Air
Water
Tis why I insist on running cases with air filters.
This is what my CPU fan looked like and my rear case fan on my Antec P182 after 8 months of use, sitting on a carpeted floor in my basement; And before anybody asks, no I did not clean it out with air first. I only cleaned my air filters in my case at the beginning of each month.
Does not even look that bad man.Tis why I insist on running cases with air filters.
This is what my CPU fan looked like and my rear case fan on my Antec P182 after 8 months of use, sitting on a carpeted floor in my basement; And before anybody asks, no I did not clean it out with air first. I only cleaned my air filters in my case at the beginning of each month.
Does not even look that bad man.Tis why I insist on running cases with air filters.
This is what my CPU fan looked like and my rear case fan on my Antec P182 after 8 months of use, sitting on a carpeted floor in my basement; And before anybody asks, no I did not clean it out with air first. I only cleaned my air filters in my case at the beginning of each month.
I know...it's because I run a case with air filters and that garbage doesn't make it into my PC.
That's my point..with good filters...you don't have to clean regularly...as it doesn't get dirty.
It also help if your case comes with some fans. Sure, that will mean you need a tad bit bigger power supply, but it is all worth it in the end. Especially if you have a high-end server, or gaming computer.
pparks1,
Very impressive, I use filters as well but still get a build up after 3-4 months. I think a lot of component issue are directly connected to dust build up and heat, I hear enough dust can actually conduct current.
Air is the better way to go. Like others said, dust is about the only problem. If you want to overclock on air, I would definitely recommend the thermaltake frio if you can fit it in your case. It's cheap and keeps my cpu less than 45c under load at 4ghz.
I believe there is no right or wrong way comparing todays sealed water system with air cooling. It all boils down to a person preference. I was air and now I prefer water or liquid cooling. The non sealed liquid systems are the best of the best, but best if left to true enthusiast as they require vast amounts of installation and maintenance knowledge which slots nicely with extreme OC'g and gaming !
Eh...My cousin has ruined 2 complete systems from his liquid cooling either rupturing or failing and he had both 'professionally' installed. One ruptured when he went to swap out his GPU and ended up nudging a hose the wrong way. The 2nd time he left his PC on during the summer with his door closed from the central air and it just plain overheated, caused the PSU to spark and shorted out the MoBo, all his RAM, the CPU, everything lol. This last system he bought he went with liquid cooling again and I'm just waiting to add another story to the mix.
Get a good, big, open case. Several nice big ole fans. A V8 fan for the CPU and you should be set. I don't ever plan to run liquid cooling in something I sunk a grand worth of hardware into. EVER.
Someday I'm going to try to build an immersed system..overclocked dual socket mobo and triple or quad SLI in the smallest home built box that will hold it, pump the coolant through a heavy duty transmission cooler radiator to keep the system at or just above room temperature... might even double as a space heater for the 6 months of winter we get every year where I'm at. 1500 watts is 1500 watts whether it's going through heating coils or silicone. That's a lot of heat to get rid of.
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