First Liquid Cooling Setup
First Liquid Cooling Setup
I've never worked with water cooling before, or much beyond basic fans and heatsinks. But I'm planning a build for a friend who will be assembling it later—just picking parts—and I'd like to learn more about liquid cooling. What components are suitable for liquid cooling? Is it limited to the CPU? How do you configure a liquid cooling loop in a new setup? What equipment is necessary to have a proper liquid system?
I understand my friend will likely want liquid cooling, especially since he'll be gaming and editing videos on YouTube, possibly overclocking. He still wants quiet operation. Also, what would be the ideal case for a water-cooled build? I currently have this setup and need advice. I've heard about the CoolerMaster H115i but don’t know much about it.
Thanks in advance, RoboticPlayer
If you have a res/pump combo, I would recommend the Corsair 750D, I have one and its amazing. I have a triple radiator on the top and a dual radiator in the front.
It has 2 120mm fan ports on the bottom that you could use for a radiator as well.
For custom loop parts, I would get everything off of EKWB website. They make amazing parts. Theres two types of custom loops. Hard tubing and soft tubing. Hard tubing is a little more expensive and uses acrylic tubes that you use a heat gun to bend the way you want. They look much nicer but they need special fittings and they take a lot more work to build the loop with since you have to plan ahead how you want each bend.
Soft tubing its the opposite. Its easy, uses regular compression...
What cooling method suits your needs? A custom loop or an all-in-one solution? The all-in-one model is the H115i, while custom loops are those elaborate setups often showcased in photos with vibrant tubes. With a custom loop, you can cool nearly every component in your system—motherboard, CPU, GPU, and sometimes even the SSD. It gives you a sense of pride when others admire the colorful setup. Custom loops are more about personal projects and come at a higher cost. My custom loop investment was around $500 USD for a resin casting, a 360mm radiator, a 240mm radiator, a pump, CPU block, GPU block, plus fans. That’s not to mention the additional expense for good fans. An all-in-one (AIO) setup would be simpler and more affordable—around $100 for a model with 240mm of radiator space. However, AIO coolers typically only handle the CPU. Some GPUs allow you to add an AIO cooler yourself, but I find that option less appealing.
I suggest going through the watercooling sticky at the top of the forum (also linked below in my signature).
There are many factors to think about, and although it may seem daunting at first, understanding watercooling versus all-in-one coolers versus air cooling is really advantageous if you're interested in the science behind it.
Take a look and let us know if it helps clarify the basics and sparks more questions or ideas.
We're here to assist you in deciding what works best for you or your project.
The available cooling options range from a complete all-in-one setup to a custom loop configuration. The all-in-one model, such as the H115i, simplifies installation and is visually appealing with its colorful components. A custom loop allows for comprehensive water cooling of various components including the motherboard, CPU, GPU, and even SSDs. It offers a unique advantage in impressing others with its design. However, custom loops tend to be costly, with a recent example costing around $500 for a complete setup including radiators, pumps, and components. A full air-cooling solution would be more straightforward and budget-friendly, typically around $100 for an AIO with sufficient space. Some GPUs support add-ons for connecting AIO coolers, though this may not appeal to everyone. The preferred choice depends on the desired performance level and available budget. For a custom loop, it’s advisable to consider specific system needs and seek recommendations for suitable parts.
If you own a res/pump combo, I suggest the Corsair 750D. I already have one and it performs exceptionally well. It features a triple radiator at the top and a dual radiator in the front.
It includes two 120mm fan ports at the bottom that could also serve as radiators.
For custom loop components, I recommend sourcing them from the EKWB website. They offer excellent parts. There are two main types of custom loops: hard tubing and soft tubing. Hard tubing is pricier and uses acrylic tubes that require a heat gun for shaping; they appear more polished but demand careful planning for each bend. Soft tubing, on the other hand, is straightforward—uses standard compression fittings from EK and doesn’t need a heat gun. You can achieve attractive soft tubing loops if you get the layout right, though I personally find hard tubing to look superior.
Don't start your first loop using someone else's funds... Particularly a $4k build. Neither of you understands the maintenance costs. If he won't invest in building his own $4000 rig, he'll likely avoid taking apart the loop once a year to clean the blocks. Just get a solid AIO for him and that's enough.
you shouldn't be handling your first loop with someone else's funds... Particularly for a $4k build. Neither of you understands the maintenance involved. If he isn't ready to build his own $4000 rig, he won't be willing to disassemble it once a year to clean the blocks. Just get a solid AIO and that's enough.