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Asasen5 · ‎02-14-2013

I was thinking about water cooling my system and was wondering if it's better to go with a custom loop or just a closed loop?

MOTHERBOARD: ASUS Maximus V Formula
CPU: Intel i5 3570K
RAM: G. Skill Trident X 1600Hz 2x8gb (16gb total)
VIDEO CARD: ASUS DCU2 670
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB
PSU: Thermaltake ToughPower XT 775W
CPU COOLER: Corsair H100i
FAN CONTROLLER: Lamptron FC9
CASE: NZXT Switch 810

Chino · ‎02-14-2013

A custom loop is more expensive but the performance is greater. It also needs maintenance. A closed loop is a lot cheaper and is maintenance free but the performance isn't as good as a custom loop.

Asasen5 · ‎02-14-2013

So it's more personal oppinion?

MOTHERBOARD: ASUS Maximus V Formula
CPU: Intel i5 3570K
RAM: G. Skill Trident X 1600Hz 2x8gb (16gb total)
VIDEO CARD: ASUS DCU2 670
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB
PSU: Thermaltake ToughPower XT 775W
CPU COOLER: Corsair H100i
FAN CONTROLLER: Lamptron FC9
CASE: NZXT Switch 810

Chino · ‎02-14-2013

More than personal opinion, the key factor here is cost. If you have the money and you want the best water cooling can provide, custom loop is the way to go. But if you're limited economically but still want water cooling, then close loop is for you.

Asasen5 · ‎02-14-2013

So I have a MVF, is it better to use a custom loop on it?

MOTHERBOARD: ASUS Maximus V Formula
CPU: Intel i5 3570K
RAM: G. Skill Trident X 1600Hz 2x8gb (16gb total)
VIDEO CARD: ASUS DCU2 670
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB
PSU: Thermaltake ToughPower XT 775W
CPU COOLER: Corsair H100i
FAN CONTROLLER: Lamptron FC9
CASE: NZXT Switch 810

xeromist · ‎02-14-2013

Asasen5 wrote:
So I have a MVF, is it better to use a custom loop on it?

If you can afford it, yes. A good custom loop is going to cost > $300(USD). Because your board comes equipped with barbs you can run a custom loop right into it. A sealed system like the Corsair ones isn't going to let you take advantage of that built-in water cooling ability.

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station…

Granger · ‎02-14-2013

Depends on what you want to do, if you only want to cool the CPU and have no intentions of cooling anything else with water. Then an AIO is the best bet.

If you want to cool the mobo and the GPU's, you'll need a custom loop.

My advice would be to take the same road that I did, I started with a "kit" for the CPU and expanded later.

You can find decent kits from Swiftech, XSPC, EK. The advantage of the kits are you get everything you need to cool the CPU (rad/res/pump/tubing/fittings and sometimes cooling fluid as well)

Depends a lot on your case too, whether or not you can get decent sized rads inside or not.

Asasen5 · ‎02-14-2013

Well I have a NZXT Switch 810 case so I've got plenty of room in it for water cooling.

I was thinking of getting a kit, but I only think I'll be cooling the mobo and CPU. Might just be the CPU though

MOTHERBOARD: ASUS Maximus V Formula
CPU: Intel i5 3570K
RAM: G. Skill Trident X 1600Hz 2x8gb (16gb total)
VIDEO CARD: ASUS DCU2 670
SSD: Samsung 840 Pro Series 128GB
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2TB
PSU: Thermaltake ToughPower XT 775W
CPU COOLER: Corsair H100i
FAN CONTROLLER: Lamptron FC9
CASE: NZXT Switch 810

xeromist · ‎02-14-2013

Well, if you aren't sure and want the option to add on later then a custom kit is good for that. I'm still using parts I bought for builds I've long since parted out.

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station…

Chino · ‎02-14-2013

xeromist wrote:
Well, if you aren't sure and want the option to add on later then a custom kit is good for that.

Agreed. You never know when you'll need to cool the router too.

Water cooling advice/options