How should I Water Cool My PC?
How should I Water Cool My PC?
Hello all,
I'm preparing for my first build after two years with a gaming PC. My main issue is cooling. I've chosen water cooling because it's hot in Mississippi and we don't have central air.
My case is a Phanteks P400
http://www.phanteks.com/Eclipse-p400.html
It supports a 360m radiator at the front and 120m at the back, with no radiators on top. The front has enough space for a push/pull setup.
I'm planning to water cool both my GPU and CPU. I'm unsure which method to use—should I use two different radiators for GPU and CPU or just one 360m? Or should I go with the Duel CPU/GPU AIO?
What would you recommend for my case?
Thanks, Michael
Michael_42 :
Hello everyone,
I'm preparing for my first build after owning a gaming PC for two years. My main issue is with cooling. I've chosen water cooling because it's necessary in Mississippi where it gets very hot and we don't have central air.
My case is a Phanteks P400
http://www.phanteks.com/Eclipse-p400.html
It supports a 360m radiator at the front and 120m at the back, with exhaust vents, but no radiators on top. The front has enough space for a push/pull setup.
I'm trying to figure out the best water cooling method for my GPU and CPU without going into a custom loop. I've looked into GPU AIOs, CPU AIOs, and Duel CPU/GPU AIOs. What would you recommend if you had my case? Would you use...
Your reasoning has some issues. The overall temperature is actually similar, even higher with a water cooling setup. Brushless motors and moving water both produce significant heat. Water cooling mainly helps by allowing you to overclock further.
Your reasoning has some issues. The overall heat level is actually similar, especially with a water cooling system. Brushless motors and moving water both produce significant heat. Water cooling mainly helps with overclocking limits. I intend to overclock both systems, even though placing a large fan next to the PC and removing the side panel only slightly reduces temperatures.
Michael_42 suggests the logic needs adjustment. Using a water cooling system would actually increase overall heat, but it could help with overclocking. He plans to overclock both systems, even with a powerful fan and removed panels, which only slightly reduces temperatures. He believes the main solution is a custom loop, as modifying all-in-one units isn't practical. Custom components are necessary for better performance, and while NZXT's solutions exist, a full closed loop would complicate things significantly and likely raise costs.
Water cooling is mainly for overclocking and gives a neat appearance—it won’t really help with high ambient temperatures. For the significant cost you’d incur, I’d opt for a window or portable AC and stick to basic air cooling for your PC. That way, you can run it comfortably without worrying about overheating.
If you’re still interested in water cooling, I’d consider a 120 GPU AIO on the back and a 240 CPU on the top—though it might not be officially supported. If that doesn’t work, you could try placing it in front.
Consider the exhaust/intake arrangement carefully. If you use a push/pull setup with a radiator in front, it should function as an intake while fans at the top handle exhaust. Alternatively, you can reverse this configuration. Keep the rear fan dedicated to exhaust for optimal performance.
I would consider configuring both AIOs as intakes initially, directing exhaust from the top (if positioned at the front) with dual 140s. This approach should maintain convection efficiency. I’m unsure if this is optimal, but it seems like a reasonable starting point.
I still suggest exploring other options, though. Investing in a GPU cooler for a better-performing GPU could be more effective. NVidia’s vapor chamber cooler performs well and efficiently removes most heat, possibly even surpassing standard AIOs.
Calculagator would suggest starting with both AIOs as intakes and exhausting the top when using dual 140s, ensuring convection remains effective. I still think it's wise to explore other options, like investing in a GPU cooler for a more efficient GPU, such as NVidia's vapor chamber, which can handle heat better than standard AIOs.
Michael_42 is preparing for his first build after owning a gaming PC for two years. He is facing cooling issues and is considering water cooling due to the hot climate in Mississippi without central air. He has a Phanteks P400 case with space for a 360mm radiator front and 120mm back radiator, and he wants to cool both GPU and CPU using water cooling. He is unsure whether to use two separate radiators for each component or a single Duel setup. He seeks advice on the best method for his build.