What kind of water cooler should I buy?

skierdude09 · 08-04-2009, 02:03 PM

I am currently exploring water cooling options for my PC, and well I really have no idea where to start. I have a XFX GeForce 9800 GX2 that runs at a whopping 95C under a full load, I've looked into a water block from koolance: http://pcpowerzone.com/vid398gx2.html. Unfortunately I cannot seem to find this for sale anywhere. From the reviews I've seen and read from youtube and other hardware forums it can lower the temps to about 45C. But here is my problem, what kind of water cooler do I buy? I looked into a cooler from themaltake: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106108. Besides just cooling the GPU I would want to water cool my Q9650 CPU and the north and south bridge on the motherboard, my motherboard is an asus striker II extreme and whats nice about it is that it has a built in water block. Am I headed in the right direction here? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Skierdude09

**Aus_Karlos** · 08-08-2009, 02:07 AM

Water cooling for GPUs is only necessary if you have overclocked the card.
If you download RiviaTuner and increase the fan speed to 70% when gaming it will stay around 60c when playing.
http://downloads.guru3d.com/RivaTune...nload-163.html

From experience liquid cooling systems that stay inside the case are worse than Air-cooled systems and wont give you the temp drop you'll be looking for.
This one is much more suited to cool a CPU + Northbridge. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118032 although its a lot more pricey you wont regret it.

skierdude09 · 08-08-2009, 05:36 PM

I have used Riva Tuner before, its a great program yes, but I increase the fan speed to 100% and it can barely keep the GPU at 66C idle. I've always been a big fan of ZALMAN, my CNPS9700 keeps the CPU around 35idle and 45-50 under a load. Ill look into this ZALMAN water cooler its very pricey I will have to save for a very long time to get this.

I don't want to overclock my GX2, the thing I'm worried about is the life of the card high temps can't be that great for it. I don't know what to do, Thanks for the help though.

Skierdude09

**Aus_Karlos** · 08-08-2009, 07:08 PM

What case are you using. A small case for that type of card can cause a bit of a heat buildup.

BoT · 08-08-2009, 07:23 PM

this would be a nice block and is available
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=23627

i think water cooling could work out great for you but it's not a cheap thrill or at least i would not recommend making it one because then it can back fire.
swiftech has nice starter kits that can easily be expanded, build out and build upon. ..and to a fair price.
or you could put a small WC system together yourself which is what i would recommend but it requires some research, some tinkering and most of all the realization that if it all fails, it really could all fail.
not to scare you away, if it all does work out, it's a joy

skierdude09 · 08-08-2009, 09:32 PM

I have a XClio wind tunnel advanced
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811103019

I could post some pictures of my computer if you would want to see the insides.

skierdude09 · 08-08-2009, 09:35 PM

Reply to BoT:

That looks like a nice water block, I was hoping to get the one from koolance but I guess they don't sell it anymore.

What are the chances of a water cooling system failing? Is it user error or does this stuff just wear out?

BoT · 08-08-2009, 10:25 PM

as with all parts there is some wear and tear over time. most systems once setup and maintained will last for quiet a while 3-5 years and up. mostly fluid, o-rings and rubber seals have to be replaced then.
most water cooling accidents have some to do with user error in some shape or form.
many people get tired and careless and thats when accidents happen.
a water cooling setup does need a bit more attention then a standard air cooling system.
you have to check water levels, and leaks etc but it becomes a givn

**Aus_Karlos** · 08-08-2009, 10:28 PM

Nice case.
Well if you are getting a LC system then please make sure its completely separate from the case. Dont go for ones that attach the radiator to a fan hole on the case you will just be cooling the CPU down from the air thats inside the case.

Ive custom built my LC system, ive screwed it to the right-side of the case (looking from the front), in doing so my 2x GTX280s idle temps have gone from 60c to 40c and my ambient case is around 30c because my CPU and Northbridge heat is transferred right out of the case.

I bought most of the parts from thermaltake (CPU block, CPU bracket, 120mmX120mm Rad, Pump, tank), the cost of all this i think was about $200 then i bought a 240mm X 120mm from Ebay for $60. Plus $80 for 4lts of Thermaltake coolant

08-04-2009, 02:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
skierdude09 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 25 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 My System	What kind of water cooler should I buy? I am currently exploring water cooling options for my PC, and well I really have no idea where to start. I have a XFX GeForce 9800 GX2 that runs at a whopping 95C under a full load, I've looked into a water block from koolance: http://pcpowerzone.com/vid398gx2.html. Unfortunately I cannot seem to find this for sale anywhere. From the reviews I've seen and read from youtube and other hardware forums it can lower the temps to about 45C. But here is my problem, what kind of water cooler do I buy? I looked into a cooler from themaltake: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835106108. Besides just cooling the GPU I would want to water cool my Q9650 CPU and the north and south bridge on the motherboard, my motherboard is an asus striker II extreme and whats nice about it is that it has a built in water block. Am I headed in the right direction here? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Skierdude09

08-08-2009, 02:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Aus_Karlos Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Australia Posts: 3,424 OS: Vista Ultimate x64, Windows XP 32-bit/64-bit, Ubuntu x64, Windows 7 x64 Beta My System Blog Entries: 2	Re: What kind of water cooler should I buy? Water cooling for GPUs is only necessary if you have overclocked the card. If you download RiviaTuner and increase the fan speed to 70% when gaming it will stay around 60c when playing. http://downloads.guru3d.com/RivaTune...nload-163.html From experience liquid cooling systems that stay inside the case are worse than Air-cooled systems and wont give you the temp drop you'll be looking for. This one is much more suited to cool a CPU + Northbridge. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118032 although its a lot more pricey you wont regret it. __________________ MemTest86 / Nvidia Drivers / ATI Drivers / DirectX 9.0c / Sys Requirements / Everest Folding@Home

08-08-2009, 05:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
skierdude09 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 25 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 My System	Re: What kind of water cooler should I buy? I have used Riva Tuner before, its a great program yes, but I increase the fan speed to 100% and it can barely keep the GPU at 66C idle. I've always been a big fan of ZALMAN, my CNPS9700 keeps the CPU around 35idle and 45-50 under a load. Ill look into this ZALMAN water cooler its very pricey I will have to save for a very long time to get this. I don't want to overclock my GX2, the thing I'm worried about is the life of the card high temps can't be that great for it. I don't know what to do, Thanks for the help though. Skierdude09

08-08-2009, 07:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Aus_Karlos Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Australia Posts: 3,424 OS: Vista Ultimate x64, Windows XP 32-bit/64-bit, Ubuntu x64, Windows 7 x64 Beta My System Blog Entries: 2	Re: What kind of water cooler should I buy? What case are you using. A small case for that type of card can cause a bit of a heat buildup. __________________ MemTest86 / Nvidia Drivers / ATI Drivers / DirectX 9.0c / Sys Requirements / Everest Folding@Home

08-08-2009, 07:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
BoT Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: earth Posts: 447 OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate x64 My System	Re: What kind of water cooler should I buy? this would be a nice block and is available http://www.performance-pcs.com/catal...ducts_id=23627 i think water cooling could work out great for you but it's not a cheap thrill or at least i would not recommend making it one because then it can back fire. swiftech has nice starter kits that can easily be expanded, build out and build upon. ..and to a fair price. or you could put a small WC system together yourself which is what i would recommend but it requires some research, some tinkering and most of all the realization that if it all fails, it really could all fail. not to scare you away, if it all does work out, it's a joy __________________ MainStation: Q9450@3.6 \| ASUS P5Q-E \| OCZ Platinum 4x2Gb PC8500 \| eVGA GTX260 \| WD VRaptor

08-08-2009, 09:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
skierdude09 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 25 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 My System	Re: What kind of water cooler should I buy? I have a XClio wind tunnel advanced http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811103019 I could post some pictures of my computer if you would want to see the insides.

08-08-2009, 09:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
skierdude09 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 25 OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 My System	Re: What kind of water cooler should I buy? Reply to BoT: That looks like a nice water block, I was hoping to get the one from koolance but I guess they don't sell it anymore. What are the chances of a water cooling system failing? Is it user error or does this stuff just wear out?

08-08-2009, 10:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
BoT Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: earth Posts: 447 OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate x64 My System	Re: What kind of water cooler should I buy? as with all parts there is some wear and tear over time. most systems once setup and maintained will last for quiet a while 3-5 years and up. mostly fluid, o-rings and rubber seals have to be replaced then. most water cooling accidents have some to do with user error in some shape or form. many people get tired and careless and thats when accidents happen. a water cooling setup does need a bit more attention then a standard air cooling system. you have to check water levels, and leaks etc but it becomes a givn __________________ MainStation: Q9450@3.6 \| ASUS P5Q-E \| OCZ Platinum 4x2Gb PC8500 \| eVGA GTX260 \| WD VRaptor

08-08-2009, 10:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
Aus_Karlos Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Australia Posts: 3,424 OS: Vista Ultimate x64, Windows XP 32-bit/64-bit, Ubuntu x64, Windows 7 x64 Beta My System Blog Entries: 2	Re: What kind of water cooler should I buy? Nice case. Well if you are getting a LC system then please make sure its completely separate from the case. Dont go for ones that attach the radiator to a fan hole on the case you will just be cooling the CPU down from the air thats inside the case. Ive custom built my LC system, ive screwed it to the right-side of the case (looking from the front), in doing so my 2x GTX280s idle temps have gone from 60c to 40c and my ambient case is around 30c because my CPU and Northbridge heat is transferred right out of the case. I bought most of the parts from thermaltake (CPU block, CPU bracket, 120mmX120mm Rad, Pump, tank), the cost of all this i think was about $200 then i bought a 240mm X 120mm from Ebay for $60. Plus $80 for 4lts of Thermaltake coolant __________________ MemTest86 / Nvidia Drivers / ATI Drivers / DirectX 9.0c / Sys Requirements / Everest Folding@Home