AIO vs Custom Loop

[TheCaptain53]

Yes, this topic again. I've even asked this before (apologies). However, doing a bit more research into watercooling, I discovered this UK website. Listed on it is a complete kit (without GPU block, mind you) from Alphacool, with a 240mm rad, for a mere £130. Or you can spend £10 more and get the 360mm kit! http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/Alphacool-NexXxoS-Cool-Answer-360-LTST-Full-Kit_30212.html

£140 for a custom loop!? Sounds cracking!

Has anyone used any of these more lower end custom kits before? Or are they not worth considering?

Would it be more worthwhile getting an AIO? Considering that an H100i GTX is £45 cheaper (will probably perform worse, to be honest). http://www.novatech.co.uk/products/components/cooling/watercooling/cw-9060021-ww.html

As a side point, I won't be watercooling now, I'm going to jump on that ship when I upgrade to the Cooler Master Mastercase 5 (when it comes out).

I will also consider a big air tower cooler come closer to the time.

[Enderman]

if you can afford it, a watercooling kit is a great option to expand in the future

also a lot more fun to DIY than an AiO

 

alphacool, xspc, and ekwb kits are the best

[LIGISTX]

That actually seems like a pretty good price! The nice thing with custom loops are, they are expandable, customiazble, and just all around better. But it doesn't look like that comes with a pump, so that will cost you another bit of money.

[adithyay328]

Believe me, unless you seriously care about every single dang celcius, you'll be ok with a AIO watercooler, depending on what you're water cooling. If you're cooling a CPU, the AIO will light the world. If you're cooling a GPU and a CPU, definitely look at a custom loop dude. Also, if you want customization, upgradibility and expandible, get a custom loop.

[TheCaptain53]

Believe me, unless you seriously care about every single dang celcius, you'll be ok with a AIO watercooler, depending on what you're water cooling. If you're cooling a CPU, the AIO will light the world. If you're cooling a GPU and a CPU, definitely look at a custom loop dude.

Not only am I doing it for aesthetics, I want the option of adding a GPU later on down the road. 

I know that using a custom loop won't see massive performance increase over an AIO (except for it being a 360mm rad, which should perform well), but for only a little more, it seems like a no brainer.

 

That actually seems like a pretty good price! The nice thing with custom loops are, they are expandable, customiazble, and just all around better. But it doesn't look like that comes with a pump, so that will cost you another bit of money.

I think it does come with a pump, it's listed in the contents of the kit.

[W-L]

-SNIP-

 

Those kits for custom loops are a great start but don't forget for custom loops they do require maintenance every 12 months at most for cleaning, fluid changes, and replacing yellowed or bad tubing.

[Enderman]

Those kits for custom loops are a great start but don't forget for custom loops they do require maintenance every 12 months at most for cleaning, fluid changes, and replacing yellowed or bad tubing.

cleaning is just dusting the radiators

 

if you use proper fluid and dont mix metals you should have to do no cleaning other than replacing the fluid

 

yellow of bad tubing is a sign that something is wrong, that should never happen

[salecar3]

Not only am I doing it for aesthetics, I want the option of adding a GPU later on down the road. 

I know that using a custom loop won't see massive performance increase over an AIO (except for it being a 360mm rad, which should perform well), but for only a little more, it seems like a no brainer.

 

I think it does come with a pump, it's listed in the contents of the kit.

you can get  all componets in the loop with aio(S) like kraken g10 and 2 aios 1 cpu and second gpu and both core componets are cooled,and it looks almost as good but cheaper

[W-L]

cleaning is just dusting the radiators

if you use proper fluid and dont mix metals you should have to do no cleaning other than replacing the fluid

yellow of bad tubing is a sign that something is wrong, that should never happen

 

Soft tubing still degrades even some of the top end stuff like primochill it starts to harden overtime while it won't leech plasticizer and clog things. It can still be used even older tubing but it slowly discolors as it ages. 

[TheCaptain53]

you can get  all componets in the loop with aio(S) like kraken g10 and 2 aios 1 cpu and second gpu and both core componets are cooled,and it looks almost as good but cheaper

It's a good idea, but custom loops still look so bad ass. From a performance to cost standpoint, that would be the way to go. But watercooling isn't exactly the most cost effective method, so I'm okay with spending a bit more for the aesthetics. Not to mention that I could expand to add another rad to run my system cooler or turn my fans down to make it quieter (something I may take advantage of).

[Enderman]

Soft tubing still degrades even some of the top end stuff like primochill it starts to harden overtime while it won't leech plasticizer and clog things. It can still be used even older tubing but it slowly discolors as it ages. 

thats why EK ZMT tubing is the best

[salecar3]

It's a good idea, but custom loops still look so bad ass. From a performance to cost standpoint, that would be the way to go. But watercooling isn't exactly the most cost effective method, so I'm okay with spending a bit more for the aesthetics. Not to mention that I could expand to add another rad to run my system cooler or turn my fans down to make it quieter (something I may take advantage of).

not exacly since adding lets say 240 rad also means 2 more fans and more noise evain if it is low rpm but 2 fans stil make some noise  

[TheCaptain53]

not exacly since adding lets say 240 rad also means 2 more fans and more noise evain if it is low rpm but 2 fans stil make some noise  

Then the system runs cooler. Either way, adding another rad proved beneficial from a performance standpoint.

If I were to go AIO, I'd put one on the CPU and just leave the GPU. If I wanted to watercool the GPU as well, I'd go for a custom loop. In my eyes, it just makes more sense.

[W-L]

thats why EK ZMT tubing is the best

 

But, that colored fluid 

 

 

not exacly since adding lets say 240 rad also means 2 more fans and more noise evain if it is low rpm but 2 fans stil make some noise  

Then the system runs cooler. Either way, adding another rad proved beneficial from a performance standpoint.

If I were to go AIO, I'd put one on the CPU and just leave the GPU. If I wanted to watercool the GPU as well, I'd go for a custom loop. In my eyes, it just makes more sense.

 

While true it would be more fans and more noise per say you can idle all the fans instead and gain the same level of performance.

[TheCaptain53]

So, in conclusion: Would something like that Alphacool custom kit in a box be a good idea? It's relatively cheap (relative to some custom loop configurations, which can be a hell of a lot more), are expandable and can use bigger rads for better performance as opposed to AIOs. 

That Alphacool kit is also more of an example rather than a plan as well. I'd probably spend more and get an EK WB kit instead. It is £80 more, but it's probably worth it for the quality of the parts. http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-KIT-L360-R20_53800.html

[salecar3]

So, in conclusion: Would something like that Alphacool custom kit in a box be a good idea? It's relatively cheap (relative to some custom loop configurations, which can be a hell of a lot more), are expandable and can use bigger rads for better performance as opposed to AIOs. 

That Alphacool kit is also more of an example rather than a plan as well. I'd probably spend more and get an EK WB kit instead. It is £80 more, but it's probably worth it for the quality of the parts. http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-KIT-L360-R20_53800.html

yes it is a great idea go for it

[Deli]

So, in conclusion: Would something like that Alphacool custom kit in a box be a good idea? It's relatively cheap (relative to some custom loop configurations, which can be a hell of a lot more), are expandable and can use bigger rads for better performance as opposed to AIOs. 

That Alphacool kit is also more of an example rather than a plan as well. I'd probably spend more and get an EK WB kit instead. It is £80 more, but it's probably worth it for the quality of the parts. http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/EK-Water-Blocks-EK-KIT-L360-R20_53800.html

The EK kit has a much better pump than Alphacool's one. You get what you pay. However, if you can find a kit with D5 pump, go for it. The D5 is the best out there. 

 

In term of performance, custom loop has an advantage mainly because you can use bigger radiator. A 240 AIO and custom loop will perform very much the same, giving you use the same fans(e.g. Noctua NF-F12). I have just installed a semi-custom water cooling system with a EK Coolstream PE 240 rad. The difference in performance compares to Corsair H105 is within margin of error(much to my disappointment).