Watercooling for a quiet PC?

[Codesmith]

I am building a computer for a friend and he want it to be powerful and practically noiseless. He suggested watercooling. (NOTE he will not be overclocking his system)


I did some research and found most water cooling solutions to be quite noisy.

Corsairs Hydrocool, for example, runs about 45 dB in silent mode! The quitest kit I have found so far is 35db, which is the noise level of my current CPU fan.

By way of comparison a Zalman 7000A Cpu cooler is 20-25 dB.

So my question is, is watercooling a viable option for a quiet PC?

If so what gear should I be looking and how many db does it produce?

 

[scottchen]

If you're not into overclocking, then just buy Zalman+Panaflo products, they really knows how to keep the noise level down.

-Intel PIV 2.6C @ 3.276G -Asus P4P800 -OCZ Copper 4x256 4000EL memory @ 252mhz 2.5-3-4-6 -XFX 5900 128meg 570/1040 -SB audigy -2x120G Seagate 7200.7 S-ATA150 hdd -450 Enermax PSU

 

[jammydodger]

The waterchill system from asetek uses 2pabst fans that run at 35Db at 12v, there is also an option for 7v which im assuming is a lot quieter...although im not sure by how much.

[Insert witty comment here]

 

[error_911]

pre-made watercooling systems are NOT the way to go if you're looking for a quiet solution. They're overly loud, expensive and have pitiful performance. Between putting together your own kit and purchasing an "all-in-one" solution, there's not much different other when it comes down to assembly, and pricing is usually better. I'd suggest you go for a <A HREF="http://www.dangerdenc.om" target="_new">Danger Den</A> RBX CPU waterblock and Maze4 video card block, with an Eheim 1250 pump and HWLabs BlackIce Extreme2 radiator (both found at <A HREF="http://www.directron.com" target="_new">Directron</A>). If you want to cool the chipset as well (though not necessary), I'd go Danger Den again for your one-stop-shop and get a Z-Chip block. Finally, either retailer will have the tubing needed, as well as all the accessories (WaterWetter, hose clamps, fans). All you'll need is two low-speed Panaflo fans (Directron and DangerDen have models ~25db) and you're set, with way better temperatures than a low-quality boxed watercooling kit or a low-noise heatsink/fan solution.

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>

 

[jammydodger]

pre-made watercooling systems are NOT the way to go if you're looking for a quiet solution. They're overly loud, expensive and have pitiful performance

Hmmmmm...Im not 100% sure what evidence you have to back that up. I have read numerous reviews on the astek watercooling kits and its cooling blocks are on par with those made by other companies <A HREF="http://www.overclockers.com/articles912/" target="_new">http://www.overclockers.com/articles912/</A>(just search for waterchill on google you get loads of reviews). The L30 kit uses the black ice pro dual radiator, which im sure is almost as good as the one you suggested. The kit also comes with the hydor L30 pump which pushes 1200L/h...which is just as much as the ehiem 1250.
It also comes with a passthrough system that starts the kit when the computer is turned on. So what exactly is wrong with this kit?

[Insert witty comment here]

 

[error_911]

heh, i knew someone was going to bring up one of those types of kits. there's nothing wrong with it, actually, had i felt like writting more i would have suggested the DangerDen kit as well, but i don't consider these the standard Thermaltake Aquarius type kits which so many buy and waste their money on, the Asetek, as well as the DangerDen kits are quite good, but realise that the kits that are good come from waterblock manufacturers, and they basically comprise parts that one would have usually bought seperate.. hence why its not really your all-in-one kit as i had been talking about (relative to poor performance). so by all means, ahead with the asetek waterchill

<b>and now for something completely different</b>
...<b><A HREF="http://bytethiscomputers.sytes.net/site/specs.html" target="_new">system specs</A></b>

 

[jammydodger]

Oh ok, I see what you mean now. Yeh when I was researching watercooling kits I saw the Thermaltake one...it looked very poor indeed.

[Insert witty comment here]

 

[skligmund]

Actually, I HAVE a, Aquarius II, the cheaper lamer version, and it works pretty darn good. Not only is it very quiet, it cools far better than any HSF I have ever had. As for the db number advertised: bullcrap. At what sound level are they talking about? Is this fan in an enclosure? How do they test it? How do they rate their db? In gain over noise, or in a complete silent room? I'm sorry, but there is no Air Cooler out there that is quieter than a water cooling system that has a pump that makes no noise (neglegable) and a single 80MM fan running at extreme low RPM. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but I have tested and tried and never seen a HSF that has outperformed ths cheap watercooler.

I too once had money, then I got into computers...
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<A HREF="http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.html?id=24383" target="_new"> My Rig </A>