JackNaylorPE :
1. Closed Loop Cooling is a complete waste of time and money. They get beat thermally by the better and lower cost air coolers while the CLCs that come close to competing are 12 times as loud.
2. While there is much truth to the old saying "You get what you pay for", you can spend more and get less.
3. Maintenance is optional if you have taken necessary steps to prevent algae buildup and corrosion. You want to avoid using mixed metals, copper blocks and aluminum radiators, as that will set up a galvanic corrosion cell.
4. I have never seen / heard if a pipe "breaking"....most leaks are due to faulty assembly.
5. Test it.... run it outside the PC. Then once installed, apply power to only the pump, with system left unpowered. Lay paper towels on horizontal surfaces. Periodically check while running 24 hours.
If you are just getting your feet wet for the 1st time, pun intended, you might want to try a pre-assembled set such as the Swiftech H240-X or the EK Predator series.
1. Firmly agree w/ closed loop coolers
2. Absolutely agree. Closed loop coolers are cheap for a reason...they cost as much for the entire cooler as you might easily find for a good watercooling pump. Closed loop radiators are almost always made from aluminum and typically are thinner than normal watercooling radiators made of copper and brass.
3. Aluminium in a loop with copper, brass, nickel and even silver can easily lead to mixed metals corrosion. This can be inhibited by using a coolant that is meant to inhibit corrosion (similar to the properties of glycol antifreeze in car cooling systems - brass, iron, aluminum, copper, etc). However, the more you 'add' to pure water, the more viscous it becomes and also causes you to lose cooling potential.
4. Very much agree. I would make a strong estimation that greater than 95% of watercooling leaks or failures are due to installation or maintenance error. Examples would be over-tightening fittings, overly loose fittings, improper block seating, improperly seated o-rings, running a loop without water or coolant, etc.
5. Agree. Also make certain that when you install inside the case that you double check all fittings even if you do not completely disassemble the loop. Fittings can come loose due to twisting of tubing, etc. You're likely going to know within minutes (sometimes seconds) if you have a leak...pay very close attention when you jumper your loop with it filled within the case around the remainder of your PC components.
I did a lot of testing with the EK Predator XLC 240 - I'd strongly recommend it. Take a read through the stickied data review on it. I haven't yet used the Swiftech, so I can't say either way.