Liquid Cooling Help

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rAaR

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So I'm looking at getting my system switched over from air to liquid cooling. I currently have no issues with temperature in terms of my components, my CPU tops out at about 45c while my GPU tops out at about 55/60c. The reason i'm looking at going to liquid cooling though is I'm in Alaska, and in the winter when its negative temp out and the heater is running constantly, and then I start gaming my room easily heats up to around 88-92f within a couple of hours and its absolutely miserable, windows are frozen shut so I cant really do much to help cool down the room. I figure if I switch to liquid cooling, it wont eliminate the issue altogether, but it should help a little bit.

My Current Setup

Intel Core i7-6700K
ASUS Z170 Pro Gaming
gtx 1080
HAF 932 case
Noctua NH‑D15

I am looking at liquid cooling for both CPU/GPU. I've also never really thought about going liquid cooling as I've always been afraid of ruining my system, so I literally have no idea what I need to look at.

I was looking at NZXT X72, but do I need to get a reservoir or something as well right? Then for GPU I see these like copper clamp looking things with a window for the GPU but no reviews or kits for GpU liquid cooling that I can find on newegg.

Price isnt a massive issue... but I was looking maybe max $500 if thats possible (again I have no idea)

Thanks for your time/responses.
 
Solution
n0ns3ns3
the type of cooling is not going to change (practically) the heat output of the system.
I mean if under the game (or whatever else) load is pulling for example 250w from the wall, those 250w will be dumped into the room by any cooler.
the only difference is the max temperature of the cooled components (CPU/GPU) as liquid coolers tend to transfer the heat more efficiently.
now to the cooling types:
Air:
Simple, quiet, reliable, cheaper.

CLC AiO (sealed loops like Corsair, NZXT and whatever else mostly made by asetek https://www.asetek.com/desktop/do-it-yourself/ with only practical difference in fans):
1. for CPU cooling good air cooler will do same or even better job for the same noise level. that not to mention that air coolers...
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toshibitsu

toshibitsu

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There's different ways of doing water cooling. That X72 is an 'All In One' cooler. So there are no additional components you'd have to buy(a side from decent thermal paste). With that that would provide liquid cooling for your CPU. You could get a 2nd one for your GPU, but then you'd also need a GPU bracket... that's the Kraken G12.

The other way is pretty costly. In which you'd buy water "blocks" for your CPU & GPU, a Reservoir, Radiators, fans, tubes, etc... This way is more of an enthusiast thing and can be tricky to get it just right(especially if it's your 1st time doing it).

The 1st method above however should be more then enough for your setup.
 
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Eximo

Eximo

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The room will still heat up, more so actually, with the addition of pumps. Water cooling isn't magic, the heat is still exchanged with the air. All the radiators do is create more surface area and transport the heat away from the components more swiftly.

It would cool the computer better, but that doesn't sound like the problem.

Now custom cooling would allow from something like an external radiator. Which you could place somewhere else so most of the computer's heat is taken outside of your room. Not advisable to put it outside since it might freeze, but I have seen people run tubes through to closets and the like.

Though I don't see anything wrong with getting a window mounted fan setup for the winter. Just install that when the temperature gets cool and then use it when your room gets warm. (look up Window Fans)
 
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R

rAaR

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Thank you for that, I will look at the kraken and probably just go that route instead of all the tubing and everything.




I'm not sure how the window fan will help my issue. When its -40 out you can't open the window as it is frozen shut.

Now I get what you mean with the heat transfer and everything, but the way I was looking at it is it should help a lot in terms of keeping my room cooler for longer. I'm guessing eventually the liquid will heat up after continued use and it wont be as effective as it was when I just turned my computer on, but is it really possible for the radiator to be pumping out as much heat and as quickly as my GPU/CPU do now? Like right now its 73 degrees in my room, if i were to load up War Thunder, GTA5, or Final Fantasy 15, I can easily have my room up to about 85 degrees in 2/3 hours worth of gaming. Wouldnt a radiator/liquid slow that down some because the heat transfer cant be as fast as it is through air right?

I know its not magic the heat goes somewhere, but i figured that yes eventually my room would get as hot as it is without liquid cooling, but it would take longer to reach that point. or am i looking at this all wrong?
 
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toshibitsu

toshibitsu

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I will say I live in San Diego and we've been in a heat wave for more then a week now. The central air is broken and I haven't gotten around to getting it fixed yet(oh well). My main desktop is in my bedroom & I just use an oscillating room fan.. but yeah I still get sweaty sitting in here. My desktop is sitting on a table near me(the $3k water cooled system). Even with the heat the way it is here, the water cooling still works just fine. Have not had any issues with it while the temps have been up in the 80's & 90's.
 
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I'm not necessarily worried about it working in like hot weather, but does it seem like once your computer is turned on your room heats up really quick even with the water cooling? Or does it just kinda stay the same temp?
 
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Eximo

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Install the unit before the freeze sets in was my advice. You could potentially build a shroud on the outside so that ice and snow don't accumulate on it. That way you could operate the fan when needed and I believe I saw a few models with shutters that could be closed. Hopefully the heat from the room would also keep it ice free. This might not be ideal, but it is something to try out this coming winter.

Water cooling would delay the heating of the room very slightly, Once the liquid is up to temperature it will be more efficient at heating the room.

If you had something like a basement or a vented bathroom that you could do the heat exchange with or maybe an attic, then you could achieve most of your goal. Only downside is you can't see the whole loop, so if you spring a leak you might found out too late. Clear tubing would be advisable.
 
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n0ns3ns3

n0ns3ns3

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the type of cooling is not going to change (practically) the heat output of the system.
I mean if under the game (or whatever else) load is pulling for example 250w from the wall, those 250w will be dumped into the room by any cooler.
the only difference is the max temperature of the cooled components (CPU/GPU) as liquid coolers tend to transfer the heat more efficiently.
now to the cooling types:
Air:
Simple, quiet, reliable, cheaper.

CLC AiO (sealed loops like Corsair, NZXT and whatever else mostly made by asetek https://www.asetek.com/desktop/do-it-yourself/ with only practical difference in fans):
1. for CPU cooling good air cooler will do same or even better job for the same noise level. that not to mention that air coolers infinitely more reliable.
2. This is quite nice solution for GPU as the temperature drop is well over 10C with something like 120mm AiO + G12 bracket. Still from practical point of view, if the card is not a founders edition, there will be no perceived difference in performance. I mean who is going to notice may be up to ~5% - a very optimistic value unless the card has a very shitty cooler.
those are expensive and sometimes risky. lifespan is limited.

Custom Loop:
500$ is a about entry price into decent custom loop for both CPU and GPU.
while it can be built to be quieter while keeping system cooler than other two option, it will not change dramatically the performance of the system.
it requires regular maintenance and attention
it's quite expensive - for example you can buy a new CPU like 8700K for the price of the loop.
In theory, it can cause problems like shortening something - in practice, if the loop is properly built and maintained can't really happen.
If not done right, CPU and especially GPU blocks might not be reusable for the next build.
Those loops are mostly done for the "i love to do it" / "because i can" type of reasons.

So the question is what you are trying to achieve.
Reducing room temperature - only turning down the heater will do the trick.
build something cool - go for it.
 
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