When did Watercooling PC components Become Mainstream?

[Deus Voltage]

A bit of a strange question I must admit. I'm just wondering when exactly it became the "trendy/cool" thing to do for the general public. Was it during the 2008/9 period, or was it even earlier? The earliest video made by Linus about a watercooled component was made in 2009 (Corsair H50 Hydro). Was there anything before that?

 

One final question, how long do you guys think the watercooling trend will last? 

[SamuraiXV1]

not really sure when it started but while there are certainly plenty of people who just watercool for aesthetics i wouldnt call it a trend since even data centres are adopting watercooling due to its benefits over air cooling.

[Deus Voltage]

5 minutes ago, SamuraiXV1 said:

not really sure when it started but while there are certainly plenty of people who just watercool for aesthetics i wouldnt call it a trend since even data centres are adopting watercooling due to its benefits over air cooling.

Yup you're right about data centers. I'm wondering specifically about "mainstream" components. Like the first hybrid GPU or the CPU AIO (for average users, not data centers).

[SamuraiXV1]

i believe the AMD Radeon R9 295×2 was the first Stock water cooled gpu but i could be wrong, its the first i ever heard about back in 2014

[Pixel5]

48 minutes ago, SamuraiXV1 said:

not really sure when it started but while there are certainly plenty of people who just watercool for aesthetics i wouldnt call it a trend since even data centres are adopting watercooling due to its benefits over air cooling.

data centers are a completely different use case and usually dont watercool the components itself but rather use water to cool entire rooms or containers.

 

in the rare cases where they actually water cool components its because it requires less space in the server rack and rack space is more expensive than anything you usually put inside that space.

[Windows7ge]

I would say the introduction of AIO coolers would be when it entered the mainstream. Prior to that there was enthusiast watercooling gear but nothing simple with less risk to the hardware.

[SamuraiXV1]

Just now, Pixel5 said:

data centers are a completely different use case and usually dont watercool the components itself but rather use water to cool entire rooms or containers.

 

in the rare cases where they actually water cool components its because it requires less space in the server rack and rack space is more expensive than anything you usually put inside that space.

apparently the main upside to watercooling data centers is actually power saving. regardless i was just trying to say that with it being adopted its not like theres any reason for it to die out any time soon in the mainstream at least due to performance limitations.

[Kibelok]

Mainstream happened when Corsair launched their first AIO, the Corsair H50 in 2009, then the H70 in 2010. The popularity grew when the H60, H80 and H100 launched in 2011. The AIOs helped Corsair grow really big as a company.
 

Video from 2009.

[Syntaxvgm]

with AIOs 

[corrado33]

2 hours ago, Pixel5 said:

data centers are a completely different use case and usually dont watercool the components itself but rather use water to cool entire rooms or containers.

 

in the rare cases where they actually water cool components its because it requires less space in the server rack and rack space is more expensive than anything you usually put inside that space.

Agreed. Also with watercooling you can displace the heat to a more favorable environment. (Think hole room water cooling but the cooling rads are outside.) 

[andrewmp6]

Really water cooling started mid 90s and was very diy stuff.Danger den and a few others made cpu blocks then later some gpu blocks.They used fish aquarium pumps and for rads they rigged up heater cores out of cars .Main stream water cooling to me started late 90s early 00s when they started making custom parts and the earliest aios came out.Really it started when people started overclocking cpus and the only air coolers was the oem ones which sucked back then.Today some air coolers like the Noctuas can out cool most aios.

[Defyant]

The trend will last as long as the vendors keep pushing it.... just look @ the free stuff they charf out to case modders looking for sponsor hand outs.

It's hype and marketing and with the AIO getting better and better Gen 6 now... i think it's hear to stay.

 

andrewmp6 is right, late 90's for mee too, i was hanging on the cutting edge with modding and water back then too.

 

Most of my stuff was also DIY  blocks were made from guys like Cathar... his were considered one of the best back then in AU.

 

My first Rad was also an old car heater core.... i still have it on my wall of fans.  Res's were all DIY back then and alotta Cathar blocks i modded to fit some of the first acrylic tops... Altho i recently heard some one else did it before me. 

 

Pumps were fish tank pumps 12v enhiem were the best for a while.... a PWM controller could get you best flow to cooling ratio... but for the most part peeps just blasted water around and around.

 

All tubing was soft and if you wanted a cool mod your best bet was to have a cool looking loop..

 

I remember doing a Supreme Commander WC case mod for a competition around 2006/7 so id have to say that loop cooling was main stream by then.

 

In AU Danger den and swiftech were quick to start cashing in on the craze pretty early maybe 01-03 ....

 

Bill over @Mnpctech is doing a really cool YT series on mod it like its 1999  Some really cool stuff if your interested.

 

 

these were some of my early loops. you had to be creative back then to stand out.

 

 

  

 

[SolarNova]

I would say in terms of custom loops and purpose built consumer components .. maybe 10 years ago... ish.

[Mnpctech]

Much earlier, Hardware labs started before Danger den, which started in 2000.