The short of it: More trouble than its worth for anything other than the GPU The long of it: IMHO and experience, water cooling is NOT worth it for the CPU as many air coolers already come very close to a water block, but it is very much worth it for the GPU in particular, and possibly the MB. If you’re an enthusiast that wants a great-looking PC build with all the bells and whistles, go with water-cooling. Most people recommend against water cooling their because it’s just a waste of money, but truth to be told, if you think water cooling won’t keep the temperature down then think twice, a forum member ran an interesting experiment where he water cooled his RAM and made a chart to show the difference between the before and after cases. Even for gaming, a decent air cooler and case fans will keep your components operating well below their throttling points. Countertop vs. Freestanding Water Coolers or Dispensers Water coolers or dispensers are available as a countertop or freestanding units with the freestanding being the more expensive. but the thermaltake kit would be your best bet since its a all in one kit and comes with everything you need and will cool a typical set up easy. Unlike all-in-one coolers, these systems require that you fill them and do the same regular maintenance that you would with a fully custom system. PC Gamer is going back to the basics with a series of guides, how-tos, and deep dives into PC gaming's core concepts that we're calling The Complete Guide to PC Gaming. Last but not least, some AiO coolers, as well as custom loops, can be had with RGB lights to further make the aesthetics even better. With so many options on the market, water cooling can be as easy or complex as you want it to be. You will receive basic compression fittings, clear tubing, a basic CPU block and a single pump option. You also gain the ability to upgrade specific components without buying a new system. Definatly worth it! An entirely custom setup also offers the highest level of customization since you are picking your own parts and can mix and match components from different manufacturers. The lack of a massive air cooler in the middle of your case also helps with aesthetics, and you have a much cleaner looking PC. When you consider that the air coolers we mentioned are often much cheaper than an AiO, you have a very valid argument that AiOs aren’t all that good. You also don’t have that massive cooler hanging from the motherboard, so there’s less stress on it. It’s a bigger commitment than an AIO cooler, but allows for future expansion if you wish to add other components, such as your GPU, to the system. Liquid cooling also makes your PC run quieter because you won’t have fans constantly running at a high RPM. However, if you plan on doing any significant overclocking, or you want a silent system without sacrificing performance, you’ll need to step up to something a bit more serious. Computer components can get pretty hot during normal usage. Most liquid cooling systems will allow you to accurately monitor the current CPU temperature, which is a nice addition, especially if you’re overclocking. Would love your thoughts, please comment. There are a few different common tube sizes and appropriate sized fittings need to be selected to provide a tight fit–leaks are the last thing you want. Once that is done, you’ll need to plan the loop. And that’s just from a performance standpoint, the aesthetic improvement is also a plus. AiO or All-in-One systems are closed systems that are usually used for processors, and in some situations, graphics cards. Other than radiator choice, these kits usually have very few customization options. Logitech Harmony 700 Review – A Deep Dive. The pumps have a much lower flow rate than standalone units and the included radiators are often thinner and made from less conductive materials. So what is water cooling anyway? The coolant flows from the reservoir through the pump and is sent to the water blocks. The stuff's expensive, and an AIO will always be the most of what you actually need. From there, the fluid then travels through the blocks absorbing the heat from the GPUs. There was a problem. If you are really worried about cooling, build your own case out of 1 by 2's and some chip board. The problem is that with a custom loop, you need to source all of the components yourself, plan the loop, build it, and have it housed properly and safely inside your case. but in any case there are fans that are made to be near inaudible. level 1 Custom water cooling is expensive. From there, the fluid then travels through the blocks absorbing the heat from the GPUs. 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