[randytsuch]

Wondered if anybody has tried watercooling?

When I looked at it a few years ago, it was too expensive and involved, so I stuck to air.

Now, it is more mainstream, easier and cheaper.  It would also make your PC quieter, which would be good for a music server, if it is in the same room as your stereo.

I am thinking about the Thermaltake Big Water SE kit, it is supposed to be a good kit for the money.  I might do that, and go with a "silent" power supply.  Maybe upgrade my case fan too, and see how quiet I can get.

So, anybody try it?

Randy

[JoshK]

I recommend you got to silentpcreview.com and do a LOT of reading before you persue this.  Not that you won't pleased otherwise, but this might help you down the best path.

[Folsom]

Ditto the research.

You know there are still fans right? Plus a pump....

[brj]

I'll second JoshK's recommendation.

With the correct setup, an air-cooled system can be completely (or almost completely) silent.  This is especially true if you are willing to consider a case with a tower form-factor.   For the same component set, a silent build becomes more difficult if you want a horizontally oriented media PC style case.  It can still be accomplished for even a performance oriented build, however, using an aluminum case with heatpipes.  If you drop your requirements to the level of just a music server, it gets even easier.  It all comes down to where you want to strike the balance between cost, performance, noise and form factor.

[shokunin]

I've had my share of watercooling (BIP, BIX, Danger Den, Swiftech), and frankly, watercooling != silent.  Watercooling keeps CPU and GPU temperatures cooler than typical air cooling (for better overclocking), but at the expense of pump noise and radiator (fan)  noise, leaks, air bubbles, fungi and other nasties.   When done right, watercooling works great.  However both AMD and Intel are shifting towards lower TDP and Lower wattage consumption processors, meaning cooler chips and less need for 130w TDP heatsinks and waterblocks.

Yet, motherboards STILL need air circulation. Northbridges and chipsets get HOT and require cooling, Power supplies still need some cooling, even fanless ones.  End results, you still have fans even with watercooling.  I ditched the WC rig in favor of good heatsinks and case airflow.  2 Scythe Ninja's with 120mm 7v fans keep my Dual Opteron 280 workstation nice and cool.

[shokunin]

If you haven't done so already, the forums at procooling.com and ocforums.com have a ton of resources for watercooling.  Good luck!

[randytsuch]

Hi guys,
Thanks for the replies, and information.  Did some research at those forums, and from what I gather, watercooling is good for extreme OCing, or if you go with passive watercooling (which requires a big tower somewhere), you can make a very quiet machine.

I am on the fence now, I make stick with air, and upgrade my heatsink and PS and fans.

Shokunin,
If I stick with air, I will probably change my Zalmon 7000 to the Scythe Ninja you have.  Looks like the ticket for low noise air cooling.

Randy

[RDaneel]

I've built quiet systems both aircooled and watercooled.  My opinion:

- watcooling is great for overclocking, but not worth the trouble, cost, and risk for a "normal" or media PC.

- water is awesome for temps, but the pump noise can be a problem, especially if you also watercool your video card for gaming.  I have a 6800GT that forced me to get a higher flow pump, and it is louder than most fans.

- careful aircooling can have great results.  Buy some cheap molex splitters (y cables) on ebay and rearrange the connectors to make cables with 7V and 5V options.  These will let you reduce the noise of any case fans fairly easily and cheaply.

- the Zalman and Scythe are great products!  Don't forget the PSU, too, which is often the second largest source of noise.  silentpcreview.com has great data on PSUs as well as other items.

- If you're building a media server, get a low power processor.  My bedroom HTPC (used for music and watching DVDs) is my OLD Pentium III 650, which can be cooled passively.  I have a Zalman flower cooler on there with only two low volt case fans, and I have no issues with heat.  If I had a P4 in there, it would fry.  Getting a used chip and mobo might let you put together a much quieter aircooled system than new tech that may be overkill...

Good luck!

P.S. I'm going back to air, or air-water hybrid for my next gaming PC, so I guess I'm not such a water nut after all...

[randytsuch]

So for now, I ditched one little fan that I had blowing on my northbridge, which was designed to be passively cooled, and also turned down my Zalmon CPU fan to the slowest speed possible.

I cut away part of the case that covered my case fan, to improve air flow.  I also added some duct tape in front (for noise), and a bunch of dynamat.

Net result is it is much quiter than it used to pc.  Not silent, but I think it is at least 50% quieter, with some pretty simple stuff.

I also cut a hole behind the PC to improve airflow, because it is stuck in an small space, and does not really have proper ventilation.  Hole is right behind the case fan, and it did make the space around the PC cooler.

Right now, CPU is at 30C, and MB is at 36C.  Last night, after a hour of Prime95, CPU was up to 50C.  A little hot, but I can live with that.  

I duct taped the front, which made it quiter, but also raised the CPU temp by 5 deg.  So, I plan to get a couple of quiet case fans, for front ant back, and see how that works.  Will probably go with the Nexus 120mm silent case fans.

Randy

[Waynegro]

Vegan-approved cooling:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/01/09/strip_out_the_fans/

[Hoots]

I simply put my PC in the closet behind my system and ran the cables through wall....silent within listening room

I just love the silence....