Water Cooler

[Dude]

Okay, so I made up my mind I want to try it. I can't decide which one I want. Which one would you suggest?

Are the quiet?

How much cooler will my cpu be, from what I read the big difference is when under load as ambient temp plays in to idle temp.

If you read my specs you will see my mb does not offer enough options to control the voltage much ie no vdroop. I will be getting another mb but am curious should I get the mb first, or the water cooler?

 

[kbrady1979]

Whichever you can find on sale first lol. Does your case support 120mm fans or 140mm fans?

Since I'm about to go to bed, I'll just leave this here. I don't believe Sandy/Ivy Bridge needs a dual rad water cooler, unless you are going beast mode on it. I think the best water coolers are the Asetek models: the Intel I have, the Antecs, the Zalmans and I think a couple of the Corsairs. I prefer a 38mm thick rad because you don't need dual fans with it like you do the 49mm rads. The NZXT Kraken X40 is decent because it is a 140mm unit, so it will naturally be quieter, and the extra surface area is more important than the fact that it is 27mm thick. I linked to a good deal in another thread, it's the Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro: Thermaltake WATER2.0 Pro That is comparable to the Antec 920 and is quite a bit cheaper. I mainly look for rad thickness, hose material(I don't like that conduit looking hose), and fan configuration. Of course, you could buy one and add your own fans if you want. To be honest, within reason, there probably isn't a nickels worth of difference between them.

 

[AddRAM]

You already know the one I`m gettin

Thermaltake CLW0217 Water 2.0 Extreme/All-In-One Liquid Cooling System - Newegg.com

 

[madcratebuilder]

The larger the surface area of the radiator the better the cooling for a given fan RPM (noise). I think any of the major brand names well serve you well. How much of a overclock do you plan? I have a Corsair H80i on a 8350 pushed to 4.7mgz, may get to 50-52C with P95 pushing all 8 cores to 100%. I really like the CorsairLink software for controlling fan rpm. You can use several presets or make a custom profile. The CorsairLink monitors all your devises, you well need a free USB header on the mobo.

 

[Dude]

Whichever you can find on sale first lol. Does your case support 120mm fans or 140mm fans?

Since I'm about to go to bed, I'll just leave this here. I don't believe Sandy/Ivy Bridge needs a dual rad water cooler, unless you are going beast mode on it. I think the best water coolers are the Asetek models: the Intel I have, the Antecs, the Zalmans and I think a couple of the Corsairs. I prefer a 38mm thick rad because you don't need dual fans with it like you do the 49mm rads. The NZXT Kraken X40 is decent because it is a 140mm unit, so it will naturally be quieter, and the extra surface area is more important than the fact that it is 27mm thick. I linked to a good deal in another thread, it's the Thermaltake Water 2.0 Pro: Thermaltake WATER2.0 Pro That is comparable to the Antec 920 and is quite a bit cheaper. I mainly look for rad thickness, hose material(I don't like that conduit looking hose), and fan configuration. Of course, you could buy one and add your own fans if you want. To be honest, within reason, there probably isn't a nickels worth of difference between them.

Here is my case, it shows putting 120mm fans up top so I guess 120?

::: Zalman, leading the world of Quiet Computing Solutions :::

You already the one I`m gettin

Thermaltake CLW0217 Water 2.0 Extreme/All-In-One Liquid Cooling System - Newegg.com

Yeah, that one looks nice!

The larger the surface area of the radiator the better the cooling for a given fan RPM (noise). I think any of the major brand names well serve you well. How much of a overclock do you plan? I have a Corsair H80i on a 8350 pushed to 4.7mgz, may get to 50-52C with P95 pushing all 8 cores to 100%. I really like the CorsairLink software for controlling fan rpm. You can use several presets or make a custom profile. The CorsairLink monitors all your devises, you well need a free USB header on the mobo.

I'm looking at going about 4.7. I do have a free usb header. I did look at the software, liked the way it looked. I considered this one as it matches my case

::: Zalman, leading the world of Quiet Computing Solutions :::

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118136

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I have rigs running the original H100 with both P/P and one set of fans. Then I have two Thermaltake Extreme 2.0's and they're great. The rad is thicker than the H100 by a little. Then I purchased a NZXT Kraken which runs 140mm fans but the rad is thin like the H100 series. All are fine systems and all have Noctua fans pushing/pulling or both. Can't speak to which works better as I've never changed them out in the same system in the same ambient and taken readings but my gut says that good fans make a small difference. Push/Pull makes a small difference (very) but push or pull set up runs great quiet and very close to P/P with less complexity. I like to exhaust case air but with my current case it has slip out filtration and with that I intake cool air through the 280mm rad and then out the back of the case which could be helping with positive pressure....if you're into that kind of thing.

 

[Dude]

Good point on the pressure I was thinking that mounting it where the back fan is would help and then move my other fan up top

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Dude,
If you're going a sealed water rig then go a 240mm or if you can squeeze the 280mm rad in the top then do that. Otherwise you want a double deep single 120 or 140 rad. ala H80i or the Kraken 140.

 

[kbrady1979]

The Zalman LQ320 is pretty nice Doug. If you prefer a single rad unit, I'd go with that, or the Corsair H80i. In fact, the H80i is on sale for $78 and change until the end of today.

 

[Dude]

Thanks for the tips guys. I am going to make sure a dual will fit im my zalman z12 case

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I'm almost 100% a 240mm will fit and the manual for the Z12 shows top panel fans of 120mm and 140mm???? so good chance you can call Zalman and ask there tech dept about this !

 

[NoN]

Seeing some taking about Thermaltake Water 2.0 Extreme...I noticed the T. Water 3.0 series is out since a little while at local stores here.

Water 3.0 Pro and Water 3.0 Performer seems both to relay on 4pins PWM for the fans & 3pins Motherboard for the pump.

While Water 3.0 extreme is a USB 2.0 header (Fan Control Software) & 4pins PWM fans, but thinner radiator (27mm against 38,3mm for Water 2.0 extreme)

Small review HERE

and TT web site, HERE

Edit:
I myself think about the same upgrade from airflow to watercooling...and i'm teared apart choosing All-In-One Lcs or build my own...same matter of space available in the case interior. But it is sure i'm will go for a 240mm radiator.

 

[paulpicks21]

Doug, just go for something simple like this.

 

[Layback Bear]

I do like the looks of that paulpicks21. One would have to get a bank loan for all the elbows and couplers.

 

[Dude]

I'm no plumber so I will have to get something easier to do

 

[Dude]

I'm leaning towards either the H80i or H100i

 

[kbrady1979]

Did you mention in passing that you were wanting a new motherboard? What are you looking at?

 

[madcratebuilder]

I'm leaning towards either the H80i or H100i

If you have the free space go with the H100i. You can run the system with the CorsairLink2 software and keep the fans in quiet mode 99% of the time.

If you go with Corsair do not upgrade the firmware unless the new firmware version addresses a specific problem your particular unit is experiencing. Reading at the Corsair forum indicates people upgrading FW just for the sake of upgrading cause more problems than they solve.

My H80i was about 100 days running 24/7 and it's everything I would expect. In balanced mode the fans/pump are as quiet as a typical case fan. When I run the fans in performance mode it sounds like a F16 on afterburner...but it sure does cool things down. I'll let the cpu get up to 56-57*, crank the fans up and the temps come right down to 44-47*. It can heat a small room.

You can make your own custom fan speed profile and you can save up to 4 configurations.

 

[Dude]

I'm almost 100% a 240mm will fit and the manual for the Z12 shows top panel fans of 120mm and 140mm???? so good chance you can call Zalman and ask there tech dept about this !

I think the h1001 will fit, here is my case dimensions

 

[kbrady1979]

Looking down from above your case, does it look like the fan bolt pattern is offset either way? Such as towards the left side panel or the right side panel? Or is it squarely in the middle of the top panel?