincing you to spend less money with them, should you use them.

But they did show a comparatively small difference between custom cooling setup for both cpu and gpu vs. a closed loop cooler on the cpu and video card with fans on it. Was this a true representation or not? Just wondering if the upkeep and risk of leaks is worth it at all.
Back to Top
forrest74 View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 15 Feb 2013
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2642 		  Quote forrest74 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 26 Sep 2018 at 8:08pm
Sphanlon:
Link is to a 4-yr old Reddit post.  The guy tested eight liquid coolers and eight air fan coolers.  Data shows CPU temperature and the noise (db) produced. 

The data should give you a very good idea as to the difference in performance between air coolers and liquid coolers.
Back to Top
bprat22 View Drop Down
DS ELITE
DS ELITE

DigitalStorm East -- (Unofficially!)
Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 08 Jun 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 27 Sep 2018 at 5:01am
There is a definite benefit for custom water over air or the sealed AIO Corsair units.   If you high overclock, run your rig 24/7 for folding as an example or use 2 or 3 video cards, the custom water will keep the heat down with its superior heat transfer and getting the heat out of the case. If the case heats up, so do the components.

That said, the majority don’t need custom water.   It’s more of a great looks or bragging rights desire. Nothing wrong with that. We all buy cars with more than we need, etc.   

In general, for gaming on a low oc and single card, custom is a luxury, not necessity.   

Back to Top
hoserator View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran

We don't need no stinking "Avatars" !
Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 08 Oct 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7966 		  Quote hoserator Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 28 Sep 2018 at 1:48am
+1 on everything said by bprat22. Also, with an open loop you can have the gpu(s) lc and add radiators if you need more cooling. Strong
Back to Top
sphanlon View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 26 Sep 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2 		  Quote sphanlon Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Sep 2018 at 10:51am
So is it worth it to someone who who doesn't want open it up and work on it a lot? Refilling the liquid is easy but if there's a leak I'll be in a bad way. If I get copper tubing will that make it more likely there won't be such problems?
Back to Top
bprat22 View Drop Down
DS ELITE
DS ELITE

DigitalStorm East -- (Unofficially!)
Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 08 Jun 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20391 		  Quote bprat22 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Sep 2018 at 11:17am
If you get custom water you will be working on it at times.   A leak can happen, leading to disassemble of the loop.   Adding fluid is easy but a couple of years from now you might have to drain, flush and refill it.   

Copper tubing looks awesome but has no flexibility like flexible hoses. A simple task like swapping a ram module or a video card means draining the loop to move the tubing.   No quick disconnects with hard tubing.

Bottom line, if you don’t need custom water and don’t want the maintenance needed, then don’t get it.

Good that you’re asking before you buy.    A lot of people buy it without giving thought to what was just explained.

Copper and hardline tubing has less flexibility and more prone to leaks.



Edited by bprat22 - 29 Sep 2018 at 11:19am
Back to Top
hoserator View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran

We don't need no stinking "Avatars" !
Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 08 Oct 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7966 		  Quote hoserator Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 29 Sep 2018 at 12:15pm
With custom liquid cooling you will work on the system at some point in its life. At least, like bprat22 stated,  you will have to drain, rinse and flush. Most likely you will also have leaks. 
With an AIO, you probably will not have leaks but if the pump fails you will have to remove and replace the whole thing.
With air, only the fan can fail and that is easy to change If you will not oc and benchmark, get air.
Back to Top
Cretae View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran

Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 22 Mar 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7331 		  Quote Cretae Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 30 Sep 2018 at 8:40am
Personally, I like a system that just WORKS whenever I turn it on. Low maintenance is in my DNA. We don't get many owners that come back and say how wonderful their custom liquid is. What we do get is those few that have the nightmare of serious leaks and having to send their whole rig back to get it fixed. I would hate that, so I just stay away.

I've been into using and gaming on computers for over 30 years, and never had a heat issue. Simply, I don't push the limits of my gear. These days, IMHO, the gear is just so darn fast, powerful, and capable, there's no real need to push it hard, and the AIO liquid or air is all you need.
Back to Top
oldlady RPGer View Drop Down
DS Veteran
DS Veteran

One of the cool kids
Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 09 Sep 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1080 		  Quote oldlady RPGer Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 01 Oct 2018 at 1:50pm
I have had a DS system (my Cube) since 2011 that is LC. I have the Tygon tubing(flex). Since I use Tygon in my work(ECMO) I'm very familiar with it. So I flush and maintain with no issues. Never had a leak from my LC. And never had a heat issue. Well I also have 11 fans on my case too.
Me sitting my ECMO in PICU. Now you know why I like LC. ;)

Back to Top
Snaike View Drop Down
Moderator Group
Moderator Group

Just a dude trying to keep the spam away
Email address used to purchase matched with forums account email.

Joined: 23 Jan 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9462 		  Quote Snaike Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 01 Oct 2018 at 3:11pm
Originally posted by oldlady RPGer

I have had a DS system (my Cube) since 2011 that is LC. I have the Tygon tubing(flex). Since I use Tygon in my work(ECMO) I'm very familiar with it. So I flush and maintain with no issues. Never had a leak from my LC. And never had a heat issue. Well I also have 11 fans on my case too.
LC and 11 fans... that's why, ladies and gentlemen, she is "one of the cool kids" ... Not a chance of overheating.   
Back to Top
NerdyGamer18 View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 03 Oct 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5 		  Quote NerdyGamer18 Quote  Post ReplyReply bullet Posted: 06 Oct 2018 at 1:04am
Originally posted by bprat22

If you get custom water you will be working on it at times.   A leak can happen, leading to disassemble of the loop.   Adding fluid is easy but a couple of years from now you might have to drain, flush and refill it.   

Copper tubing looks awesome but has no flexibility like flexible hoses. A simple task like swapping a ram module or a video card means draining the loop to move the tubing.   No quick disconnects with hard tubing.

Bottom line, if you don’t need custom water and don’t want the maintenance needed, then don’t get it.

Good that you’re asking before you buy.    A lot of people buy it without giving thought to what was just explained.

Copper and hardline tubing has less flexibility and more prone to leaks.


If there's a leak, you'll be in a world of doodoo. Lol. But to answer your question, in my opinion they are worth the money. Yeah you might be spending a bit more, but you're getting something custom built for your system so it fits like a glove.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 5.310059E-02 seconds.