CPU Liquid Cooling or Air Cooling

[RMTM]

Need your advice for my next build. For Intel i7 12700K. I have zero experience in using any liquid cooling in any of my systems.

 

Is CPU Liquid Cooling really worth it in terms of price, effectiveness, longevity, maintenance and any possible risk compared to air cooling?

[Mark Walter]

No that's not the deal some new pc guys think that liquid cooling is better than air cooling but actually they both are same its only a freakin' plate of metal which observes the heat from the CPU so it all depends on an entities' budget 

Quote if you like!

[DoctorNick]

44 minutes ago, RMTM said:

Need your advice for my next build. For Intel i7 12700K. I have zero experience in using any liquid cooling in any of my systems.

 

Is CPU Liquid Cooling really worth it in terms of price, effectiveness, longevity, maintenance and any possible risk compared to air cooling?

I would get something like a Liquid Freezer II 280/360 if you want to go the AIO route. 

[RMTM]

2 minutes ago, DoctorNick said:

I would get something like a Liquid Freezer II 280/360 if you want to go the AIO route. 

Thanks for the suggestion.

[DoctorNick]

Just now, RMTM said:

Thanks for the suggestion.

Cant go wrong. They're great value (280 is the best value most of the time)

Only thing I would get is a tube of Noctua paste, NT-H1/H2, so you don't have to deal with thermal compound in a bag. Also if you're new to installing custom colers. Make sure that the bracket is tighten all the way down to the motherboard, before installing the cooler. Make sure to use a blob of thermal compound about the size of a chickpea in the middle of the cpu (heatspreader). Let the cooler squeeze of the paste and mount in one motion. Try mounting the cooler before applying thermal compound the first time.

[RMTM]

3 minutes ago, DoctorNick said:

Cant go wrong. They're great value (280 is the best value most of the time)

Only thing I would get is a tube of Noctua paste, NT-H1/H2, so you don't have to deal with thermal compound in a bag. Also if you're new to installing custom colers. Make sure that the bracket is tighten all the way down to the motherboard, before installing the cooler. Make sure to use a blob of thermal compound about the size of a chickpea in the middle of the cpu (heatspreader). Let the cooler squeeze of the paste and mount in one motion. Try mounting the cooler before applying thermal compound the first time.

Great! I still have an NT-H2 used with my NH-U12A for my i7 11700k. Currently using now while typing this reply.

[DoctorNick]

Just now, RMTM said:

Great! I still have an NT-H2 used with my NH-U12A for my i7 11700k. Currently using now while typing this reply.

Nice. Can't get any better! 

[chrome_wheels]

I've been using a AIO liquid cooling solution for the past 4 years. Nothing has changed since the first day. The majority of manufacturers make very good products so I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. I chosen Thermaltake back then. Now, I would pick Alphacool.

[RMTM]

10 hours ago, chrome_wheels said:

I've been using a AIO liquid cooling solution for the past 4 years. Nothing has changed since the first day. The majority of manufacturers make very good products so I guess it's just a matter of personal preference. I chosen Thermaltake back then. Now, I would pick Alphacool.

Thank you. I'll put those in my list for consideration.

[Robchil]

last times i had GPU with FAN's it sounded like a jet turbine when they took off in games...  they might be more quiet now.. but i run high resolution on all games and so they will get hot. 

 

i see the point when people are not sure if they want water cooling or CPU fan cooler. as there are plenty that are just as quiet as AIO's.. and alot connect the AIO fans to the CPU_FAN port anyway that default adjust accordning to CPU temp(not sure if anyone can change that but i can't on my board).. so they start whining as soon as CPU temp goes up. 

 

the whole point of watercooling is to run fans depending on water temps.. that makes them more or less noisless.  but quite expencive if you want complete custom loop for CPU and GPU.. 

 

so.. most that have full custom loop have it because they can.

[Cheki]

23 hours ago, RMTM said:

Need your advice for my next build. For Intel i7 12700K. I have zero experience in using any liquid cooling in any of my systems.

 

Is CPU Liquid Cooling really worth it in terms of price, effectiveness, longevity, maintenance and any possible risk compared to air cooling?

Both are options, for air cooling you would need a high end cooler (still probably cheaper than AIO liquid) but it's all down to your build as well, keep airflow in mind, and also looks, if you have the budget I'd always say AIO, my current one (Lian Li galahad 360mm) keeps my 5800x very cool even under load 

[RMTM]

2 hours ago, Robchil said:

last times i had GPU with FAN's it sounded like a jet turbine when they took off in games...  they might be more quiet now.. but i run high resolution on all games and so they will get hot. 

 

i see the point when people are not sure if they want water cooling or CPU fan cooler. as there are plenty that are just as quiet as AIO's.. and alot connect the AIO fans to the CPU_FAN port anyway that default adjust accordning to CPU temp(not sure if anyone can change that but i can't on my board).. so they start whining as soon as CPU temp goes up. 

 

the whole point of watercooling is to run fans depending on water temps.. that makes them more or less noisless.  but quite expencive if you want complete custom loop for CPU and GPU.. 

 

so.. most that have full custom loop have it because they can.

Thanks. I'll definitely be getting a cooler(either for liquid cooling or for air cooling system: however this poll will turn out) with fans that does not produce noise over 25dBA at full speed. 

 

On your other note: PWM(usually 4-pin) fans can be controlled in BIOS or software. Some 3-pin fans can also be controlled by adjusting it's voltage thru BIOS or a software as well.

 

And on your last note: I am not in to custom looping my system. Either AIO or air-cooling for now. Thanks!

[RMTM]

41 minutes ago, Cheki said:

Both are options, for air cooling you would need a high end cooler (still probably cheaper than AIO liquid) but it's all down to your build as well, keep airflow in mind, and also looks, if you have the budget I'd always say AIO, my current one (Lian Li galahad 360mm) keeps my 5800x very cool even under load 

Thanks for the input. I'll include Lian Li's Galahad in my list to consider. But maybe a 240 if ever. I'd like to keep my build mid-sized(not compact) as possible.

[Cheki]

21 hours ago, RMTM said:

Thanks for the input. I'll include Lian Li's Galahad in my list to consider. But maybe a 240 if ever. I'd like to keep my build mid-sized(not compact) as possible.

I built in a mid case, could fit a 360mm, if you're going aio, might as well spend the extra 10-20 to go to 360, if not, might as well get a really good air cooler

 

[RMTM]

56 minutes ago, Cheki said:

I built in a mid case, could fit a 360mm, if you're going aio, might as well spend the extra 10-20 to go to 360, if not, might as well get a really good air cooler

 

Thanks. I'll consider that.

[RMTM]

Thank you everyone, for participating.

 

And thank you for all your votes. Appreciate it.

 

I'll be getting a 240mm AIO for my upcoming new build next month.