Custom over AIO?

[StarsMars]

If you have a radiator with the same dimensions in a custom loop as an aio.

Something like a custom loop 360mm 28mm depth and a aio with the same, will there be a significant performance difference because of the flow rate with a d5 pump?

I've been thinking about going liquid, but haven't found a clear answer to that.

[Boomwebsearch]

5 minutes ago, StarsMars said:

If you have a radiator with the same dimensions in a custom loop as an aio.

Something like a custom loop 360mm 28mm depth and a aio with the same, will there be a significant performance difference because of the flow rate with a d5 pump?

I've been thinking about going liquid, but haven't found a clear answer to that.

 

Depends on what hardware configuration you are planning to run, I would generally recommend a closed loop AIO cooler since there's not much maintenance and you aren't likely to have a leak since they are extremely rare with AIOs (pump in an AIO is going to fail much more likely soon than having a leak).

[Jae Tee]

The main benefits with custom is going to be more water in the loop, meaning longer time till the water in it gets warm. 

Hope this helps.

 

[StarsMars]

3 hours ago, Boomwebsearch said:

 

Depends on what hardware configuration you are planning to run, I would generally recommend a closed loop AIO cooler since there's not much maintenance and you aren't likely to have a leak since they are extremely rare with AIOs (pump in an AIO is going to fail much more likely soon than having a leak).

Nothing that needs crazy cooling, I've just been messing around inside my pc more often than I predicted. Taking the gpu out to remove the cpu fans or tower is getting a little old.

3 hours ago, Jae Tee said:

The main benefits with custom is going to be more water in the loop, meaning longer time till the water in it gets warm. 

Hope this helps.

 

That's what I was thinking. Just wasn't sure if the flow rate had a major effect.

[Jae Tee]

1 minute ago, StarsMars said:

That's what I was thinking. Just wasn't sure if the flow rate had a major effect.

it will have some effect, but less than your surface area.

[Boomwebsearch]

12 hours ago, StarsMars said:

Nothing that needs crazy cooling, I've just been messing around inside my pc more often than I predicted. Taking the gpu out to remove the cpu fans or tower is getting a little old.

 

12 hours ago, StarsMars said:

That's what I was thinking. Just wasn't sure if the flow rate had a major effect.

 

I would recommend having a few 120mm or 140mm fans in the front panel, one mounted on the back of the case as an exhaust fan, and the radiator mounted in the top as exhaust with a few fans (if you case can support this ideally). Use dust filters in the fan intakes especially, if you have a longer loop (either longer tubing and/or a larger radiator), there is going to me more liquid available to absorb the heat, although don't use a smaller radiator with a large amount of tubing since eventually the liquid will heat up and make the cooling system less effective. If you're custom liquid/water-cooling, you can choose a reservoir, although on AIOs they are usually built-in with a closed loop design.

 

If you don't need significant cooling capacity and/or the aesthetics of custom liquid/water cooling, then I would get an AIO liquid cooler for better reliability and reduced maintenance.