• Welcome to Overclockers Forums! Join us to reply in threads, receive reduced ads, and to customize your site experience!

Contemplating cost of water cooling

Overclockers is supported by our readers. When you click a link to make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn More.

th3wood

New Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
I am planning on building a new rig for myself in the next 6 months or so and I was wondering if I could get some input regarding the cost/performance of water cooling an overclocked system with decent components in comparison to an air cooled system, costing the same but with slightly higher end components (mainly GPU/CPU) I plan to spend around $1,800 total for my system. (not including the monitor, keyboard, mouse, OS..) Before I bother to do a bunch of research regarding benchmark tests of water cooled OC'd PC's and their stock air cooled counterparts, I was wondering if I could please get some advice before I start looking. Basically I'm willing to put in the time to learn how to and actually construct a loop if it ends up that I can get similar performance on a water cooled system than a comparably priced air cooled one since I'd then have all the water cooling parts necessary to just upgrade my PC components when I feel it necessary. I guess you could say that I'm looking to save some money down the road if I can because I do eventually want to go to water cooling, just not sure if it's the right time yet.

Thanks!
th3wood
 
Last edited:
When you say better parts what are you talking about like a 2500K vs 2600K? and then what are you planning on doing with this new system? gaming,videos, encoding, photo shop ETC.

And :welcome:
 
I'm having trouble pinning down the prices between the two. But I was thinking maybe a $400-500 difference the GPU+CPU choice and going with a $400-500 water cooling loop for the two and OC'ing them both. I feel that I'll be doing some gaming..maybe some video encoding. Oh..and thank you for the welcome =P
 
To me it would seem that just for instance a 2500K would be better for you than say a 2600K again this is only a for instance if your just doing some of each and you really want to do the water cooling i would go for the slightly cheaper parts and cool them better for a higher OC. again this is just my opinion.

normally for me I would go for the higher end parts even if I would really need them just because i want the speed and then id add the water cooling later.

Another good option could be to do just a loop for the CPU and get a slightly better GPU with the money you saved with good Air cooling. it would be easier if its your first loop and let you know if your really want to do all the work of maintaining it. again just food for thought im sure more of community will weigh in soon.

and your welcome for the welcome :D
 
While I am new to WC/OC'ing, it has always been something that interests me. I am somebody who enjoys tinkering with things to get the maximum efficiency out of them. I've just never had the money to invest in a new PC until recently. My laptop...6 years old.. :cry: I agree with you that the CPU only option to start off with would be significantly easier..figuring that there's a lot more to a GPU other than just raw clock speed so trying to make a price vs performance comparison with the two options I mentioned in my first post is a bit trickier. I was thinking about going with a dual GPU setup and tying them together in a loop. Though I suppose the cost of two GPU blocks would be fairly expensive. Also I will mention.. I like a challenge!
 
Last edited:
understood I'm with you on that! and yes quality GPU blocks are expensive not to mention all the other little things you need for the setup you never think about them and they add up fast!
 
I notice that you have the Corsair H60 listed in your build. I had looked at them for an option, especially if I choose to start off with water cooling just my CPU. I was wondering how your experience with the unit has been and if you'd suggest it to somebody else.
 
its a good simple solution. not the same as doing a custom loop the H60 will do as well as air cooling but i got the H60 because I could move the rad out of the way i basically got it so my case would look better inside. but at the end of the week ill be doing my custom loop. :D
 
So in terms of performance it works just fine, but for the extra money in your opinion it's worth going with the custom loop? I feel that if I want to go with the water cooling, I'd want something with high flow! But then again..I suppose it depends on the price..so many options! :D
 
Last edited:
lol yea alot of options! but yes it performs fine i got my 2600k to 4.6 pretty easily but its at the point were im not going any higher and temps can get pretty high if my ambient temps are high too so it could use the improvement of the cooling from the real loop.
 
If you don't mind my asking, what setup are you thinking for cooling your 2600k?
 
So in terms of performance it works just fine, but for the extra money in your opinion it's worth going with the custom loop? I feel that if I want to go with the water cooling, I'd want something with high flow! But then again..I suppose it depends on the price..so many options! :D

WCing is purely a hobbiest thing bc:
#1 it's EXTREMELY expensive. Think about this, a good pump alone will run you $60 right off the bat... Then the block(s), tubes, radiator(s) and fans. You're talking about $200 minimum for a good single block loop.

#2 air cooling has come light years from the days of old. High end air cooling keeps up with watercooling in all but the MOST EXTREME ocing. I think the most expensive I've seen is $80???

You have to think about this, when platform, changed ie lga775->lga1155 you still have to buy a new hsf or block. Both will cost you the same amount of money EXCEPT that on air, that's it, u buy, u mount, done. With water you have to empty your loop flush it, remount the block, leak test ect... Then months down the road make sure your tubes haven't degraded ect.... Much more work.

Again, wc is for tinkerers. My rig is under water... For no reason at all. It's ocd to 4ghz, but I don't need it to be at that speed, I just like tinkering.

One think I warn you though.
1)This hobby is extremely addicting. You can dump several hundred dollars into the project in a hurry.
2) YOU GET WHAT U PAY FOR. Seriously, don't buy cheap stuff, you'll regret it. Ask ANYONE. ie don't go to home depot and buy they're crap Tygon tubing... It's blows.

Oh and by the way.... Most definitely don't skimp on the fans. 6 fans on a trip radii can make some serious noise...even when regulated.

If you're going to WC I suggest going custom. SO MUCH MORE FUN!
 
I have a thread reserved for when I get all the items I can log all the photos ;)

here's the list.

CPU Block: EK-Supreme HF Full Copper

Rad: Black Ice GTX Gen Two Xtreme 360

Pump:Koolance PMP-450 High-flow

Res: EK-Multioption RES X2 - 150 Basic

Tubing: PrimoFlex Pro LRT Black Tubing -1/2in. ID X 3/4in. OD (I also got some of this in Red for accenting.)

Clamps: Lamptron Elite Aluminum 3/4" OD Tubing Clamps - Anodized Black

Barbs: 1/2" OD

Paste: Arctic Cooling MX-4 Ultra Premium Thermal Compound

Fans: Bit Fenix Spectre Pro LED Fan Series 120MM - White
 
Careful with that rad, if I'm not mistaken, and I might very well be bc I haven't needed to shop for rads in a while, the GTXs are tuned for high airflow( high FPI = lots of resistance). Meaning you'll need high pressure fans on that thing to get good numbers ie LOUD fans.

And again 6 fans are going to be very loud and annoying(I'm assuming here you are going to push pull the rad), coupled with the fact that GT-15's are next to impossible to get and very expensive. 6 * $20... You get the idea. I acctually recently just passed up buying 2 more gt-ap15s bc I couldn't bring myself to pay $40 for 2 friggin computer fans. I already have 2 of em and the other 2 fans on my rad are zalmans which are louder, but only kick on if my temps reach 55c
 
Btw a lot of people WC bc it drops the noise down to almost nothing. I can't even hear my computer right now and I'm sitting next to it. My pump is suspended in the air so it doesn't transfer noise to the case either lmao
 
The fans i listed should be fine I have more that are similar in RPM but it worst came to worst ill go with some high speed yate loones. but from what I can tell those fans will do a good job. and you are right the GTX's are tuned for higher pressure.

But back to the topic at hand I don't want to steal from him if you want to discuss you can drop by my thread down lower on the Water cooling page.
 
WCing is purely a hobbiest thing bc:
#1 it's EXTREMELY expensive. Think about this, a good pump alone will run you $60 right off the bat... Then the block(s), tubes, radiator(s) and fans. You're talking about $200 minimum for a good single block loop.

#2 air cooling has come light years from the days of old. High end air cooling keeps up with watercooling in all but the MOST EXTREME ocing. I think the most expensive I've seen is $80???

You have to think about this, when platform, changed ie lga775->lga1155 you still have to buy a new hsf or block. Both will cost you the same amount of money EXCEPT that on air, that's it, u buy, u mount, done. With water you have to empty your loop flush it, remount the block, leak test ect... Then months down the road make sure your tubes haven't degraded ect.... Much more work.

Again, wc is for tinkerers. My rig is under water... For no reason at all. It's ocd to 4ghz, but I don't need it to be at that speed, I just like tinkering.

One think I warn you though.
1)This hobby is extremely addicting. You can dump several hundred dollars into the project in a hurry.
2) YOU GET WHAT U PAY FOR. Seriously, don't buy cheap stuff, you'll regret it. Ask ANYONE. ie don't go to home depot and buy they're crap Tygon tubing... It's blows.

Oh and by the way.... Most definitely don't skimp on the fans. 6 fans on a trip radii can make some serious noise...even when regulated.

If you're going to WC I suggest going custom. SO MUCH MORE FUN!

you're supposed to leak test? I don't think I've ever done that, lol. my leak testing is when I fill the loop. I power up my machine about 20 minutes after filling loop.

It is addicting, that's for sure. I bought 4 dollar fans for my rads and they are silent. 6 fans on triple rad? why push pull? get the swiftech rads that work with lower airflow for excellent performance that's quite. i have an mcr220 and mcr320 cooling 2 GTX 570's and an oc'd core i7 (4.0ghz) idle 30c on gpus and 40c on cpu load 40c on gpus and 55c on cpu
 
Well, if you plan on going the Sandy Bridge way, watercooling will (maybe) allow a 100/200MHz jump compared to high end air, which means 4.7/4.8Ghz instead of 4.9/5GHz.
Maybe not even:
I give you an example: my 2600K, with Megahalems Rev.B +2High speed fan P:p was doing 5GHz/1.49v/78°C full load with a 22/23°C ambient. With an efficient custom loop (2/3°C Delta), it was doing 5GHz/1.49v/63°C (both under prime95), still with the same ambient.
Usually, you hit the SB vCore wall before the thermal wall, which means a $75 cooling solution should allow the same 24/7 OC than a $250 custom loop.

Kind of different for GPU's though, as they tend to get hotter/noiser with high OC's, due to higher TDP compared to a SB CPU (we're are talking of something like 300W Vs 130W, both OC'ed). But even then, don't expect a huge jump in OC potential.

Keep in mind also that GPU blocks are often designed for a specific model, and won't fit the next one you get. Unless you grab an universal one, and even that might not do the trick 100% of the times.

You must see Watercooling as a hobby (a lot of fun must I say!), and not something that will increase your rig performance dramatically. This trend is going stronger as the newer the products (CPU/GPU), the lower the TDP (thermal envelop).

Edit: I am 100% with Amora.
 
Last edited:
you're supposed to leak test? I don't think I've ever done that, lol. my leak testing is when I fill the loop. I power up my machine about 20 minutes after filling loop.

It is addicting, that's for sure. I bought 4 dollar fans for my rads and they are silent. 6 fans on triple rad? why push pull? get the swiftech rads that work with lower airflow for excellent performance that's quite. i have an mcr220 and mcr320 cooling 2 GTX 570's and an oc'd core i7 (4.0ghz) idle 30c on gpus and 40c on cpu load 40c on gpus and 55c on cpu

U ever blow your board from leak?, I did back in the p4 1.6a north wood days. Yes, leak test unless u enjoy dropping $400 on a new proc n mobo.

Secondly your silent != my silent, I GUARANTEE your "$4" are not "quiet." by my standards, well that's assuming they are +800 rpm fans. I have my Zalmans dropped down to 1000 and they still bother me. They now stay completely off unless temps get high enough for them to be needed.

My beloved Typhoons stay on 24-7 at around 1200rpm, I'm about to buy more for spares in case something horrible happens and they die. Greaters fans ever!

To each his own, push pull is proven to be the the most IDEAL rad setup, no one can dispute this. The only thing slightly better is using shrouds, but that falls outside the scope of "ideal". I tried the shroud thing once lol it's absolutely retarded. What u wind up with is a friggin 10" thick hunk of crap that doesn't fit anywhere at all but the largest rigs.
 
Last edited:
U ever blow your board from leak?, I did back in the p4 1.6a north wood days. Yes, leak test unless u enjoy dropping $400 on a new proc n mobo.

Secondly your silent != my silent, I GUARANTEE your "$4" are not quiet." by my standards, well that's assuming they are +800 rpm fans. I have my Zalmans dropped down to 1000 and they still bother me. They now stay completely off unless temps get high enough for them to be needed.

My beloved Typhoons stay on 24-7 at around 1200rpm, I'm about to buy more for spares in case something horrible happens and they die. Greaters fans ever!

To each his own, push pull is proven to be the the most IDEAL rad setup, no one can dispute this. The only thing slightly better is using shrouds, but that falls outside the scope of "ideal". I tried the shroud thing once lol it's absolutely retarded. What u wind up with is a friggin 10" think hunk of crap that doesn't fit anywhere in all. It the largest rigs.

Agreed.

6 fans in P/P @800RPM are much less noisy (we could say they are silent...) than 3 fans @1500RPM.
 
Back