DIY Water Cooling 101

Conclusion And General Tips

Water cooling doesn't have to be complicated or dangerous - by following our guidelines, not only can you improve the cooling of your system, you can have fun at the same time. Of course, the final attraction to water cooling is that when you take the system to your next LAN party, everyone will be impressed with your slick rig. Unless, of course, a THG editor shows up with a liquid nitrogen cooled system...

Here are some general tips to help you along the way;

• Measure twice, and cut once.
• Avoid using sharp bends and 90-degree elbows as much as possible - the less tubing and easier the bends, the less stress will be induced on the pump - and NEVER place an elbow at the inlet of your pump
• The order of the loop does not significantly affect the temperatures on the blocks.
• It's best to have your fans pulling air through the radiator rather than pushing. It's quieter and also more efficient when properly set up with a shroud.
• Run the loop for a few hours without the computer running as a leak test and bleed the loop. A great way to detect leaks is to place ink jet paper scraps or newspaper clippings around the joints of your system to prevent any drops from getting on system components.
• To properly bleed the system, gently rock and rotate the case while the loop is running to knock loose any bubbles inside the blocks or radiator.