Is it worth it?

t00lb0x · 08-02-2003, 12:00 AM

I still have doubt in my mind about going with watercooling. Its temps are better than air cooling, but there are more effective ways to cool your computer (mind the price...) Basically I'm saying, why do you go with watercooing? With some of you, with all the money you spent on water-cooling, you could of boughten a high-priced phase-change cooler. So, why do you stay with watercooling?

Zhentar · 08-02-2003, 12:12 AM

I can say why I'm watercooling; Noise. With a bit of work, my pump will be nearly silent as will the radiator fans; Its possible to get a much higher overclock for the noise.

t00lb0x · 08-02-2003, 12:14 AM

How much noise do you think your watercooling generates? Less than 40 easily? Phase-change systems are at about 35 (Prommie at least, Vapochill is quieter I think.)

Zhentar · 08-02-2003, 12:18 AM

less than 40 easily? 40 dB(A)? How the hell could I stand that? When my air conditioner isn't running, I find a 12v Vantec Stealth to be annoying. Thats 21 dB(A).

Right now my submerged pump is kinda noisy, but when I can get a res and hook it up inline, it'll make a big difference. I think I got a noisier pump and dropping it below 20 dB(A) should be pretty easy once its inline.

t00lb0x · 08-02-2003, 12:19 AM

Nice then--so one reason, quiet. What other reasons do people have?

nOv1c3 · 08-02-2003, 12:48 AM

Tis a hobby hehe guess some of us just like to tinker with stuff

Main reason was for the peace and quiet

sn_85 · 08-02-2003, 12:49 AM

i think its that people want to have something different from others. but ur also asking people on a site called ProCooling. i think its safe to say that many of the forum members have an obsession, passion, hobby of using a more efficient and riskier way to cool their computer. car analogies also work well. if not for practical reason to watercool it might be just the thrill of it. for me, it would be the thrill and experience. if you wanted to keep noise down then that can easily be accomplished by fans but deep down inside u wanted to try something new.

t00lb0x · 08-02-2003, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sn_85
i think its that people want to have something different from others. but ur also asking people on a site called ProCooling. i think its safe to say that many of the forum members have an obsession, passion, hobby of using a more efficient and riskier way to cool their computer. car analogies also work well. if not for practical reason to watercool it might be just the thrill of it. for me, it would be the thrill and experience. if you wanted to keep noise down then that can easily be accomplished by fans but deep down inside u wanted to try something new.

Wouldn't using a waterchiller be more extreme? Its colder, but has the water-cooling element and more risky. I know this is ProCooling, thats why I asked it. I'm not saying your wrong, and I'm not critisizing your ideas. I'm just playing the middle man. I'm just trying to find the reason that drives this "madness."

sn_85 · 08-02-2003, 01:40 AM

but thats also like saying instead of just fixing up ur street car you should just go ahead and build a drag car. different degrees of what people want. not everyone wants to go all out.

bigben2k · 08-02-2003, 09:32 AM

There are actually two kinds of water cooling people: the DIY'er and the "parts buyer" (although the first involves a lot more shopping

).

Either way, the temps that you get are substantially lower and the noise too, with any basic watercooling. The biggest benefit shows up when the CPU is in heavy usage: the temps will be much lower than an air cooled solution.

As for the cost, like I've said many times, no one can really justify it, unless one can put a price on "peace and quiet", but the CPU will live longer, not that that matters, unless it's overclocked, in which case, you can simply calculate the price difference between the stock CPU equivalent, and what you bought, sort of.

As for phase change, the tooling required can be expensive, and I'd only recomend it to those who understand it well, otherwise the effort is going to be expensive, never mind dangerous or aggravating (in some cases).

It is also a hobby, which justifies the expense all in itself.

Boli · 08-02-2003, 01:36 PM

Amen

.

msv · 08-02-2003, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigben2k
There are actually two kinds of water cooling people: the DIY'er and the "parts buyer" (although the first involves a lot more shopping ).

No shit, man!
I´ve spent almost as much money on tools for WB building as I did on my first generation watercooling setup. Looking forward for my copper selsman to get back from vacation.
regards
Mikael S.

t00lb0x · 08-02-2003, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigben2k
There are actually two kinds of water cooling people: the DIY'er and the "parts buyer" (although the first involves a lot more shopping ).

Either way, the temps that you get are substantially lower and the noise too, with any basic watercooling. The biggest benefit shows up when the CPU is in heavy usage: the temps will be much lower than an air cooled solution.

As for the cost, like I've said many times, no one can really justify it, unless one can put a price on "peace and quiet", but the CPU will live longer, not that that matters, unless it's overclocked, in which case, you can simply calculate the price difference between the stock CPU equivalent, and what you bought, sort of.

As for phase change, the tooling required can be expensive, and I'd only recomend it to those who understand it well, otherwise the effort is going to be expensive, never mind dangerous or aggravating (in some cases).

It is also a hobby, which justifies the expense all in itself.

There we go, its for peace of mind. A hobby that must be followed it seems. But quiet seems like a good enough reason, and the most common one.

sevisehda · 08-02-2003, 03:00 PM

As someone pointed out when I built my first Watercooled sytem I could of just spent it all on the hardware and gotten the same performance. But since then I've upgraded my CPU 4-5 times, my video card about 3 times and so on. I've upgraded my watercooling as well but a lot less often. Watercooling equipment will last alot longer than any hardware in your system(except for maybe a NIC).

I could of bought a high end CPU for 200$ but instead I went with a mid range CPU for 100$ and another 100$ for cooling, OC the CPU to what the 200$ would give me. The only difference is sound. Then in 6 months or so I can upgrade my CPU for 100$ OC it to what a 200$ CPU would give me. After a few upgrades I can save alot more money.

t00lb0x · 08-02-2003, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sevisehda
As someone pointed out when I built my first Watercooled sytem I could of just spent it all on the hardware and gotten the same performance. But since then I've upgraded my CPU 4-5 times, my video card about 3 times and so on. I've upgraded my watercooling as well but a lot less often. Watercooling equipment will last alot longer than any hardware in your system(except for maybe a NIC).

I could of bought a high end CPU for 200$ but instead I went with a mid range CPU for 100$ and another 100$ for cooling, OC the CPU to what the 200$ would give me. The only difference is sound. Then in 6 months or so I can upgrade my CPU for 100$ OC it to what a 200$ CPU would give me. After a few upgrades I can save alot more money.

So overclocking saves you money, but air cooling can cool just as well as watercooling (not under load.) So you could of done that with air cooling and saved more money.

sevisehda · 08-03-2003, 06:10 AM

Air cooling can't cool as well as water cooling. At idle temps at stock voltage and speed they may be close, but once you increase the voltages and start to do some heavy OCing then water is a must. About a year ago I helped a friend build a system(air cooled non-OCed). He bought top of the line all around, including a XP2200. At the same time I picked up a XP1700. His cost easily twice as much. But since I already had my watercooling setup, i brought mine up to slightly past the XP2200s performance.

With the voltages I was using I would not of gone that high with aircooling, safely atleast. Of course he could of OCed his sytem too, but then the higher chips normally have less overhead than there lower level counterparts. The problem with HSF is most of them are designed for a specific socket type. My WBs can fit almost any socket my taking a pice of lexan and drilling some new holes in it.

Watercooling probobly will not save you money. All the money I 'save' I use for some other part of my comp. "Pay half as much for a CPU then upgrade it twice as often" would be a good summary of my philosphy. Also consider you can not buy a barton XP3700+ but with some hardcore water cooling its possible to have something that doesn't exist yet.

08-02-2003, 12:00 AM	#1
t00lb0x Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2003 Location: In a box Posts: 221	Is it worth it? I still have doubt in my mind about going with watercooling. Its temps are better than air cooling, but there are more effective ways to cool your computer (mind the price...) Basically I'm saying, why do you go with watercooing? With some of you, with all the money you spent on water-cooling, you could of boughten a high-priced phase-change cooler. So, why do you stay with watercooling? __________________ "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit"

08-02-2003, 12:14 AM	#3
t00lb0x Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2003 Location: In a box Posts: 221	How much noise do you think your watercooling generates? Less than 40 easily? Phase-change systems are at about 35 (Prommie at least, Vapochill is quieter I think.) __________________ "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit"

08-02-2003, 12:19 AM	#5
t00lb0x Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2003 Location: In a box Posts: 221	Nice then--so one reason, quiet. What other reasons do people have? __________________ "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit"

08-02-2003, 09:32 AM	#10
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	There are actually two kinds of water cooling people: the DIY'er and the "parts buyer" (although the first involves a lot more shopping ). Either way, the temps that you get are substantially lower and the noise too, with any basic watercooling. The biggest benefit shows up when the CPU is in heavy usage: the temps will be much lower than an air cooled solution. As for the cost, like I've said many times, no one can really justify it, unless one can put a price on "peace and quiet", but the CPU will live longer, not that that matters, unless it's overclocked, in which case, you can simply calculate the price difference between the stock CPU equivalent, and what you bought, sort of. As for phase change, the tooling required can be expensive, and I'd only recomend it to those who understand it well, otherwise the effort is going to be expensive, never mind dangerous or aggravating (in some cases). It is also a hobby, which justifies the expense all in itself. __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

08-02-2003, 12:12 AM	#2
Zhentar Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 225	I can say why I'm watercooling; Noise. With a bit of work, my pump will be nearly silent as will the radiator fans; Its possible to get a much higher overclock for the noise.

08-02-2003, 12:18 AM	#4
Zhentar Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 225	less than 40 easily? 40 dB(A)? How the hell could I stand that? When my air conditioner isn't running, I find a 12v Vantec Stealth to be annoying. Thats 21 dB(A). Right now my submerged pump is kinda noisy, but when I can get a res and hook it up inline, it'll make a big difference. I think I got a noisier pump and dropping it below 20 dB(A) should be pretty easy once its inline.

08-02-2003, 12:48 AM	#6
nOv1c3 Crazy Stupid Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dallas texas Posts: 149	Tis a hobby hehe guess some of us just like to tinker with stuff Main reason was for the peace and quiet

08-02-2003, 12:49 AM	#7
sn_85 Cooling Savant Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: H-town, TX Posts: 122	i think its that people want to have something different from others. but ur also asking people on a site called ProCooling. i think its safe to say that many of the forum members have an obsession, passion, hobby of using a more efficient and riskier way to cool their computer. car analogies also work well. if not for practical reason to watercool it might be just the thrill of it. for me, it would be the thrill and experience. if you wanted to keep noise down then that can easily be accomplished by fans but deep down inside u wanted to try something new.

08-02-2003, 01:40 AM	#9
sn_85 Cooling Savant Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: H-town, TX Posts: 122	but thats also like saying instead of just fixing up ur street car you should just go ahead and build a drag car. different degrees of what people want. not everyone wants to go all out.

08-02-2003, 01:36 PM	#11
Boli Cooling Savant Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackburn / Dundee Posts: 451	Amen .

08-02-2003, 03:00 PM	#14
sevisehda Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2003 Location: NY Posts: 234	As someone pointed out when I built my first Watercooled sytem I could of just spent it all on the hardware and gotten the same performance. But since then I've upgraded my CPU 4-5 times, my video card about 3 times and so on. I've upgraded my watercooling as well but a lot less often. Watercooling equipment will last alot longer than any hardware in your system(except for maybe a NIC). I could of bought a high end CPU for 200$ but instead I went with a mid range CPU for 100$ and another 100$ for cooling, OC the CPU to what the 200$ would give me. The only difference is sound. Then in 6 months or so I can upgrade my CPU for 100$ OC it to what a 200$ CPU would give me. After a few upgrades I can save alot more money.

08-03-2003, 06:10 AM	#16
sevisehda Cooling Savant Join Date: May 2003 Location: NY Posts: 234	Air cooling can't cool as well as water cooling. At idle temps at stock voltage and speed they may be close, but once you increase the voltages and start to do some heavy OCing then water is a must. About a year ago I helped a friend build a system(air cooled non-OCed). He bought top of the line all around, including a XP2200. At the same time I picked up a XP1700. His cost easily twice as much. But since I already had my watercooling setup, i brought mine up to slightly past the XP2200s performance. With the voltages I was using I would not of gone that high with aircooling, safely atleast. Of course he could of OCed his sytem too, but then the higher chips normally have less overhead than there lower level counterparts. The problem with HSF is most of them are designed for a specific socket type. My WBs can fit almost any socket my taking a pice of lexan and drilling some new holes in it. Watercooling probobly will not save you money. All the money I 'save' I use for some other part of my comp. "Pay half as much for a CPU then upgrade it twice as often" would be a good summary of my philosphy. Also consider you can not buy a barton XP3700+ but with some hardcore water cooling its possible to have something that doesn't exist yet.

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