Need a cooler for an ITX build
Need a cooler for an ITX build
The terms "challenge" and "cannot fit" aren't identical. A tailored cut designed for the system and a ready-made All in One with fixed hose length, diameter, and fitting angles also differ. The reality is that water cooling isn't inherently colder than air cooling. Heatpipes undergo phase changes inside them, whereas water coolers don't. Both aim to reach ambient temperature, but only by increasing size and adding more fans can water coolers effectively remove more heat. This approach isn't very cost-efficient or space-saving.
I didn't mention watercooling being colder than air cooling. It's unclear where this question came from. Any cooler that doesn't use a compressor or Peltier depends on ambient air temperatures for the thermal exchange process.
Yes, many ITX cases can accommodate 240 AIO coolers and complete watercooling loops. Searching online reveals countless examples.
Increasing size doesn't always lead to better water or liquid cooling performance; adding more radiator area is often the simplest solution. Forget about flow rate, fan speeds, and thermal coefficients—these factors matter more. Most AIOs use aluminum parts, which are less efficient for heat transfer compared to copper and brass, materials commonly found in high-quality watercooling systems.
I might be overlooking the main idea here. I'm not arguing that a full watercooling loop is ideal due to budget constraints. While I don't favor AIO coolers, there are newer alternatives that have shifted my perspective... It also helps that I've personally tested around 15 models and written reviews on them.
I also developed a stronger appreciation for solid air cooling, and I know some great options exist—though others with flashy RGB lighting can be misleading.
I'm still weighing my options. I've always appreciated AIOs, except for the lack of a large aluminium section that absorbs much of the window area. I've recently swapped my x61 from top mount push exhaust to front mount pull intake, removing all the hdd cages and relocating them into the lower optical bay. This completely altered the interior look of the case. What options exist with an air cooler? Changing the fan?
That said, my perspective has shifted a bit lately, especially with the Scythe coolers becoming popular. While I was interested in them before, focusing mainly on the Gentle Typhoon fans, the performance of the new Fuma Rev.b and Mugen 5 Rev.b has made them the standard choice for me. Their combination of capability and price makes them a clear winner.