Is it worth maintaining my custom loop if I don't really overclock anymore?

[LaboonTheWhale]

Hey guys

 

So to start off, I love tinkering with my loop when I change stuff or refill the water. but I also realized that I don't have as much time anymore to game like I did in uni and high school. (it hurts to accept this reality). 

 

So I'm currently in the process of upgrading from a Fury X and a 4790k (to a Ryzen chip and a 1080 or Vega if it is decent at all)

 

I understand that using something like a Noctua NH-D15 would have similar results as my EK block. 

 

I do some audio work which is why I'm going for a ryzen build. Buying new blocks for CPU and GPU get pricey as well as having to worry about a case that can fit it all. (I have a 240mm and a 120mm in a Define Nano S and barely fits with a Furyx length card.) 

 

Is it time to move on from watercooling? 

[Froody129]

Not really worth it to go to a 1080 from a Fury X. Maybe a 1080ti

[Nicnac]

From what I have heard the ryzen stock coolers are great!

[Nena Trinity]

1 minute ago, Froody129 said:

Not really worth it to go to a 1080 from a Fury X. Maybe a 1080ti

I would wait for Vega and Volta at this point!

[That_PC_Kid]

If you do upgrade to a Ryzen system the stock coolers are pretty good even when overclocking. But if you want better temps the be quiet! Dark Rock Pro 3 is aesthetically appealing for almost any color scheme and is one of the best top tier air cooling CPU heatsinks on the market.

[LaboonTheWhale]

13 minutes ago, Froody129 said:

Not really worth it to go to a 1080 from a Fury X. Maybe a 1080ti

Fury X struggles to get 144hz 1440p which is why I was considering it. 

[pelark]

22 minutes ago, LaboonTheWhale said:

Fury X struggles to get 144hz 1440p which is why I was considering it. 

If you can and want to upgrade now instead of waiting for VEGA, go for it. In terms of maintaining the loop, that's completely up to you, though I would personally just go with a Dark Rock 3 pro or something if you're not doing any heavy overclocking. 

[Mick Naughty]

I'm considering going back to air as well. At least on one rig. I only oc the cpu's. My old cards have a tiny oc compared to what they boost too. 

[FrankV]

"worth it" is very subjective... 

 

This is a personal choice and it sounds like you've settled on a direction even if you don't want to fully accept it. 

 

Yes, as you know, water loops are expensive; you know the cost as well as time required to maintain them. The question is do you want to maintain it anymore? Does it entertain you between your other work? I'm finding a custom water loop to be more of a hobby than a "need". 

 

You can always return to water cooling once time frees up for you too 

[PrimeSonic]

My take on it is that none of the benefits of custom water cooling outweigh the added expenses, build time, and maintenance.

If you're going to go into water cooling (or stay with it) then it should be because "I can and want to".

As FrankV said, it's really more of a hobby than a necessity.

 

If you aren't enjoying things with your loop anymore, don't want to deal with the maintenance, or just aren't having enough of a good time to justify the time and expense, then by all means, return to air cooling. There are really good quality air coolers that will give you great performance and even overclocking headroom.

 

Try not to stress about it so much. If you aren't looking forward to working with your custom loop anymore, it's okay to set it aside and enjoy the maintenance free life (and looks) of a quality air cooler.