Water cooling or air cooling? Computer water cooling system - Detailed description

Water cooling systems have been used for many years as a highly efficient means of removing heat from hot computer components.

The quality of cooling directly affects the stability of your computer. With excess heat, the computer begins to freeze and overheated components may fail. High temperatures are harmful to the element base (capacitors, microcircuits, etc.), and overheating of the hard drive can lead to data loss.

As computer performance increases, more efficient cooling systems have to be used. An air cooling system is considered traditional, but air has low thermal conductivity and a large air flow creates a lot of noise. Powerful coolers produce a rather loud roar, although they can still provide acceptable efficiency.

In such conditions, water cooling systems are becoming increasingly popular. The superiority of water cooling over air is explained by the heat capacity (4.183 kJ kg -1 K -1 for water and 1.005 kJ kg -1 K -1 for air) and thermal conductivity (0.6 W/(m K) for water and 0.024-0.031 W/(m K) for air). Therefore, all other things being equal, water cooling systems will always be more efficient than air cooling systems.

On the Internet you can find a lot of materials on ready-made water cooling systems from leading manufacturers and examples of homemade cooling systems (the latter, as a rule, are more efficient).

Water cooling system (WCS) is a cooling system that uses water as a coolant to transfer heat. Unlike air cooling, which transfers heat directly to the air, in a water cooling system, heat is transferred to the water first.

Operating principle of the SVO

Cooling a computer is necessary to remove heat from a heated component (chipset, processor, ...) and dissipate it. A conventional air cooler is equipped with a monolithic radiator that performs both of these functions.

In the SVO, each part performs its own function. The water block removes heat, and the other part dissipates thermal energy. An approximate diagram of the connection of the SVO components can be seen in the diagram below.

Water blocks can be connected to the circuit in parallel or in series. The first option is preferable if there are identical heat sinks. You can combine these options and get a parallel-serial connection, but the most correct would be to connect the water blocks one after the other.

Heat removal occurs according to the following scheme: liquid from the reservoir is supplied to the pump, and then pumped further to the units that cool the PC components.

The reason for this connection is a slight heating of the water after passing through the first water block and effective heat removal from the chipset, GPU, and CPU. The heated liquid enters the radiator and cools there. It then goes back into the tank and a new cycle begins.

According to the design features, the SVO can be divided into two types:

1. The coolant circulates through a pump in the form of a separate mechanical unit.
2. Pumpless systems that use special refrigerants that pass through the liquid and gaseous phases.

Cooling system with pump

The principle of its operation is efficient and simple. Liquid (usually distilled water) passes through the radiators of cooled devices.

All components of the structure are connected to each other by flexible tubes (diameter 6-12 mm). The liquid, passing through the radiator of the processor and other devices, picks up their heat, and then through the tubes enters the heat exchanger radiator, where it cools itself. The system is closed, and the liquid constantly circulates in it.

An example of such a connection can be shown using products from CoolingFlow. It combines the pump with a buffer tank for liquid. The arrows show the movement of cold and hot liquid.

Pumpless liquid cooling

There are liquid cooling systems that do not use a pump. They use the evaporator principle and create a directed pressure that causes the movement of the coolant. Liquids with low boiling points are used as refrigerants. The physics of the ongoing process can be seen in the diagram below.

Initially, the radiator and lines are completely filled with liquid. When the temperature of the processor heatsink rises above a certain value, the liquid turns into steam. The process of turning liquid into vapor absorbs thermal energy and increases cooling efficiency. Hot steam creates pressure. Steam, through a special one-way valve, can exit only in one direction - into the radiator of the heat exchanger-condenser. There, the steam displaces the cold liquid towards the processor heatsink, and, as it cools, turns back into liquid. So the liquid-vapor circulates in a closed pipeline system while the radiator temperature is high. This system turns out to be very compact.

Another version of such a cooling system is possible. For example, for a video card.

A liquid evaporator is built into the radiator of the graphics chip. The heat exchanger is located next to the side wall of the video card. The structure is made of copper alloy. The heat exchanger is cooled by a high-speed (7200 rpm) centrifugal fan.

SVO components

Water cooling systems use a specific set of components, mandatory and optional.

Required components of the SVO:

• radiator,
• fitting,
• water block,
• pump,
• hoses,
• water.

Optional components of the water supply system are: temperature sensors, reservoir, drain valves, pump and fan controllers, secondary water blocks, indicators and meters (flow, temperature, pressure), water mixtures, filters, backplates.

• Let's look at the required components.

Waterblock is a heat exchanger that transfers heat from a heated element (processor, video chip, etc.) to water. It consists of a copper base and a metal cover with a set of fasteners.

The main types of water blocks: processor, for video cards, for the system chip (north bridge). Water blocks for video cards can be of two types: those that cover only the graphics chip (“gpu only”) and those that cover all heating elements – fullcover.

Water block Swiftech MCW60-R(gpu-only):

Waterblock EK Waterblocks EK-FC-5970(Fulcover):

To increase the heat transfer area, a microchannel and microneedle structure is used. Water blocks are made without a complex internal structure if performance is not so critical.

Chipset water block XSPC X2O Delta Chipset:

Radiator. In SVO, a radiator is a water-air heat exchanger that transfers heat from the water in the water block to the air. There are two subtypes of SVO radiators: passive (fanless), active (blown by a fan).

Fanless ones can be found quite rarely (for example, in the Zalman Reserator air conditioner) because this type of radiator has lower efficiency. Such radiators take up a lot of space and are difficult to fit even in a modified case.

Passive radiator Alphacool Cape Cora HF 642:

Active radiators are more common in water cooling systems due to better efficiency. If you use quiet or silent fans, you can achieve quiet or silent operation of the air cooler. These radiators can come in a variety of sizes, but they are generally made in multiples of the size of a 120mm or 140mm fan.

Radiator Feser X-Changer Triple 120mm Xtreme

SVO radiator behind the computer case:

The pump is an electric pump, responsible for the circulation of water in the water supply system circuit. Pumps can operate on 220 volts or 12 volts. When there were few specialized components for air conditioning systems on sale, aquarium pumps operating on 220 volts were used. This created some difficulties due to the need to turn on the pump synchronously with the computer. For this, a relay was used that turned on the pump automatically when the computer started. Now there are specialized pumps with compact sizes and good performance, operating on 12 volts.

Compact pump Laing DDC-1T

Modern water blocks have a fairly high coefficient of hydraulic resistance, so it is advisable to use specialized pumps, since aquarium pumps will not allow a modern water cooler to operate at full capacity.

Hoses or tubes are also essential components of any water treatment system, through which water flows from one component to another. Mostly PVC hoses are used, sometimes silicone. The size of the hose does not greatly affect overall performance; it is important not to use hoses that are too thin (less than 8 mm).

Fluorescent Feser Tube:

Fittings are special connecting elements for connecting hoses to water supply components (pump, radiator, water blocks). The fittings must be screwed into the threaded hole located on the SVO component. You don't need to screw them in very hard (no wrenches are needed). Tightness is achieved with a rubber sealing ring. The vast majority of components are sold without fittings included. This is done so that the user can select the fittings for the desired hose. The most common types of fittings are compression (with a union nut) and herringbone (fittings are used). Fittings are straight and angled. Fittings also differ in the type of thread. In computer SVOs, threads of the G1/4″ standard are more common, less often G1/8″ or G3/8″.

Computer water cooling:

Herringbone fittings from Bitspower:

Bitspower Compression Fittings:

Water is also an obligatory component of SVO. It is best to refill with distilled water (purified from impurities by distillation). Deionized water is also used, but it has no significant differences from distilled water, it is only produced in a different way. You can use special mixtures or water with various additives. But using tap or bottled water for drinking is not recommended.

Optional components are components without which the SVO can operate reliably and do not affect performance. They make the operation of the SVO more convenient.

The reservoir (expansion tank) is considered an optional component of the cooling system, although it is present in most water cooling systems. Reservoir systems are more convenient to refill. The volume of water in the reservoir is not important; it does not affect the performance of the water treatment system. There are a variety of tank shapes and they are selected based on ease of installation.

Magicool Tubular Tank:

The drain tap is used to conveniently drain water from the water supply system circuit. It is closed in the normal state, and opens when it is necessary to drain water from the system.

Koolance drain tap:

Sensors, indicators and meters. Quite a lot of different meters, controllers, and sensors for air defense systems are produced. Among them there are electronic sensors for water temperature, pressure and water flow, controllers that coordinate the operation of fans with temperature, water movement indicators, and so on. Pressure and water flow sensors are needed only in systems designed to test components of the water supply system, since this information is simply unimportant for the average user.

Electronic flow sensor from AquaCompute:

Filter. Some water cooling systems are equipped with a filter included in the circuit. It is designed to filter out a variety of small particles that have entered the system (dust, soldering residues, sediment).

Water additives and various mixtures. In addition to water, various additives can be used. Some are designed to protect against corrosion, others to prevent bacteria from growing in the system or discoloring the water. They also produce ready-made mixtures containing water, anti-corrosion additives and dye. There are ready-made mixtures that increase the productivity of the water treatment system, but the increase in productivity from them is possible only insignificantly. You can find liquids for water treatment systems that are not water-based, but use a special dielectric liquid. Such liquid does not conduct electric current and will not cause a short circuit if it leaks onto PC components. Distilled water also does not conduct current, but if it spills and gets on dusty areas of the PC, it can become electrically conductive. There is no need for a dielectric liquid, because a well-tested SVO does not leak and is sufficiently reliable. It is also important to follow the instructions for the additives. There is no need to pour them in excess, this can lead to disastrous consequences.

Green fluorescent dye:

A backplate is a special mounting plate that is needed to relieve the PCB of the motherboard or video card from the force created by the waterblock fastenings, and to reduce the bending of the PCB, reducing the risk of breakage. The backplate is not a mandatory component, but is very common in SVO.

Branded backplate from Watercool:

Secondary water blocks. Sometimes, additional water blocks are installed on low-heating components. These components include: RAM, power transistors, power supply circuits, hard drives and the south bridge. The optionality of such components for a water cooling system is that they do not improve overclocking and do not provide any additional system stability or other noticeable results. This is due to the low heat generation of such elements and the ineffectiveness of using water blocks for them. The positive side of installing such water blocks can only be called the appearance, but the disadvantage is the increase in hydraulic resistance in the circuit and, accordingly, an increase in the cost of the entire system.

Water block for power transistors on the motherboard from EK Waterblocks

In addition to the mandatory and optional components of the CBO, there is also a category of hybrid components. There are components on sale that represent two or more CBO components in one device. Among such devices are known: hybrids of a pump with a processor water block, radiators for air coolers combined with a built-in pump and reservoir. Such components significantly reduce the space they take up and are more convenient to install. But such components are not very suitable for upgrading.

Selecting a water heating system

There are three main types of CBOs: external, internal and built-in. They differ in the location of their main components relative to the computer case (radiator/heat exchanger, reservoir, pump).

External water cooling systems are made in the form of a separate module (“box”), which is connected using hoses to water blocks that are installed on components in the PC case itself. The housing of an external water cooling system almost always includes a radiator with fans, a reservoir, a pump, and, sometimes, a power supply for the pump with sensors. Among external systems, Zalman water cooling systems of the Reserator family are well known. Such systems are installed as a separate module, and their convenience lies in the fact that the user does not need to modify or remodel the body of his computer. Their only inconvenience is their size and it becomes more difficult to move the computer even short distances, for example, to another room.

External passive CBO Zalman Reserator:

The built-in cooling system is built into the case and is sold complete with it. This option is the easiest to use, because the entire SVO is already mounted in the housing, and there are no bulky structures outside. The disadvantages of such a system include the high cost and the fact that the old PC case will be useless.

Internal water cooling systems are located entirely inside the PC case. Sometimes, some components of the internal cooling system (mainly the radiator) are installed on the outer surface of the case. The advantage of internal air defense systems is ease of portability. There is no need to drain the liquid during transportation. Also, when installing internal SVOs, the appearance of the case does not suffer, and when modding, the SVO can perfectly decorate the case of your computer.

Overclocked Orange Project:

The disadvantages of internal water cooling systems are that they are difficult to install and require modifications to the chassis in many cases. Also, internal SVO adds several kilograms of weight to your body.

Planning and installation of the SVO

Water cooling, unlike air cooling, requires some planning before installation. After all, liquid cooling imposes some limitations that must be taken into account.

During installation, you should always keep convenience in mind. It is necessary to leave free space so that further work with the SVO and components does not cause difficulties. It is necessary that the water tubes pass freely inside the housing and between the components.

In addition, the flow of liquid should not be limited by anything. As the coolant passes through each water block, it heats up. To reduce this problem, a circuit with parallel coolant paths is being considered. With this approach, the water flow is less stressed, and the water block of each component receives water that is not heated by other components.

The Koolance EXOS-2 kit is well known. It is designed to work with 3/8″ connecting tubing.

When planning the location of your CBO, it is recommended to first draw a simple diagram. Having drawn a plan on paper, we begin the actual assembly and installation. It is necessary to lay out all the parts of the system on the table and approximately measure the required length of the tubes. It is advisable to leave a margin and not cut it too short.

When the preparatory work is done, you can begin installing the water blocks. On the back of the motherboard behind the processor is a metal bracket for securing the Koolance cooling head for the processor. This mounting bracket is equipped with a plastic gasket to prevent short circuits with the motherboard.

Then the heatsink attached to the north bridge of the motherboard is removed. The example uses a Biostar 965PT motherboard, in which the chipset is cooled using a passive radiator.

When the chipset heatsink is removed, you need to install the water block fastening elements for the chipset. After installing these elements, the motherboard is placed back into the PC case. Remember to remove old thermal paste from the processor and chipset before applying a thin layer of new one.

After this, the water blocks are carefully installed on the processor. Do not press them with force. Using force can damage components.

Then work is done with the video card. It is necessary to remove the existing radiator and replace it with a water block. Once the water blocks are installed, you can connect the tubes and insert the video card into the PCI Express slot.

When all the water blocks are installed, all remaining pipes should be connected. The last one to connect is the tube leading to the external unit of the SVO. Check that the direction of water flow is correct: the cooled liquid must first flow into the processor water block.

After all this work is completed, water is poured into the tank. The tank should only be filled to the level specified in the instructions. Carefully monitor all fasteners and at the slightest sign of leakage, fix the problem immediately.

If everything is assembled correctly and there are no leaks, you need to pump the coolant to remove air bubbles. For the Koolance EXOS-2 system, you need to short-circuit the contacts on the ATX power supply, and supply power to the water pump, without supplying power to the motherboard.

Let the system work in this mode for a while, and you carefully tilt the computer in one direction or the other to get rid of air bubbles. Once all bubbles have escaped, add coolant if necessary. If air bubbles are no longer visible, you can start the system completely. Now you can test the effectiveness of the installed SVO. Although water cooling for PCs is still a rarity for ordinary users, its benefits are undeniable.

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. Nowadays, 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, then due to overheating, irreversible and reversible processes occur.

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 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 pick up speed and create a lot of noise.

What is this?

So, the most common gaming PC is a water-cooled one. 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 hard 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 will not 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 your 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 last 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.

19. 06.2017

Blog of Dmitry Vassiyarov.

SVO - aka custom liquid cooling system

Hello.

You have probably felt more than once that your computer generates heat during operation. To prevent it from overheating, a built-in fan is often used. But with the growth of iron productivity, it became not enough. For high-quality airflow, its power must also be increased, which increases the noise level of the computer, especially if you are also overclocking.

To get rid of these and other shortcomings, a computer liquid cooling system has been developed. Want to know more about her? Reading the article.

If you thought it was something like that, then you are wrong :))

So what is it?

In this topic you may come across the abbreviation SVO, which stands for water cooling system. Another one is also used - LSS, where the second word is replaced by “liquid”. As you guessed, what distinguishes it from air cooling, which you are used to, is that heat from the iron is transferred not to air, but to water.

Pros and cons

The innovative solution is more effective than its airborne predecessor for the following reasons:

• Increased heat capacity of the liquid.
• Stability during acceleration.
• Heat is removed from the center of the process. In turn, the micromotor of the air systems is located above the hottest zone of the radiator, on the contrary, which creates a dead point from where hot air is not removed, and therefore the core gets very hot.

The water supply pump creates much less noise than a fan.

• Completely removes heat from the system unit, while the air system simply disperses it inside the case.

Do you have a powerful computer with modern components? Then it is worth considering installing a water circuit, because it is better able to protect devices from overheating, and as a result, rapid failure, and will not bother you with noise. Such a system itself will last a long time. An attractive design is a nice bonus.

But there are also disadvantages of water systems:

• High price. Considering the cost of the components that it will protect, you can turn a blind eye to this.
• More complex assembly.
• Possibility of depressurization. But with proper installation, this “minus” is eliminated.

Operating principle

The heat exchanger of the LSS is a “water block” or the second name is “water block”. It takes on the hot air emitted by the processor, video card, etc., and transfers it to water. With the help of a special pump, it enters another heat exchanger - a radiator, which takes heat from the water and releases it into the air beyond the boundaries of the system unit.

SVO equipment

The main elements of a water system have already been mentioned above. Since many enthusiasts decide to assemble it themselves, let’s take a closer look at what the SVO consists of. Modern models may include many different elements. We will consider only the main ones.

Water block

Why it is needed, you now know. What does he look like? The device usually has a copper base, a plastic or metal cover and fasteners to connect it to the device to be cooled.

By the way, there are different types of water blocks for processors, on-chip northbridge and video cards. Those provided for the latter in the list of devices are divided into subtypes: covering only the graphics chip (“gpu only”) or all heating elements.

Now the base of water blocks is made of thin copper, unlike the original versions, so that heat is transferred to the water faster. The bottom can also be made of aluminum: it is cheaper, but less effective.

Also, current devices have a microchannel or microneedle structure to improve the heat transfer surface. But in cases, for example, with a system chip, where the cooling efficiency per degree does not count, a flat bottom or an architecture with simple channels can be used.

Depending on the design of the device, water blocks are divided into 3 types:

• "Snake". One or more continuous channels are used. They can be made with a diverging spiral, when the fitting is in the middle of the device, or in the form of a zigzag, if 2 fittings are located at the edges.

• Intersecting channels. They are created by drilling into the base from the ends, and the holes are closed using plugs.

• Ductless. A container with fittings is soldered to the base. Water enters through the coolant located at the inlet and is discharged through the side.

Radiator

It is also called water-air heat exchanger because of the functions it performs. It comes in 2 types: with or without a fan. The first - active - are more common because they are more effective than their passive counterparts, although the second are noiseless.

The size of more common radiators can vary, but in most cases it is a multiple of the fan dimensions of 120 mm or 140 mm. It turns out that the heat exchanger for 3 120 mm fans will have a length of 360 mm and a width of 120 mm. This option is called three-section.

Pump

This thing drives fluid throughout the system (in other words, a pump). It runs on electricity: some models have a voltage of 12 V, others - 220 V. There is an external pump (passes water through itself) and a submersible one (pushes it out). The second option is more compact than the first.

Please note that the pump power indicated by the manufacturer is the maximum and it is not recommended to reach it.

Some craftsmen use an aquarium pump, but in the case of expensive computer components you should not conduct such experiments. Modern water blocks have high hydraulic resistance due to increased performance, so it is better to install a specialized pump for them.

Hoses and fastenings

It’s easy to guess that tubes are needed to circulate fluid in the system. Most often they are made of PVC, sometimes silicone is found. Their length has absolutely no effect on the efficiency of the SVO. As for the diameter, it is better not to take hoses thinner than 8 mm.

You can’t do without the fittings that are needed to connect the tubes to the system components. Each of them has a threaded hole into which the fasteners are screwed.

The most popular are compression (with a nut) and herringbone (fittings). They also come in straight and angular shapes. They also differ in the type of thread: G1/4′′ are often used, rarely - G1/8′′ and G3/8′′.

Water

It is better to use distilled water for refueling. This is the best and most affordable option. Sometimes deionized water or with various impurities is used, but there is no particular need for this.

Optional Components

I will not dwell in detail on each component element, but will only give a list of what may be included in the SVO, but which you can do without:

• Thermal sensors;
• Taps for draining water;
• Pump and fan controllers;
• Temperature, pressure, flow meters, etc.;
• Filters;
• Expansion tank;
• Filter connected to the circuit;
• Backplate - a plate for relieving the load from the motherboard or video card;
• Additional water blocks.

Types of water systems

According to the method of location, life support systems can be external or internal. The first ones are made in the form of a separate housing, which is connected using tubes to the water block located inside the system unit. The remaining elements of the system are located in the adjacent “box”.

This option is good because you don’t have to change anything inside the system unit when installing the SVO. However, if you are planning to move your computer, you will encounter inconvenience. Among external systems, the “Big Water” models of the Thermaltake or EK brand are popular.

Internal systems are obviously located inside the system unit. But it’s not always possible to fit all the components inside, so the radiator is often taken outside.

Good luck in choosing and patience in installation.

Goodbye, see you again, I hope;).

How to properly organize cooling in a gaming computer

The use of even the most efficient coolers may be useless if the air ventilation system in the computer case is poorly thought out. Therefore, correct installation of fans and components is a mandatory requirement when assembling a system unit. Let's explore this issue using the example of one high-performance gaming PC

⇣ Contents

This article is a continuation of a series of introductory materials on assembling system units. If you remember, last year a step-by-step instruction was published, which described in detail all the main points for creating and testing a PC. However, as often happens, when assembling a system unit, nuances play an important role. In particular, proper installation of fans in the case will increase the efficiency of all cooling systems and also reduce the heating of the main components of the computer. It is this question that is discussed further in the article.

I warn you right away that the experiment was carried out on the basis of one standard assembly using an ATX motherboard and a Midi-Tower form factor case. The option presented in the article is considered the most common, although we all know very well that computers are different, and therefore systems with the same level of performance can be assembled in dozens (if not hundreds) of different ways. That is why the results presented are relevant exclusively for the configuration considered. Judge for yourself: computer cases, even within the same form factor, have different volumes and number of seats for installing fans, and video cards, even using the same GPU, are assembled on printed circuit boards of different lengths and are equipped with coolers with different numbers of heat pipes and fans. And yet, our small experiment will allow us to draw certain conclusions.

An important “part” of the system unit was the Core i7-8700K central processor. There is a detailed review of this six-core processor, so I won’t repeat it again. I will only note that cooling a flagship for the LGA1151-v2 platform is a difficult task even for the most efficient coolers and liquid cooling systems.

The system was equipped with 16 GB of DDR4-2666 RAM. The Windows 10 operating system was recorded on a Western Digital WDS100T1B0A solid state drive. You can find a review of this SSD.

The MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GAMING X TRIO video card, as the name suggests, is equipped with a TRI-FROZR cooler with three TORX 2.0 fans. According to the manufacturer, these impellers create 22% more powerful airflow while remaining virtually silent. Low volume, as stated on the official MSI website, is also ensured by the use of double-row bearings. I note that the radiator of the cooling system, and its fins are made in the form of waves. According to the manufacturer, this design increases the total dispersion area by 10%. The radiator also comes into contact with the elements of the power subsystem. MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GAMING X TRIO memory chips are additionally cooled with a special plate.

The accelerator fans begin to rotate only when the chip temperature reaches 60 degrees Celsius. On an open bench, the maximum GPU temperature was only 67 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the cooling system fans spun up by a maximum of 47% - this is approximately 1250 rpm. The actual GPU frequency in default mode remained stable at 1962 MHz. As you can see, the MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GAMING X TRIO has a decent factory overclock.

The adapter is equipped with a massive backplate, increasing the rigidity of the structure. The back of the graphics card has an L-shaped strip with built-in Mystic Light LED lighting. Using the application of the same name, the user can separately configure three glow zones. In addition, the fans are framed by two rows of symmetrical lights in the shape of dragon claws.

According to the technical specifications, the MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GAMING X TRIO has three operating modes: Silent Mode - 1480 (1582) MHz core and 11016 MHz memory; Gaming Mode - 1544 (1657) core and 11016 MHz memory; OC Mode - 1569 (1683) MHz for the core and 11124 MHz for the memory. By default, the video card has gaming mode activated.

You can get acquainted with the performance level of the reference GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. The MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti Lightning Z was also released on our website. This graphics adapter is also equipped with a TRI-FROZR cooling system.

The assembly is based on the MSI Z370 GAMING M5 motherboard of the ATX form factor. This is a slightly modified version of the MSI Z270 GAMING M5 board, which was released on our website last spring. The device is perfect for overclockable Coffee Lake K-processors, since the Digitall Power digitally controlled power converter consists of five double phases implemented in a 4+1 circuit. Four channels are directly responsible for the operation of the CPU, another one is for the integrated graphics.

All power circuit components comply with the Military Class 6 standard - this includes both titanium core chokes and Dark CAP capacitors with at least a ten-year service life, as well as energy-efficient Dark Choke coils. Also, DIMM slots for installing RAM and PEG ports for installing video cards are clad in a metallized Steel Armor case, and also have additional solder points on the back of the board. Additional track insulation is used for the RAM, and each memory channel is located in its own PCB layer, which, according to the manufacturer, allows for a cleaner signal and increases the stability of overclocking DDR4 modules.

One useful thing to note is the presence of two M.2 format connectors, which support the installation of PCI Express and SATA 6 Gb/s drives. The top port can accommodate SSDs up to 110 mm long, and the bottom port up to 80 mm. The second port is additionally equipped with a metal M.2 Shield heatsink, which is in contact with the drive using a thermal pad.

The wired connection in the MSI Z370 GAMING M5 is handled by the Killer E2500 gigabit controller, and the sound is provided by the Realtek 1220 chip. The Audio Boost 4 audio path features Chemi-Con capacitors, a paired headphone amplifier with a resistance of up to 600 Ohms, a front dedicated audio output and gold-plated audio connectors. All components of the sound zone are isolated from the rest of the board elements by a non-conductive strip with backlight.

The Mystic Light motherboard backlight supports 16.8 million colors and operates in 17 modes. You can connect an RGB strip to the motherboard; the corresponding 4-pin connector is soldered at the bottom of the board. By the way, the device comes with an 800 mm extension cord with a splitter for connecting an additional LED strip.

The board is equipped with six 4-pin fan connectors. The total quantity is selected optimally, as is the location. The PUMP_FAN port, soldered next to the DIMM, supports the connection of impellers or a pump with a current of up to 2 A. The location is again very good, since it is easy to connect a pump to this connector from both a maintenance-free life-support system and a custom system assembled by hand. The system deftly controls even “Carlson” cars with a 3-pin connector. The frequency is adjustable both in terms of revolutions per minute and voltage. It is possible to completely stop the fans.

Finally, I’ll note two more very useful features of the MSI Z370 GAMING M5. The first is the presence of a POST signal indicator. The second is the EZ Debug LED block located next to the PUMP_FAN connector. It clearly demonstrates at what stage the system is loaded: at the initialization stage of the processor, RAM, video card or storage device.

The choice of Thermaltake Core X31 was not accidental. Here is a Tower case that meets all modern trends. The power supply is installed from below and is insulated with a metal curtain. There is a basket for installing three drives of form factors 2.5’’ and 3.5’’, however, HDD and SSD can be mounted on the barrier wall. There is a basket for two 5.25-inch devices. Without them, nine 120mm or 140mm fans can be installed in the case. As you can see, Thermaltake Core X31 allows you to completely customize the system. For example, on the basis of this case it is quite possible to assemble a PC with two 360 mm radiators.

The device turned out to be very spacious. There is plenty of space behind the chassis for cable management. Even with careless assembly, the side cover will close easily. The space for hardware allows the use of processor coolers up to 180 mm in height, video cards up to 420 mm in length and power supplies up to 220 mm in length.

The bottom and front panel are equipped with dust filters. The top cover is equipped with a mesh mat, which also limits dust from getting inside and makes it easier to install case fans and water cooling systems.

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, any 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 liquid inlet, the other for 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.