Homemade CPU cooling system. How to properly organize cooling in a gaming computer

Since water cooling systems are of interest to a large number of computer enthusiasts, we decided to write a special series of articles dedicated to computer water cooling systems. In this series of articles we will try to talk about all aspects of water cooling for computers, in particular we will talk about what a water cooling system is, what it consists of and how it works. We will also cover popular topics such as water cooling system assembly, water cooling system maintenance, and many related topics.

Specifically, in this article we will tell you about computer water cooling systems in general, what they are, their operating principle, components, etc.

What is a water cooling system

A water cooling system is a cooling system that uses water as a coolant to transfer heat. Unlike air cooling systems, which transfer heat directly to the air, a water cooling system transfers heat to water first.

Operating principle of water cooling system

In a computer water cooling system, the heat generated by the processor (or other heat-producing element, such as a graphics chip) is transferred to the water through a special heat exchanger called a water block. The water heated in this way is, in turn, transferred to the next heat exchanger - a radiator, in which heat from the water is transferred to the air and leaves the computer. The movement of water in the system is carried out using a special pump, which is most often called a pump.

The superiority of water cooling systems over air cooling systems is explained by the fact that water has a higher heat capacity than air (4.183 kJ kg -1 K -1 for water versus 1.005 kJ kg -1 K -1 for air) and thermal conductivity ( 0.6 W/(m K) for water versus 0.024-0.031 W/(m K) for air), which ensures faster and more efficient heat removal from the cooled elements and, accordingly, lower temperatures on them. Respectively, other things being equal, water cooling will always be more efficient than air cooling.

The efficiency and reliability of water cooling systems has been proven by time and the use of a large number of different mechanisms and devices that require powerful and reliable cooling, such as internal combustion engines, powerful lasers, radio tubes, factory machines and even nuclear power plants :).

Why does a computer need water cooling?

Due to its high efficiency, using a water cooling system can achieve both more powerful cooling, which will have a positive effect on overclocking and system stability, and lower noise levels from the computer. If desired, you can also assemble a water cooling system that will allow an overclocked computer to operate with minimal noise. For this reason, water cooling systems are primarily relevant for users of particularly powerful computers, fans of powerful overclocking, as well as people who want to make their computer quieter, but at the same time do not want to compromise on its power.

Quite often you can see gamers with three and four chip video subsystems (3-Way SLI, Quad SLI, CrossFire X) who complain about high operating temperatures (more than 90 degrees) and constant overheating of video cards, which at the same time create a very high level noise from their cooling systems. Sometimes it seems that the cooling systems of modern video cards are designed without taking into account the possibility of using them in multi-chip configurations, which leads to disastrous consequences when video cards are installed close to one another - they simply have nowhere to get cold air for normal cooling. Alternative air cooling systems do not help either, because only a few models available on the market provide compatibility with multi-chip configurations. In such a situation, it is water cooling that can solve the problem - radically lower temperatures, improve stability and increase the reliability of a powerful computer.

Water cooling system components

Computer water cooling systems consist of a certain set of components, which can be divided into mandatory and optional, which are installed in the cooling system at will.

Mandatory components of a computer water cooling system include:

• water block (at least one in the system, but more is possible)
• radiator
• pump
• hoses
• fitting

Although this list is not exhaustive, optional components include the following:

• tank
• temperature sensors
• pump and fan controllers
• drain taps
• indicators and meters (flow, pressure, flow, temperature)
• secondary water blocks (for power transistors, memory modules, hard drives, etc.)
• water additives and ready-made water mixtures
• backplates
• filters

First, we will look at the required components, without which the SVO simply cannot work.

Water block(from the English waterblock) is a special heat exchanger with the help of which heat from a heating element (processor, video chip or other element) is transferred to water. Typically, the design of a water block consists of a copper base, as well as a metal or plastic cover and a set of fasteners that allow you to secure the water block to the cooled element. Water blocks exist for all heat-producing elements of a computer, even for those that do not really need them :), i.e. for elements where installing water blocks will not lead to any significant improvements in performance other than the temperature of the element itself.

The main types of water blocks include processor water blocks, water blocks for video cards, and water blocks for the system chip (north bridge). In turn, water blocks for video cards also come in two types:

• Water blocks that cover only the graphics chip - so-called “gpu only” water blocks
• Water blocks that cover all heating elements of the video card (graphics chip, video memory, voltage regulators, etc.) - so-called fullcover water blocks

Although the first water blocks were usually made of fairly thick copper (1 - 1.5 cm), in accordance with modern trends in water block construction, for more efficient operation of water blocks, they try to make their bases thin - so that heat is transferred more quickly from the processor to the water. Also, to increase the heat transfer surface, modern water blocks usually use a microchannel or microneedle structure. In cases where performance is not so critical and there is no struggle for every degree gained, for example on a system chip, water blocks are made without a sophisticated internal structure, sometimes with simple channels or even a flat bottom.

Despite the fact that water blocks themselves are not very complex components, in order to reveal in detail all the points and nuances associated with them, we need a separate article dedicated to them, which we will write and try to publish in the near future.

Radiator. A radiator in water cooling systems is a water-air heat exchanger that transfers the heat of water collected in the water block to the air. Radiators for water cooling systems are divided into two subtypes:

• Passive, i.e. fanless
• Active, i.e. blown by fans

Fanless (passive) radiators for water cooling systems are relatively rare (for example, the radiator in the Zalman Reserator water cooling system) due to the fact that, in addition to the obvious advantages (no noise from fans), this type of radiator is characterized by lower efficiency (compared to active radiators), which is typical for all passive cooling systems. In addition to low performance, radiators of this type usually take up a lot of space and rarely fit even in modified cases.

Fan-driven (active) radiators are more common in computer water cooling systems as they are much more efficient. At the same time, in the case of using quiet or silent fans, it is possible to achieve, respectively, quiet or silent operation of the cooling system - the main advantage of passive radiators. Radiators of this type come in a variety of sizes, but the size of most popular radiator models is a multiple of the size of a 120 mm or 140 mm fan, that is, a radiator for three 120 mm fans will be approximately 360 mm long and 120 mm wide - for simplicity, Radiators of this size are usually called triple or 360 mm.

Despite the fact that rarely do any computer cases have space for installing water cooling radiators larger than 120 mm in size, for a real modder it will not be difficult to install a radiator. At the moment, there is only one posted on our website, but in the future we plan to increase the number of such guides, in which we will talk in detail about various ways to install SVO radiators in computer cases.

Pump- this is an electric pump responsible for circulating water in the circuit of the computer’s water cooling system, without which the water cooling system simply would not work. Pumps used in water cooling systems can operate on 220 volts or 12 volts. Previously, when it was rare to find specialized components for air conditioning systems on sale, enthusiasts mainly used aquarium pumps that operated on 220 volts, which created certain difficulties since the pump had to be turned on synchronously with the computer - for this, most often, they used when the computer starts. With the development of water cooling systems, specialized pumps began to appear, for example Laing DDC, which had compact sizes and high performance, while being powered by standard computer 12 volts.

Since modern water blocks have a fairly high coefficient of hydraulic resistance, which is the price to pay for high performance, it is recommended to use specialized powerful pumps with them, since with an aquarium pump (even a powerful one), a modern water cooler will not fully reveal its performance. It’s also not worth it to particularly chase power, using 2 - 3 pumps installed in series in one circuit or using a circulation pump from a home heating system, since this will not lead to an increase in the performance of the system as a whole, because it is, first of all, limited by the maximum heat dissipation radiator capacity and water block efficiency.

As with some other components of the SVO, it will be problematic to describe all the nuances and features of the pumps used in the SVO, as well as list all the recommendations for choosing a pump in this article, so in the future we plan to do this in a separate article.

Hoses or tubes, no matter what they are called :), are also one of the mandatory components of any water cooling system, because it is through them that water flows from one component of the cooling system to another. Most often, hoses made of PVC are used in a computer water cooling system, less often made of silicone. Despite popular misconceptions, the size of the hose does not have a strong impact on the performance of the water treatment system as a whole, the main thing is not to use hoses that are too thin (inner diameter less than 8 millimeters) and everything will be OK :)

Fitting- these are special connecting elements that allow you to connect hoses to the components of the water supply system (water blocks, radiator, pump). The fittings are screwed into the threaded hole on the SVO component; there is no need to screw them in tightly (no wrenches) since the connection is most often sealed using a rubber O-ring. Current trends in the market of components for water supply systems are such that the vast majority of components are supplied without fittings included. This is done so that the user has the opportunity to independently select the fittings needed specifically for his water cooling system, because there are fittings of different types and for different sizes of hoses. The most popular types of fittings can be considered compression fittings (fittings with a union nut) and herringbone fittings (fittings). The fittings come in both straight and angled (which are often rotary) and are installed depending on how you are going to place the water cooling system in your computer. Fittings also differ in the type of thread; most often, in computer water cooling systems, threads of the G1/4″ standard are found, but in rare cases, threads of the G1/8″ or G3/8″ standards are also found.

It is also a mandatory component of the water cooling system :) To fill water cooling systems, it is best to use distilled water, that is, water purified from all impurities by distillation. Sometimes on Western websites you can find references to deionized water - it has no significant differences from distilled water, except that it is produced in a different way. Sometimes, instead of water, specially prepared mixtures or water with various additives are used - there are no significant differences in this, so we will consider these options in the section on optional components of water cooling systems. In any case, it is highly not recommended to use tap water or mineral/bottled water for drinking.

Now let's take a closer look at the optional components for water cooling systems.

Optional components are components without which the water cooling system can operate stably and without problems; usually, they do not affect the performance of the cooling system in any way, although in some cases they can reduce it slightly. The main meaning of optional components is to make the operation of a water cooling system more convenient, although there are components with other meanings, the main meaning of which is to give the user a feeling of safety in operating the water cooling system (although the water cooling system can work perfectly and safely without these components), cool everything and everyone with water (even what does not need cooling) or make the system more pretentious and beautiful looking. So, let's move on to consider the optional components:

A reservoir (expansion tank) is not a mandatory component of a water cooling system, although most water cooling systems are equipped with one. Quite often, for convenient filling of the system with liquid, a tee fitting (T-Line) and a filler neck are used instead of a reservoir. The advantage of tankless systems is that if the tank is installed in a compact housing, it can be placed more conveniently. The advantage of reservoir systems is that it is easier to refill the system (although this depends on the reservoir) and more convenient to remove air bubbles from the system. The volume of water held by the reservoir is not critical, as it affects the performance of the water cooling system. Reservoirs come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they must be selected according to the criteria of ease of installation and appearance.

The drain valve is a component that allows you to more conveniently drain water from the cooling water circuit. In the normal state it is closed, but when it becomes necessary to drain water from the system, it is opened. A fairly simple component that can greatly improve the ease of use, or rather maintenance, of a water cooling system.

Sensors, indicators and meters. Since enthusiasts usually love all sorts of bells and whistles, manufacturers simply could not stand aside and released quite a lot of different controllers, meters and sensors for water cooling systems, although a water cooling system can work quite calmly (and at the same time reliably) without them. Among such components there are electronic sensors for pressure and flow of water, water temperature, controllers that adjust the operation of fans to the temperature, mechanical indicators of water movement, pump controllers, and so on. However, in our opinion, for example, it makes sense to install pressure and water flow sensors only in systems intended for testing components of the water supply system, since this information simply does not make much sense for the average user :). There is also no particular point in placing several temperature sensors in different places of the water heating system circuit, hoping to see a large temperature difference, since water has a very high heat capacity, that is, when heated literally one degree, water “absorbs” a large amount of heat, while it moves in the water heating system circuit at a fairly high speed, which leads to the fact that the water temperature in different places of the water heating circuit at one time differs quite slightly, so you won’t see impressive values ​​🙂 And don’t forget that most computer temperature sensors have an error of ±1 degree.

Filter. In some water cooling systems you can find a filter connected to the circuit. Its task is to filter out a variety of small particles that have entered the system - this could be dust that was in the hoses, solder residue in the radiator, sediment resulting from the use of a dye or anti-corrosion additive.

Water additives and ready-made mixtures. In addition to water, various water additives can be used in the cooling system circuit, some of them protect against corrosion, others prevent the development of bacteria in the system, and others allow you to tint the water in the cooling water system the color you want. There are also ready-made mixtures that contain water as the main component with anti-corrosion additives and dye. There are also ready-made mixtures that contain additives that increase the performance of the water treatment system, although the increase in performance from them is insignificant. On sale you can also find liquids for water cooling systems made not on the basis of water, but on the basis of a special dielectric liquid that does not conduct electric current and, accordingly, will not cause a short circuit if it leaks onto PC components. Ordinary distilled water, in principle, also does not conduct current, but if spilled on dusty PC components, it can become electrically conductive. There is no particular point in a dielectric liquid since a normally assembled and tested water cooling system does not leak and is quite reliable. It is also worth noting that anti-corrosion additives sometimes precipitate fine dust during their work, and coloring additives can slightly stain hoses and acrylic in the components of the SVO, but, in our experience, you should not pay attention to this, since it is not critical. The main thing is to follow the instructions for the additives and not to pour them in excess, as this can lead to more disastrous consequences. Whether you use simply distilled water, water with additives, or a ready-made mixture in the system does not make much difference, and the best option depends on what you need.

A backplate is a special mounting plate that helps relieve the PCB of the motherboard or video card from the force created by the water block fasteners, respectively, reducing the bending of the PCB and the chance of ruining expensive hardware. Although the backplate is not a mandatory component, it can be found quite often in water block systems; some models of water blocks come equipped with a backplate, while for others it is available as an optional accessory.

Secondary water blocks. In addition to cooling important and very hot components with water, some enthusiasts install additional water blocks on components that either heat poorly or do not require powerful active cooling, for example. Components that require water cooling only for appearance's sake include: power transistors, power supply circuits, RAM, south bridge and hard drives. The optionality of these components in a water cooling system lies in the fact that even if you install water cooling on these components, you will not get any additional system stability, improved overclocking or other noticeable results - this is primarily due to low heat generation of these elements, as well as the ineffectiveness of water blocks for these components. Of the clear advantages of installing these water blocks, only the appearance can be highlighted, and the disadvantages are an increase in hydraulic resistance in the water supply circuit, an increase in the cost of the entire system (and a significant one) and, usually, the low upgradeability of these water blocks.

In addition to the mandatory and optional components for water cooling systems, a category of so-called hybrid components can also be distinguished. Sometimes, on sale you can find components that are two or more CBO components connected into one device. Among such devices are: hybrids of a pump and a processor water block, radiators for your own with a built-in pump and reservoir, pumps combined with a reservoir are very common. The point of such components is to reduce the space taken up and make installation more convenient. The disadvantage of such components is usually their limited suitability for upgrades.

There is a separate category for homemade components for water cooling systems. Initially, since about 2000, all components for water cooling systems were made or modified by enthusiasts with their own hands, because specialized components for water cooling systems were simply not produced at that time. Therefore, if a person wanted to establish an SVO for himself, then he had to do everything with his own hands. After the relative popularization of water cooling for computers, a large number of companies began to produce components for them, and now you can without any problems buy both a ready-made water cooling system and all the necessary components for its self-assembly. So, in principle, we can say that now there is no need to independently manufacture SVO components in order to install water cooling on your computer. The only reasons why some enthusiasts are now engaged in self-manufacturing of SVO components are the desire to save money or to try their hand at manufacturing such components. However, the desire to save money is not always possible to realize, because in addition to the cost of work and components of the manufactured part, there are also time costs that are usually not taken into account by people who want to save money, but the reality is that you will have to spend a lot of time on independent production and the result however, it will not be guaranteed. And the performance and reliability of home-made components are often far from at the highest level, since in order to manufacture serial-level components you need to have very straight (golden) hands :) If you decide to make your own, for example, a water block, then take these facts into account .

External or internal SVO

Among other features, water cooling systems are divided into external and internal. External water cooling systems are usually made in the form of a separate “box”, i.e. module, which is connected using hoses to water blocks installed on components in your PC case. The case of an external water cooling system almost always contains a radiator with fans, a pump, a reservoir and, sometimes, a power supply for the pump with temperature and/or fluid flow sensors. External systems include, for example, Zalman water cooling systems of the Reserator family. Systems installed as a separate module are convenient because the user does not need to modify the case of his computer, but they are very inconvenient if you plan to move your computer even minimal distances, for example, to the next room :)

Internal water cooling systems, ideally, are located entirely inside the PC case, but due to the fact that not all computer cases are well suited for installing a water cooling system, some components of the internal water cooling system (most often a radiator) can often be seen installed on the outer surface of the housing. The advantages of internal SVOs include the fact that they are very convenient when carrying a computer since they will not interfere with you and will not require draining the liquid during transportation. Another advantage of internal water cooling systems is that when the water cooling system is installed internally, the appearance of the case does not suffer in any way, and when modding a computer, the water cooling system can serve as an excellent decoration for the case.

The disadvantages of internal water cooling systems include the relative complexity of their installation, compared to external ones, as well as the need to modify the housing to install a water cooling system in many cases. Another negative point is that the internal SVO will add a couple of kilograms of weight to your body :)

Ready-made systems or self-assembly

Water cooling systems, among other features, are also divided according to assembly and configuration options into:

• Ready-made systems in which all SVO components are purchased in one set, with installation instructions
• Homemade systems that are assembled independently from individual components

Typically, many enthusiasts believe that all “systems out of the box” show low performance, but this is far from the case - water cooling kits from such well-known brands as Swiftech, Danger Dan, Koolance and Alphacool demonstrate quite decent performance and it’s certainly not possible to talk about them to say that they are weak, and these companies are reputable manufacturers of high-performance components for water cooling systems.

Among the advantages of ready-made systems, one can note convenience - you immediately buy everything you need to install water cooling in one kit, and assembly instructions are included. In addition, manufacturers of ready-made water cooling systems usually try to provide for all possible situations so that the user, for example, does not have problems with installing and fastening components. The disadvantages of such systems include the fact that they are not flexible in terms of configuration; for example, the manufacturer has several options for ready-made water cooling systems and you usually do not have the opportunity to change their configuration in order to select components that best suit you.

By purchasing water cooling components separately, you can choose exactly those components that you think will best suit you. In addition, by purchasing a system from individual components, you can sometimes save money, but here everything depends on you. Among the disadvantages of this approach, we can highlight some difficulty in assembling such systems for beginners; for example, we have seen cases where people who did not understand the topic well did not buy all the necessary components and/or components that were incompatible with each other and got into trouble (they realized that something that’s not the case here) only when they sat down to assemble the SVO.

Pros and cons of water cooling systems

The main advantages of water cooling of computers include: the ability to build a quiet and powerful PC, expanded overclocking capabilities, improved stability during overclocking, excellent appearance and long service life. Thanks to the high efficiency of water cooling, it is possible to assemble such a cooling system that would allow the operation of a very powerful overclocked gaming computer with several video cards at a relatively low noise level, unattainable for air cooling systems. Again, due to their high efficiency, water cooling systems allow you to achieve higher levels of processor or video card overclocking that are unattainable with air cooling. Water cooling systems are more often than not aesthetically pleasing and look great in a modified (or not so modified) computer.

The disadvantages of water cooling systems are usually: complexity of assembly, high cost and unreliability. Our opinion is that these disadvantages have little basis in real facts and are very controversial and relative. For example, the complexity of assembling a water cooling system definitely cannot be called high - assembling a water cooling system is not much more difficult than assembling a computer, and in general, the times when all components had to be modified without fail or all the components had to be made with your own hands are long gone and at the moment in the field of SVO, almost everything is standardized and commercially available. The reliability of properly assembled computer water cooling systems is also beyond doubt, just as the reliability of a car cooling system or the heating system of a private home is beyond doubt - with proper assembly and operation there should be no problems. Of course, no one is insured against defects or accidents, but the likelihood of such events exists not only when using SVO, but also with the most common video cards, hard drives and other components. Cost, in our opinion, should also not be singled out as a minus, since such a “minus” can then be safely attributed to all high-performance equipment :). And each user has his own understanding of whether something is expensive or cheap. I would like to talk separately about the cost of SVO.

Cost of water cooling system

Cost, as a factor, is probably the most frequently mentioned “minus” that is attributed to all PC water cooling systems. At the same time, everyone forgets that the cost of a water cooling system greatly depends on what components it is assembled on: you can assemble a water cooling system so that the total cost is cheaper without sacrificing performance, or you can choose components at the maximum price :) At the same time, the total cost of similar the effectiveness of the SVO will differ significantly.

The cost of a water cooling system also depends on what computer it will be installed on, because the more powerful the computer, the more expensive the cooling system will be, in principle, since a powerful computer and cooling system need a more powerful one. In our opinion, the cost of the water cooling system is quite justified compared to other components, because the water cooling system is, in fact, a separate component, and, in our opinion, mandatory for truly powerful PCs. Another factor that must be taken into account when assessing the cost of the SVO is its durability since, correctly selected, the components of the SVO can serve for more than one year in a row, surviving numerous upgrades of the rest of the hardware - not many PC components can boast of such durability (except perhaps the case or , taken in excess, BP), accordingly, spending a relatively large amount on SVO is smoothly distributed over time and does not look wasteful.

If you really want to install an SVO for yourself, but you’re stressed about finances and there are no plans for improvement in the near future, then no one has canceled homemade components :)

Water cooling in modding

In addition to being highly efficient, PC water cooling systems look great, which explains the popularity of using water cooling systems in many modding projects. Thanks to the ability to use colored or fluorescent hoses and/or liquids, the ability to illuminate water blocks with LEDs, and select components that will suit your color scheme and style, a water cooling system can perfectly fit into almost any modding project, and/or make it the main feature of your project modding. Using an SVO in a modding project, when installed correctly, allows you to improve the visibility of some components, usually hidden by large air coolers, for example, the motherboard, fancy memory modules, and so on.

Conclusions about water cooling

We hope that you liked our article on water cooling and that it allowed you to understand all aspects of the functioning of the water cooling system. In the future, we plan to publish several more articles about individual parts of the water cooling system, about the assembly and maintenance of water cooling systems and other related topics. In addition, we will also be producing tests and reviews of water cooling components so that our readers have the best opportunity to understand the variety of components available on the market and make the right choice.

To install water cooling for your PC, you need to have a good understanding of this topic. This approach is associated with many factors. But mainly, poor-quality collection of this type of CO can lead to depressurization and flooding of the entire system, and, of course, no one wants this. Well, before we find out all the pros and cons of water cooling, let’s try to figure out self-installation and other aspects, it’s worth starting from the very beginning.

Cooling system

It is familiar to many who have at least once looked into a computer and examined any details. Air or active cooling is the most common, popular and the one we find in regular PCs. In the system itself there is a conditional “Holy Trinity”, which includes the fan of the video card, processor and case. Of course, in the simplest ones there can only be two of them, since the housing one is installed next to the chip and is generally enough.

Also, sometimes processor fans are replaced with more powerful ones and also combined with the case fan, installing an integral design on the motherboard. This type of cooling costs significantly less, even if you buy the most expensive cooler.

Next, there is a water cooling system for PCs. In this option, the user will have to spend a lot more money, since the option has a complex design and consists of a dozen elements. To assemble such a system, in any case, you will need professional advice, since those who have never encountered this are unlikely to be able to install the equipment correctly and safely.

These two most popular systems can be supplemented by a couple more varieties that few people know about. For example, a freon unit is a “refrigerator” that cools a specific component. There is a water chiller, which has an even more complex design and combines liquid cooling and a freon installation.

Recently, open evaporation systems have become popular, where dry ice, liquid nitrogen or helium are responsible for the working fluid. Now such options are popular among those who love extreme overclocking. It is also worth mentioning the cascade cooling system, which is similar to a freon installation, but has an even more complex design. And finally a system with Paltier elements, which requires a different active CO.

For what?

Both water cooling for PCs and all other types are systems that help remove heat from heating elements in the computer. As mentioned earlier, processors, video cards, and elements on the motherboard usually require additional cooling.

In this case, the heat that is generated in the housing can be utilized in several ways. For example, active systems that have a radiator send air into the atmosphere. Thus, air cooling can be represented by two types: active and passive. In the first case, a fan works together with the radiator. In the second there is only a radiator.

In the case of air cooling, heat is removed from the radiator through radiation and convection. If there is no fan, then convection is natural; if there is, it is forced. Also, heat can be utilized together with the coolant, both in the case of water cooling, and due to the phase transition of the coolant in the case of an evaporative system.

Danger

If you understand why you need water or air cooling for your PC, but are not aware of the dangers of overheating, then the following information is for you. From the most harmless, usually oversaturation of a PC with warm air leads to system slowdown: the processor frequency drops, the graphics accelerator also becomes slower, and the memory modules also suffer.

Tragically, overheating will bring “death” to your car. And this can happen in several ways. If we turn to physics, irreversible and reversible processes occur due to overheating.

Thus, chemical phenomena are considered irreversible. Overheating, either sudden or prolonged, affects elements that change their molecular structure. After this, there will be no way to save your favorite video card. Reversible ones relate more to physical processes. In this case, something melts or collapses and, accordingly, can be replaced. Although the latter cases are not always possible to correct.

Comparison

To understand what water cooling for a PC is, the pros and cons of such a system, it is worth comparing it with the most popular cooling option. As we know, a cooler is a structure consisting of a radiator through which heat sink and fan tubes pass. This system is easy to install in the housing. It is usually secured with four screws.

Moreover, after packaging, you don’t need to do anything, assemble individual parts or buy anything in addition to something else. Just find a place on the motherboard and attach your purchase there. In addition to the affordable cost and ease of installation, there are also disadvantages of this option.

First of all, why air cooling is changed to liquid cooling - because of the inefficiency of the first. Especially if the user wants to carry out critical overclocking of the processor, then a conventional cooler will not cope with this. Also, such a system is often lacking in places where two or more video cards are installed.

The next drawback is the dimensions of the radiator. Of course, not in all cases. But more often than not, a good cooler has a very high profile, which makes installation inconvenient and places it in a compact case. And the last thing is noise. All users encounter it. Moreover, if in quiet mode you may not even hear the system, then at maximum load on the PC the fans gain speed and create a lot of noise.

What is this?

So, the most common gaming PC is water-cooled. This is not at all accidental. Firstly, it requires a powerful system. Secondly, it requires strong cooling. Thirdly, some gamers still like to entertain themselves with overclocking, and for this it is imperative to have a CO that can cope with unexpected overheating and loads.

It’s worth saying right away that water cooling is not affordable for everyone, so it’s difficult to say whether every gamer should buy one. But if you have enough money, are tired of the system overheating, want to experiment with frequencies, and also get rid of excessive cooler noise, then this option is ideal for you.

Job

Do-it-yourself water cooling for a PC is not easy. Therefore, if you really have enough funds, it is better to purchase a ready-made one. But before we move on to this issue, it is worth understanding the basic principle of operation of such a design. This cooling does not require a lot of space or any special case formats. It does not need a large system unit to work more efficiently. In general, this option will fit even into the most non-standard block, adjusted for installation difficulties.

As mentioned earlier, the system uses water as a coolant. When the processor heats up, it emits heat, which it transfers to the water through a heat exchanger. The water block serves them here. Here the water becomes warmer, and, naturally, it needs to be cooled. Therefore, it is then transferred to the next heat exchange point. This is the radiator. At this point, heat is transferred to the air, which is removed outside the PC.

The question immediately arises as to what principle the water moves inside the housing. Its activity is carried out by a special pump - a pump. It is clear that do-it-yourself water cooling for a PC or one bought in a store is much better than air cooling, since water has a high heat capacity and thermal conductivity. In addition, heat dissipation becomes more efficient and faster.

Design

As mentioned earlier, the design of this system is much more complex than just a fan and heatsink. There are more components that should be carefully selected when assembling them yourself. There are both mandatory components and additional ones that won’t hurt, but which you can do without.

A water-cooled PC case must have a water block. As practice shows, one is enough, but more is better. There should also be a radiator, pump, hoses, fittings and water inside.

In addition to the above elements, which the system cannot do without, there must be a reservoir, temperature sensors, pump and fan controllers, a couple of filters, backplates, an additional water block, various sensors and meters, and so on.

For those who want to assemble the entire system themselves, we will consider each required element separately.

Water block

So, this is the first and one of the main elements in the entire system. It is a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the heating element to the water. In general, the design of this part is almost the same. It usually consists of a metal or plastic cover and has fasteners that help install it on the desired element.

Interestingly, there are so many water blocks that there are even some that provide cooling to parts that don’t really need it. But the main thing is that there are also basic ones, such as processors. Accordingly, there are processor water blocks for video cards and system chips.

By the way, there are several heat exchanger options for graphics accelerators. One option protects only the graphics chip, the other covers all elements at once, which include the chip, memory, voltage elements, etc.

Radiator

Next, those who are trying to solve the question of how to water cool a PC must find a radiator. This is a water-to-air heat exchanger that is involved in the transfer of heat from water to air. They can also be of two types: passive and active.

We came across these options when we described a type of air cooling. The passive version removes heat naturally, while the active version removes heat forcibly using a fan. Of course, the option of a passive radiator in our case is extremely rare. Despite the fact that it makes no noise at all, the cooling efficiency is still several times lower. In addition, passive radiators are much larger and take up a lot of space, which means they cause problems in installing the entire system.

Vented radiators are still common, efficient and convenient. The fans for them are usually powerful, which can also regulate the speed, which means that the system can be instantly turned from noisy to silent, if necessary. The dimensions of such a radiator also vary.

Pump

Of course, you need to select many elements to assemble high-quality water cooling. Pumps for PC are represented by an electric pump. It is responsible for the movement of water through the tubes from one heat exchange point to another. Pumps can be different; they are used both more and less powerful. There are options that operate on 220 volts, and there are those that require 12 volts.

By the way, aquarium pumps that operated at 220 volts were previously used for the water cooling system (WCO). But such a replacement caused some difficulties. I had to turn on both the pump and the PC at the same time. To do this, it was necessary to install a special mechanism, which was an additional expense.

Over time, technology has advanced, specialized pumps have appeared, with better power, compact size and operation from 12 volts.

Tubes

Those who have ever seen either a custom water cooling for a PC or a store-bought version know what is in the whole tube design. Typically, it is through these hoses that water flows from one heat exchange point to another. This is a mandatory component, which, in principle, may have some variations.

Most often for PC these tubes are made of PVC. There are, of course, silicone options. The tube has little effect on performance; the only thing you need to pay attention to is the diameter. It is better not to purchase less than 8 mm if you are going to make the SVO yourself.

Fitting

This is another, no less important part that is necessary and included in the water cooling kit for a PC. This is a connecting mechanism that helps connect the tubes to the water block, pump and radiator. They are usually screwed into a threaded hole on the above elements of the entire system.

By the way, it’s interesting that if you purchase individual parts yourself, then the components in the box will not come with fittings. This is because manufacturers want the user to decide for himself what format, size, connector, etc. he needs these mechanisms. If you purchased the entire system, then, naturally, all the parts will be included.

There are also different types of fittings. For example, the most common is the compression version, which has a union nut. There are straight and angular, depending on the position and installation of the system. As mentioned earlier, there is a difference in the carving.

Water

The last essential element of a complete cooling system is water. It is best to use distilled water, which has removed all impurities. It is also possible to use deionized water, which in general is practically no different from the previous option, it is simply produced by a different method. In some cases, it is mixed with special mixtures and used in CBO.

Boom or bust

Of course, the best water cooling for PC is the one that has been tested by most users and is familiar to many from reviews. But still, some buyers have a question about whether to make an SVO themselves. You need to understand what is meant by self-assembly. Typically, users can purchase an almost ready-made system that only needs to be installed in the case.

There are also homemade systems, for which the buyer independently selects all the components. The latter option includes another type of SVO, which is assembled from “available” materials. In this case, we mean radiators found at flea markets, or even in landfills, fans pulled out from somewhere, etc.

The last option, of course, is the most dangerous, since nothing can save you from depressurizing the system and flooding the entire PC with water. But independently assembling the correct elements is not a bad thing, but only for those who really understand everything. The main advantage is, of course, that you can choose components that will definitely suit and please you. Look for something cheaper and more profitable.

A ready-made system is always a guarantee. Despite the fact that many consider this option to be too simple and less productive, water cooling for PCs from Corsair, Swiftech, Alphacool, Koolance and others has received only positive feedback from customers.

A ready-made system is a huge plus, since you immediately buy everything you need, without additional purchases or anything else. The kit includes installation instructions, in which everything is usually clear and described in detail. You also have a warranty for the entire system. The only drawback of this option is the lack of variability. That is, the manufacturer presented the SVO in a couple of models, but there are no other modifications and cannot be.

Conclusions

Water cooling for a PC is a necessary and important thing, especially for those who have a gaming computer. There are many advantages to this option. This is a quiet, powerful system, the ability to perform critical overclocking, stability of the system as a whole, a pleasant appearance, as well as a long service life.

Thus, water cooling allows not only overclocking, but also connecting several video cards at once, while the PC case can be closed, and it will make virtually no noise.

The disadvantages usually include difficulty in installation, cost and unreliability. There is no escape from the first one, although if you look at a couple of reviews and study the instructions, there is nothing difficult. The cost is also quite impressive, but for this we can significantly improve the specifications of the video card and processor, and partly everything can pay for itself.

Unreliability is a subjective thing. The main danger is depressurization of the system and flooding of all components. It can happen either in amateur home-made air conditioners, which were assembled from cheap elements, or if you did not carefully read the instructions and were negligent in installation.

Water cooling of a computer can reduce the temperature of the processor and graphics card by about 10 degrees, which increases their durability. In addition, by reducing heat, the system is subject to less stress. This also allows you to relieve the fan, significantly reducing its speed, and thus obtain a virtually silent system.

Integrating water cooling is quite simple. We'll show you how to do this in our step-by-step guide. The article describes the installation of water cooling using the example of a ready-made Innovatek Premium XXD kit and a Tower Silverstone TJ06 case. Installation of other systems is carried out in a similar way.

Water cooling installation

To successfully install a cooling system, you will need tools. We chose the extremely convenient Swiss knife Victorinox Cyber ​​Tool Nr. 34. In addition to the knife itself, it includes pliers, scissors, a small and medium Phillips screwdriver, and a set of attachments. In addition, prepare wrenches 13 and 16. They will be needed to tighten the connections.

During the cooling cycle, the radiator ensures stabilization of the water temperature, usually at around 40° C. The heat exchanger is assisted by one or two 12 cm fans, which rotate quite quietly, but at the same time ensure that heat is transferred from the inside to the outside. When installing the fan, make sure that the arrow on the fan frame points towards the radiator, and also that the power wires converge towards the middle.

It's time to screw the corner tube connectors to the radiator. For reliability, tighten the union nuts with a 16mm wrench. Tighten firmly, but not all the way. After this, the radiator is mounted to the body. A single radiator (that is, with only one fan) can be installed below the front panel, in the place where the normal air supply is provided. In some types of cases, the space behind the processor may also be suitable for this.

Our double dual radiator requires a little more space, so we place it on the side wall. We recommend that only experienced craftsmen make the necessary sockets and holes themselves. If you do not consider yourself one of those, it is best to use a specially designed case for a specific type of cooling. Innovatek offers cooling systems complete with the housing - even in the assembled state if desired. For our project we chose the Silverstone TJ06 model with an Innovatek prepared sidewall.

Figure A: Place the side wall in front of you on your desktop with the narrow parts of the fan holes facing you. After this, place the radiator on the holes with the fans facing up. The corner connections of the hoses should be directed in the direction that will later be connected to the front panel of the housing. Now turn the side wall along with the radiator and connect the holes made on the body with the threads on the radiator.

Figure B: For added beauty, place two black plugs on top of the fan sockets and secure them with the eight included black Torx screws.

The standard fan is powered by 12 V. At the same time, it reaches the specified rotation speed and, thus, the maximum volume. In a water cooling system, part of the heat is absorbed by the radiator cooler, so 12-
Voltage power supply for a couple of our fans is probably not needed. In most cases, 5-7 V is enough - this will make the system almost silent. To do this, connect the power connectors of both fans and connect to the included adapter, which will later be connected to the power supply.

Now we will talk about the graphics card, the main source of noise in most computers. We will equip the ATI All-in-Wonder X800XL for PCI Express with water cooling. The cooling system is installed in a similar way on other models of video adapters.

Two more notes before you begin assembly. First: upgrading the graphics card will void the warranty, so before installation, check that all functions of the device are working. And second: when a person walks on a carpet, he is charged with static electricity and discharged when he comes into contact with metal (for example, a door handle).

If you run out of power on the graphics card, under certain circumstances it may die for a long time. Since you, like most non-professional assemblers, are unlikely to have an antistatic mat, place the video adapter only on antistatic packaging and periodically discharge it by touching the radiator.

Figure A: In order to disconnect the fan from the X800 series model we have chosen, you need to unscrew six screws. The two small screws holding the tension spring optimize the cooling block's pressure on the GPU, while the other four carry the full weight of the cooler. Even after all six screws are removed, the cooler will still be fairly firmly attached with the heat-conducting paste. Disconnect the cooler by smoothly turning it clockwise and counterclockwise.

Figure B: After you remove the old cooling system, remove any remaining thermal paste from the GPU and other chips. If the paste doesn't come off, you can use a little nail polish remover. Naturally, the water cooling system also needs heat-conducting paste, so you need to apply a new one. The basic rule here is: less is more! A small droplet, distributed in a thin layer over the surface of each part, is quite enough.

In fact, thermal conductive paste is a fairly mediocre heat conductor. It is designed to fill microscopic surface irregularities, since air conducts heat even worse. You can use an old business card as a miniature spatula to apply the paste.

Figure C: After applying the paste, place the new cooler on the work surface so that the connecting tubes are on top, and align the holes on the graphics board with the threads on the cooling block. The tension spring is replaced with a square plastic plate. To protect the surrounding contacts, place a foam pad between the PCB and the plate, or more precisely, directly to the 3D processor.

The new cooler is held in place by three supporting screws. Tighten them first, and, as when replacing a car wheel, do not tighten the screws completely at first, and then tighten them one by one. This will help avoid distortions. After this, tighten the screws on the plastic plate in the same way.

The largest amount of heat is often generated by the central processor. Therefore, the cooling system, protecting it from overheating, is quite noisy. Replacing an air cooler with a water cooler is quite simple. First, carefully remove the air cooler from the processor. It is also necessary to overcome the resistance of the thermal paste with soft rotational movements left and right, otherwise the processor may jump out of the socket. After this, remove all old thermal paste.

Then unscrew the existing socket frame and replace it with a suitable frame for this type of processor from the water cooling kit. Before installing the cooler, apply a thin layer of thermal paste to the processor. Finally, secure the mounting brackets on both sides of the socket frame and flip the clamp.

The pump is a very important part of the system, so it must be placed on a pedestal - in the truest sense of the word. To do this, screw four rubber feet into the aluminum board. Rubber is used here to isolate the vibrations of the pump. Place the pump on these legs and secure it with the four supplied washers and nuts. Tighten the nuts with small pliers.

Now it is necessary to equip the pump and compensation tank with connecting pipes. Tighten the connection with a size 13 wrench to secure the connection. Finally, connect the compensation tank to the rounded side of the pump. The pump is attached from the inside to the front panel of the housing, attached with adhesive tape so that the compensation tank “looks” outward (see Fig. 11).

After completing the installation of all components inside the housing, you need to connect them with hoses. To do this, place the open case opposite you and place the side wall with the radiator in front of it. The hose should go from the compensation tank to the graphics card, from there to the processor, from the processor to the radiator, and the circle ends with a connection between the radiator and the pump.

Measure the required length of the hose to be installed and cut it straight. Unscrew the union nut on the connection and bring it to the end of the hose being put on. After the hose is pushed onto the connection up to the thread, secure it with a union nut. Tighten the nut with a 16mm wrench. Your system should now look as shown in Figure 11.

9. Preparing the pump for filling with water

As shown in our picture, connect the pump to the HDD power connector. At this point, nothing else should be connected to the power supply. Now we are preparing the pump for filling with water. Other components cannot be connected without water in the cooling system, otherwise they risk instant overheating.

Since power supplies do not work without connection to the motherboard, you must use the included jumper. The black wire is used to “deceive” the motherboard’s power supply. Thus, after turning on the toggle switch, the pump will start working. If you don't have a jumper at hand, short-circuit the green and adjacent black wires of the power supply (pins 17 and 18).

Fill the compensation container with liquid up to the bottom edge of the thread and wait until the pump pumps out the water. Continue the filling procedure until the bubbling in the system stops.

Check the connections for tightness. If a drop forms on any of them, it most likely means that the union nut is not tightened properly. If the system is filled with a sufficient amount of water, but bubbling continues, the following trick will help: take the side wall of the case with the radiator with both hands and shake it as if it were a frying pan over which you want to distribute hot oil. If after 15 minutes of operation all connections remain dry and there are no extraneous sounds, close the compensation container.

Now you can remove the jumper from the power supply and begin connecting the computer components. Installing a side wall with a radiator will require some skill. The gaps here are very small, and even a slightly incorrectly installed hose connection can interfere. In this case, you just need to turn the connection in the desired direction. Also, when closing the housing, pay special attention to the hoses so that none of them are kinked or pinched.

If you bought a powerful new computer, it will consume quite a lot of electricity and also make loud noise, which is a very unpleasant and very significant drawback. Quite bulky system units (for air circulation), with large coolers, in this case are not the best option, so today we will tell you about an alternative option - water cooling for a computer (specifically about its types, features and, of course, advantages) .

Why is water cooling necessary?!
As we have already said, conventional computer fans create a lot of noise, and in addition, even despite their high power, they are not able to rationally remove heat generated by computer components from the system unit, which in itself increases the risk of failure of any kind. element from overheating.

Under these conditions, manufacturers turned their attention to liquid cooling systems for computer parts. A check of many such systems generally shows that a liquid computer cooling system has a right to exist due to a number of indicators that distinguish it favorably from an air system.

Advantages and operating principles of water cooling

Also, in addition to the high noise level, air cooling of a computer leads to a large accumulation of dust: both on the cooler fans themselves and on other components. In turn, this has a very negative effect on both the air in the room (when a stream of air containing dust comes out of the system unit) and on the performance of all components on which all the dust settles.

Types of water cooling by cooling location

• Of greatest importance in any such system is CPU heatsink. Compared to traditional coolers, a processor radiator with two tubes connected to it (one for the liquid inlet, the other for the outlet) looks very compact. This is especially pleasing, because the cooling efficiency of such a radiator is clearly superior to any cooler.


• Graphics chips of video cards They are cooled in the same way as processors (in parallel with them), only the radiators for them are smaller.


• Liquid cooling is no less efficient hard drive. For this purpose, very thin water radiators have been developed, which are attached to the upper plane of the hard drive and, thanks to the largest possible contact area, provide good heat dissipation, which is impossible with conventional airflow.

The reliability of the entire water system depends most of all on the pump (pumping pump): stopping the circulation of liquid will instantly cause a drop in cooling efficiency to almost zero.

Liquid cooling systems are divided into two types: those with a pump, and those without it - pumpless systems.

Type 1: liquid cooling systems with pump
There are two types of pumps: those that have their own sealed housing, and those that are simply immersed in a reservoir of coolant. Those that have their own sealed housing are certainly more expensive, but also much more reliable than those immersed in liquid. All liquid used in the system is cooled in a heat exchanger radiator, to which a low-speed cooler is attached, creating an air flow that cools the liquid flowing in the curved radiator tubes. The cooler never develops a high rotation speed and therefore the noise from the entire system is much less than from powerful coolers used in air cooling.

Type 2: pumpless systems
As the name implies, they do not have any mechanical supercharger (i.e. pump). The circulation of the liquid is carried out using the evaporator principle, which creates a directed pressure that moves the coolant. A liquid (with a low boiling point) continuously turns into steam when heated to a certain temperature, and steam turns into a liquid when it enters the radiator of the condenser-heat exchanger. Only the heat generated by the cooled element causes the liquid to move. The advantages of these systems include: compactness, simplicity and low cost, since there is no pump; minimum moving mechanical parts – ensures low noise levels and a low likelihood of mechanical breakdowns. Now about the disadvantages of this type of computer water cooling. The efficiency and power of such systems is significantly lower than that of pump-action systems; the gas phase of the substance is used, which means that high tightness of the structure is needed, because any leak will lead to the system immediately losing pressure and, as a result, becoming inoperable. Moreover, it will be very difficult to notice and correct this.

Is it worth installing water cooling on your computer?

It is likely that after some time in computer technology there will be a transition from air cooling systems to liquid systems, because apart from the difficulties in installing such structures on today’s system unit cases, they do not have any other fundamental disadvantages, and their advantages over air cooling very, very significant. With the advent of suitable cases for system units on the market, the popularity of these systems is likely to grow steadily.

Thus, the site’s experts have nothing against these cooling systems, but on the contrary, they advise giving preference to them if circumstances require it. Only when choosing this or that system you don’t need to save money so as not to get into trouble. Cheap water cooling systems have poor cooling quality and a fairly high noise level, which is why, when deciding to install water cooling, expect a fairly high amount of waste.

A water cooling system for a computer can most effectively eliminate the problem of excessive heating of the central processor.

Such a device does not have a strictly defined structure. It can vary and consist of different structures at once.

The essence of a liquid cooling system

In all cases, a computer's liquid cooling system consists of a combination of the following types of circuits:

• Scheme with parallel connection of nodes that are subject to cooling (parallel operation scheme). The advantages of such a structure: simple implementation of the circuit, easily calculated characteristics of the nodes that need to be cooled;

• Sequential block diagram - all cooled components are connected to each other in parallel. The advantages of this scheme are that the cooling of each of the nodes is more efficient.
  Disadvantage: it is quite difficult to direct a sufficient amount of refrigerant to a specific unit;

• Combined schemes. They are more complex, as they contain several elements with both parallel and serial connections.

Components

In order for the CPU to cool quickly and efficiently, each cooler must have the following elements:

1. Heat exchanger– this element heats up, absorbing the heat of the central processor. Before using again, wait until the heat exchanger has completely cooled down;
2. Water pump– liquid storage tank;
3. Multiple pipelines;
4. Adapters between units and pipelines;
5. Expansion tank– designed to provide the necessary space for the heat exchanger expanding during the heating process;
6. Coolant filling the system– an element that fills the entire structure with liquid: distilled water or a specialized liquid for water treatment;
7. Water blocks– heat sinks for those elements that generate heat.

Note! The liquid cooling system is low noise compared to fans. Some noise is still present, since its coefficient cannot be zero.

The best water cooling systems for a computer

The main purpose of PC cooling systems is to ensure uninterrupted and stable operation of the computer itself and create normal conditions for its user, which implies a minimum of noise during operation.

These devices remove heat from elements such as the processor and power supply, preventing them from overheating and subsequent failure.

There are 2 options for the cooling system - passive and active. The second type, in turn, is divided into air, suitable for ordinary PCs, and water, which is required for systems with very powerful or overclocked processors.

Liquid cooling is characterized by its small size, low noise level and high heat dissipation efficiency, which makes it very popular.

To select such a system, you should consider some nuances, including:

• Price;
• Compatible with processors or video cards;
• Cooling parameters.

Below is a list of the most popular water cooling systems from the popular online catalog Yandex Market.

List of popular water cooling systems from market.yandex.ru/catalog/55321.

The original-looking DeepCool Captain 240 is equipped with two branded black and red fans with notches on the blades. Each impeller is capable of rotating at speeds of up to 2200 rpm, creating noise of no more than 39 dB.

At the same time, the system has a splitter that allows you to install 2 more fans. The service life, which is guaranteed by the manufacturer, is about 120 thousand hours.

The system weight, suitable for both AMD and Intel processors, is 1,183 kg.

The approximate cost of the device is from 5,500 rubles.

The relatively new Liquid Freezer 240 video card cooling system, which went on sale at the end of last year, can be called universal, since it is suitable for most modern processors, creating a noise level of no more than 30 dB during operation.

The rotation speed of the blades of each of the 4 fans is up to 1350 rpm, the system weight is 1.224 kg. The main advantage is a reduction in processor temperature by 40–50 degrees, and the only disadvantage is its bulky size.

Buying such a gadget will cost 6,000 rubles.

The efficient cooling system of the entire Nepton 140XL system unit is distinguished by the increased size of the radiator and hoses, as well as the serial rather than parallel arrangement of two fans.

Thanks to the presence of a 140 mm JetFlo fan, a large contact area between the liquid and the heat sink and the high quality of processing of the latter, it cools fairly powerful processors, including even those that have been overclocked to increase performance.

At the same time, the operational life of the device, compatible with processors such as Intel (S775, S1150, S1356, S2011) and AMD (AM2, AM3, FM2), reaches 160 thousand hours. The maximum rotation speed of the blades is 2000 rpm, the weight is 1.323 kg, and the noise during operation does not exceed 39 dB.

You can purchase such a system online for a price starting from 6,200 rubles.

The Maelstrom 240T system, designed for Intel 1150–1156, S1356/1366 and S2011 processors, as well as AMD FM2, AM2 and AM3, is distinguished by blue fan lighting, which allows not only cooling the computer, but also modding it.

The service life of the device is within 120 thousand hours, weight is 1100 g, noise level is up to 34 dB.

You can buy the device on the Internet for 4400–4800 rubles.

The Corsair H100i GTX system is a universal and fairly simple-to-design system that is used to cool most AMD and Intel processors released over the past few years.

The weight of the assembled equipment is 900 g, the noise level is about 38 dB, and the fan rotation force is up to 2435 rpm.

The average cost of a card online is about 10 thousand rubles.

A special feature of using the Cooler Master Seidon 120V system is the ability to install it both inside and outside the case. At the same time, fans rotating at speeds of up to 2400 rpm operate very quietly - with a noise level of up to 27 dB.

Device compatibility – modern Intel and AMD processors (up to LGA1150 and Socket AM3, respectively). The system weighs only 958 g and is capable of operating for 160 thousand hours.

Purchase is possible at a price of 3,600 rubles.

DIY cooling system

The processor cooling system can be purchased ready-made. However, due to the rather high cost of the device and the not always sufficient efficiency of the proposed models, it is possible to do it yourself and at home.

The resulting system will not be as attractive in appearance, but quite effective in operation.

To make your own system, you should do the following:

• Waterblock;
• Radiator;
• Pump.

It is unlikely that it will be possible to replicate the design of most commercially produced air defense systems. However, if you understand a little about computers and thermodynamics, you can try to make something similar, if not in appearance, then at least in principle of operation.

Making a water block

The main part of the system, which accounts for the maximum heat generated by the processor, is the most difficult to manufacture.

To begin with, the material of the device is selected - usually sheet copper. Then you should decide on the dimensions - as a rule, a 7x7 cm block with a thickness of about 5 mm is sufficient for cooling.

The geometric shape of the device is taken such that the liquid inside washes all elements of the cooled structure as efficiently as possible.

You can choose, for example, a copper plate as the base of the water block, and the working structure can be made from thin-walled copper tubes. The number of tubes in the example is assumed to be 32 pcs.

Assembly is carried out using solder and an electric furnace heated to a temperature of 200 degrees. After this, they begin to manufacture the next part - the radiator.

Radiator

Most often, this device is chosen ready-made, rather than made at home. You can find and purchase such a radiator either at a computer store or at a car dealership.

However, it is possible to independently create the necessary element of the SVO from the following items:

• 4 copper tubes with a diameter of 0.3 cm and a length of 17 cm;
• 18 meters of copper winding wire (d = 1.2 mm);
• Any sheet metal about 4 mm thick.

The tubes are treated with solder, a mandrel 4–5 cm wide and up to 20 cm long is made from metal. Holes are drilled into it, where the wire is inserted. Now the wire is wound around the winding.

The process is repeated three times, obtaining the same number of identical spirals.

The assembly of spirals and tubes begins by first making the frame. Then a wire is pulled over it. The final step is to connect the frame to the input and output manifolds of the system. The result is a part that looks like this:

Pump and other parts

A similar device intended for aquariums can be used as a pump. A device with a capacity of 300–400 l/min will be sufficient.

It is equipped with an expansion tank (tightly closing plastic container) and a PVC hose with feed-through pipes made from scrap metal (copper) pipes.

Assembly

Before assembling and installing the system, you must remove the factory device installed on the processor. Now you need:

• Secure the water block on top of the cooled part using a clamping bar;
• Fill the system with distilled water;
• Attach the radiator to the inner surface of the computer cover (opposite the holes). If there are no ventilation holes, you should make them yourself.

The final step should be to first attach the fan to the processor (on top of the water block). Finally, it is necessary to provide power to the pump by installing its operating relay inside the power supply.

The result is a hand-made water cooling system that quite effectively reduces the processor temperature by 25–35 degrees. At the same time, funds are saved that could have been spent on purchasing expensive equipment.

Thematic videos:

How to Install a Water Cooling System on a Corsair H100i CPU

Water cooling system for computer - Detailed description

DIY water cooling system

You can assemble a water cooling system for your computer with your own hands. Water cooling - SVO will help you assemble a silent and stable system for any purpose. Whether it's a gaming computer or a work one.