Hoot (Jul 11, 2001 10:45 p.m.):
...not to mention, it's quieter. ;D
It's just that water cooling is an absolute science. It is the "way to go" if you want to do it right. I thrive on experimenting and water cooling is simply a "Done Deal". Look at Fly Fishing compared to dangling a juicy minnow on a hook. The juicy minnow is a "Done Deal". Sure it catches fish, but there's magic in Fly Fishing. I think you get my drift.
Hoot
Hmm, I think you sell short the experimental nature of water cooling. As far as I'm concerned there's plenty to be learned--and I've done a fair amount of looking.
For instance, there's the whole submerged vs. in-line issue. Folks say that in-line is better, but I haven't seen a solid comparison using the same pump, same system. How much of a difference is there, really.
Then there's the great flowrate debate. It looks as though flowrate should be tuned to a particular system, as too low a flow raises temps., but too high a flow also raises temps. What is ideal, and what's the effect of tube diameter/pump power/other restrictions.
Then there's the big bong brouhaha. Evaporative cooling's better (so they say), but how much better on a non-peltier rig? To me, the real incentive of going with an evaportive tower is to *avoid* having to use a peltier, with the attendant risk of condensation. But I've not found a single test comparing radiator/bong in with a bare waterblock.
Other issues: how much if any advantage is there to having the reservoir outside the case vs. inside the case. Does it really matter if the fan is blowing through the radiator as opposed to sucking out (common wisdom says yes), and if so how much does it matter? What's the best way to hook up additional water blocks for video cards and/or chipsets, and how much do these additions affect cpu cooling. To what extent is it critical to match components, e.g., does it help to have a strong pump if you have a small radiator; etc.
etc., etc., etc. So come on in Hoot, the water's fine. Tie us some flies.
