Questions about water cooling...

[kent_b29]

First off, i'm a newbie to water cooling. I don't know much about it at all. So if you would take some time and help me out I would really appreciate it.

Are leaks and condensation a big issue with water cooling? I gues this is my main concern, that i'll get leaks and destroy my computer.

What are the basic parts of a water cooling setup? What are some good parts for watercooling? Should I get a kit or buy parts seperatley. Is the gain worth it over air cooling? Do I need to still have air flow through my case? How big of a case will i need? Would a system fit in a chieftec matrix mid-tower case?

Sorry, I know that is alot of questions. Anything else you think I should know would be greatly aprreciated. This would possibly be for a new system I'm going to be building here sometime:

Amd 2400+
Abit Nforce 2 board when ever it comes out
Antec 430 truepower
Western Digital 80 gig se hard drive
Lite-on 48x12x48 cd burner
Chieftec matrix mid-tower case
floppy
512 mb crucial ram
MSI geforce 4 ti4200 128 mb

[masitti]

Check my WWW for an install guide - it may help ya a little.

Condensation doesn't happen with watercooling - only pelt or phase change cooling.

If you use hose clamps, take your time, etc. leaks shouldn't be a problem.

As for parts, check some watercooling places like DangerDen, Dtek Customs, CoolTechnica, etc.

Airflow will help keep your other components cool, so you should have some kinda of airflow.

Case size? One that has room for a heatercore and pump, if you plan to have it all in the case.

For the common Chieftec/Antec/Chenming cases, these are almost the best cases for watercooling.

[mfpmax]

Condensation is only a problem if your CPU is cooled below ambient room temperature...usually doesn't occur in regular water cooling unless you use a peltier or a water chiller setup.

3 Basic Parts...4 if you include tubing
Radiator
Waterblock
Water pump

I've never seen a Matrix Mid tower, but if you try real hard...you can fit about anything anywhere...but it may not cool as well with a small sized radiator.

This is my Antec SX635
http://bellsouthpwp.net/l/m/lmitch81/water/sx635-3.jpg
Its between 18 and 21 inches tall, I will have no "real" problem fitting my future watercooling setup inside.

[gone_fishin]

Originally posted by kent_b29
First off, i'm a newbie to water cooling. I don't know much about it at all. So if you would take some time and help me out I would really appreciate it.

Are leaks and condensation a big issue with water cooling? I gues this is my main concern, that i'll get leaks and destroy my computer.

What are the basic parts of a water cooling setup? What are some good parts for watercooling? Should I get a kit or buy parts seperatley. Is the gain worth it over air cooling? Do I need to still have air flow through my case? How big of a case will i need? Would a system fit in a chieftec matrix mid-tower case?

Sorry, I know that is alot of questions. Anything else you think I should know would be greatly aprreciated. This would possibly be for a new system I'm going to be building here sometime:



CPU block
tubing (get something flexible like Tygon of Clearflex or Silicone)
Automotive heatercore radiator
A fan to place on heatercore
An aquarium waterpump
hoseclamps
A tee for a fill tube or else a resevoir

Put them in a circuit and run the water through for a day to make sure the barbs are not leaking. Then disassemble and put it in your puter:)

[kent_b29]

here's a link to the case- http://www.directron.com/mx01bnd.html
. It says mid tower up on the top of the browser and at the bottom, but full tower in the text. But the dimensions look right for a mid tower. correct me if i'm wrong.

Please keep the info coming and thanks for the help so far.

thanks,
Kent

[masitti]

It's a mid tower. A full tower usually has 6 or more 5.25 inch bays, and that is a perfect case for watercooling.

[mfpmax]

Yeah, no problem, thats the same as the Antec 1000 series, there is PLENTY of room.

Take out both HD bays and you can put a 10x6 heatercore in there and cool your heart out(therotically speaking of course).