Considering water cooling.. what's the dealio?

Scoth · SirTweaksabit Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 283

Ok, so i was looking into water cooling a bit and CoolerMaster has a pretty nice setup for like $175USD (looked nice in the reviews i read anyways) but i know that CM can't have the best water cooling system... i mean i've seen several for multiple-hundreds of dollars and i'm not willing to pay that much.... but just for something to read up on; what's the best water cooling system? (for socket 478)

thanks guys

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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

Paging Dr. Weazel.......

From what i hear......the starter setup on frozencpu is a great place to start for a basic water cooling setup....=]
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2old2care · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 12:30 pm Post subject:

Yes, I believe the weasel will have some opin's on the nuances of liquid cooling.
But do alot of reading, "me thinks" what is "best" may vary upon who you talk to.
But...I don't think you have to spend "multiple hundreds" of dollars to get into some pretty good water cooling.
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Zero_Fresh · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 1:28 pm Post subject:

Although you may not need it. I remember a little while ago I was looking into vapor cooling and TH braught up the point that there was no way in hell I needed it. So step back and decide if it is really something you WANT and NEED to spend your money on. But if you are hell-bent on going into water cooling, I have not heard anything bad about Coolmaster, though I cannot give you too much advice seeing as I have not taken that step myself.
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smith.p.sean · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 1:29 pm Post subject:

yea, im sure weaze and ss will be able to tell u cause they both use water.

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

And if i am not mistaken.....a said you didnt didnt need VAPOR cooling...not water.....=P
they are different.......and water cooling wouldnt be too excessive if you are OCing......i am thinking about going water as soon as i can spend some more money on my PC......which you know....wont be for a while.....=P
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Scoth · SirTweaksabit Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 283

I was just looking into vapor for fun; right now my CPU is running load at up to 55c... that's no good...

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

what kind of cooling do you have now?

i bet an sp-94 and a good fan will drops those temps a bit.......and what are your case temps.......its possible that better air flow may help everything without having to spend the loot on water
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Zero_Fresh · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 3:19 pm Post subject:

Also, what kind of heatsink are you currently using? What brand name of fans are in your case?

55 is not going to kill your machine but for an intel that is a bit high.
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[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 4:04 pm Post subject:

yeah what HSF do you have now?

and to let you know alot of those 150-200 watercooling kits get you temps about the same as a thermalright SP-94 with good case ventilation.

But if you are set on going water the easiest way is to get a Koolance kit. You can either do this by getting one of their cases (recommended) or their external kit. Now with this you wont get the BEST performance but it is damn good.
Now if you want to go the built-it mod-it yourself approach get ready for some work. This way will usually get you the best overall cooling but it can take some experimenting to get to this point. And it is very easy to spend alot of money doing it. A good cpu water block can cost about $50-90 US. The pump about another 50-100. As you can see it can add up fast.

If you have anymore questions feel free to ask though that is what we are all here for.
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2old2care · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 4:15 pm Post subject:

I love wild ideas...Scoth, you got me thinkin'.
I just happen to have 17000 gallons of water that I have to filter and chlorinate and what-not right out my back door. Hmmmm.

INTER-COOLER.

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JayDubya · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:57 pm Post subject:

Like Nathan said, make sure your air cooling is sufficient unless you want quiet cooling or it isn't holding up well. Then you can go for the watercooling.
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Ham_fisT · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:21 pm Post subject:

2old2care · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:38 pm Post subject:

Scoth · SirTweaksabit Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 283

Phew lots of questions; ok here we go:

My HS is the standard P4 HSF (i know, shameful)
I have sh1tty ventilation (I.E. 2 side fans and that's it.... came with my crappy $20 case)
I was lookign into the SP-94 / Tornado combo btu measurements show the fan coming with a few centimeters of my side panel, which is a negatory on air flow (which is why i want a friggin huge case... aside form just wanting a friggin huge case)

(I know, wrong section, don't ahte me nate... it IS relevant)
I was looking at the Lian-li V2000, and it's a very ncie case (but i don't really feel like spending 400 big ones on a case... bit much... anwyays it has great airflow and looks alot cooler then my current wish-list case (CMStacker) so the only real problem is with my current case, i can't get much cooler due to size and mounting restrictions.. so maybe i need to get a bigger case before worrying abotu cooling?
I was never very confortable with water cooling int he first place (the whole water near computer parts... EXPENSIVE computer parts) but i thought it didn't look TOO bad.

As for my temps, right now (rig has been idle for about 2 hours) my CPU is 36c and my case is 28c.... sounds low but when you get into games the CPU rockets to 55c (as stated) and the case rises to about 40c.... i know they aren't devestating temps but i would really like to keep ti cooler then that... like you CAN beat the crap outa your engine, but you'd rather not. (if you like the car at least)

2old2care · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:58 pm Post subject:

Think your case needs a blow hole...or at least a rear fan. Something other than a stock hsf would be good too. But...it sounds like you got all side air in and no way for it to get out. That would lower your case temp anyway. And, a fan is cheap, the rest is just work.
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JayDubya · Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 10:07 pm Post subject:

Good call. Putting one hole in the top of a hot case can make a big difference.
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

Yea, P4 standard coolers are not very good for strenuous conditions.
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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

^^^^What he said

I have done some testing in comparing the Jet4 to these stock intel HSF's and even my Jet (which i am NOT a fan of) dropped my OC temp about 4-5 degrees.
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Xal · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 9:08 am Post subject:

Standard HSFs SUCK, My cr4ppy old cooler master kicks the s**t outa them.
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Josh · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 12:10 pm Post subject:

Silicon Skum · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 12:27 pm Post subject:

I was looking at an old stock cooler from AMD, I just could'nt figure out *WHY* they had drilled 4 holes in the block and screwed an even more un-finished bit of crappy metal plate to the mounting suface! what the hell was the person who designed this thinking? given the fact that this plate was covered in a thick layer of cheap thermal paste connecting it thermally with the block and the fact that the other side of the plate would have a CPU connected by paste, I can only assume that they were worried they had made overclocking too easy! (??)

It's a bit like the question "why do they have that little hole on the side of a Biro pen?....." nobody can give a definate answer, even if you glue it closed, the pen still works (unlike a CPU with ^ that lump of crap on it!)

SS

[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:26 pm Post subject:

Scoth, Yes some better case ventilation is in order or a new case. And you dont have to have a high speed fan to use the SP-94. You can use a sunon or panaflo fan that are alot quieter and they still move a decent amount of air.

2old, What is your pool temp in the summer? Also think about the length of tubing running on the hot deck to get to and from the intercooler. It would have to be some pump to run a circuit like that. If you wanted to use an intercooler you could use a "cool can" like what is used on race cars to cool the fuel. But who wants a can of alcohol just sitting around?
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smith.p.sean · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:43 pm Post subject:

I know toggle head doesnt :) He would get rid of the alcohol in less than 24 hours. Um, weaze, or ne one else with water. Does this look like a good started kit? its a hundred bucks. OMD was asking about it, it it looks nice to me, i might want to get one!

http://www.kingwin.com/pdut_detail.asp?CateID=31&ID=187

Silicon Skum · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 2:04 pm Post subject: