Watercooling General FAQ

ℹ️ PC water cooling is a method used to dissipate heat from critical components in a computer, such as the CPU, GPU, and sometimes other parts like the motherboard chipset or RAM. Unlike traditional air cooling, which uses just fans and heatsinks, water cooling employs a liquid (typically distilled water or a mix of non toxic glycol/propanol) to transfer heat more efficiently. Here are the basics of how it works and why people use it:

Components of a Water-Cooling System:

Water Blocks: This is the component that attaches directly to the CPU, GPU, or other components. It’s usually made of copper that have machined micro channels for the cooling fluid to flow through, pulling heat away from the component.

Pump: This part circulates the cooling fluid throughout the system. It’s crucial for maintaining proper flow and preventing heat buildup. A watercoooling pump wih a high head pressure rather than only looking at flow rate is very beneficial, this will help with restrictive waterblocks, or large loops.

Radiator: After the cooling fluid absorbs heat from the water block, it flows into a radiator, where fans help dissipate the heat into the air. The size of the radiator often affects how efficiently the system cools, but don't forget the radiator can only cool liquid down to ambient room temperature, so if you have a really hot room or your PC case is near to a radiator, it will be less efficient.

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Reservoir: Some systems have a reservoir that holds extra water, making it easier to fill and maintain the system. It can also help with air bubbles and water pressure. Distro plates have become very popular over the last few years, often acting as a reservoir and a way to fill the system - Many of them also have built in pumps.

Tubes: Tubes , these can be made from either flexible tubing such as PVC or EPDM, or hard tubing in the form of Acrylic, PETG, PMMA, Copper or Stainless in many different sizes. In a similar way to how your house plumbing transfers liquid to your taps, these are what connect your loop components, and fittings to ensure a leak-proof connection.

Fittings: Fittings can come in many sizes and colours, most popular is 16/10mm or 13/10mm for Flexible tubing, or 14mm and 16mm for Hard Tubing. Originally, when we first set out in 2004, the only option was barbed fittings, and flexible tube, but these days compression fittings are much better, and leak-free when installed correctly.

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Types of Water Cooling:

AIO (All-in-One): This is a pre-assembled, closed-loop water-cooling system. It's easy to install and maintain compared to custom loops but may not be as flexible or efficient in high-performance setups. Parts that make up the cooling components in AIO's are often Aluminium so they can be more price effective in the mass market. You can even buy GPU AIO's as well for GPU only cooling.

Custom Loop: These systems are built from individual components, sometimes mixed brand, sometimes all kinds of diffrent colours, allowing for more customization. Enthusiasts often prefer this for its superior cooling performance and visual appeal, but it requires more planning, knowledge, and maintenance.

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Advantages of Water Cooling:

Better Cooling Efficiency: Water conducts heat more efficiently than air, which means water-cooled systems can handle higher loads and provide lower temperatures than air-cooled setups.

Noise Reduction: Since water can remove heat more effectively, fewer fans or lower RPM fans are needed, leading to quieter operation.

Aesthetic Appeal: Many custom water-cooling setups are built for visual impact with clear tubing, colored liquids, and RGB lighting.

Overclocking Potential: Lower temperatures allow for more aggressive overclocking, enabling the CPU or GPU to run at higher speeds.

Visually Appealing: Watercooling can certainly give your rig the WOW factor, you'll earn bonus points with your friends if you have a full custom loop with RGB!

Disadvantages:

Cost: Water cooling is usually more expensive, especially with custom loops. AIOs are more affordable but still pricier than traditional air cooling.

Maintenance: Custom loops require periodic maintenance we recommend every 6 months as a minimum, or months when using Opaque liquid, such as draining and refilling the loop, checking for leaks, and cleaning components.

Complexity: Building a custom loop takes time, knowledge, and attention to detail to avoid potential issues like leaks or pump failures. Plan first, measure second, build third!

When to Consider Water Cooling:

If you are pushing high-performance tasks like gaming, rendering, or overclocking.
When noise reduction is a priority.
When you components are overheating, or your system is auto shutting down.
For users who enjoy customization and aesthetics in their PC builds.