Custom CPU-watercooling Loop
Custom CPU-watercooling Loop
Hey everyone,
I'm just starting out with custom watercooling loops and I'm excited to build one now. I also wanted to create a built-in PC desk with a glass plate covering the hardware underneath—it would look great and be quieter than my Coolmaster V8 GTS.
My main question is about the current cost to build a fully functional and visually appealing loop. I can only find information from around 2015, which usually mentions prices around 300€/$ for a single loop. I really hope prices have dropped a bit since then, especially since I don’t have unlimited funds. Also, why are there such big differences in prices between different brands? What makes something like a $100+ piece for a CPU contact worth the cost?
Thanks for reading, and I really appreciate any advice or tips you can share to help me grow my knowledge in this area.
😀
Best regards
Averell
Water blocks are typically costly because of the intricate production methods required. They demand a high level of accuracy and very small dimensions. Take the XSPC Raystorm Pro, for instance, which features numerous extremely thin fins. Additionally, producing solid pieces made from high-purity copper is becoming increasingly pricey as the world's supply of mineable copper diminishes. Research and development expenses are substantial, and these items don't gain widespread popularity due to their specialized nature. Manufacturers often absorb these costs to stay afloat, particularly those like EK that prefer handling production in-house.
How did that end up in this forum section? My mistake, I think.
since it seems impossible to move this thread over to a different part of the forum and it seems impossible to find a "delete post/thread" option in this wonderfull userinterface you might just wanna ignore this for now -_-
It looks like moving this discussion elsewhere isn't feasible, and there doesn't appear to be a "delete post/thread" feature in the current interface. You might want to skip this for now. Thread updated.
Averell :
Hey everyone,
I’m new to custom watercooling loops and I’m planning to build one now. I also wanted to create an in-built PC desk with a glass plate covering the hardware underneath. I thought it would look great and be quieter than my Coolermaster V8 GTS.
My main concern is the current cost of building a fully functional and visually appealing loop. I can only find sources from around 2015 that mention prices around 300€/$ for a single loop. I really hope prices have dropped a bit since then, as I don’t have unlimited funds. Also, why are there such big differences in prices between different suppliers? What could possibly justify costs of 100 or more dollars for a single metal piece touching the CPU?
Thanks for reading, and I’m looking forward to your advice.
Best regards
Lucas_7_94
Mousemonkey :
Averell :
since it seems impossible to move this thread over to a different part of the forum and it seems impossible to find a "delete post/thread" option in this wonderfull userinterface you might just wanna ignore this for now -_-
Thread moved.
you are a wonderful person
Water blocks tend to be costly because of the intricate manufacturing methods required. They demand a high level of accuracy and are remarkably slim. Take the XSPC Raystorm Pro, for instance, which features numerous extremely thin fins. Additionally, producing solid pieces of high-purity copper at scale is becoming increasingly pricey as natural copper reserves diminish. Research and development expenses remain high, and these items don't typically achieve mass-market success due to their specialized nature. Manufacturers often absorb these R&D costs to stay afloat, particularly for companies like EK that prefer in-house production.
Full coverage GPU blocks come with even higher prices because of the large quantities of metal involved and the precision needed to carve out the necessary channels. This is compounded by the elevated R&D costs and reduced sales volumes, which necessitate greater variation. Consequently, the most affordable high-quality full cover blocks are around $150.
For budget CPU loop projects, simpler alternatives like barbs, zip ties, or hose clamps can save money without compromising functionality. Soft tubing offers a cost-effective alternative to hard tubing for equivalent wall thickness and dimensions per unit length. You might opt for an XSPC EX radiator instead of more expensive models from EK or Alphacool. Avoiding angled or rotary fittings allows the tubing to handle direction changes more efficiently. The Raystorm Pro I referenced is likely one of the top-performing CPU blocks without being the most costly. The non-Raystorm option isn’t terrible either, costing about $50. You can also opt for cheaper reservoirs or build your own. The most expensive component in your loop will probably be your pump—typically a D5 or DDC model priced between $100 and $150. For desk builds with extended tubing runs, you’ll need sufficient head pressure, aside from managing multiple pumps. Smaller loops can be managed with a more affordable $35 Modtek pump available on Amazon.
Pushing water through roughly 5 feet of tubing (such as stealthing it in an S340) is feasible, especially when dealing with long runs. Using a 120 or 240 rad and achieving decent flow back into the reservoir works well. It may not match the power of a DDC or D5, but it’s effective and relatively quiet—quieter than my old H100i, to be honest. RIP H100i.
Now that you consider this, EK, XSPC, and Alphacool all offer custom CPU loop-in-a-box kits priced between $250 and $350. While these kits aren’t always the best in tubing or pump quality, they’re quite close. Just remember, avoid handling colored liquids if you’re concerned about finding debris in your loop components regularly.
The production of water blocks tends to be costly because of the intricate manufacturing methods required. They need to be incredibly precise and very thin. For instance, the XSPC Raystorm Pro features numerous extremely narrow fins. Additionally, obtaining high-purity copper for milling is becoming increasingly pricey as natural copper reserves diminish. Research and development expenses remain high, and these items don't typically sell at high margins due to their specialized nature. Manufacturers often absorb these costs to stay afloat, particularly when they are companies like EK that prefer in-house production.
Full coverage GPU blocks are even pricier because of the larger quantities of metal involved and the need for precise channel cutting. Combined with higher R&D expenses and lower sales volumes due to greater variation requirements, the most affordable high-quality full cover blocks can cost around $150.
If you're aiming for a more economical CPU loop, consider using alternatives like barbs, zip ties, or hose clamps instead of compression fittings—though these may not look as appealing. Soft tubing is more budget-friendly than hard tubing for equivalent thickness and length per unit. You might opt for an XSPC EX radiator over pricier models from EK or Alphacool. Skipping angled or rotary fittings can simplify the design, allowing the tubing to handle direction changes. The Raystorm Pro I referenced is likely one of the top-performing blocks without being the most expensive. The non-Raystorm option isn’t terrible either, costing about $50. You could also use cheaper reservoirs or build your own. The most costly component in your loop will probably be your pump—often a D5 or DDC, priced between $100 and $150. For desk builds with extended tubing runs, you’ll need strong head pressure, aside from managing multiple pumps. Smaller loops can work with a $35 Modtek pump available on Amazon. I manage to push water through roughly 5 feet of tubing (stealthing it in an S340 is tough), through 120 and 240 rad, and the return flow into the reservoir is surprisingly efficient. It’s not as powerful as a DDC or D5, but it functions well and remains relatively quiet—quieter than my old H100i, to be honest.
RIP H100i.
Now that I reflect on it, EK, XSPC, and Alphacool all offer custom CPU loop-in-a-box kits priced between $250 and $350. While the tubing and pumps may not always be top-notch, they’re quite close in performance.
Just remember, avoid using colored liquids if you dislike checking for lumps in your loop components regularly.
Thanks for the thoroughly detailed response—those Raystorm Pro options look impressive. I’ll keep that advice in mind when making my choices. I’m truly appreciative you took the time to provide such a comprehensive answer; it’s far from obvious.